Alex Frazier highlights this year's rule changes and features wrestlers to watch.
By Alex Frazier
Rules change —On Oct. 7, 2011 the PIAA amended Article XVI, which defines how the number of contests a wrestler participates in is counted.
The maximum number of contests remains at 22, but the PIAA changed the wording in the method of counting contests.
The PIAA defines a Combination Tournament as “a multiple school (dual) event in each of the NFHS weight classes in which individuals initially move from round to round as an interscholastic wrestling team (pools) or advance based on team results culminating in the wrestler’s placement on an individual bracket with advancement from that point based on individual results.
Multiple School (Dual) Events are contests involving three or more teams of students representing their schools in interscholastic team wrestling competition.
Given those definitions: Each dual meet wrestled within either a multiple school dual event or combination counts as one contest.
Each triangular meet, individual tournament or each individual tournament wrestled within a combination tournament and involving not more than eight teams counts as two contests.
Each quadrangular meet, each individual tournament or each individual tournament wrestled within a combination tournament involving at least nine teams counts as three contests.
For those of you, myself included, that don’t have a PhD in linguistics, it may be difficult to translate. But the bottom line is that some wrestlers won’t be able to accumulate as many matches as they have in the past, and schools will have to be wary about scheduling.
For some teams these changes may not make much difference, As CR South coach Brad Silimperi said, “We’re still at 22 competitions. All they’re really changing is how you count those 22 points.”
For some teams like Norristown, which wrestles a lot of dual meet tournaments, the ruling could impact its schedule.
“It costs you so many points,” said Mark Harner. “It used to be three points for a one-day (tournament) and four for a two-day. Now it’s one point for every time your kid steps on the mat. Dual-meet tournaments in District One are going to disappear after the rule is changed.”
Some of Norristown’s wrestlers competed in over 60 matches last year. Harner’s son Brett, who finished fourth in the state last year at 150, ended his season with a 56-8 record!
Of course Silimperi and the rest of the coaches don’t need to worry about it this year. But it will give them food for thought when they begin planning for next season.
Wrestlers to watch (by weight class)
106–Scott Parker (Pennridge), Collyn Dorney (Quakertown), Phil Torresani (Hatboro-Horsham), Dan Martoccio (Council Rock South), Evan Wilson (Central Bucks East), Chad Haegele (Central Bucks South)
Comment: A deep weight class, as usual. Martoccio gets the early season nod, but Parker will be a formidable opponent. Wilson and Haegele, both freshmen, are unknowns but enter their first varsity season with some good credentials.
113–Billy Rappo (Council Rock South), Zach Fuentes (Norristown), Jason Bing (Pennsbury), Ben Ross (Pennridge), Mike Pritchard (Bensalem)
Comment: An overall good weight class. In some people’s minds Rappo is a shoe-in to win a second state title, but don’t count Fuentes out. Rappo has won all four head-to-head competitions, but except for last year’s district championship (a 7-2 win), they have all been close bouts. Both are now at 120 but are expected to drop later in the season. Bing and Pritchard are also capable of going far in the post-season.
120–Kolton Veit (Souderton), Anthony DiEmidio (Pennsbury)
Comment: Veit and DiEmidio split bouts last year with Veit winning the second in sudden victory in the district semifinals. Except for those two, the weight class is wide open.
126–Mack Moore (Council Rock South), Aaron Rodriguez (Wissahickon), Tim Ambacher (Council Rock North), Harry Wilson (Neshaminy)
Comment: Even though Moore and Rodriguez haven’t met, Moore has fared better against common opponents, though Rodriguez placed fourth at districts last year and Moore didn’t advance past districts. Ambacher is making a big jump from 103 last year. Wilson finished second in Section One.
132–John Dutrow (Council Rock North), Josh DiSanto (Pennsbury), Kevin Flack (Wm. Tennent), Greg Kabakjian (Souderton)
Comment: This weight class could be a real shootout. Both Dutrow and DiSanto were state qualifiers. DiSanto won all three meetings between the two. Flack didn’t wrestle in the post-season last year, though he qualified for states the year before. Two years ago, Flack pinned Dutrow in the sectional semifinals, but Dutrow returned the favor last year in the dual meet. DiSanto has beaten Flack in four of five meetings.
