By Alex Frazier
Meet…This year’s SOL state qualifiers
Twenty-five Suburban One wrestlers will make their way to Hershey Wednesday to compete in the PIAA state championships beginning on Thursday. Here’s a breakdown by weight class.
103
• Council Rock South’s Billy Rappo will be the SOL’s only representative in Hershey at 103. After finishing third in both the Section One and District One North tournaments, Rappo came on in regionals to place second.
“I’m happy to be going to states,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting.”
After beating district champ Dylan Steffenino of Upper Perk in the semifinals, he lost to West Chester Rustin’s Corey McQuiston, 13-0.
“I did good in the beginning and the last match didn’t work out,” said Rappo. “I got out wrestled.”
Compared to Rappo, McQuiston looked like a 119-pounder. Rappo is still diminutive for his weight class, tipping the scales at 99 pounds.
“He had really long arms,” said Rappo. “He could lock up the cradles really easily because I’m so small.”
Of McQuiston’s 13 points, six of them came via cradle.
Rappo will face Austin Miller of Hempfield (36-2), the South Central runner-up in the first round.
“I’m starting to peak and wrestle good,” he said.
112
This is Suburban One’s best weight class with three representatives, and they’re all freshmen.
• Pennsbury’s Josh DiSanto has run the table so far in the post season winning sections, districts and regionals and carrying a 31-0 mark into the Giant Center.
Although this will be his first trip to states, he is aware of the field.
“I know a lot of people from past years,” he said. “A lot of them beat me, but I beat a lot of them, so I think I have a good chance to place, and I’m definitely going out there ready to win it.”
DiSanto will wrestle General McLane’s Tim Wheeling (37-6), the Northwest bronze medalist in the first round.
• John Dutrow of Council Rock North also had a great regional tournament after placing third in both sections and districts. He lost to DiSanto 10-4 in the regional finals.
Dutrow (29-12) will face Northeast bronze-medalist C.J. Palmer of Delaware Valley (41-8).
• William Tennent’s lone state qualifier is freshman 112-pounder Kevin Flack, who finished second in sections and districts and third at regionals.
He was dropped into the consolations by Great Valley’s Collin Henry, who beat him 15-8 in the quarterfinals.
“He kept getting a single leg on me,” said Flack. “I tried doing a little roll off of it, and I put my head down and he cradled me, and then during the match he hit me with a Peterson when I was on top and got another five. I came back a little bit but not enough.”
The next day he knocked out state qualifier Mike Mathis of Central Bucks South 9-1 and then edged Haverford’s Joe Jones, 2-1, and LaSalle’s Bryan Flanz, 3-0, to set up a re-match with Henry for third place.
“I knew I was probably going to have to wrestle him going for third,” said Flack. “I pretty much knew what he was going to do and how to defend it because me and my coach went over it after I lost to him.”
Knowing the single leg was coming, Flack said he switched his lead foot and kept his hand down to block the leg he shot on.
The result was a 3-2 win.
“I felt pretty much in that one,” he said. “I was ready to wrestle.”
Flack takes on Derry’s returning 103-pound state champion Jimmy Gulibon (32-1), who won the Southwest region.
“I feel really good,” said Flack, whose goal for the season was to get to states and place.
Flack’s other goal is to eventually eclipse Tennent’s last state qualifier Dave Schreiner’s career record of 129 wins. In his first year he is now 36-4.
119
• Hatboro-Horsham’s Matt Harkins won both sections and districts but dropped to second at regionals when he lost to Boyertown’s Matt Malfaro in a close 11-9 title bout.
Harkins nearly had a takedown near the end, but the ref called him off the mat. Malfaro was given a stalling warning with eight seconds left, but Harkins couldn’t take advantage.
“It’s a horrible feeling,” he said, “but it shouldn’t come down to that.”
This will be Harkins first trip to states after missing out the past two years.
