2011-2012 Hawk Wrestling Outlook
This year will mark a decade for Hawk wrestling, and the 2011-12 Hawks will attempt to follow in the footsteps of last year’s legendary team – a team that won a 4th Sectional Title in 5 years, a 5th consecutive District Title, a District 1 Dual Title, and a 4th place finish in the State Duals. According to the pre-season Pennsylvania Power Rankings, this year’s team is ranked 5th in the State. However, the team will add to the Hawk legacy not because of this ranking, but because we will once again wrestle one of the most competitive and challenging schedules in high school wrestling.
Our goal remains consistent -- to wrestle the best competition during the season as preparation for the post-season.As such, this year we will again compete in three of the most challenging tournaments in the country - King of the Mountain, Bethlehem Holiday Classic, and our own Escape the Rock Tournament. We will also compete again in the prestigious Final Four Team Duals at Easton. Recognized as one of the top dual events in the country, we will tangle with national powers Blair Academy, Collins Hill, GA, Wyoming Seminary, Easton High School and others. This year we will kick of the season with the Nazareth Invitational on opening weekend. We will also continue wrestling in the Best of Bucks Duals and our regular league matches. Finally, we will wrestle in the District 1 Duals with the goal of advancing to the State Duals.
With the graduation of 7 starters, Billy Rappo, our 2011 State Champion and #1 preseason State ranked 113 lb, will lead a small group of talented returners and newcomers. Letter winners Tommy Trampe Hwt. (2011 Sectional Champion), Tim Riley (#8 preseason State rank @ 220 lbs), Mackie Moore, Brian Greco, Dylan Moore, Forrester Samsonith and Danny Martoccio (2011 King of Mnt Champion) will set the pace this year with the help of several newcomers and members of last year’s JV and 9th grade team. Nick Palmer, CJ Roman, Harry Murray, Rob Zimmerman Quinn Moore, Tom Shaatiel, and David Topham are likely to see varsity action this year. Newcomers Cade Brunetti (Jr.), Steven Kashchak (Jr.), P.J. Steinmetz (Jr.), and Connor Brunetti (Fr.) possess exceptional skills and will also make up for the talent lost while helping this team blaze a new path to legendary status.
Every year we are fortunate to have a group of dedicated wrestlers and a supportive community (parents, administrators, etc.) and this year looks to be the same. It is this dedication and support that makes the difference every year and we are more than thankful and appreciative. We are also thankful for Trey Balasco who likely will not wrestle this year due to a severe neck injury suffered in last year’s post-season. Trey will remain involved in the program and will play an integral role as a student-coach!
Due to the current economic times we live in, we have lost our 9th grade program. However, we have enhanced our JV schedule in a manner that will permit us to absorb this year’s 9th graders into our junior varsity program. This being our 10th year, we are at the point where we are seeing even more positives as our alumni are coming back to help with our program. This year we are extremely fortunate to have Michael Rappo, Bryan Knoblauch, and Connor Moore return as volunteer coaches.
We will seize another opportunity to blaze a path to Hershey … Why?… because that’s the way we are!!
Coach Silimperi and the Hawk Wrestling Coaching Staff
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