138–Mike Springer (Norristown), Francesco Fabozzi (Central Bucks East), Tyler Seislove (Quakertown), Tyler Kelly (Council Rock North)
Comment: Springer is a clear favorite here. He won sections, placed second at districts and just missed states with a fifth-pace finish at regionals—as a freshman.
145–Justin Staudenmayer (Plymouth Whitemarsh), Pat Fennell (Wissahickon), Gio Mannino (Central Bucks East)
Comment: Staudenmayer is the cream of the crop in this weight class. He moves up from 125 where he won sections and districts and was second in regionals. Fennel had a good season last year as a freshman, placing third in sections and fifth in districts.
152–Seth Ehlo (Central Bucks West), Brennan Weiss (Wissahickon)
Comment: Ehlo was a state place winner two years ago, but didn’t get out of regionals last year. He’s already been named OW at the New Hope Tournament. Weiss is also starting strong going 5-0 at the SEPA Tournament.
160– Brett Harner (Norristown), Shane Hughes (Bensalem), Alex Price (North Penn), Dylan Swan (Central Bucks South)
Comment: Harner, a fourth place finisher at states last year, is a no-brainer. Hughes is up from 125 last year where he finished sixth in the region.
170–Shane Springer (Norristown), Dominic Rigous (Central Bucks South), Sam Jacobson (Upper Dublin)
Comment: Springer, who transferred from LaSalle, where he won District 12 and placed third in regionals and fifth at states, is an overwhelming favorite.
182–Tim Riley (Council Rock South), Eric Gray (Bensalem), Tyler Letrinko (Norristown)
Comment: Another open field with Riley an early favorite. He is coming down from 189 last year. Gray is up from 152 where he placed second in Section One.
195–Larry Gordon (Norristown), P.J. Steinmetz (Council Rock South), Chris Jastrzebski (Central Bucks West), Greg Frasch (Central Bucks South)
Comment: Gordon and Steinmetz, who transferred from LaSalle, will have a few more duels this year. The two split head-to-head bouts at regionals last year with Gordon winning the last one to place fifth. Jastrzebski won sections and advanced to regionals with a third place at districts.
220–Bryan Osei (Abington), Joe McNamara (Souderton), Matt Jorgenson (Quakertown), Tyler Callender (Council Rock North), Nick Cassalia (Central Bucks South), Connor Brunetti (Council Rock South)
Comment: This looks to be a strong weight class. Osei just missed states with a fifth-place finish at regionals, and McNamara just missed regionals. Brunetti, a freshman, brings his 18-0 middle school record onto the big stage.
285–Kevin Yannes (Wissahickon), Angel Carlo (Abington), Tommy Trampe (Council Rock South)
Comment: Trampe was a sectional champ last year and could well improve on that.
Weekend Round-up – In its Friday opener, Central Bucks East squeaked by Glen Mills 39-36. Steve Tilsner (182) sealed the victory with a 6-2 decision over Mike Richardson.
Congratulations to Council Rock South and Upper Dublin for winning their respective tournaments.
The Golden Hawks came home from Nazareth with an impressive performance. Dan Martoccio (106), Billy Rappo (120) and Tim Riley (220) all went 4-0.
“We had six guys in the lineup with NO varsity experience and another two with NO varsity wins plus we forfeited a weight class and still won the event,” said coach Brad Silimperi. “Awesome first weekend for the team and a great start getting our new guys valuable varsity experience.”
Upper Dublin won the New Hope Tournament, crowning two champions in Steve Volovar (138) and Devin Dhoble (195).
Central Bucks West, which placed fourth, advanced five to the finals, earning four champions in Jason Stout (113), Bryan Jastrzebski (132), Riley Barth (145) and Seth Ehlo (152). Ehlo was also named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. George Byers finished second at 106.
• At the Brian Bealer Memorial Duals, Upper Moreland collected four pins and two forfeits to defeat Boyertown 42-26. Dominic DeLaurentis (145), Justin Hester (152), Zach Beben (220) and Sebastian Medina (285) all pinned for the Golden Bears.
In the same tournament, Council Rock North also stunned the Bears with a 40-34 victory. The Indians won the last three bouts with Adam Ely’s first period pin at 145 clinching the win.
CR North also mowed down Ridley 44-21. Brandon Poff (182), Marston Poff (195), Tyler Callender (220), Tim Ambacher (126) and John Dutrow (132) all pinned for the Indians.
