BRACKET BUSTERS
The SOL Continental Wrestling League Individual Championships saved the best for last, as the Continental wrestled up at Pennridge this past Sunday, a day later than all the other District One AAA Leagues. However, the solid wrestling of this tournament was worth the wait.
Central Bucks West’s Riley Barth rocked the District One East bracket at 145 pounds with his flying cement job over Central Bucks East’s Francesco Fabozzi. Barth’s feat, a stunning fall late in the second period over an undefeated Fabozzi, earned him the honor of the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award.
It was not only Barth who provided the upsets, Pennridge’s young guns at 106 and 113 provided some bracket busting of their own with victories in the finals. The Rams’ Kordell Rush was in control with the lead when Quakertown’s Collyn Dorney had to stop the match due to injury in the 106-pound championship. At 113, little brother of the Ram’s Scott Parker, Matt Parker won it in overtime over Quakertown’s Harrison Campbell, with a take down for a sudden victory 3-1.
The host Rams were practically unstoppable in the finals, winning the first four weight classes and crowning six champions when it was all done. The Rams ran away with the team score early as they tallied 177.5 points to capture the team title. They out distanced the rest of field by more than 50 points.
The SOL Continental League coaches all contributed toward a team championship plaque that was awarded to Coach Dan Goetter and the wrestling Rams. The Rams had eight finalists, with champs Scott Parker (120), Ben Rush (126), Kyle Gentile (160), and Joe Kracz (285) joining Rush and M. Parker atop the podium, as sophomore Andrew Reinhold (182) and Ezra Outlaw (195) were runner-ups.
CB East’s Michael Driver provided some fireworks of his own, with another potential bracket buster this upcoming weekend at Hatboro-Horsham in the D1 East Championships. Driver defeated Souderton’s Kolton Veit in the 126 -pound semifinals. Driver used some big moves, tossing Viet to an 8-5 loss. Driver ran out of steam in the finals, as Ben Ross’s explosive style cooled off Driver as Ross posted a tech fall 20-3 in 5:46.
Hatboro-Horsham senior Matt Swiacki took down the bracket at 132 to take the title. Swiacki moved up in the post-season to avoid the rugged 126 bracket, and it paid off as he took the crown as the 3rd seed, using a series of takedowns to beat Jason Stout (CBW) 12-10 in the championship bout.
CB East crowned two champs in Evan Wilson (138) and Mark Remmey (220). Wilson cruised to the finals with two falls and finished with a major decision 15-2 in the finals over Colin Shannon (NP). Remmey defeated H-H’s Matt Chapman 7-2 in the finals to cap his senior league season with a championship.
North Penn could not catch Quakertown for second place, despite the Panthers not having a champion while the Knights had three champs of their own. Jeff Reimel (152) and Alex Price (182) were no surprises winning their weight classes. But Reimel did win a deep and rugged weight class with a victory over Bryan Jastrzebski (CBW) 8-2 in the finals. North Penn’s #3 seed Chris Barr knocked off the #2 Zach Tuerke (H-H) in the semis, and then took the title with a tie breaker victory in OT over #1 seed Ezra Outlaw (Pennridge) 5-4.
Six Continental teams had champions, as Souderton’s Phil Stolfi was crowned the champ at 170 with his second fall of the tourney, decking Quakertown’s Matt Stonebeck in 2:20. The Continental appears to be the strongest of the three SOL Conferences, but with the National joining the Continental and the Del Val League at Hatboro-Horsham Saturday to compete in the D1 East tilt on Saturday, Feb. 22. We shall see.
Wrestling starts at 9:00am/Finals 6:00pm. Coach of the Year Awards and Parade of Champions 5:45 pm. The top three medalists advance to the Southeast Regional Tournament at Pottstown High School on Feb. 28 and March 1.
The implications of the upsets in the Continental look like this in the following weight classes at the District One East Championships:
106-Collyn Dorney (Qtwn) will face super frosh Riley Palmer (CRS) in a quarterfinal match-up, with a dangerous Dylan Nuttall (Truman) in the same bottom bracket. Up top Rush (Pennridge) will have to tangle with a talented Sam Rudolph (Nesh) if he can get past another talented freshmen Brandon Bach (Soud).
113-Matt Parker (Penn) separated himself from Campbell (Qtwn) and League champs Connor Joyce (Pennsbury) and Chichester’s #2 seed Chris Smarkola.
126-Ben Ross (Pennridge) is the #1 seed above the bottom bracket, which features a potential quarterfinal match-up between two-time state medalist Dan Martoccio (CRS) and former state qualifier Kolton Viet (Soud). And also in the bottom half is the dangerous Michael Driver (CBE) who will wrestle Del Val champ Mike Wasch (Interboro).
145-Atop the bracket, Barth (CBW) earned the #1 seed and will look to see who emerges from the bottom half, with Fabozzi (CBE) lurking for a rematch in the finals. Joining Fabozzi in the bottom half is Lucas Martoccio (CRS) and H-H’s Brad Humski, who will most likely do battle in the quarters.
Other weight class notes for D1 East:
120-A stacked weight class, with Scott Parker on top and seeking a state championship, with #2 Zack Trampe (CRS) down below with Phil Torresani (H-H). Torresani will face freshman Trampe for the first time if he can get by another tough frosh in Tommy Smarkola (Chichester). Throw in senior Jason McGrogan from Truman, and it looks like this is going to be a fun bracket to keep in eye on to see who gets out to Regionals. Mikey O’Brien (NP) will be a tough out as well.
132-Tommy Stokes, with his tremendous speed here, will be the favorite, as he remains undefeated at 34-0. The bottom half features league champs Matt Swiacki (H-H) and 29-2 Eric Thomas from Interboro. Harry Murray (CRS) is also here.
