Wrestling: SOL Teams Open Season in Style

SOL TEAMS OPEN SEASON IN STYLE
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH DOMINATES AT CUMBERLAND VALLEY

By Glenn Kaiser

The Council Rock South Golden Hawks opened the 2023-24 wrestling season with a dominant performance in the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic.  The Golden Hawks haven’t missed a beat since the surprise retirement of longtime Head Coach Brad Silimperi (CRS’s only head coach until now) after last season, and new lead man Trey Balasco premiered as CR South’s second head coach with a tournament team title at Cumberland Valley H.S.  South captured three individual titles and also had one runner-up, finishing way ahead of a strong field that included Pennridge. 

The Golden Hawks piled up 202.5 points, winning the title and making a statement that they will contend for District One supremecy this season.  South finished way out in front of team runner-up Nazareth (Coach Silimperi’s alma mater and #2 ranked team in AAA by PA Power) with 175.5 points, and other state perennial powers (3) Montgomery (#20 PA Power AA Team Rankings) 147.0, (4) Bishop McDevitt (#5 PA Power AA)  138.5, (5) Pennridge 131.5.  The Rams, who were without star lightweight Colby Martinelli, finished 5^th in this rugged opening event.  CR South’s Bek Sadriddivov was dominant at 172-pounds, decking Pennridge’s Talan Hogan in the finals to lead the way in the scoring department for South.  CRS crowned two champs early in the finals with Connor Lenahan (114lbs.) and Luke Reitter (121) both winning by decisions over Bishop McDevitt Wrestlers. 

Gavin Cole was the runner-up at 160-pounds to Montgomery’s Conner Harer by major decision, 17-9.  All in all, South had nine place-winners (places were wrestled out 1^st thru 6^th).  Transfer Anthony Mutarelli garnered bronze at 133lbs. to start his own legacy at CR South.  Pat Woloshyn finished 4^th at 127-pounds, dropping a 5-1 decision to the ‘Ridge’s’ Quinn McBride in their consolation final.  Ajay Bhatt and Jeff Gessner both finished fifth, respectively at 139lbs. and heavyweight (285).  Scott Linkewich finished the scoring for South with a 6^th place finish at 189lbs.  The Golden Hawks were in the spotlight this week - highlighted by their team championship - and showcased their star-powered individual lineup.   South will match up with the Rams head-to-head this Wednesday up on the ‘Ridge.  Expect some great wrestling as they open up their dual seasons with CRS coming in ranked #5 and Pennridge #4 in the PA Power Wrestling PIAA (AAA) Team Rankings.

Pennridge wrestlers also shinned over the weekend, placing seven grapplers on the podium at CV. Although they did not win any individual titles, they wrestled well in a tourney loaded with high-level talent.  In addition to Hogan and McBride, the Rams Sam Kuhns finished third at 152 and Riley Cullen fourth at 215 after losing by fall to Shikellamy’s Brody Rebuck in their consi-final.  Ryan Gallagher had a 5^th place finish at 160 and is ready to go this season from start to finish.  Gallagher won a hard-fought battle over Shik’s Cole Wetzel 1-0 in their fifth place battle.  Cole Coffin (133) & lightweight 107-pounder Kevin McFadden both stood sixth on the podium.  The podium was full of state place-winners and is truly one of the toughest opening tourneys across PA.

Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic

Friday, December 1, 2023 - Saturday, December 2, 2023

at Cumberland Valley HS

Team Standings

(1) Council Rock South 202.5, (2) Nazareth 175.5, (3) Montgomery 147.0, (4) Bishop McDevitt 138.5, (5) Pennridge 131.5, (6) Wilson (West Lawn) 129.5, (7) Shikellamy 103.0, (7) West Scranton 103.0, (9) Downingtown West 94.0, (10) Cumberland Valley 86.0, (11) Northern York 78.5, (12) West Perry 75.5, (13) Boiling Springs 69.0, (14) Exeter 67.0, (15) ELCO 65.0, (16) Delaware Valley 57.0, (17) Palmyra 54.0, (18) Manheim Central 52.5, (19) Bermudian Springs 50.0, (20) Lewisburg 40.0, (21) Shippensburg 16.5, (22) Dover 16.0, (23) Oley Valley 14.0

Hatboro-Horsham Places Second at Pottstown Invitational:

Hatboro-Horsham opened its season with a team runner-up finish in the Pottstown H.S. Invitational.  The H-H Wrestling Warriors finished with 180-points only behind District 12’s Lasalle College H.S. (231.5 points).  Central Bucks South finished 4^th overall in the team standings with 146.5 points.  H-H crowned two champions. Freshman phenom Dom Morrison impressed with a first-period fall in the 107-pound final over Abington’s Bradley Bennett.  However, it was H-H senior Chris Staub who garnered the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award with his victory in the 145-pound finals over CB South’s Jake Neill, 8-6. 

Ryan Allgeier placed 2^nd at 121 for H-H, which placed nine wrestlers (places ran out 1^st through 8^th).  H-H big man Andy Alameda-Guzman had a bronze medal performance, rebounding from a semifinal loss at 215lbs. with a 3-1 sudden victory over LaSalle’s Mario Verrecchia.  Nasir Samuel finished in 4^th place at 172 after wrestling well over the weekend.  H-H Warrior Aidan Morrison pinned Penn Wood’s Malik Barkor to place fifth at 139, and Bennie Staub placed 6^th at 133-pounds.  Staub lost to Bensalem’s Harut Harutiunian by fall in the fifth-place bout.  Bensalem was the only other SOL team with a champ here at 152-pounds.

Hatboro-Horsham was the top SOL and District One team at Pottstown and showcased their star-studded line-up with a strong team performance.  They will wrestle next in a strong field at the Panther Holiday Classic at Mt. Aloysius College Dec. 15 & 16, 2023.

Pottstown Invitational

Friday, December 1, 2023 - Saturday, December 2, 2023

at Pottstown HS (PA)

Team Standings

(1) LaSalle 231.5, (2) Hatboro-Horsham 180.0, (3) Methacton 155.5, (4) Central Bucks South 146.5, (5) Penncrest 117.5, (6) Bensalem 114.0, (7) Father Judge 106.0, (8) Abington 100.5, (9) West Chester Henderson 100.0, (10) Haverford School 94.0, (11) Twin Valley 82.0, (12) Upper Merion 76.0, (13) Pocono Mountain West 68.0, (14) Octorara 67.5, (15) Mid Valley 63.5, (16) Springfield Delco 62.0, (17) Penn Wood 57.0, (18) Pottsgrove 56.0, (19) Phoenixville 53.0, (20) Archbishop Wood 52.0, (21) Great Valley 43.0, (22) Peddie School (NJ) 40.5, (23) Pottstown 12.0, (24) Bristol 10.0