• At the Quakertown duals, Neshaminy nipped Hazelton 40-38. Harry Wilson (126), Joe Simcox (132) and Ryan O’Connor (138) pinned in the final three bouts to ensure the win.
The Redskins also won 10 of 14 bouts to knock off host Quakertown 51-21.
After three years away from wrestling, Quakertown junior 152-pounder Jon Carpenter went 5-0, pinning all his opponents in the first period.
“I am very proud and happy for Jon,” said coach Kurt Handel.
Carpenter, who has wrestled most of his life, said it was very “nerve racking” to get back on the mat again.
“But I was ready for it,” he said. “It’s been my life for so long that it just felt normal again.”
Coming into this year, Carpenter wasn’t expecting to have a good season, but now he says, “I’m ready to do it again.”
• Central Bucks South finished second at the Rustin Rumble. Dominic Rigous (170) and Greg Frasch (195) pinned in the finals to win their weight classes.
• Hatboro-Horsham 113-pound sophomore Kevin Mowry pinned his way to the finals at the Solanco Mule Classic, only to lose in the finals by tech fall to Solanco's Ronnie Perry.
In the semi-finals he decked highly touted sophomore Bryant Pennberth from Blue Mountain in the second period. He trailed 2-1 heading into the second period, but gained control of the match in a scramble that put Pennberth on his back, and tightened up a headlock to get the fall.
In his first year of varsity wrestling last year, Mowry was 4-15.
“I’ve grown up mentally,” he said. “I’m actually taking wrestling a lot more seriously. Last year it was just kind of a thing to do before track started. This year it’s actually one of my bigger sports.”
Mowry quit football this year to play soccer and he runs track in the spring.
Last year he placed seventh at the tournament so this was a big step up.
“This year I was surprised,” he said. “It’s a great confidence booster. I’m feeling this year will be very entertaining to say the least.”
Besides Mowry, Phil Torresani (106) and Han Kose (220) also reached the finals. All three lost to Solanco wrestlers. Kose was pinned by returning state champion Thomas Haines. The Hatters finished in the middle of the pack in eighth just three points behind Souderton in the 15-team tourney.
• Wissahickon captain Brennan Weiss won the 152-pound class at the SEPA Tournament.
Weiss qualified for districts last year at 145 and is hoping to make the jump to regionals, and ultimately to states this year.
Last year he started the season at 3-3.
Being a captain has given him some extra motivation.
“Especially coming into this season as a captain, I wanted to start off on the right note,” he said. “The rest of the kids on the team look up to me as someone who works hard, but this year I want to prove I’m a good wrestler technique-wise and I want to prove as a captain that I have leadership skills as well.”
Though he’s not being recruited presently, he is considering wrestling for a D-III program in college.
• At the Brandywine Heights Tournament, Abington’s Bryan Osei finished second at 220. Other place winners for the Ghosts were: Alex Winshel fifth at 106, Mike Molz fifth at 126, Adrian Deangelo fourth at 138, Justin Osei fifth at 145, Shawn Cornillot sixth at 152, Max Greenberg sixth at 170, Mark Lee sixth at 195, and Dan Spadaccini sixth at 285.
As a team Abington finished ninth of 12 teams.
Coach John Gillespie was particularly pleased with Winshel, who was wrestling in his first varsity tournament, going 2-2 and wrestling some tough and physical matches.
“He has been a great addition to the program this year and the staff is very impressed with his enthusiasm and work ethic,” said Gillespie.
SOL Top 5
1. Council Rock South
2. Norristown
3. Council Rock North
4. Central Bucks South
5. Upper Dublin
Top Guns
106—Dan Martoccio, Council Rock South
113—Jason Stout, Central Bucks West
120—Billy Rappo, Council Rock South
126—Harry Wilson, Neshaminy
132— Bryan Jastrzebski, Central Bucks West
138—Tyler Kelly, Council Rock North
145—Justin Staudenmayer, Plymouth Whitemarsh
152—Seth Ehlo, Central Bucks West
160—Alex Price, North Penn
170—Dominic Rigous, Wm. Tennent
182—Tim Riley, Council Rock South
195—Greg Frasch, Central Bucks South
220—Bryan Osei, Abington
285—Tommy Trampe, Council Rock South
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