2023-24 SOL Wrestling Season Starts Now
HATBORO-HORSHAM LOOKS TO RETURN TO PROMINENCE
by Glenn Kaiser
Horsham, PA-It’s been a while since the Hatboro-Horsham Wrestling Warriors have been feared or mentioned as part of the wrestling landscape locally or statewide. But that is about to change this coming season. H-H is bringing a fresh look to the mat this year. Don’t forget this is a team that did not wrestle in 2020-21 during the pandemic. Nonetheless, the H-H wrestling family and community did not waver, as the Hatboro-Horsham Wrestling Club not only survived, but has thrived over the past four years. Thus, the high school team is now benefiting from the resilience and commitment of a strong wrestling community that was nearly forgotten.
After an extensive interview with the H-H Head Coach Trenton Mongillo, it is clear H-H is back. This talented team has put in the work and time to be successful as both a dual team and tournament team, with the emphasis on tournament team. That will be the focus with a revamped schedule designed by Coach Mongilo that is front end loaded and mid-season stacked with outstanding tournaments on the schedule. These individual challenges will give them the experience and competition needed to move deep into the postseason when it matters most.
The Warriors will ease into the season at Pottstown this weekend for the third straight season in a well-run mid-level competition run by veteran tournament organizer Ed Evans (Escape the Rock master). And each week from here on in will just keep turning up the volume all the way to the postseason. Although, their dual season will basically be confined to SOL Liberty action, which includes powerful Quakertown, this team will be worthy whenever they step on the mat.
H-H has added the Panther Holiday Classic at Mt. Aloysius College Dec. 15 and 16 prior to their own Wetzel Holiday Classic, which has brought in more out-of-state and higher-level teams over the past couple of years. They then jump back into the fire after the new year with Mid-Winter Mayhem on the campus of IUP before competing in the Coal Cracker Invitational (Lehighton), which features some of the state’s best teams & individuals, including AA power Faith Christian. The week before Districts, the Wrestling Warriors will compete in the Whippet Duals hosted by Downingtown West. Not too shabby of a schedule for a team that has been quiet for a few years. Or should I say just lurking…
The schedule has been built specifically for talented grapplers with strong booster support of the program by parents, alumni and friends of the program. The H-H wrestling family will be on full display with a band of brothers, children of former H-H wrestling alum, most with HHWC ties, taking to the mats. This team is loaded with experience and desire. Senior Chris Staub will lead this group along with junior Ryan Allgeier, who have both advanced to Regionals twice. Staub finished sixth in the Southeast Region in 2023, just missing out on a trip to Hershey. This will be a big motivator for him as he enters his senior campaign with a 60-18 career record after competing just two seasons after H-H choose not to wrestle during the COVID pandemic in the 2020-21 season.
When Staub reflects back on just missing out on states last year he said “you just have to keep on working and get back in the room.” He stated that this team will be a great team over the next several years, with even more talented wrestlers coming up, including his youngest brother. He commented that the high-level schedule is ideal for him, “I definitely want to get out there and wrestle the best guys and see where I’m at,” he said. Allgeier sports a 53-24 record after two seasons for H-H. Both are battle tested, and have improved each season. Allgeier (37 of his career wins are by fall) is always looking for a great workout with high-level grapplers which exemplifies this H-H team with their determination and grit. Ryan explained his goals this season include a trip to Hershey, and he looks to improve his wrestling saying that “I definitely need to work wrestling all thru the match all three periods…and improve on the bottom to score points there.” He felt in the past he “gassed” out at times after explosive first periods looking for the fall, which by the way he is chasing the all-time pin record at H-H held by Nick Chapman (2018 grad) with 84 pins. Both Staub and Allgeier are excited about a tougher room, larger groups, and experienced grapplers to roll with in practice, which will only make everyone better. Numbers were an issue for H-H, but not anymore.
