ESCAPING THE ROCK WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR SOL WRESTLERS
By Glenn Kaiser
The Escape the Rock (ETR) tournament, now in its 15th year, hosted by Council Rock South is one of the nation’s top high school wrestling events. It will feature many top teams and nationally ranked wrestlers. Thus, local grapplers from the Suburban One League (SOL) will be faced with a tall task to climb the podium. Only 19 SOL wrestlers have secured top 16-seeds.
Council Rock North leads the way with six: Kyle Hauserman (120-#2 seed), Luke Lucerne (126-#5), Sammy Hayes (145-#13), Cam Robinson (152-#2), Dillon Sheehy (160-#4) and Max Harar (285-#7). CR South has four in Cavan Kinne (106-#14), Kyle Waterman (126-#6), Matt Colajezzi (160-#6) and Giani Gilch (182-#6). As does Neshaminy in Zac Martin (138-#12), Gunnar Spain (170-#15), Jason Pascucci (182-#16) and Zack Magdelinskas (285-#11). Quakertown with three Kyle Miller (120-#16), Dom DeFalco (138-#11) and Jeremy McQuigan (285-#5). Hatboro-Horsham features A.J. Tamburrino (152-#4) and Logan Flynn (220-#8).
Navigating thru loaded weight classes with accomplished wrestlers in every round will create tremendous match-ups, which will require a wrestler’s best effort every time they step on the mat. There are no guarantees for winning the signature championship belt here, as Pennsylvania wrestlers will be challenged by the nation’s best. That being said, CR North’s Kyle Hauserman, Cam Robinson and Dillon Sheehy look to be in good position to place in the top-four in their respective weight classes. Additionally, H-H’s A.J. Tamburrino could join Robinson on the podium at 152-pounds. Others who potentially could work their way there include CR South’s Kyle Waterman, Matt Colajezzi and Giani Gilch. Big men Logan Flynn (H-H), Jeremy McQuigan (Quakertown) and North’s Max Harar should also be in medal contention.
The team title will also be up for grabs between Malvern Prep, Bethlehem Catholic, Cincinnati LaSalle (OH), Northampton, Southern Columbia, St. Joseph’s Regional (NJ) and possibly CR North along with plenty of other top ranked teams from their respective states.
Only four SOL wrestlers advanced day one to the semifinals, three CR North grapplers in Luke Lucerne at 126-pounds, Cam Robinson at 153lbs. and Dillon Sheehy (160), along with Hatboro-Horsham’s A.J. Tamburrino (152). Lucerne, Sheehy and Tamburrino will square off against the #1 seeds in their respective weight-classes. Robinson the #2 seed at 152lbs will face unseeded Nick Vafiadis from New Kent (VA).
Absent from the tournament today were Kyle Hauserman (CRN) and Dom DeFalco (Quakertown), who were late scratches. After the quarterfinals, Malvern Prep was leading in the team standings with 110.5 points. St. Joseph’s Regional (NJ) 91pts., Northampton 78, Notre Dame-Green Pond 74.5, Bethlehem Catholic 74 rounded out the top-5. CR North with 49.5 points led all SOL teams in 12th place.
Many SOL wrestlers have a chance to wrestle back to the podium after Day-1 of this rugged tournament. All results can be found on-line at Flo Arena.
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