This week’s wrestling notebook recaps some of last week’s highlights and also includes the first SOL Top Guns list.
WRESTLING NOTEBOOK VOL. 3
BEAST OF THE EAST:
Pennridge finished 16th overall in the team standings at the 2013 Beast of the East, arguably the toughest high school wrestling tournament in the country. The Rams were led by Beast champion at 120 pounds, Scott Parker. Parker, seeded third, defeated the number two seed, Austin Assad (Brecksville) 3-2 in the semifinals on his way to the finals. There he handled the #1 seed, Brent Fleetwood (Smyrna), 5-1, to capture the title.
Ben Ross at 126 pounds finished fourth and Kyle Gentile eighth at 160 pounds. The Rams’ three place winners amassed enough points to crack the top 20 with 76 points. Blair captured the team title once again with 272 points. Ben Ross came into the tournament as the sixth seed and had an extremely tough bracket. He defeated Ohio’s #3 David Bavery (Massillon Perry) 5-1 in the quarters but lost to Bethlehem Catholic’s Zeke Moisey (#2) in the semis. In the consolation finals, he lost a close 4-3 decision to Waynesburg’s A.C Headlee (#4) to finish in fourth place overall. Norristown High School’s Mike Springer placed eighth at 152 pounds.
SOL DUALS:
In perhaps the best SOL dual of the week, Neshaminy escaped with a 39-37 win over a much improved Bensalem team. The match came down to the final bout with Bensalem needing a fall to secure the victory without having to go to criteria after Josh Shalinsky upset the Redskins Nate Russell with a shocking fall in 5:06 of their bout at 160. The Owls Donavin Williams could only secure a 3-0 decision at 170 over Ben Stern. Shalinsky’s fall brought the Owls to within five points in the team score (39-34) heading to the Williams/Stern bout.
Elsewhere in the National Conference, CR South put a halt to Truman’s early season momentum with an easy 47-12 victory. North took down Abington 63-11. Pennsbury is somewhat of an unknown at this point; however, with a 40 to 36 win over a solid William Tennent team, the Ghosts still look to defend their share of the conference title.
In the Continental, Souderton used bonus points in each of their seven victories over Hatboro-Horsham for a 36-28 win. The Indians’ Phillip Stolfi sealed the deal in the final bout of the evening at 170 pounds, pinning Insung Hwang in 2:32. H-H had some momentum at 132 as Matt Swiacki avenged an earlier season loss to Hunter Moore 8-4 to make the team score 22-19. Back and forth wins for both teams, that included a critical 4-0 decision for the Hatters at 145 from Brad Humski over Brett Hale, and Connor Bodnar’s (H-H) fall at 160, brought H-H within two at 30-28.
In other Continental action, the trend continued with close bouts as North Penn squeaked by Central Bucks South 33-30. CB East dominated CBW 53-22, as the Patriots strong tournament team is shaping up to be a solid dual team.
The American team’s are also rather bunched up at this point with improved Plymouth- Whitmarsh in the mix winning easily 62-12 over Cheltenham. Norristown continued its domination over Upper Dublin with a 44-34 tally. With Wissahickon already holding a loss handed to them by Upper Moreland, it would seem here that unless the Trojans can regroup for a big win against Norristown, it will be the Bears and the Eagles tangling for the title. The Bears went unchallenged against Upper Merion 70-6.
Christmas Tournament Preview:
13th Annual Wetzel Holiday Classic
Several SOL teams will stay at home for Christmas as they compete at Hatboro-Horsham H.S. in the Wetzel Classic. The Wetzel has become a rather competitive tournament over the years, and as always will feature new teams, and great semifinal and final bouts.
This year Germantown Academy, Polytech H.S. from Delaware, and Pennsbury join the field. Returning to the tournament will be Norristown. The 24-team field is filled with state qualifiers and some medal winners. Other SOL teams include: Abington, Cheltenham, CB East, Upper Merion, and host Hatboro-Horsham. Downingtown East will attempt to defend last year’s title here as the top team. However, Germantown Academy, CB East, and an always strong tournament team, Norristown will look to dethrone them. Unknown Polytech will venture into PA with thoughts of a championship as well. The first team to win the Wetzel team title was from Maryland (Annapolis H.S.), so keep an eye on the foes from Delaware.
