MID-WINTER MAYHEM
Hatboro-Horsham’s Morrison & Quakertown’s Hattala Win Titles at IUP
By Glenn Kaiser
Indiana, PA-The Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus was rocking over the weekend with 12-mats constantly going with some of the Nation’s best grapplers on both the boys’ and girls’ side. In fact, 23 (actually 22 due to the absence of Quakertown’s Colin Gaj) nationally ranked boys’ wrestlers were showcased here at the up-and-coming Mid-Winter Mayhem. The tournament was outstanding, and is starting to create a buzz with the team and individual talent drawn to this event. Not necessarily considered one of the big ones (Beast/Ironman/Powerade/ETR), the Mid-Winter Mayhem is certainly on the map, and a long way from our Suburban One League schools. It was cold and it snowed, but inside the Kovalchick arena it was warm and toasty. In fact, it was on fire with the grappling display over this two-day spectacular. Most likely the number one team in the country, Bishop McCort won the team title going away with 299-points with seven finalists and five champs. Hatboro-Horsham finished 24th in the 57-team field with 77-points, and Quakertown was 31st (64 pts.).
Hatboro-Horsham and Quakertown traveled west across the state to test their skills, and two wrestlers were crowned king and queen after the mayhem. H-H’s Dom Morrison continues to impress at 114-pounds, capturing his third tournament championship this season with his latest title out at IUP. Morrison is the #1 PIAA (AAA) ranked wrestler at 114 by PA Power, and he is also ranked in the top-10 Nationally by several ranking platforms. He currently has an undefeated record of 22-0 this season with a career mark of 70-2 midway through his sophomore season. Morrison was unflappable throughout the weekend, despite a close 1-0 win over Emmaus’ Emilio Albanese in the semifinals. Albanese came into the tournament ranked #2 (AAA) by PA Power. Morrison also defeated Albanese in last year’s PIAA 107-pound semi-finals 4-1 on his way to a state title. But Morrison’s big win here during the mayhem was in the finals against Northern Lebanon’s Sam Wolford. He won 4-0 with an escape and a magnificent single leg takedown. Morrison was able to ride-out Wolford during the match after several scrambles initiated by Wolford’s Gramby-roll attempts.
Quakertown’s Caroline Hattala dominated the girls 190-pound weight class as she pinned (1:29) Peters Township’s Liliana Giulianelli in the finals as she surges towards an expected state title this March in
Hershey. Hattala was sixth last year in Hershey at 190lbs. and won an unsanctioned state title in 2023 at 190 as well. When asked about the competition here at the Mid-Winter Mayhem, she stated that she really is just prepping for states with match experiences without worrying about her competitors. She is focused on securing gold in Chocolate Town, USA. She is extremely confident and determined to be on the top of the podium wherever she wrestles. She also has her eyes set on a Fargo title as well. Hattala is a perfect 13-0 this season and holds an official PIAA career record of 40-3 in her junior season. Even with her bloodied lip after the grueling tournament, she was all smiles.
Q-town’s Gavin Carroll was the only other SOL place-winner in IUP, capturing bronze. Carroll won the consolation-finals at 152-pounds over Brockway’s Parker Piscarchick 5-2 after dropping down to the consis with a 13-4 loss to West Scranton’s Michael Turi. Carroll is ranked #5 by PA Power and his two opponents in the semis and consolation final came in ranked #3 AAA-Turi and #8 AA-Pisarchick. Carroll was fifth last year at states and holds a career record of 118-29 and is 19-2 so far this year during his senior campaign.
Quakertown (6-2/1-0 SOL) and Hatboro-Horsham (3-3/1-0 SOL) square off this Wednesday night at H-H for what should be the match that decides the SOL Liberty Conference. Both teams have District One Team Championship aspirations as well, and this will help the seeding of the upcoming D1 duals that start Thursday Jan. 23, 2025.
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