Photo courtesy of Michael Rice. Visit the Photo Gallery to view galleries of Quakertown, CR South & CR North at the Beast of the East. Pennridge/Quakertown photo courtesy of Kim Supko. To visit the Photo Gallery, click here: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f933726263
CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR THE NEW YEAR
SOL Grapplers Add Two Pounds for Holiday Tournaments
By Glenn Kaiser
Prior to the Christmas break, Council Rock South kept rolling with a 10th place team finish with 92.5-points at the Beast of the East, and Pennridge solidified their now loaded roster with a big win over Quakertown 43-24. CR South left Delaware with two medals as Anthony Mutarelli placed seventh at 132-pounds and Bek Sadriddinov finished fifth in the 175-pound bracket. But the Golden Hawks team scored enough points with their entries to be in the mix in this prestigious event with arguably the best teams in the country in attendance. Blair Academy, a traditional national power from New Jersey, won over Faith Christian Academy with 282.5 points to FCA’s 190.5. Malvern Prep was right behind with 189.5.
Individually, the SOL was represented on the podium. In the finals at 150-pounds, Quakertown’s defending state champion Collin Gaj dropped an overtime (TB1) 2-1 to another PA state champ, Kollin Rath, from Bethlehem Catholic. These two are likely to meet again in Hershey come March with a state title on the line at 152-pounds. Gaj’s teammate Calvin Lachman garnered bronze with an outstanding effort at 285-pounds, rebounding from his quarterfinal loss to Nazareth’s Sean Kinney 5-3. These two may lock-up again this weekend at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic. The Panthers had a third medalist in Mason Ziegler who finished seventh at 120-pounds. Quakertown’s star-power landed them in 12th place overall in the team standings with 89.5 points, not too far behind CRS. These two will likely be threats to win a Southeast Regional title here in District One come the postseason. Pennridge will be joining them as well.
Council Rock North will grapple in the prestigious Powerade Tourney at Cannon-Mac this weekend, making it back-to-back major events for them. Alexander Diaz remained hot in Delaware at the Beast with a fifth place finish at 106, but teammate Erin Sement came up short with an UTB loss 3-3 to Point Pleasant’s (WV) Gunner Andrick in the blood-round at 132. Nonetheless, he will toe-the-line against the nation’s best again this weekend. CR North is a much-improved squad as a dual team this season, as they also posted a solid win over the SOL Colonial’s Central Bucks East 49-15 to improve to 4-3.
The Rams finally got healthy this past week, as they put an outstanding lineup on display, that can rack up bonus points, as they decked Q-town 43-24, posting six falls. 
Returning for the first time this season was highly ranked Colby Martinelli at 114-pounds. Maritnelli clearly can use the extra weight here after Christmas. Riley Cullen (215), Chase Washington (285) and Quinn McBride (127) are all in stride as we head into the new year. The ‘Ridge’s Cole Coffin impressed with a solid 9-1 major decision over Panther Ike Williams at 139-pounds in a key bout in the match for both teams.
Locally this weekend, SOL teams will wrestle at Hatboro-Horsham in the 22nd Annual Wetzel Holiday Classic. Joining them will be a large contingent of District One teams and teams from both Delaware and New Jersey. Hatboro-Horsham will be in the mix to win the team title as they have impressed as a tournament team thus far in the 2023-24 wrestling season. The hosts are led by freshman Dom Morrison at 107-pounds, who is fresh-off a Panther Invitational title with a perfect 8-0 record and Chris Staub at 145, who will look to win a Wetzel title in his senior campaign. H-H will be challenged by both Neshaminy and Pennsbury. Joining in the tussle will be Cheltenham, CB East and West, Truman, Tennent, Lower Moreland and Upper Dublin. All have tremendous individual talents that will be on display here.
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