Glenn Kaiser highlights all eight SOL wrestlers who will be competing in Hershey. Photo courtesy of Tracy Valko. For photos of Saturday's Super East Regional, please visit the photo gallery at the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1065882427
Welcome To Hershey
A Look at the SOL Wrestlers That Will Medal in 2021
By Glenn Kaiser
In a season like no other, here is a look at SOL wrestlers competing in Chocolate Town, USA this weekend…
Eight SOL grapplers will earn medals at the Giant Center on Saturday. That’s the good news, where they finish on the podium is the question.
Tony Burke (Council Rock North) will take the mats first in a split session in Hershey. He will be up against Solanco’s Dominic Flatt, a 20-5 senior in the 106-pound quarterfinals. Burke should advance here to the semis and face Carson Wagner (Northampton), the East Super Region champ. Burke did not see Wagner at Quakertown last Saturday, giving him a chance to rise high on the podium with a win or loss in the semis.
Quakertown freshman Mason Ziegler has one loss on his record, and stands at 28-1 as he takes on Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe) in the first round at 113-pounds. Kilkeary, a 23-2 sophomore, will be a tall task for Ziegler to get by. This weight class is wide open with talented, young wrestlers. Don’t be surprised if Ziegler makes some noise here and finishes in the top four.
CR North’s Kyle Hauserman is the odds-on favorite to win the 138-pound weight class in Hershey. His experience and grit should take him to the finals, where he should capture a state title in his senior season. Connor Eck (Bensalem) may very well be on a crash course to meet District One rival Sam McMonagle (West Chester Henderson) for the third straight time in a postseason final at 145-pounds. However, Eck will have to dispatch of two talented wrestlers in an extremely competitive weight class to get there. Riley Bower from Williamsport, with only one loss, will be his first challenge. If all goes well, he may see North Penn’s William Morrow in the semis, if Morrow can dispatch of the West champ John Alteri from Norwin.
Both Eck and Morrow are in a good spot to get some precious medal, I am looking forward to one of them in the finals. An Eck/McMonagle final would be worth the price of admission.
Neshaminy’s Zac Martin is the lone representative for the SOL at 152-pounds. He returns to Hershey as a 6th place finisher just a year ago. He runs into a seasoned Paniro Johnson (Erie Cathedral Prep) out of the gate. 152 is a stacked weight class in which Martin will need to be spot on every time he toes the line. No matter where he finishes here will be an accomplishment.
At 160-pounds, Council Rock South’s Matt Colajezzi will be primed to have a medal placed around his neck. He should advance in his quarterfinals bout over Bellefonte’s Ethan Richner in a weight class that has tremendous talent in Jagger Condomitti (Northampton) and Cole Spencer (Pine-Richland). It will be a battle for all here on the way to the podium.
The SOL will be represented by two Central Bucks wrestlers in the 215-pound weight class with CB East’s Quinn Collins and CB West’s Carl DiGiorgio. We know their history against each other, and with both separated in the bracket, hopefully they will both not see each other again until it really matters. DiGiorgio may have the best path in the lower half of the bracket. If I have to make a prediction here, Collins and DiGiorgio will meet in the bronze medal match Saturday night.
There will finally be fans at a wrestling tournament at the Giant Center this post-season, as each wrestler will have six tickets available for family and friends. This may be the best part of the season for wrestlers and parents. Best of luck to all the SOL and District One wrestlers Saturday in the PIAA AAA Individual Wrestling Championships. Wrestling starts at 8:30am and will run all day thru the evening. Check out the PIAA website for the complete schedule.
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