SOL WRAP
12/31/19
By Glenn Kaiser
The new year begins a new decade of high school wrestling, and here in the SOL things are looking promising in 2020 for area wrestlers. Here is the recap of the last weekend in 2019.
Powerade
Council Rock North traveled to Cannon McMillan to face some of the nation’s best grapplers. The Powerade is a true test of wrestlers’ ability to battle the best, test their mettle and see where they stand for the future, not only for the 2020 post-season but for the collegiate level.
CR North managed to place three wrestlers in perhaps the toughest tourney in the country. Kyle Hauserman was crowned the champion at 120-pounds as he verified his PIAA AAA #1 ranking according to the latest PA Power rankings. Hauserman won his Powerade title in overtime, going the distance with a 2-1 tiebreaker two match with Arlington, Texas standout Dominic Chavez. Dillon Sheehy continued wrestling well, reaching the consolation finals but had to settle for fourth as he dropped a 9-1 major decision to Logan Messer from Wadsworth, Ohio.
Cam Robinson garnered fifth place with his 11-0 shutout of Wyoming Seminary’s Connor Kievman. Robinson suffered a 1-point loss in the quarterfinals to St. Joe’s Academy’s Caleb Downing, losing 3-2 to drop him down in to the wrestle-backs. However, he rebounded with two straight victories before losing to Malvern Prep’s Dalton Harkins 8-3, putting him in the 5th place bout.
The Indians finished 13th in the team standings with 101 points in an outstanding field of 53 nationally recognized teams.
Bethlehem Holiday Classic
Any time you travel to the Lehigh Valley to wrestle you will encounter high level competition, and this annual holiday tournament at Bethlehem Liberty High School did not disappoint. Several SOL teams headed north for the challenge, and many came home with hardware. Council Rock South was the highest finishing SOL team, placing 10th overall with six medalists.
Kyle Waterman, comfortable at his new weight class, captured the 126-pound title, edging Wyoming Valley West’s J.J White in sudden victory 4-2. South’s 160-pounder Matt Colajezzi was a finalist but had to settle for the silver, dropping an 8-4 decision to Nazareth’s Nate Stefanik in his championship tilt. The Golden Hawks Cavan Kinne (106lbs) and Giani Gilch (182) both finished sixth. South’s Mohammed Savriddinov (132) capped his outstanding weekend off with a win and the 7th place spot on the podium with a 5-2 win over District One foe Daniel Hussain (Garnet Valley). Brian Adams was 8th at 145-pounds for the Golden Hawks to round out the scoring.
Quakertown finished one spot behind the Golden Hawks (119.5 points) in 11th place in the team race with 113 points. Heavyweight Jeremy McGuigan led the way with a third-place finish, defeating Emmaus’ James Santichen by fall in 2:57 of the second period. Kyle Miller was the fifth place victor, downing Cadden Kucek (Wyoming Valley West) 8-5. Ralph Martin impressed with a 6th place finish at 220-pounds. Vinny DeSpirito placed 7th at 126lbs, while Zach Borzio (106) and Dom DeFalco (138) where both eighth in this rugged tournament.
Pennridge’s Logan Green was a finalist at 195-pounds, but had to settle as the runner-up as he was edged by Delaware Valley’s Jason Henderson in sudden victory 3-1. Wissahickon’s Dan Keller ran rampant thru the consolation bracket down at 195lbs (he had been wrestling at 220 earlier in the season), winning the wrestle-backs with a 3-2 decision over Freedom’s Max Marrero.
North Penn also participated but did not have any medalists.
Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament
Neshaminy placed third in the team standings at Governor Mifflin with 197 points, riding the coattails of champion Zac Martin at 138-pounds. Martin was victorious in his championship match 4-3 over Trinity’s Patrick DeMark. Jack Toy joined Martin in the finals at 195lbs., but was nipped by Conestoga’s Matt Hamilton 6-5.
Third place finishes were turned in by Gunnar Spain at 170 and Jason Passucci at 182. The ‘Skins placed an amazing ten wrestlers in total. Luke Landman (126) and Dan Hansbury (132) dropped their consolation final bouts to finish in 4th place in their respective weight classes. Charles Doran was 5th down low at 106-pounds, and Zack Magdelinskas finished in 8th place up top at 285lbs.
Andrew Pokalsky was 7th at 160lbs and Liam Moss 8th at 145lbs. Neshaminy will begin its push towards the D1 Team Championships at the start of the new year at 5-2 overall/1-1 SOL National. The ‘Skins will compete at the Rock Yard Duals this coming Saturday against a field of D1 powers in CR North (6-1), Spring-Ford (3-1), Downingtown West (0-0) and Owen J Roberts (7-0).
Plymouth-Whitmarsh crowned two champions at Governor Mifflin in Paolo DiSanto at 220 and Mike Miller at 285. The Colonial big men both won major decisions as DiSanto beat Middletown’s Quincy Reinnagel 18-6 and Miller won 12-2 over Warwick’s Hayden Benner. Justin Bainbridge was sixth at 145lbs, while Jake Williams (106) and Ambrose Belton (195) placed 8th.
The Colonials finished in the top-10, in 10th with 98 points.
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