Glenn Kaiser highlights all the action in Council Rock South’s District One Dual title match with Spring-Ford as well as Neshaminy’s consolation semifinal match against Owen J. Roberts. Photos of CR South/Spring-Ford courtesy of Kim Supko; Neshaminy/OJ Roberts provided courtesy of Geanine Jaminson.CLICK HERE for photos from both galleries.
By Glenn Kaiser
GOLDEN HAWKS THREE-PEAT AT 2019 DISTRICT ONE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Council Rock South, in no surprise, captured their third straight District One Dual title this past weekend. The Golden Hawks were truly golden as they downed second-seeded Spring-Ford for the second time this season. However, this time it was not as easy. Spring-Ford managed to keep it close throughout the dual, in fact the Rams took the lead at one point after the 285-pound bout. Nonetheless, the Golden Hawks rallied to close out the match with their fearsome foursome down low.
The D1 finals match started at 132-pounds, and CR South’s L.J. Kahn set the tone early with a mastery of moves as he was relentless from the top position. Kahn scored a 17-2 technical fall in the third period, racking up 17 points from all positions. But it was from the top offensive position where he did his most damage, tilting Spring-Ford’s Alex Johns to technical submission. Kahn’s aggressive approach to the match was sustained throughout the dual by his Golden Hawks teammates.
South’s Eric Woloshyn demolished a rugged Ram in Zach Needles with a major decision 14-4 at 145. Woloshyn was slick on his feet, scoring duck-unders at will. Cole Flanagan followed with a solid 5-0 win at 152-pounds over Spring-Ford’s game Dirk Nugent. But it was clear that CR South was the dominant team with their pressing offensive and precise execution. South’s 160-pounder Matt Colajezzi posted a 9-1 major decision on Gavin Hartman (S-F), and Nik Korbich followed with a decking of the Rams Jason Lepore to put CR South up 22-6.
Spring-Ford began their attempt at an upset of the mighty CR South team at 182-pounds, where the Rams super sophomore, Joey Miliano, put a major decision on Giani Gilch, 13-1. The Rams would win three straight after that, two of the wins came with pin-falls and bonus points to push them ahead of South 25-22 heading back around to 106-pounds.
The match however was never in doubt for the Golden Hawks, as four of their top wrestlers were prepared to take the mat. And Kyle Waterman left no doubt as he proceeded to pin the Rams Dominic Ortlip in the first period. The Rams last chance for the upset came at 113-pounds in which Shane Reynolds gave CR South’s Max Mendez all he could handle. However, it was not enough as Mendez was solid with his technique and tenacity, winning 4-1. After that it was lights out for Spring-Ford, as Shane Hanson-Ashworth (CRS) won by tech fall 18-3 over Quinn Tobin (S-F) at 120 to seal the deal 36-25. Branden Ricchini put the icing on the cake with a fall in the final bout at 126, decking the Rams Gus Carfango in the first period to close out the scoring, 42-25, for the Golden Hawks.
CR South will travel to the Giant Center in Hershey, PA this Thursday for a first-round match-up with Hazleton Area at 6:00pm. Hazleton Area is the District Two champion and is undefeated in dual action this season at 10-0, and will match up well with the Golden Hawks. The 16-team bracket of the 2019 PIAA AAA Team Championships will feature all four teams from District One. Owen J Roberts and Boyertown wrestled their way into the bracket Monday evening. Owen J downed District Three’s Cumberland Valley 40-28 and Boyertown easily disposed of District Twelve’s Archbishop Ryan 55-16 to advance to the Giant Center. Spring-Ford, who earned a pass to Hershey as the runner-up to CR South in D1, will take on Erie Cathedral Prep the District 10 champ.
CR South sits on top of the bracket, and would face the winner of the Father Judge (D12-1)/Dallastown (D3-2) should they get by Hazleton. Bethlehem Catholic, considered by many as the overall number one-seed, sits below in the same bracket as South. Thus, a collision course with the state’s best team is looming should the Golden Hawks push forward with their team goal to medal in these team championships.
NESHAMINY ELIMINATED IN CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
Neshaminy gave all they had against a very good Owen J Roberts team in the consolation semifinals with a berth to the state duals on the line. However, Owen J had just too many weapons for them. The Wildcats were victorious 43-25, never looking back after the state’s number one wrestler at 152-pounds, Dan Mancini, defeated Jackson Erb 6-2. Mancini’s victory put OJR up 13-10 in the dual. It remained close at 19-13, after Neshaminy’s Gunnar Spain’s 10-8 decision at 170 over Austin Boaman. However, the ‘Skins could not rally, despite picking up two falls in the final five bouts.
Colton Jordan (126) and Zach Martin (132) got the ‘Skins off to a hot start with a fall and major decision respectfully to jump out to a 10-0 lead in the dual. But it would not be enough as OJR posted bonus points in six of their nine victories, including a forfeit at 285-pounds. Although Neshaminy came up short of reaching their team goal of making the PIAA Team Championships, they can look back at a tremendous dual meet season after advancing to the Elite 8 and semifinals of these D1 Duals.
Neshaminy will close out their regular season - standing at 15-7 overall and 4-1 in the SOL National - with two remaining duals against SOL foe Bensalem and the Ches-Mont’s Downingtown East. The Redskins will most likely finish second in the National Conference behind CR South, and look forward to the individual post-season with standouts Colton Jordan, Zach Martin and Jackson Erb.
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