On Friday, Nov. 16, practices will officially begin for Wyoming County’s winter athletic programs.

Tunkhannock Area will kick off seasons in swimming and diving, wrestling and boys’ and girls’ basketball, as will Elk Lake, while Lackawanna Trail will open seasons for wrestling and boys’ and girls’ basketball.

Boys’ Basketball

Tunkhannock Area’s boys’ basketball team returns to the court this season under the direction of first-year head Dustin Babcock, who replaces Bob Miller, who led the Tigers to an 8-5 Wyoming Valley Conference Division II record in the 2011-12 season.

Elk Lake’s team is coached by John Warnero, and is taking to the court after finishing out a 6-8 season in Lackawanna League Division III.

The Lackawanna Trail boys’ team also competes in Lackawanna League Division III and is coming off a 2011-12 season where the Lions finished 10-4 overall under coach Andrew Kettel.

Girls’ Basketball

Elk Lake’s girls’ basketball team returns under coach Dave Shingler after it finished off last season at 5-9 in Lackawanna League Division III.

Lackawanna Trail’s girls’ team returns under first-year Bob Fitzsimmons. Last season, the Lions went 8-6 in Lackawanna League Division III under former coach Errol Mannick.

Tunkhannock Area is coached by fourth-year coach Amanda Golden, who will look to improve upon the Tigers’ 7-6 Wyoming Valley Conference Division II finish from last season.

Wrestling

Tunkhannock Area’s wrestling program is beginning a new season under returning coach Bob Hegedty who is back on the mat after a two-year hiatus, and the team looks to improve on a Wyoming Valley Conference Division I record of 0-6 last year.

Lackawanna Trail’s wrestlers are coached by first-year coach Mike Petherick, who replaces Jeff Stauffer. The team returns after a 4-2 league finish in Lackawanna league Division II.

Elk Lake’s team, coached by second-year coach Joe Ofalt finished 2-4 last year in Lackawanna League Division II.

Swimming and Diving

Tunkhannock Area’s swimming and diving teams coached by Tim Mislevy (swimming) and Tom Kolodzieski (diving) are diving in after finishing out 2011-12 with a 5-1-1 record on the boys’ side and an 0-7 record on the girls’ side in WVC Northern Division.

Elk Lake’s swimming and diving teams coached by Ed Murach (swimming) and Jim Phillips (diving) finished out the 2011-12 campaign with a 2-5 record on the girls’ side and a 1-6 record for the boys’ team.