By Alex Frazier
It was a special night for Jamie Callender.
The Council Rock North junior was wrestling in his home gym for the first time this year.
And he gave his hometown fans something to cheer about.
Although there was no Outstanding Wrestler award at the Southeast Regional championships, Callender would certainly have been in contention.
His 11-6 overtime win against Springfield Delco’s Andre Petroski gave Callender his second regional title. He also beat Petroski last year to earn his first title.
“I was excited to win my senior year and in my gym,” he said. “I love wrestling at home.”
After winning its fourth straight district title last week, Council Rock South earned the team championship, compiling 111 points to second place to LaSalle’s 93. Upper Moreland finished fourth (68.5) and Council Rock North was fifth (67.5).
“Back to back to back,” said South coach Brad Silimperi. “That’s been our motto all year. That’s a pretty good run these guys are on. I’m extremely pleased and proud of the kids. They get better and better each week. They find ways to win when it counts most.”
The Golden Hawks will be taking six wrestlers to the state tournament, which begins Thursday.
Central Bucks West’s Bubba McGinley fell short of another trip to states, but he carried home a large trophy for receiving the Southeastern Pennsylvania Officials Association Sportsmanship Award.
“I had no idea I was going to get it,” he said. “It means a lot that the referees and other wrestlers and coaches recognized me as a good sport.”
Matt Rappo was the lone South champion. He met Quakertown’s Scott Wolfinger in the finals for the second week in a row. After a close 7-5 bout the previous week, Rappo opened up a bit this week, winning 10-6.
“I shot a lot more this weekend,” he said. “I kept moving and scrambling more and scoring more points instead of waiting to see what he did.”
Rappo said that last year’s regional title was more exciting.
“I was expected to win this year,” he said. “Not being expected to win and coming out on top (last year) feels a lot better.”
Rappo is hoping to three-peat next year and become South’s first three-time regional champ.
Pennsbury’s Josh DiSanto made it three titles in a row and is the only southeast regional wrestler to advance to states with an undefeated record.
Council Rock North’s John Dutrow took DiSanto down in the first period, but his lead was short-lived as DiSanto rolled him with a Peterson for five points en route to a 10-4 decision.
“Dutrow surprised me,” said DiSanto, “but I knew I could get back from it. I didn’t want to let it get to me. I kept the pressure on him.”
It was the freshman’s first regional title, but he’s not about to rest on his laurels.
“I feel really good,” he said, “but now I have to look at what I have to do to get better for states. I’m definitely going out there ready to win it.”
On the other hand, teammate Josh Dziewa captured his third regional title. His seven-pin post-season win streak came to an end in the semifinals when he was only able to major Oxford’s Kyle Moran, 10-1, and then in the finals, he actually broke a sweat trying to score points on Boyertown’s Alex Pellicciotti in a 1-0 decision.
It was Dziewa’s third victory over Pellicciotti.
“He didn’t do much,” he said. “I was trying to create action. He’s super strong, but he was content losing 1-0. I didn’t feel like he tried to score at all. I’ll take the victory, but I’m going to work on improving and extend the lead by next week.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh’s John Staudenmayer won his first regional title in another classic battle with Upper Moreland’s John Bolich.
The two wrestled in last week’s District North final. Staudenmayer won 3-1, but two of his three points came on stalling calls.
This week he worked on finishing off his single leg takedown, and it paid off with a first period takedown.
“All week, it was ‘finish the single, finish the single,’” he said. “It was about 100 a day. I’m happy that I was able to step up my game this week.”
The match of the night came at 189 with Callender and Petroski.
Petroski took the early lead with a takedown. After he cut Callender in both the first and second periods, the match was all knotted at two entering the final period.
Callender let Petroski up and was taken down almost immediately to trail 5-2.
Callender escaped with 1:24 left and took Petroski down to tie the score at five with 37 seconds left.
The match went into overtime with neither scoring in the first period. Callender escaped in the second and then snapped Petroski down and spun around for a takedown with three seconds left to go up 8-5.
In the third period, Petroski was called for three cautions, giving Callender an 11-5 lead. Petroski escaped late to make it 11-6.
“We always have exciting matches,” said Callender. “I was looking forward to it. I kind of came out flatfooted and a little slow. I changed the pace a little bit and it worked out well.”
Souderton’s Joe Stolfi also made it three for three in the post-season, by winning his first regional title with a 6-3 decision over Oxford’s Nick Ruggear.