The family ties run deep…the incoming freshmen class is stacked with talented young grapplers who look to cut their teeth at the PIAA scholastic level. They will be led by super-frosh Dominick Morrison, who has had a stellar youth career that includes two PJW runner-up finishes (2019 & 2023), a third-place finish in 2022, a 2023 Keystone title and most recently a Tyrant National title. Dom is ranked #28 as a Top Incoming Freshmen in 2023-24 by PA Power Wrestling. Morrison is primed for a run to states with the goal to medal. He stated that he “really wants to create a bond as a team, because this team is going to be really fun to watch.” He looks forward to the tough schedule and is used to the high-level competition, but he is humbled by just getting an extra workout after practice. Dom brings a winning attitude to a team that looks to pile up individual wins this season. Morrison is joined by his twin brother Brennen and older brother Aidan Morrison, who enters his senior season coming off a 16-10 record after rebounding from some injuries.
The class of 2027 also features multi-sport standouts Colton Ellis and big man Shane Maloney, another multi-sport athlete at H-H. The family ties are knotted by other sibling groups that includes Staub’s younger brother Bennie, who is formidable on his own right after finishing his freshman season 24-16 in 2022-23. Andy Alameda-Guzman and Joel Alameda-Guzman also represent the H-H Wrestling Warriors. Andy is one of the most-improved big men in the area after finishing 20-15 last season with a regional appearance as a sophomore. Joel will look to get into the lineup to start his own legacy at H-H this season. Andy looks to get the Giant Center in Chocolate Town, USA, as well. He commented that “after what I had done last year, I want to go to states this season.” He did not expect to perform as well as he did a year ago, finishing up at the Southeast Region tournament. He is also excited about the tough schedule to build on his wrestling experience stating, “It’s better not just for me, but for the team.”
Let’s not forget about the grandson of legendary Hall of Fame Assistant Coach Rick Hahn (who was also a long-time football coach at H-H), freshman Quinten Fulmer. Fulmer has been on the mats since he could walk, and his dad was the leader of the HHWC for a long stint. Fulmer is a rugged, strong grappler with a promising career ahead of him. The rest of H-H’s line-up will be competitive if not formidable. Depth will be a key to H-H’s success, as wrestle-offs and competition in the wrestling room will drive each wrestler to be their best day in and day out. David Jensen, a determined sophomore, along with freshmen Tyler Pagano will get their chances throughout the season. Junior Nasir Samuel looks to improve this season as well after wrestling up a weight class or two all season last year.
Additionally, this year Hatboro-Horsham School District approved a girls’ wrestling team. This falls in line with the PA Girls Wrestling movement that finally succeeded sanctioning girls wrestling as a PIAA sport. Girls will wrestle in tournaments throughout the season, culminating with the PIAA State Championships in which the girls will compete alongside the AA & AAA boys’ championships March 7-9, 2024. H-H has had numerous female wrestlers over recent years, most notably Alanna Barberio, a 2021 graduate who now wrestles at East Stroudsburg. Barberio was a PA State runner-up in 2022-23 in the first Pennsylvania State Women’s Collegiate Championships as ESU won the inaugural state championship.
Coach Mongillo will have plenty of chess moves in SOL duals this season with the depth of this team, but will really focus on the individual postseason, which very may well result in success in the team standings throughout a rugged regular and postseason. Expectations are high for the H-H Wrestling Warriors, and the anticipation of a strong wrestling community for success has never been more evident. This group will be fun to watch along with perennial powers Council Rock South, Pennridge and Quakertown here in the SOL. CR South and Pennridge head to the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic, one of the best opening tourneys in the state annually. Quakertown will have their typical delayed start but will open against CR South on Dec. 13 before heading to the Beast of the East. South, the ‘Ridge and Q-town will wrestle one another over a three-week period to start off their dual season to see who will be the best of the SOL, and put themselves in the top spot come District Dual seeding time.
Council Rock North and Pennsbury should also be strong teams in the SOL this season. Pennsbury heads to the Mule Classic this weekend at Solanco, and CR North will open at the Brian Bealer Memorial Bear Duals at Boyertown Dec. 9.
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