#1 Easton (State #3)
Head Coach: Jody Karam (4th year, 51-16; 33rd year, 460-161-1)
Record: 16-1
State Dual Titles: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
State Dual Finals: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011
District 11 Dual Champions: 1992, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
District 11 Dual Runner-Up: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2015
Lineup (with state ranking)
107: #6 Noah Fenner (Fr. 23-2)
114: #6 Nick Salamone (So. 21-3)
121: Ethan Krazer (Fr. 17-8)
127: #10 Chris Kelly (Jr. 20-6)
133: Ben Riehl (Sr. 11-13)/Evan Carss (Fr. 1-1)/Brendan Bowman (Jr. 1-0)
138: #6 Ben Fanelli (Sr. 24-2)
145: Jaron Trimmer (Sr. 15-9)
152: #13 Quentin Hammerstone (Jr. 21-7)
160: #18 James Geiger (Sr. 15-4)
172: #24 Justin Cosover (Fr. 17-7)
189: #16 Shae Linegar (Jr. 23-5)
215: Kurtis Crossman (So. 22-7)
295: LD Conyers (Sr. 8-6)
Easton won their first conference championship since the formation of the EPC in 2015 after running undefeated through their league season with an emphatic win over Nazareth and a thriller over Bethlehem Catholic. They’ll only need to see one of those teams this weekend, as the top seed situation on the other half of the bracket. It would take a disaster for Easton not to be one of the two teams to earn a trip to PIAA Duals, but the Rovers are looking for the bigger prize. They have not won a D11 duals title in ten years, and none since Becahi moved up to 3A. This, after winning 13 in 22 years, and going to finals another six times, has been a huge sore spot for the program and one they’re eager to erase. There is no true superstar in this lineup, but they might be the most balanced team across 13 weight classes in Pennsylvania. The development of upperweights Shae Linegar and Kurtis Crossman has been huge, as has the readiness of freshman Justin Cosover. That is where they can make real moves as a lot of their competitors are thin up top. If they have anything close to a star, it’s Noah Fenner or Nick Salamone at the two starting weights, who both have state finalist potential as their careers develop (as does Cosover, but 172 for a freshman is a whole different animal).
#2 Bethlehem Catholic (State #4)
Head Coach: Mike Cole (1st season, 9-1)
Record: 9-1
State Dual Titles: 2A: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; 3A: 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
State Dual Finals: 2017
District 11 Dual Champions: 2A: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; 3A: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
District 11 Dual Runner-Up: 2A: 1990, 2007, 2017, 2020
Lineup (with state ranking)
107: Louden Hower (Fr. 10-10)
114: #10 Reef Dilalrd (Fr. 19-10)
121: #1 Keanu Dillard (So. So. 22-5)
127: #15 Ryder Campbell (Jr. 13-6)
133: Mason Thomas (Fr. 8-7)
138: #11 Marco Frinzi (Jr. 20-7)
145: #9 Shane McFillin (Jr. 22-6)
152: #1 Kollin Rath (Jr. 27-1; Missouri)
160: #8 Charlie Scanlan (Jr. 20-6)f
172: Dario Cruz (Sr. 12-10)
189: George Pavis (Sr. 3-5)
215: #7 (@ 189) James DeLuise (Jr. 10-4)
285: Jacob Lance (Sr. 10-11)
It’s been a while since the Golden Hawks have come into this tournament an underdog. Still, it’s nice to be “down” and one of the four best teams in the state with two very likely state champions in your lineup. But dual strength is all about balance, and the Hawks have some holes they need to work around. They’re not particularly strong at 107, a rarity for a team of their caliber, and the upper weights both lack high end guys and have to move around to cover a huge hole at heavyweight (I’m assuming they’ll just enter 12 in the D11 tournament). This makes a semifinal with Nazareth really interesting, as Nazareth has the absolute hammer at 285, and can maneuver their lineup around to get really good guys in the 172-215 range. Becahi’s path to victory all weekend (and all state tournament if they move on) will be the bonus points they can rack up 138-152, plus the Dillard brothers.
