Glenn Kaiser’s first wrestling notebook highlights some of the SOL’s top performances in season-opening tournaments.
High School Wrestling Is Thriving In The SOL
By Glenn Kaiser
Although some may say the wrestling is a dying sport, you won’t hear that around here this year, as some of the best wrestlers and teams in the State of Pennsylvania are right here in the Suburban One League. Pennsylvania has long been known as the hotbed of wrestling in the United States, and it is clearly the best state of producing successful collegiate wrestlers as documented by the pure numbers of wrestlers that reach the NCAA Championships and those that reach All-Academic status.
Council Rock South and Pennridge appear, once again, to be teams to be reckoned with after their fabulous start at the Cumberland Valley Kick-Off Classic. While many wrestling programs struggle across the Commonwealth and beyond, a majority of the SOL teams have seen some growth this season. Hatboro-Horsham has its largest practice room since 2008 with 30 wrestlers. And many SOL teams not only have full lineups, they also have competitive and elite wrestlers, as well as depth throughout the weight classes. In addition, SOL teams have, for the most part, followed the path of District 11 and District 3 teams in competing at high level events not only early in the season but throughout the regular season as well.
Council Rock finished second to Canon Mac at the CV tourney, while Pennridge was right behind Easton finishing fourth in a very tough field. Pennridge’s super light weight trio of Matt Parker (113), Michah Visuwan (120), and Kordell Rush (126) all finished atop the podium along with senior Kyle Gentile who has moved up to 195 pounds for now. Zack Trampe led the way for the Golden Hawks at 132 as he looks to return to the finals at the Giant Center come March. Riley Palmer has moved up significantly to 138 from 106 a year ago and proved he can hang in the middle with his championship win over Cole Wetzel of Big Spring (8-5). It was CR South’s depth up and down the lineup that had them garnering the silver in the team race as Dylan Schwartz (160), Joe Doyle (195), and John Anderson (285) all had runner-up finishes in their respective weight classes along with Lucas Martoccio’s third place finish at 152.
Central Bucks East and Hatboro-Horsham traveled to the always rugged, 15th Annual Mule Classic at Solanco. CB East’s Michael Driver came away with a title at 145 lbs. CB East finished fourth in the team standings, while H-H was 11th in the 20-team field. East finished with eight placers and H-H with seven. H-H’s Wrestling Warriors were led by Nick Chapman’s fifth place finish at 195 pounds with a victory over the Patriots Mike Melchoirre with a fall late in the match after trailing most of the match.
Four SOL teams finished in the top five at the New Hope-Solebury Invitational as Abington grabbed third place with Upper Moreland fourth. Upper Dublin and Central Bucks West tied for fifth place. Upper Moreland lightweights and brothers, Jason Amy (113) and Matt Amy (120) won championships. Teammate Pat Walker was crowned the champ at 195 pounds with a fall in the finals. Upper Moreland female wrestler Amanda Walker was the runner-up at 106 as she looks to have a solid season this year. Upper Dublin had a pair of champs in Colin Devlin at 145 and freshmen standout Mason Novak at 152. CB West had its lone champ at 138 pounds as Ryan Tiernan defeated New Hope-Solebury’s Chris Thompson 12-5 in the finals. Abington - with a bit more depth - only had one champ with Shane Rose at 160, Keshon Guiellmo, a regional qualifier a year ago, finished second up at 220. The Ghosts’ David McCaughey won the consolation bracket at 182 to enable the Ghosts to be the top SOL team on the opening weekend at New Hope-Solebury.
Council Rock North opened their 2015-16 campaign at the Brian Bealer Memorial Duals at Boyertown H.S. The Indians fared well, finishing third with a 41-31 win over Governor Mifflin. CR North went 4-1 on the day, and as always will be right there in the team race with CRS in the National Conference, and ever present at the District One Duals at the end of the season.
Neshaminy went 4-1 to open their dual season, finishing second to Stroudsburg 28-36. The Skins trounced traditional Catholic League stalwart LaSalle 72-11, and secured a solid victory over the Lehigh Valley’s Bethlehem Freedom 45-30 at Freedom’s Battle of Bethlehem.
Pennsbury finished eighth at the Saucon Valley Tournament. Antonio Martoccio was crowned the champ at 113 and Connor Joyce picked up an extra win with his true second victory over Chase Pavelko from Emmaus by major decision (13-1).
Abington H.S. will host the Ghost Town Duals this Saturday with SOL Teams looking to make some noise. Host Abington, Pennsbury, Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Moreland, Wissahickon and Quakertown will tussle with PAC 10 power Spring-Ford, the Catholic League’s Father Judge, and the Central League’s rep Upper Darby. The 10-team field will include Northeast from the Philadelphia Public League as well. Wrestling starts at 8:30am with the final rounds scheduled for 4:30pm.
CR South travels to Central Mountain H.S. for the King of the Mountain tourney, CR North heads to Penn Manor to mention a couple of other weekend tourneys for SOL teams.
Early team rankings for the SOL are as follows:
1-Council Rock South
2-Pennridge
3-Council Rock North
4-Pennsbury
5-Neshaminy
*Quakertown has yet to wrestle
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