Council Rock South advanced to the state team championships with its runner-up finish in District Duals. Glenn Kaiser recaps all the action.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH ADVANCES TO THE PIAA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Glenn Kaiser
The Council Rock South Golden Hawks return to Hershey, PA, for the AAA PIAA Team Championships in the Giant Center this Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, for an 8 pm match-up with Erie Cathedral Prep (District 10 Champion). The Golden Hawks held their #2 seed in the District One Duals, finishing in second place to #1 seed Boyertown, who “three-peated” with their third consecutive title - winning in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The Boyertown Bears handled the Golden Hawks 40-21 in the championship bout this past Saturday afternoon. CR South was right back at it Monday night at home against District 12’s runner-up Archbishop Wood, with the winner moving on to the championship bracket of the PIAA Team Championships to be held at the Giant Center Thursday to Saturday, Feb. 11-13. The Golden Hawks easily downed Wood with a convincing 60-12 victory.
The Golden Hawks had to claw their way through a very difficult draw in the bottom half of the bracket in which they were matched up against an improving Owen J Roberts team in the quarterfinals. The Hawks were able to post some bonus points in several matches to propel them past the Wildcats in the final six bouts of the match. Mike McKinney got things started at 120 pounds with the Golden Hawks trailing OJR 30-6 in the team score as he posted a major decision over Adian Renn 12-4. CR South was only able to win two bouts throught the first eight matches of the evening, which started out at 160 pounds and a Shane Flanagan (CRS) victory. Zack Trampe (132), Lucas Martoccio (145), and Dylan Schwartz (152) did the most damage to the Wildcats upset bid with two falls and tech fall respectively. South standouts Ben Radner (126) and Riley Palmer (138) secured decisions over quality opponents along the six-match string of victories for the Golden Hawks to complete the come from behind win,33-30.
Things did not get easier for South as it was pitted against #3 Downingtown East in the one semifinal. The anticipation of Zack Trampe and Wade Cummings doing battle in this one did not end up being as critical, as the Golden Hawks won nine of the fourteen bouts, reaching the finals with a solid 44-21 victory. Trampe suffered his first loss of the season to Cummings 4-3, but Trampe’s teammates picked him up as Riley Palmer handled Nik Zimmerman 11-6 at 138, and bonus points were recorded by South in the final bouts with Nick Verdi (145) tech falling East’s Jake Neubaum 16-1. Lucas Martoccio moved up to 152 and Dylan Schwartz bumped to 160 to seal the deal with two pin falls.
With the victory over the Downingtown East, it was on to the finals for South and a match-up with Boyertown (currently ranked #3 in PA according to PA Power Rankings). CR South - ranked #7 by PA Power Rankings - gave the Bears a challenge, but in the end, Boyertown was too much for the Golden Hawks, winning 40-21. There were many key match-ups in this one with top-ranked guys going at it almost every bout. Riley Palmer (138) and Lucas Martoccio (145) remained perfect in their championship matches, notching victories early for South, as the match began at 138-pounds. Zack Trampe rebounded after his only loss of the season Friday night with an explosive third period, downing Boyertown’s Garrett Mauger to record a major decision 14-6. Dylan Schwartz (160) and Joe Doyle (195) also picked up wins for CR South.
Monday night was a much easier road to Hershey for the Golden Hawks, as the Archbishop Wood Vikings had no answers for CR South. Wood won only three bouts on the evening as the Golden Hawks tore apart the Vikings 60-12. The Hawks pinned down Wood six times. Lucas Martoccio started the pin fest at 152-pounds and Nick Verdi closed out the match at 145-pounds with a pin of his own. In between, Dylan Schwartz (160), Joe Doyle (195), Brandon Kohn (220), and Zack Trampe (132) added falls for South.
Pennridge had some success in the District One Duals, notching a come-from-behind victory over Garnet Valley in Round One to advance to the quarterfinals against Dowingtown East. But in the end, after downing Owen J Roberts 35-29 in the first round of the wrestle backs, the Rams could not return to the state duals after dropping a heartbreaking 35-30 match to Upper Darby in the consi-semis. Upper Darby posted bonus points in six of their eight of their victories over Pennridge wrestlers.
Against Downingtown East, Pennridge tied things up 20-20 after Kordell Rush earned a major decision over Downingtown East’s Connor Birzes 13-love. But Pennridge freshman Evan Widing could not fight off East’s stud Wade Cummings at 132 pounds, as Cummings recorded a fall in the second period, and Nik Zimmerman followed Cummings at 138, decking the Rams’ Christian Cooper. The Rams had a chance at tying the match up with two bouts left and needing two falls to go to criteria, but David Nahas at 145 and David Blanchard (152) could only notch major decisions to dash any hopes for the Rams making the final score 32-28.
Notes: Downingtown East’s Wade Cummings recorded his 100th career fall during the tournament as he and CR South’s Zack Trampe ramp up for at least one more match-up should they both stay at 132-pounds in the post-season. CR South will look to advance Thursday night over Cathedral Prep to set up a quarterfinal match with Belle Vernon (ranked #2 in AAA by PA Power Rankings) the #1 team from District 7.
Hatboro-Horsham downed Upper Moreland 56-23 in the “Battle of the Border” at Upper Moreland to take the trophy home for the second straight year in this non-league SOL rival match. UM’s Patrick Walker decked H-H’s Nick Chapman in the featured bout of the afternoon. Amanda Walker improved to 16-5 on the season with a fall at 106 pounds. The H-H Wrestling Warriors recorded six pins on the day, with heavies Nick Schuck (220) improving to 19-9 on the season with 12 falls, and Matt Chapman (285) upping his record to 22-4 with 17 falls as he recorded his 50th career fall against the Golden Bears.
North Penn hosted the Junior Varsity Season Finale on Saturday - thanks to the North Penn tournament staff for hosting the event and Shetts for his contribution to the Coaches Room.
Wissahickon picked up two victories at the Cougar Duals held at Martin Luther King HS, downing Penn Charter 45-27 and Springside-CHA 42-30. Norristown was impressive with its non-league victory over the PAC 10’s Pottsgrove (51-23) as the Eagles officially have been crowned the SOL American Conference Champs. Norristown and Upper Merion will be departing the SOL next season for the PAC 10.
CR South wins the National Conference and North Penn the Continental. Congrats to all three 2016 SOL Champs. Next up for several SOL teams this Saturday is the Shoemaker Scuffle (dual tourney hosted by Radnor). Norristown, Hatboro-Horsham, Pennsbury, Spingfield, and North Penn will compete. Neshaminy hosts the Redskin Duals with the ‘Skins, Bensalem, CB West, CB South, and Plymouth-Whitmarsh all competing in these rescheduled events from the blizzard of 2016. Upper Moreland travels to the Lancer Tournament at Central HS, and Upper Dublin to the Interboro Invitational.
SOL Team Rankings:
1-Council Rock South 15-1
2-Pennridge 12-3
3-North Penn 14-4
3-Quakertown 14-8
4-Neshaminy 13-5
- Log in to post comments