138-Features another extremely tough bottom half with Evan Wilson (CBE), Dylan Schwartz (CRS), and Joey Gonzales (Int). CR North’s Tim Ambacher is the #1 seed, with the National’s Dustin Stone (Truman) and Tennent’s Jesse Coleman in the mix.
152-This weight class is top heavy throughout the region and will feature Lucas Garges (Qtwn), Josh Shalinsky (Bensalem), and Bryan Jastrzebski (CBW) in the bottom bracket, with Continental champ, #1 seed Reimel (NP) waiting up top to see who emerges.
160-A potential repeat of the Continental final here with Kyle Gentile (Pennridge) and Connor Bodnar (H-H), two Regional qualifiers a year ago.
170-Jesse Huber is the heavy favorite here at 33-2.
182-Alex Price (NP), a state qualifier a year ago, will possibly see Rich Strain (WT) in the semis, and Israel Crane (Glen Mills) will most likely battle a 32-3 Kody Lupfer (Nesh) in the other semi. It will be a war in the consolations to see who gets out, with Gavin Caroff (Qtwn) and Mike Rademacher (CRN) battling to get in the mix in a prelim bout.
195-A wide open weight class that will have to go thru Karon Lucas-Tillery of Penn Wood.
220-There are not to many undefeated wrestlers left in D1, but Marc Issac is here at 28-0. He will look for a return to Hershey this season, with precious metal in mind.
285-Another wide open weight class that will be highly contested by the big men. It’s tough to pick a winner here, but I’ll go with Joe Kracz from Pennridge.
The team race will likely be a battle between the SOL respective champs Pennridge (Continental) and Council Rock South (National). However, another team could do it through the wrestlebacks with a couple of champs, as we have seen in the past, but I will go with Pennridge.
Over the years, the Intelligencer’s Drew Markol and I have been picking District, Regional, and State Champs against one another. He clearly has the edge - just look at his record last year. But I’ll take a shot at picking the champs here in D1 East. I owe him several rounds of golf at Talamore C.C.
Predictions for D1 East Individual Champions: (Markol’s picks in italics) *Indicates same pick
106-R.Palmer (CRS)/Rush (Pennridge)113-M. Parker (Pennridge)*
120-S. Parker (Pennridge)*
126-Veit (Souderton)/D. Martoccio (CRS)132-Stokes (Bensalem)*
138-Wilson (CBE)*
145-Fabozzi (CBE)*
152-Reimel (NP)*
160-Gentile (Pennridge)*
170-Huber (Truman)*
182-Price (NP)*
195- Lucas-Tillery (Penn Wood)*
220-Issac (William Tennent)*
285-Joe Kracz (Pennridge)*
SOL AMERICAN TRAVELS TO OXFORD
The District One Central Tournament will consist of the Ches-Mont Leagues top seven wrestlers against the SOL American Conference top four placers. Plymouth-Whitemarsh validated its league title with a team title in the SOL American Individual Tourney. But it will be tough sledding for SOL wrestlers here. However, here is a preview of individuals that may continue on to the SE Region Championships.
Lightweights at 106 & 113 are Norristown’s Justin Altroge (Norr) and Eric Fuentes respectively. Altrogge will have to deal with James Srommer (Downingtown East) in the quarters, while Fuentes, the second seed seems to have what it takes to advance even being undersized here. The Amy brothers from Upper Moreland, Jason (103) and Matt are both guaranteed a shot as they come in as the 4th seeds after finishing 2nd at leagues. P-W’s 120 league champ, Fransesco Palagruto will have to do it through the wrestlebacks, as undefeated Wade Cummings (DTE) and West Chester’s East Kyle Medrow are here. 126 has some talented competitors, but Cheltenham’s frosh August Gershwin, the American Champ, along with Issac Phillip (Wiss), and P-W’s Dan Smith are long shots to move on. Gianpiero DiBattista (P-W) has quietly had an outstanding season, going 29-4 for the Colonials, and will look to advance at 132. Colin Devlin (Upper Dublin) is 30-3 and cannot be counted out at 132.
Chris Flemming (Upper Moreland) and Ben Billings (P-W) will have to have strong tournaments to get out, as the Ches-Mont’s top three are solid in Alex Elliot (Sun Valley), Austin Lillis (DTE), and Brad Patton. Shane Rhunke (Great Valley) made the drop to 145 pounds and will most likely battle Unionville’s Mike Caldwell in the finals. But Upper Moreland’s Anthony DeLaurentis will look to cap his senior season with a trip to Regionals, as he is wrestling well with 28 wins to his credit. Mikey Springer (Norr) is the top wrestler in D1 at 152, and will be the favorite to win a Regional crown.
Dom DeLaurentis (U. Moreland) will continue his outstanding season at Regionals, and will probably do battle with either Pat Fennell (Wissahickon) or DTE’s Christian Jarani in the 160 in the Central finals. Fennell is a strong pick to advance in his final campaign to make the trip to Hershey. Rashon Lusane will try and defend his Regional title from a year ago up at 170, but will be challenged by Gabe Hale (Downingtown West) and Nick Prange (Octorara). Justin Hester (UM) is a darkhorse here.
In the upper weights, P-W’s Austin Pollock is the #2 seed at 182 and should advance. Eric An (Wiss) is also here. Undefeated Adam Pleines from DTE is the clear favorite at 195, however, Isiah Samuels from Norristown positioned himself well with a league title and comes in as the two seed. Shaheed Hill will have to get by Dean Lang (Great Valley) to take on Sean Snodgrass (DTE) in the finals who he beat at the 13th Annual Wetzel Classic 285 pound finals in December.
Best of Luck to all of our SOL Wrestlers this weekend as we continue on the Road to Hershey, where chocolate never tasted so sweet when you land on the Giant Center mats.
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