“Making states is all that matters,” said Harkins. “I feel good about going, but I feel disappointed I didn’t win my last match before states.”
Harkins (35-5) is paired with Corry’s Austin Gillihan (31-2), who finished second in the Northwest.
“I’m starting to peak,” he said. “It’s a good time. I’m excited. We’ll see what happens. I’m not sure what to expect.”
• Shane Longstreth of Council Rock North (34-13) made the last state spot, after finishing second at sectionals and third at districts.
He defeated Unionville’s Joe Bonaduce in the consi semifinals, 7-3, to ensure a trip to Hershey.
Longstreth drew Meadville’s Shelton Mack, the once beaten senior Northwest champion.
125
• Council Rock South’s Matt Rappo won his second regional championship, after taking sections and districts.
His regional final was a rematch from districts with Quakertown’s Scott Wolfinger, which he won 10-6.
“Last weekend it was 7-5,” said Rappo. “I wasn’t doing too much last weekend. I shot a lot more this week. I kept moving more often and scrambling more and scoring more points. I wrestled more offensively.”
At states, Rappo (39-6) will tee off with Nolan Barger of Clearfield (33-8), who was the Northwest bronze-medalist.
“I’ve been talking to my coaches and they say I’ve been wrestling a lot more aggressive in the post season,” he said. “That’s a big change from earlier in the season. My goal is to take top three.”
• Quakertown junior Scott Wolfinger will be returning to states after an absence last year because he missed weight at districts.
He won Section Two and finished second at districts and regionals, both times to Matt Rappo.
“I’m pretty happy,” he said. “I wish I could have kept it closer with Rappo
Wolfinger’s first opponent will be Jordan Glykas of Northampton (22-11), who was the Northeast runner-up.
“I definitely wish this was my third time,” he said. “But I have to get over that and have to do it this week. My freshman year I had no clue what was going on. This year I have some perspective.”
130
• After qualifying for states as a freshman and sophomore, Upper Moreland’s Tim Santry missed it last year, finishing fifth at regionals.
Santry lost in the semifinals to Unionville’s eventual champion Mason Popham, 6-2. He came back to nip Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Lucas Wisniewski, 4-2, with a takedown in overtime, before falling to Haverford’s Luke Bilyeu 3-1 in the consi finals.
“It feels good to get back there,” he said following his match. “It was definitely tough competition. I felt good. I knew I had to wrestle well.”
His first opponent at states is Dan Neff of Solanco. He won the South Central region and has a 29-2 record.
“I want to wrestle as hard as I can and get a medal,” said Santry.
Santry said his previous experience at Hershey should help him.
“Just knowing that I’ve been there, my nerves won’t be as much as somebody that’s making it for the first time,” he said.
135
• Council Rock South’s Josh Dziewa is certainly a favorite to run the post-season table, after winning all three tournaments to date.
Dziewa is especially ready to prove himself at states after going 1-4 in his freshman and sophomore years. As a junior he had to sit out because he transferred to C.R. South.
“It hurt last year and hurt even more two years before,” he said. “I’m going to take it one match at a time. Thursday night one, Friday night one and then Saturday morning let it roll.”
He will take his first step against Eric Nutter of Pittsburgh Central Catholic (36-8), who was third in the Southwest region.
“I have the confidence to win the whole thing,” he said. “I believe I’m the best wrestler in the weight class. I’ve got to do it. If I perform like I can perform, I’ll be a state champ Saturday.”
• Central Bucks sophomore Seth Ehlo will be making his first trip to states after placing fourth at regionals. He won Section Two and finished third at districts.
“It feels great,” he said.
Ehlo lost his first regional match against Oxford’s Kyle Moran on a second period tilt and had a long haul back to the consi finals. The key bout for him was a rematch against Moran in the consi semifinals. He avenged his prior loss 4-3 to ensure his trip to states.
“I knew if I wrestled a clean match I could beat him,” said Ehlo.
