SOL WRESTLERS OFF TO A FAST START
2021 Wrestling Season Kicks-Off
by Glenn Kaiser
The 2021-22 PIAA Wrestling season got off to a hot start this past weekend, and Suburban One League wrestlers will be in the spotlight all year long. Both individual and dual tournaments were featured over the weekend. Many teams from the SOL wrestled in the Pottstown Invitational, and five SOL wrestlers walked away with gold.
Hatboro-Horsham’s 106-pounder Ryan Allgeier, Central Bucks West’s Patrick Kelly (113) and Carl DiGiorgio (215), CB South’s Gabe Whittington (132) and Abington’s Shane Kibler (145) were all crowned champs at their respective weight classes in this 19-team event. Abington finished 4th overall in the team race with 112.5 points CB South was 6th (108 pts.) and H-H 7th with 104 points. CB West followed at 8th with 89.5 pts. A powerful West Chester Henderson (Ches-Mont) team won the team title going away with 214 pts., LaSalle (District XII-Philly Catholic League) was 2nd (145 pts.) and WC East 3rd (131 pts.). Not too shabby for these SOL teams to perform at a high level in the first weekend of competition.
At Cumberland Valley, the traditional premier tournament to start each season featured an outstanding performance by Council Rock South. South finished second in the team race with 180 points to District XI power Nazareth (245.5 pts.) at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic. The Golden Hawks crowned two individual champs in Shermuhammad Sadriddinov (145 lbs.) and 160-pounder Matt Colajezzi. Second place finishers included 132-pounder Sam Kuhns (Pennridge), 172-pounder Anthony Cerulli (CRS) and 215-pounder Lucas Doyle (CRS). Bronze went to 113-pounder Luke Reitter (CRS). Fourth place finishers included Pennridge freshman Colby Martinelli at 106 lbs. and CR South’s Charles Socki at 285 lbs. Pennridge finished with 87 pts. just out of the top ten in 11th place. Hosts Cumberland Valley were third in the team race with 116.5 pts.
Clearly, CR South will be contending for a District One Team title this season as they have reloaded top to bottom, with the most significant improvement coming in the heavier weight classes (traditionally a weak spot for them in duals). Pennridge jumps back in the mix with a new coach in Brian Kuhns and cast of youngsters that look hungry to bring the Rams program back to prominence in both the SOL and D1.
At the Boyertown Brian Bealer Memorial Bear Duals, Souderton finished sixth and Council Rock North seventh in this dual meet battle of premier teams in D1 and D11. Souderton looked impressive under the helm of new head coach Chris Atkinson, knocking off traditional D1 power Owen J Roberts 39-35 out of the gate. The Big Red downed CR North in impressive fashion with a 53-24 drubbing. Easton, the eventual champs, beat Souderton 42-28. Despite going 2-3 on Saturday in duals, with losses to talented teams Sun Valley (48-24) and Liberty (54-24), look for Souderton to make some noise in the SOL Colonial this season.
Plymouth-Whitmarsh will contend for the SOL Liberty title this season after their championship run at the Franny Lutz Classic dual tourney. P-W swept the field going 3-0 and downed Methacton 37-36 with lightweight Jinuk Han major decisioning Methacton’s Shane McQuaid 10-1 at 113-pounds to seal the deal.
Pennsbury looked impressive at the Solanco Mule Classic, finishing fifth overall in the team race with runner-ups Kyle Von Schmidt (106) and Mason Grodzki (145). Other top-5 placers included fourth - Cade Gabbett (189) and fifth - Nicholas Sieger (132).
SOL preview and H-H return to the mat articles will follow this week…stay tuned for the big match-up between Quakertown (the Panthers first competition due to their football success in the fall post-season) at Council Rock South this Wednesday night at 7:00pm.
- Log in to post comments