Last year he lost to Ruggear in the semifinals.
“I know he’s phenomenal,” he said. “I wrestled him twice and I was watching him wrestle a couple of times today. He’s really good on his feet, really quick, good technique.”
Indeed Ruggear almost took Stolfi down a few times, but each time he was either able to fend him off or convert Ruggear’s shot into a takedown of his own as he did in the third period.
“I tried to take advantage of some of his mistakes,” said Stolfi, ‘and do a few of my own things too. I wanted to do my best today. I worked hard all week. I knew I had a tough bracket.”
There were several other wrestlers who didn’t win championships that will be making their first trip to states.
After missing it the last two years, Hatboro-Horsham’s Matt Harkins will be going to Hershey Thursday by taking second at 119. Hatter teammate Nick Lynch will also go after placing fourth at 171. The list also includes Kevin Flack of William Tennent (third at 112) and Dutrow of Council Rock North (second at 112), Shane Longstreth of Council Rock North (fourth at 119), Seth Ehlo of Central Buck West (fourth at 135), Brett Harner of Norristown (fourth at 145), Tim Riley of Council Rock South (fourth at 145), Nick Russell of Neshaminy (third at 152) and Marcus Robins of Norristown (third at 285).
Southeast Regional Wrestling Tournament
(at Council Rock North)
Team standings: 1. Council Rock South 111, 2. LaSalle 93, 3. Boyertown 84.5, 4. Upper Moreland 68.5, 5. Council Rock North 67.5, 6. Northeast Catholic 56, 7. Norristown 48, 8. Methacton 46.5, 9. Plymouth Whitemarsh 40.5, 10. Great Valley 39.5, 11. Hatboro-Horsham 38, 11. West Chester Rustin 38, 13. Quakertown 37, 14. Springfield Delco 36.5 15. Spring-Ford 32, 16. Pottsgrove 28, 16. Unionville 28, 18. Garnet Valley 27, 19. Oxford 26, 20 Downingtown East 24
Championship finals
103—Corey McQuiston (WCR) major dec. Billy Rappo (CRS), 13-0
112—Josh DiSanto (Pb) dec. John Dutrow (CRN), 10-4
119—Matt Malfaro (Bt) dec. Matt Harkins (HH), 11-9
125—Matt Rappo (CRS) dec. Scott Wolfinger (Q), 10-6
130—Mason Popham (U) dec. Matt Cimato (L), 6-5
135—Josh Dziewa (CRS) dec. Alex Pellicciotti (Bt), 1-0
140—Anthony White (NEC) won by injury default over Joseph Marino (GaV), 5:58
145—Thomas Demetrio (Pg) dec. Brandon Parker (No), 6-3
152—Shane Springer (L) dec. Will Resnick (Pc) 6-1
160—John Staudenmayer (PW) dec. John Bolich (UMo), 5-0
171—Robbie Fitzgerald (DE) dec. James Nicholson (UMo), 2-2 RO
189—Jamie Callender (CRN) dec. Andre Petroski (Sp), 11-6 OT
215—Joe Stolfi (S) dec. Nick Ruggear (O) 6-3
285—Dave Dewan (Sp) dec. William Carter (Pt), 7-6
Consolation finals
103—Rob D’Annunzio (Me) dec. Mike McCall (NEC) 6-5
112—Kevin Flack (WT) dec. Collin Henry (GrV) 3-2
119—Nick Bongard (Bonner) dec. Shane Longstreth (CRN), 6-2
125—Casey Kent (L) dec. Jeremy Minich (Bt), 9-7 SV
130—Luke Bilyeu (H) dec. Tim Santry (UMo), 3-1
135—Joey Mazzi (L) dec. Seth Ehlo (CBW), 5-2
140—Matt Martoccio (CRS) dec. Brett Harner (No), 7-0
145—Kyle Duffy (SF) dec. Tim Riley (CRS), 4-1
152—Nick Russell (Ne) dec. Greg Lanctot (CRN), 3-1
160—Bobby Scheivert (Chi) pinned Matt Kreuger (SF), 2:29
171—Bobby Lavelle (CRS) major dec. Nick Lynch (HH), 14-2
189—Zach Heffner (Bt) dec. Dan Cox (Me), 8-1
215—Brandan Clark (Me) won by injury default over Scott Syrek (OJR)
285—Marcus Robbins (No) pinned Ryan Geiger (L), :39
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