This week’s notebook features the upcoming Escape the Rock Tournament at CR South and recaps some of last weekend’s action.
Escape The Rock (ETR) Tournament Brings Big Time Wrestling to
Council Rock South
By Glenn Kaiser
This Saturday and Sunday, many of the biggest names in wrestling will descend upon the Richboro area for one of the nation’s most prestigious wrestling tournaments at Council Rock South High School. The Golden Hawks 
will host the 10th Annual Escape The Rock Tournament. Three SOL teams will be represented when wrestling kicks off Saturday at 10:30am – Council Rock North, Pennridge, and the host Council Rock South. The finals are scheduled for a 5:45pm start Sunday. Also in the field is the #1 ranked AAA team in PA and nationally ranked (Amateur Wrestling News-AWN #24) Bethlehem Catholic . Several other teams participating have received various national rankings – Boyertown, Cumberland Valley (AWN #19), Colonial Forge (VA), and Battlefield (VA). Additionally PA’s top teams represented according to PA Power Rankings are: (AAA) #1 Becca, #5 Boyertown, #7 Cumberland Valley, #11 CR South, #15 Pennridge, #17 Central Mountain, #18 Parkland, #19 Exeter, and # 21 Owen J Roberts. (AA) #22 Berlin Brothersvalley.
Amongst those teams are many individual wrestlers who are ranked both in their respective states and nationally. Local wrestlers in the group include CR South’s Riley Palmer (106) and Zack Trampe (126), both ranked #1 in their weight classes by PA Power Rankings, along with Pennridge’s #2 Matt Parker (106), #2 Kordell Rush (113), #5 Kyle Gentile (170), and #7 Joe Kracz (285). Council Rock North’s Aidan Burke is ranked #10 at 113 pounds. The potential match-up of Palmer versus Parker in the 106-pound final is intriguing and will likely be one of many this season between these two.
Although the ETR does not get the top billing like the Ironman, Powerade, Reno, or the Beast, it certainly ranks up there nationally as one of the best individual tournaments in the country. Any time you bring nationally ranked kids and teams together, it brings a certain air to the gym. All will battle for the famous championship belt as they try to escape the rock.
Last weekend’s results for SOL Teams included a second place finish for CR South at the Virginia Duals National High School Division. CR South knocked off Don Bosco Prep(NJ) 46-21 in the semifinals. Bosco came into the match ranked #27 in the country according to AWN. However, without Riley Palmer in the line-up, the Golden Hawks could not overcome a powerful Colonial Forge (VA) team in the finals, dropping a 43-15 decision. Golden Hawk wrestlers could get a shot at some of the Colonial Forge wrestlers this weekend on their home soil as they battle at the ETR.
Souderton hosted a dual event over the weekend, which included Pennsbury. This tournament had a Mid-Atlantic flavor with the participation of Woodstown (NJ) and Gonzaga College (DC). Pennsbury went 3-1, and Souderton 1-3 in pool round matches. Common opponents were Woodstown and AA PA power Pen Argyl. Woodstown got the best of both with Souderton dropping a 40-27 decision while Pennsbury lost 42-30. Pennsbury nipped Pen Argyl 42-39 while Pen Argyl squeaked by the Souderton 39-36.
Hatboro-Horsham also hit the road against out of state competition at Collingswood, NJ. The Hatters could only capture one win as they routed Maple Shade (NJ) 57-18. H-H dropped matches to powerful Pequannock from North Central New Jersey, and to prep team Holy Cross. Nick Guiliani went 3-0 at 120 pounds for the Hatters. The out of state and inter-state battles for local SOL teams only better prepares wrestlers for the post-season grind.
One of the few Saturday night matches you’ll see locally all year in the SOL was wrestled this past weekend, and Pennridge may have secured first place in the SOL Continental with a solid 39-21 dual win over the Panthers from Quakertown. The Panthers could not hang with the upper weight strength of the Rams, dropping six of seven bouts from 152 to 285.
In the American Conference, it may be Upper Dublin that challenges Plymouth-Whitmarsh for the title as the Flying Cardinals were able to edge the Upper Moreland Golden Bears 39-36 last Wednesday. The Cardinals did it with middleweight strength fueled by key wins by Talib Davis at 132 and Aaron Katz at 145, along with falls at 126, Alex Bonczkiewicz, and Luiz Lozada at 152. Sandwiched in between was a forfeit to standout 132-pounder Colin Devlin, giving UD the bonus points needed to capture the win. UD faces P-W Wednesday 1/14/15 in the Colonials gym.
Abington stayed closed to home at the Lions Duals hosted by Academy of the New Church and went 4-1 as the Ghosts had a nice win over Upper Dublin (43-33) in a non-league SOL battle.
North Penn headed to the Lehigh Valley cod the Parkland Duals. The Knights had a nice showing, winning two bouts while dropping three. NP had a convincing win over District I South’s Downingtown West (49-12) while dropping a close one with perennial Delaware power Ceasar Rodney (39-29). Any time you travel to the “Valley” to wrestle, it only builds character and strength for the rough road to Hershey.
The District I Duals bracket will be set this Sunday. Early predictions have as many as six SOL teams in the 16-team field. Most likely Council Rock South and Pennridge will be among the top four seeds, joining them for an opportunity to wrestle in the State Team Championships will be Council Rock North, Pennsbury, Quakertown, and Plymouth-Whitemarsh. The top four teams will advance to the State Duals. The new format for the team championship bracket can be found at www.PIAA.org
About the Author
