Glenn Kaiser makes his predictions for the championship bouts – and the winners – in each weight class at this week’s Southeast Regionals.
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL LAST STOP BEFORE HERSHEY
It seems like yesterday football was wrapping up and Thanksgiving was just the start of practice, but in reality, this 2016-2017 wrestling season is wrapping up. Christmas has passed, and so have all the top tier tournaments. State duals have come and gone and now it is time to see the cream rise to the top as we have one more stop on the Hershey highway to Chocolate Town, USA.
For many, the dream of wrestling at the Giant Center in Hershey has evaporated with elimination at Districts, but for those that survived and advanced, it’s the last opportunity to make the trek and wrestle amongst Pennsylvania’s best. Although some may think it’s easy for those that have been there before to advance again to the PIAA Individual Championships, the reality is there are no guarantees. Thus, this weekend’s wrestling at Souderton H.S. on Friday, March 3rd 5:30pm) and Saturday March 4th (9:30am/Finals 6:00pm) looks to be an exciting battle of District One’s best. The SOL will be will represented, and surely will crown some champions.
Look for Matt Parker (120), and teammate Josh Stillings (160) to repeat as regional champions. Council Rock South’s Zack Trampe will be looking to do the same at 132-pounds as all three have their sights set on winning gold in Hershey. Trampe will be joined at Souderton in the quest to repeat with two of his teammates, as both Riley Palmer (145) and Joe Doyle (220) have championship aspirations of their own when they get to the Giant Center. There will be upsets, there will be controversy, and for sure there will be some great wrestling throughout the tourney, including the preliminary rounds of 12-man double elimination bracket.
Here is a look at my predictions for the Championship bouts with the victor:
106: Doug Zapf (Downingtown West) over Luke Lucerne (Council Rock North)
113: Brandon Meredith (Spring-Ford) over Matt Wilde (Boyertown)
120: Matt Parker (Pennridge) over David Campbell (Boyertown)
126: Jakob Campbell (Boyertown) over Matt Marino (Garnet Valley)
132: Zack Trampe (CRS) over Cam Robinson (CRN)
138: Colin Cronin (Upper Darby) over Eric Hutchinson (Conestoga)
145: Riley Palmer (CRS) over Bryce Reddington (Methacton)
152: Chase Stephens (Coatesville) over Colin Shannon (North Penn)
160: Josh Stillings (Pennridge) over Ryan Resnick (OJR)
170: Ryan Finn (Pottsgrove) over David Cox (Oxford)
182: Kevin Edwards (Avon Grove) over Elijah Jones (Boyertown)
195: Cole Zapf (DTW) over Nick Duliakas (OJR)
220: Brian Kennerly (U. Darby) over Joe Doyle (CRS)
285: Nick Chapman (Hatboro-Horsham) over Josh Walls (Avon Grove)
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