#3 Nazareth (State #6)
Head Coach: Dave Crowell (22nd season at Nazareth, 332-84; 40th season overall, 600-147-2)
Record: 13-1
State Dual Titles: 2007, 2017, 2020
State Dual Finals: 2022, 2023
District 11 Dual Champions: 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2017, 2020
District 11 Dual Runner-Up: 1992, 1995, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2022
Lineup (with state ranking)
107: Derek Fulmer (So. 13-10)
114: #18 Remy Trach (So. 17-10)
121: Cooper Wenrich (Fr. 19-8)
127: Dom Rizzotto (Sr. 22-8)
133: Dom Tunnison (So. 10-11)
139: #1 Tahir Parkins (Jr. 28-2; Rutgers)
145: #13 Jack Campbell (So. 25-5)
152: #10 Cade Campbell (So. 19-3)
160: #17 Elijah Simak (So. 20-9)
172: #13 Brayden Zuercher (So. 23-8)
189: Vincent Giacobbe (Jr. 9-13)
215: Carter Ferrera (So. 0-7)
285; #1 Sean Kinney (Sr. 26-1; Lafayette - football)
First, Dave Crowell finished the regular season with his 600th career dual meet win, becoming just the fifth coach to do that in state history and further cemting his resume as the greatest high school wrestling coach in state, and possibly national history. He’ll have the Blue Eagles ready. I think everybody is anticipating a Bethlehem Cahtolic-Easton rematch in the final, but the Blue Eagles are a sneaky pick to upset the apple cart. Like Becahi, this is not a vintage Nazareth year, but they have two possible state champs in the lineup and some really high quality upper middleweights that can give teams fits with bonus points. Dave Crowell teams improve an exceptional amount during the year, and this will be a statement type tournament for kids like Cooper Wenrich, Dom Tunnison, and Derek Fulmer, who need to hold their own. They also may need some lineup flexibility against the Hawks, but unlike most teams, have the firepower to hang with them on bonus points.
#4 Northampton
Head Coach: Joe Provini (2nd season, 16-8)
Record: 7-5
Wins: Stroudsburg, Parkland,
Losses: Easton, Bethlehem Catholic, Quakertown, LaSalle, Nazareth
Tournaments: Top Hat – 5th; Beast of the East – 27th; Bethlehem Hurricane – 4th;
State Dual Titles: 2000
State Dual Finals: 2008, 2019
District 11 Dual Champions: 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009
District 11 Dual Runner-Ups: 1990, 1991, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2019*
Lineup (with state ranking)
107: Ayden Clough (Fr. 3-6)
114: #5 Gabe Ballard (Fr. 29-1)
121: Ryan Marano (Jr. 15-10)
127: Colin Marano (Jr. 18-8)
133: #1 Trey Wagner (So. 20-3)
139: #25 Chase Grabfelder (So. 18-8)
145: #17 Austin Noe (Sr. 20-9)
152: Robert Wambold (Fr. 3-5)
160: Daniel Herritt (So. 1-13)
172: Chace Roland (11-11)
189: Landon Roland (Sr. 8-6)
215: Jacob Koch (Sr. 7-11)
285: Gavin Grell (Jr. 19-6)
This team will have a much more fun individual postseason, and should be there following this weekend. Gabe Ballard is special – state champ written all over him and I would not be shocked to see him wrestling Saturday afternoon in March. Trey Wagner has also really blossomed in year two, and those are two lineup anchors moving forward for Joe Provini. The rest of the lineup has kids who will battle – Noe and Grabfelder are particularly tough kids, but they just don’t have the firepower of the top three. A building year for second year head coach Joe Provini, who came to Northampton after a long tenure as one of Dave Crowell's top assistants at Nazareth.
#5 Whitehall
Head Coach: Tim Cunningham (21st year, 363-212)
Record: 17-2
Lineup (with state ranking)
107: #16 Wilmont Kai (So. 28-3)
114: Kade Pascoe (So. 22-8)
121: Rocco DeLucia (Fr. 19-10)
127: Damond Pascoe (Sr. 20-9)
133: Nolan Schmeckenbecher (Jr. 21-7)
139: Orian Huggins (Fr. 1-6)
145: Seth Pascoe (Sr. 25-5)
152: Romello Leibensperger (Sr. 10-17)
160: Preston Saylor (Jr. 14-9)
172: Jack Kocher (Sr. 17-7)
189: James Hopkins (So. 27-5)
215: Dalton Wickel (Sr. 5-14)
285: Ryan Tran (Sr. 9-8)/Justin Heckert (Fr. 6-3)
What a year in Whitehall! The Zephyrs have their best squad since finishing 6th at states in 2002 (the year of their lone state champ, Christian Franco). Neither Christian Franco nor Jay Morrison is walking through that door, to quote Rick Pitino, but this is a nice balanced Whitehall squad that has excelled in dual season. Winning 18 matches and knocking Parkland and Emmaus out of the dual tournament. They’ve got seven wrestlers with 20 win seasons, including lineup anchors James Hopkins and Wilmont Kai – both of whom should be state qualifiers in March. A win over Northampton in the first round would be massive for the program.