Some super weights will be in the middle weight classes at 138, 145 & 152. 138 will feature Evan Wilson (CBE), Nate Chaclas (Unionville), Austin Lillis (Downingtown East), and Pennsbury’s Eric Mongiello. 145 will feature returning state place (5th) winner Francesco Fabozzi (CBE), Brad Humski (HH), & Jared Gober (GA). 152 will be the deepest weight class with former state placer Mikey Springer (Norr.), state qualifier Shane Ruhnke (Great Valley), Richie Cerebe (Calvary Christian), Connor Bodnar (HH), Kristian Kirgedes (GA), and Pottsgrove’s Nico Demetrio. With the two-pound Christmas growth allowance we could see some individuals dropping a weight class for the first time. Some of District One’s best heavies will be on hand to do battle with Sean Snodgrass (Down. E.), Dean Lang (Great Valley), Shaheed Hill (Norr.) and Unionville’s Will Hart. This weight class could be a preview of the SE Region group that could contend for spots in Hershey. Other top-ranked D1 wrestlers include: 106-Alex Shaffer (CBE) and Justin Altrogge (Norr.), 113-Eric Fuentes (Norr.), 120-Phil Torresani (HH), 126-Wade Cummings (Down. E.), 132-Jared Leonetti (Down. E.), 160-Nick Giangiulio (Perk Valley) and Mike Caldwell (Unionville), 170-Rashon Lusane (Norr.) and Chris Jarani (Down. E.), along with John Grossi (GA) 195-Adam Pleines (Down. E.) and Chris DeFrancesco (Pottsgrove).
Friday 12/27/13 wrestling starts at 11:30 am and concludes by 9:00 pm, Saturday 12/28/13 wrestling starts at 9:00am, semi-finals at 10:30am, and finals scheduled for 5:00pm.
So come on out to see some great local wrestling at H-H. There is a full double elimination JV event as well for all competing teams.
Bethlehem Holiday Classic @ Bethlehem Liberty
Council Rock, North Penn, Quakertown, and Pennridge travel to the Lehigh Valley for this always rugged Christmas tournament. Scott Parker fresh off his Beast title will look to capture another title in this early season event. Ben Ross also looks for another Bethlehem title. Reimel and Price from North Penn will also look to improve on their Beast performances here. Quakertown’s Collyn Dorney will battle some of the state’s best at 113. CR South continues its brutal tournament schedule (still ahead Escape the Rock) with the Martoccio brothers, and super frosh’s Riley Palmer and Zack Trampe at 106 and 120 respectively.
Penn/Jersey Duals at Harry S Truman
Truman hosts their annual duals with a PA/NJ field that includes William Tennent. Truman is led by Dylan Nuttal at 113 and Jesse Huber at 170. Tennent studs are Richie Strain at 182 and Marc Isaac at 220.
Other: CR North travels to the Manheim tourney while Neshaminy and P-W head to Governor Mifflin. CB West is at Boiling Springs, and at the Delco Duals will be Upper Dublin, and Upper Moreland.
It will be a busy weekend for the locals and a hot holiday weekend in PIAA wrestling through out the state. Stay tuned for results.
SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE-TOP GUNS
106 Riley Palmer (Council Rock South)
113 Collyn Dorney (Quakertown)
120 Scott Parker (Pennridge)
126 Ben Ross (Pennridge)
132 Tommy Stokes (Bensalem)
138 Evan Wilson (Central Bucks East)
145 Fransesco Fabozzi (Central Bucks East)
152 Mike Springer (Norristown)
160 Bryan Jastrzebski (Central Bucks West)
170 Rashon Lusane (Norristown)
182 Alex Price (North Penn)
195 Noah Kisselback (Neshaminy)
220 Marc Issac (William Tennent)
285 Shaheed Hill (Norristown)
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