District 1 East photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f843008868
LAST STOP ON THE ROAD TO HERSHEY
DISTRICT I SECTIONAL RESULTS & SOUTHEAST REGIONAL PREVIEW
by Glenn Kaiser
Prospect Park, PA-The 2023 District One Sectionals took place on Saturday February 25, 2023, at four different sites, but none was more explosive then the D1 South Section, hosted by Interboro, that featured fireworks on and off the mat. Plymouth-Whitemarsh exploded with a second-place finish in the team race, nearly thwarting Strath Haven of the title. PW advanced six wrestlers to the Southeast Regional tournament this coming weekend at Souderton HS. The top-five grapplers in each weight-class will advance to the PIAA (AAA) Individual Championships, which will be contested Friday, March 9- 11, 2023, at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA.
Strath Haven tallied 187.5 points to PW’s 165, both teams had three champions, but SH advanced seven grapplers to regionals and had more bonus points in the end 
through both the finals and consolation placement bouts. PW was led by their champs with surprise Sean Odom at 127-pounds who came into the D1 tournament at 6-12, top-seeded senior Mohammed Charabi (145) and Ty Borkowski (152). Odom has turned his season around, according to P-W assistant coach Marcus Johnson, with a lot of hard work, dedication and advanced learning since the start of the season. Odom pinned his way to the finals with his length and strength, and in the finals, he downed Ridley’s Nick Dellarocca 4-1 for the 127-pound crown in an upside-down bracket. Charabi, on the other hand, seeded first at 145 decked fellow SOL member Elias Abebe (Upper Dublin) in his final. And Borkowski is hitting stride here in the postseason, taking out #1-seeded Rocco Hartfuss (Ridley) 4-3 in his 152-championship bout.
The only other SOL champ coming out of the South Section is Hatboro-Horsham’s Chris Staub who beat Upper Dublin’s Danny Gorman by decision 9-3. Staub has beat Gorman six times in PIAA action, both Staub and Gorman know one another from the way back machine and youth wrestling. H-H advanced three to the SE Region as Ryan Allgeier (114) and Andy Alameda-Guzman (215) both finished as the runner-up in their respective weight classes. Allgeier was downed by the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler, Haverford’s Cole McFarland, with a first-period fall.
Upper Dublin will also be represented at regionals with six grapplers. Despite no champs they captured three silvers and a bronze to go along with two fourth place finishers. Jake Evans advanced at 107-pounds with his second place performance in a loaded SE Region weight-class. Zach Gallagher won the bronze at 114 for the Flying Cardinals. Wissahickon redeemed what was a lost dual meet season, advancing three to the next pit stop to Chocolate Town, USA. Nathaniel Chez continues on with his fine season with a second place finish at 172, and he’ll be joined by fellow big men Evan Prestipino (189) and 215-pounder Tyler Prince who both finished third.
Cheltenham validated their excellent dual meet season, advancing five wrestlers who all finished out in the consolations, but four of them garnered bronze. Panther Head Coach Rob Weneck had to fight off the crowd and opposing coaches all day, but it was well worth it as his guys performed well on the mats. Connor Stegman (107) just keeps on going, as he avenged an earlier tourney loss (UTB 8-7) to Haverford’s Micah Lozano with a fall over Lozano in the consolation final. Rah-Miere Sanders won by SV 6-4 over UD’s Caden Cerminaro in the bronze battle at 121 and Arthur Gordon impressed at 160 to get some precious metal. Corey Bradley conquered the Colonials Justin Bainbridge 3-2 for his bronze.
It will be tough sledding for these SOL warriors from the South, but as always there will be fireworks, upsets and intrigue as it is all on the line at regionals, the last stop before sweetness.
In the North Sectional at Perk Valley, Souderton advanced five ,led by A.J. Stayton who finished second at 133-pounds. Charlie Arobone (121) and Andrew Hallman (145) both won their respective consi-brackets, and Ben Beckett (172) and Kole Lester (189) round out the Indians reps at regions, where they get to wrestle at home. Not too shabby for Souderton, advancing a handful of wrestlers in a rugged section loaded with individual talent from the Pioneer Athletic Conference and some Central League studs.
To advance individually in the postseason from week-to-week on the long road to the Giant Center a wrestler must be able to turn it up a notch each match, avenge losses, keep matches close, correct mistakes, find a way and have some luck on their side. That is exactly what happened in Quakertown’s gym in the D1 Section-East as Pennridge won the team title with all of those ingredients. The Rams’ Colby Martinelli won the 107-pound championship (6-4 decision) over familiar foe Connor Lenahan from Council Rock South, which he had lost to twice already this season. Ryan Gallagher kept it close (7-6 loss) with Bekhruz Sadriddinov (CRS) at 160-pounds in the quarterfinals and came back to take third. Sadriddinov won the bracket at 160. Pennridge outdistanced both the Golden Hawks and host Quakertown, advancing 10-wrestlers tallying 242-points to CRS’s 195.5 and Q-town’s 175-points for title.