In the consolation finals, he lost to LaSalle’s Joey Mazzi, 5-2.
Ehlo’s first match will be Crestwood’s Hunter McGraw (36-5). He won the Northeast regional.
“I want to try to win one or two matches, hopefully see if I can medal,” he said.
140
• Matt Martoccio of Council Rock South will be making a return trip to states after placing eighth last year. He won Section One and districts and placed third at regionals.
Martoccio will be wrestling Josh Kindig of Blue Mountain (38-1), the Northeast champion.
• Norristown freshman Brett Harner won Section Three, placed second to Martoccio at districts and third to him at regionals.
Harner starts his first state tourney against Nick Dragonette (40-6), the South central champ from Wilson.
145
• Norristown’s second state qualifier Brandon Parker will be returning to Hershey after finishing second in regionals to Pottsgrove’s Thomas Demetrio, whom he beat in the district finals.
Parker faces Justin Harold (39-3) the Southwest runner-up from Kiski Area.
• Council Rock South’s Tim Riley placed fourth at regionals to earn his first trip to states. Riley finished second in Section One and fourth at districts.
He will wrestle Bo Candelaria of Middletown (29-3), the South central champ.
152
• Neshaminy’s Nick Russell saved one of his best performances for regionals, where he avenged a quarterfinal loss to Council Rock North’s Greg Lanctot (5-4), beating Lanctot in the consi finals 3-1.
“I had to wrestle my heart out to get back to consi finals,” he said. “I’m feeling great. I’m going to states and I took third. Awesome.”
The difference in the match was a takedown on the edge of the mat in the second period.
“I talked to my coach and my dad and we thought maybe if we took a slower pace, he’d make a mistake,” he said.
Russell’s first state match will be against defending state champion Dylan Alton of Central Mountain (41-0).
“M goal this year was just to place,” he said. “I’m still looking forward to that.”
• Council Rock North’s Greg Lanctot placed second at sections, first at districts and just made the cut at regionals by placing fourth.
He will heading to his first state tournament and will face Zack Shannon of Kiski Area (37-2), the Southwest champion.
160
• Plymouth Whitemarsh junior John Staudenmayer has won all three post-season tournaments, facing Upper Moreland’s John Bolich in the finals in the last two.
Last year he went to states and went 1-2.
“I’ll take a good seed into states and hopefully do something with it,” he said. “I got the jitters out of the way last year. This year I’ll just go out and wrestle and have a good time and focus on my match.”
His first opponent will be Tyler Buckwalter of Central Mountain (37-9), the Northwest bronze medalist.
• John Bolich of Upper Moreland just couldn’t get by Staudenmayer as he has taken a first and two seconds in the post-season so far.
He will face Big Spring’s Luke Etter (33-7), the South Central bronze medalist.
171
• After an uncharacteristic performance in last week’s district semifinals that cost him a finals’ appearance, Upper Moreland’s James Nicholson came back to make the championship against Downingtown East’s Robbie Fitzgerald at regionals. After a 1-1 regulation and a 0-0 first overtime period, Fitzgerald broke the tie with an escape in the second OT period. In the third period, Nicholson earned a point when Fitzgerald was called for stalling.
In the rideout period, Fitzgerald chose down and escaped for the victory.
“He knows he needs to score on his feet,” said coach Stefan Muller. “That’s his weapon. He’ll be the first to tell you. He has to take him down next time. He’ll learn from that and he’ll get better from it.
“Once this settles, he’ll look back and say, ‘I finished second at regionals and I’m going to states.’ That’s a real good thing.”
Thursday, Nicholson will take on Tristan Warner of Cumberland Valley (35-2), the South Central runner-up.
• Council Rock South’s Bobby Lavelle, who placed second at sections to Nicholson and first at districts had to settle for a third at regionals. He had been sick all week, so he forfeited his semifinal match to Nicholson in order to stay strong for a consolation run.
It paid off, as he wrestled back to take third.