#6 Pocono Mountain East
Head Coach: Ciovel Cuevas (2nd year, 19-16)
Record: 13-7
Lineup (with state ranking)
107: Cole Clifford (Fr. 7-12)
114: Jayden Alvarez (Jr. 9-8)
121: Kevin Gerheart (Fr. 15-8)
127: Peyton Torres (So. 1-14)
133: Kayden Skibber (JR. 13-10)
139: Liam Frey (Jr. 7-7)
145: Cael Harmon (Sr. 23-7)
152: #8 Kegan Demarest (Sr. 30-5)
160: Xander Gonzalez (Sr. 22-9)
172: Xavier Noel (Jr. 18-8)
189: Angelo McEaddy (Jr. 5-6)
215: Daniel Oh (Jr. 0-4)
285: Jermain Moxam (Jr. 16-11)
The Cardinals are back in District 11 duals after an extended absence. This is a team that has been through a ton emotionally over the last year, with the death of star lowerweight Scotty Raymond in an ATV accident in the spring. They’ve competed exceptionally well, and have some real strength through the middle with Harmon and Demarest. Going through Nazareth in the first round will be a tall task, but this is a program that has a lot to be proud of this year.
#7 Pottsville
Head Coach: Gary Keener (11th season, 155-40)
Record: 16-2
Lineup (with state ranking)
107: Stephen Karinch (Fr. 14-15)
114: Chris Dembinsky (Jr. 15-9)
121: Sean Pinho (So. 5-6)
127: Colin Kline (Fr. 10-13)
133: Luke Stearns (Sr. 27-7)
139: John Snyder (Sr. 1-13)
145: Ronald Peleschak (Fr. 7-13)
152: #9 Parrish McFarland (Sr. Sr. 31-4)
160: #2 Nick Kunstek (Sr. Sr. 31-1; Ohio State)
172: #3 Terrell McFarland (So. So. 31-1)
189: Brayden Evans (Jr. 21-9)
215: Drew Seaman (Jr. 10-9)
285: Lukas McNamara (Jr. 8-9)
This is a team built for the individual postseason. The McFarland brothers and Nick Kunstek will be high finishes not only in D11, but in the state. Kunstek was unable to compete in the state series last year after “transferring” back home after two years at Blair Academy. He’s a nationally ranked competitor with a scholarship to Ohio State, with his only loss coming to state #1 Asher Cunningham. A match I would bet money on seeing again in Hershey. Terrell McFarland is one of the most exciting sophomores in the country. But they just don’t have the firepower for a first round with Bethlehem Catholic. We’ll see a lot of points from them at the D11 tournament in three weeks though.
#8 Liberty
Head Coach: Brandon Hall (5th season, 49-36; 13th season, 133-86 overall
Record: 10-6
District 11 Dual Runner-Up: 2019* (lost true 2nd place match)
Lineup
107: Elijah Heimbach (Fr. 12-10)
114: Jasiah Pagan (Sr. 18-7)
121: Davian Carasquillo (Sr. 12-9)
127: Ben Miller (Fr. 3-3)
133: Jack Evans (Sr. 12-11)
139: Kam Abboud (Sr. 19-7)
145: Adriaan DeLeon (So. 8-4)
152: Wesley Koch (Sr. 4-15)
160: Yanni Condoulis (Sr. 1-4)
172: Daniel Rivera (So. 10-13)
189: Levi Levy (Sr. 3-1)
215: #24 Dante Morrison (Jr. 18-5)
285: Seth Kolb (Sr. 13-5)
Fitting that Jody Karam’s first match of a potentially crowning weekend is against Liberty, a program he led for over twenty seasons. This group is tough, and I think has some kids who are underrated by state services and could really surprise in the postseason – Abboud is a sneaky pick to go to Hershey, Morrison grows by leaps and bounds every time he wrestles, Pagan is a seasoned lower weight, and DeLeon is their most talented kid who is starting to round into wrestling shape after a football injury kept him sidelined until mid-January. They won’t beat Easton, but Morrison-Crossman should be worth the price of admission, and the Hurricanes will be a tough out.