On the flip side for Pennridge, Cole Coffin (114) and Sam Kuhns (139) suffered losses they probably didn’t see coming. Coffin was shut out 5-0 by Central Bucks West’s phenom freshman Chris Dennis in their championship bout. Kuhns, in a stacked weight-class, lost his semifinal to Q-town’s Gavin Carroll by a late fall but wrestled-back to take the bronze. As I predicted, this section was won in the consolations where Pennridge was able to rack up both bonus points and additional match advancement points. Correct again was my forethought that the Panthers would have the most champs, and they did with four: Mason Ziegler (121), Collin Gaj (145), Zack Borzio (152) and Calvin Lachman (215) were crowned champs in their home gym. Q-town advances six grapplers to the SE Region, while CRS while put nine grapplers on the mats at Souderton.
CR South’s other champ was Ben Brillhart at 133-pounds who is peaking at the right time. Pennridge’s other champion was Talan Hogan at 172-pounds. With these top-3 squads snatching eight titles the other five were distributed out between 5 other teams: Eren Sement (CR North) at 127lbs., Jake Neill (CB South) 139lbs., Walker Murray (Pennsbury) 189lbs. and Joe Collins (CB East) heavyweight along with CB West’s Dennis.
The SE Region will see a similar battle for the team title with these top-three teams in D1, look for Spring-Ford and Owen J Roberts from the PAC, Sun Valley (Ches-Mont) and Strath Haven to push them in the team standings. Nonetheless, the SOL and D1 East Section teams have the best talent in all the region this season, look for a boatload of SOL wrestlers advance to Chocolate Town, USA this weekend.
This weekend’s SE Regional will be tough to predict, but here goes (Top Five advancing to Hershey, maybe not in order…).
**2022 PIAA State Place-winners
*2022 PIAA State Qualifiers
107-pounds:
The SOL and SE Region has traditionally had great lightweights, especially up to 125-pounds (127 now) over the years. And this year both the SE Region and SOL mighty mites should garner plenty of hardware. This is Perk Valley’s Max Tancini’s weight-class to lose, but Colby Martinelli (Pennridge) is hot. Connor Lenahan (CRS) will have revenge on his mind.
1. Max Tancini (Perkiomen Valley) 40-6
2. *Curtis Nelson (Ridley) 30-2
3. Colby Martinelli (Pennridge) 30-5
4. *Gus Smith (Spring-Ford) 24-10
5. Connor Lenahan (Council Rock South) 37-9
114-pounds:
Expect another rematch between Pennridge’s Cole Coffin and CB West’s Chris Dennis in the consolation final. Cole Smith (Spring-Ford) is the top-gun here for now, and Haverford’s Cole McFarland is a tough out for anyone in this Cole-class. Luke Reitter (CRS), PIAA 8th in 2022, may be left home? This weight-class features five returning SQs and medalists.
1. *Cole Smith (S-F) 33-1
2. **Cole McFarland (Haverford) 21-4
3. Chris Dennis (Central Bucks West) 27-3
4. *Cole Coffin (Pennridge) 33-5
5. *Luke Heimbach (Boyertown) 34-9
121-pounds:
Q-town’s Mason Ziegler is on a mission for metal, and he should see Patty Woloshyn (CRS) again in the regional final. The SOL will be well represented here at states. This weight class features three freshmen phenoms who will gather several state medals over the coming years…
1. *Mason Ziegler (Quakertown) 38-4
2. Pat Woloshyn (CRS) 24-14
3. *Branden Rozanski (Upper Perkiomen) 30-4
4. Pierce Kane (CR North) 20-9
5. Quinn McBride (Pennridge) 20-5
127-pounds:
CRN’s Eren Sement is rock solid, and the cement will be drying on his competition. As soon as he steps on the mat, he will be a favorite to win gold in Hershey. Everyone else will be looking to ride his coat tails. CB West’s Patrick Kelly will stamp his ticket to the big dance in his sophomore campaign.
1. **Eren Sement (CRN) 33-3
2. *Quinn Smith (S-F) 26-3
3. Pat Kelly (CBW) 28-4
4. Blake Boyer (Kennent) 32-6
5. Hunter Delaney (Sun Valley) 28-6
133-pounds:
This weight-class is wide-open, and I expect at least one SOL grappler to advance to the Giant Center. Carmen Cortese was a regional champ last year with a defensive fall at the buzzer. Will he be able to validate it this year? Keep an eye on P-W’s Ashton Whittenberg. He may see Nadav Nafshi (Harriton) in the blood match to go to Hershey for fifth place. Nafshi was hot last week at D1-EAST, but “Whitt” could turn the table on him this week…
1. *Carmen Cortese (West Chester Henderson) 35-1
2. *Gavin Sheridan (Boyertown) 39-2
3. Breckan Strickland (SV) 35-3
4. Ben Brillhart (CRS) 31-9
5. Nadav Nafshi (Harriton) 25-4
139-pounds:
This is a deep weight-class, with plenty of talent coming out of the SOL. Every match will be a battle, and the quarterfinals will feature some great match-ups, and potential bracket busters. CB South’s Jake Neill has taken control of the weight-class and will be the favorite, but Austin McMillan from Oxford will be a true test for where he will finish in Hershey. Sam Kuhns (Pennridge) is looking for another trip to Hershey and revenge and will be gunning for Gavin Carroll (Q-town). H-H’s Chris Staub and Carroll will battle in the quarters, they have split their two meetings this season. We could see four SOL grapplers advance to Chocolate Town, USA for the first time here.