Lavelle will be returning to states for a second year. His first-round opponent is Tyler Wilips of Chartiers Valley (37-0). He was the Southwest champ.
• Hatboro-Horsham’s Nick Lynch finished fourth at regionals at 171. He made it to the semifinals before losing to Fitzgerald. He dropped to the consi semifinals where he majored Boyertown’s Brock Hallman, 12-2. In the consi finals he lost to Council Rock South district champion, Bobby Lavelle, 14-2.
Lynch (35-10) will be making his first trip to states. His first-round opponent is one of two undefeated wrestlers in the weight class, Kenny Courts of Central Dauphin (38-0), the South Central champion.
189
• The SOL’s only representative here is Council Rock North’s Jamie Callender, who won all three post-season tournaments. His toughest match came last week at regionals where he defeated archrival Andre Petroski of Springfield Delco, 11-6, in overtime.
Last year Callender finished second in the state and hopes to take the next step this year.
He will begin his title quest against Christopher Pintado of Liberty (28-7), the Northeast bronze medalist.
215
• Joe Stolfi is Souderton’s lone representative. So far the junior has won all three post-season tournaments.
But at states, Stolfi faces a loaded weight class that features three undefeated wrestlers, two of whom, fortunately, are in the opposite bracket. In his first match, Stolfi will face Hopewell’s Brandon Fedorka (36-4), the Southwest bronze medalist.
It will be Stolfi’s second trip to Hershey. This year he’s hoping to improve on his 1-2 record of a year ago.
“I have to go back to practice and have a couple days of hard working and doing my best,” he said. “My goal is to definitely place. I want to do the best I can.”
285
• Marcus Robbins is Norristown’s third state qualifier. He finished first in Section Three, second in districts and third at regionals.
His first state opponent is Evan Craig of Abington Heights (46-0), the Northeast region champion.
Sportsmanship – Anybody who knows Central Bucks West’s Chris McGinley knows that he is not only a keen competitor but also one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet.
Apparently a lot of people feel the same way. Saturday at the Southeast Regional Tournament, McGinley was presented the Sportsmanship Award, given by the Southeast Pennsylvania Officials Association.
Certainly no one was more deserving of the award.
“I had no idea I was going to get it,” he said. “I was actually eating Chick-fil-A when my mom called me and I had to rush back here. It means a lot that referees and other wrestlers and coaches recognize me as a good sport.
“You learn a lot of lessons in wrestling. You can’t really explain them unless you’ve wrestled, but there’s more to it than just trying to pin the other guy. You learn dedication, perseverance, dependability on your teammates.”
It was just a shame that McGinley fell one match short of returning to states for his final year. Last year he placed eighth.
“It wasn’t that it wasn’t my day,” he said. “It was just someone else’s day.”
And wasn’t that an appropriate statement for a guy holding a big Sportsmanship Trophy.
McGinley is planning to wrestle in college next year. He is considering Maryland, Duke, Bucknell among others.
“Hopefully it works out,” he said.
Spartans sink –After setting a school record with six regional qualifiers, Springfield ran into a juggernaut at the Class AA regional championships. All but one of the Spartans went 0-2. Only Dylan Evans won his first match before losing his next two.
Best of luck to Springfield next year as they leave the SOL to join the Bicentennial League.
Top Guns
103—Billy Rappo, Council Rock South
112—Josh DiSanto, Pennsbury
119—Matt Harkins, Hatboro-Horsham
125—Matt Rappo, Council Rock South
130—Tim Santry, Upper Moreland
135—Josh Dziewa, Council Rock South
140—Matt Martoccio, Council Rock South
145—Brandon Parker, Norristown
152—Nick Russell, Neshaminy
160— John Staudenmayer, Plymouth Whitemarsh
171—James Nicholson, Upper Moreland
189—Jamie Callender, Council Rock North
215—Joe Stolfi, Souderton
285—Marcus Robbins, Norristown
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