1. Jake Neill (CBS) 33-2
2. Austin McMillan (Oxford) 25-3
3. Sam Kuhns (Pennridge) 31-10
4. Gavin Carroll (Q-town) 18-2
5. Chris Staub (H-H) 30-7
145-pounds:
Collin Gaj is undefeated at 41-0 and wrestled the best of the best throughout PA and beyond. He will be a favorite to win a state title at 145. Max Parnis (WC East) wants a state medal too, and will have a good measuring stick with Gaj in the finals. Brandon Carr (Sun Valley) has been superb all season since transferring from DE and will test his skills moving forward here in PA. Bek Baiyshbekov has turned his career around from a season ago, after wrestling some of the region and beyond’s best, to find himself in a spot to get to the big dance as a sophomore. The rest of the bracket will playout based on individual effort and desire.
1. **Colin Gaj (Q-town) 41-0
2. *Max Parnis (WCE) 32-3
3. Brandon Carr (SV) 31-2
4. Michael Pepe (Kennent) 29-11
5. Beknazar Baiyshbekov (Neshaminy) 30-4
152-pounds:
Kelly Kakos (Perk Valley) is a two-time state medalist still trying to return to 100 percent after missing the entire regular season and will have to deal with many challengers enroute to a rematch of the D1-North final with Owen J’s Sam Gautreau. Two SOL contenders here are Gavin Cole (CRS) and Zach Borzio (Q-town). This is anybody’s ballgame…
1. Kelly Kakos (PV) 13-3
2. Sam Gautreau (Owen J Roberts) 36-5
3. Zach Borzio (Q-town) 36-8
4. Gavin Cole (CRS) 31-14
5. Alexander Gamble-Williams (SV) 32-7
160-pounds:
Look for a rematch of the D1-East Section quarterfinal with Bek Sadriddinov (CRS) and Pennridge’s Ryan Gallagher in the regional final. Bek edged Gallagher 7-6 this past weekend. Plenty of talent here, Pennsbury Shane McGurrin should get out making it three from SOL advancing from the 160-bracket.
1. *Bek Sadriddinov (CRS) 37-7
2. Ryan Gallagher (Pennridge) 16-5
3. Gavin Pascoe (PV) 36-7
4. Shane McGurrin (Pennsbury) 26-3
5. *Josh Barlow (Kennent) 27-8
172-pounds:
Pennridge’s Talon Hogan is looking for a ride to Hershey, and he should get one here with a potential title if he can get by two pesky foes in the semis versus Carson Pascoe (PV) and ‘Stoga’s Hayden McLellan in the finals. Pennsbury’s Mason Keller is experienced and rugged and should advance. Keep an eye on Ben Beckett (Souderton) he has a chance to advance.
1. Talan Hogan (Pennridge) 33-8
2. Hayden McLellan (Conestoga) 34-1
3. Carson Pascoe (PV) 40-4
4. Mason Keller (Pennsbury) 27-4
5. Mason Richards (S-F) 23-9
189-pounds:
Pennridge’s Ryan Rowe may have the best chance of any SOL wrestlers here to advance, and Walker Murray (Pennsbury) the D1-East champ will both have to be spot on based on the seeding and bracket to get out.
1. *Sam Milligan (Strath Haven) 37-6
2. *Jake Allred (‘Stoga) 33-3
3. *Mason Hale (Downingtown West) 31-9
4. Carter Euker (PV) 30-8
5. Dean Bechtold (OJR) 35-8
215-pounds:
Quakertown’s Calvin Lachman looks to avenge his District Duals’ loss to OJR’s Dillon Bechtold in the finals. Bechtold is a beast and has the edge in a weight-class Lachman owned earlier in the season. Riley Cullen (Pennridge) has been great of late, but will have to be on his best to get thru.
1. Dillon Bechtold (OJR) 39-2
2. *Calvin Lachman (Q-town) 37-4
3. *John Pardo (Kennent) 33-3
4. Anthony Crawford (SH) 27-9
5. Grant Euker (PV) 33-6
285-pounds:
CB East’s Joe Collins is much improved from a year ago and has a tremendous skill set for a big man. He very well could win this heavy group of talent. Ben Farabaugh (Strath Haven) comes in as the fav. Collins will be tested early with Troy Mack (DTW) and by Bailey Shindle (Kennent) to make it to the finals…don’t leave the gym early on this weight-class, as all are athletic and wrestle like middle-weights, no dancing bears here.
1. *Ben Farabaugh (SH) 39-1
2. *Bailey Shindle (Kennent) 30-6
3. Joe Collins (CBE) 31-2
4. Troy Mack (DTW) 13-3
5. Cooper Gardner (Boyertown) 27-11
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