I know some people enjoy wrestling content and I needed to flex my writing muscles, so here is what to look for this weekend at Regionals. This is a weird year (obviously) and the Pennsylvania postseason has completely changed. The five regions have been cut from 16 man brackets to 8 man brackets, meaning a much thinner crop advanced from last week's District and Sectional tournaments. In the Northeast, the biggest impact here was District 11 going from 5 regional qualifiers to 3. District 12 also received 3 bids to Regionals, with the final two going to District 2. There also is an intermediary step between Regionals and States, in an effort to keep an 8 man bracket in Hershey. Super Regionals in the East will combine the top four in the Northeast Regional and Southeast (just District 1) Regional, while the West Super Regional will combine the Southwest (just District 7), Southcentral (just District 3) and the Northwest (Districts 4, 6, 9, and 10). So, the top four here will move on - and with very little impact coming from District 12 (without Father Judge and the Logue brothers, I'm not entirely sure they're going to win a match against anybody but each other from 106-195). District 2 has a few starts, but certainly can't match the depth.
The upside for the locals is all three District 11 qualifiers for this weekend have an excellent shot at finishing in the top four and moving onto next weekend's Super Regionals. And even with just adding D1 in the mix, there could be a record number of District 11 kids punching through and earning state medals (since everybody in Hershey is in the top 8). The flip side is, District 7, 3, 6, and 10 will be a bloodbath in the other half of the state to get the four western spots. I will preview both sets of Super Regionals next week (though I can give overviews of the other four regions this weekend if there is some appetite for it).
106
It seems like a relative reprieve for the D11 crowd at 106 after six of the top 20 wrestlers in the state battled it out for three available spots last weekend at Districts. Surviving the gauntlet were #1 Carson Wagner (Northampton), #4 Josh Jasionowicz (Stroudsburg), and #8 Charlie Pavis (Bethlehem Catholic), whose consolation finals upset of then #7 CJ Horvath (Freedom) kept the Patriot star home this weekend as the highest ranked wrestler in the state eliminated from competition. Wagner handled Pavis 9-4 in the semifinal, then thumped Jasionowicz in a battle of state qualifiers, leading 10-3 before pinning the Stroudsburg senior. Wagner is the highest returning medalist at 106 after taking 6th in Hershey last year despite barely weighing in at 100 pounds. This year he’s grown into the weight and has established himself as the favorite. Jasionowicz made a surprise trip to Hershey in 2020, but like Wagner, has grown into the class and is right in the medal hunt, although the D11 final results shows a clear gap between the two. Pavis is a junior who sat the past two seasons behind Dante Frinzi and Tyler Kasak, both D11 and NE Regional finalists and state qualifiers at 106. Pavis is big and has a maturity advantage on the underclassman heavy weight class. Distirct 2 champ #18 Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights) was a match away from Hershey, but was beaten pretty soundly by younger and lighter versions of Wagner and Jasionowicz last year at regionals (Wagner winning 6-2 and Jasionowicz pinning him in the first period). Still, he should cruise as he’s the best of the bunch in D2 and there are no threats from District 12 until about 195.
Prediction
1. Carson Wagner, Northampton (So.)
2. Josh Jasionowicz, Stroudsburg (Sr.)
3. Charlie Pavis, Bethlehem Catholic (Jr.)
4. Luke Sirianni, Abington Heights (So.)
113
Maybe the most loaded weight in the tournament. The top three here all missed Hershey for a variety of bizarre reasons last year and are loaded for bear this season. District 11 champ #6 Charlie Bunting (Nazareth) was the top seed at last season’s D11 tournament and a top five wrestler at 106, but broke his hand in his first round match and ended up defaulting out of the tournament and ending his season. #9 Cael McIntyre (Bethlehem Catholic) but was also ranked in the top 10 in the state last year at 106, then lost the postseason wrestle-off to Tyler Kasak, who went on to win D11 and NE Regional titles and finish 5th in the state while McIntyre sat home (because Kasak missed most of the season with an ankle injury, he was Bunting’s first round opponent as the 16 seed when the Bunting injury occurred). Bunting and McIntyre wrestled a 2-1 match last week in the D11 final, separated by just a penalty point. District 2 champion #8 Zack Jacaruso (Delaware Valley) is also seeking his first trip to Hershey. He was slotted as high as #3 in PA at 106 last year, but was pinned by Kasak in NE Regional semis, then dropped a wild late scramble to Carson Wagner in the blood round, ending his season and sending the Konkrete Kid to states. Jacaruso owns a pair of wins over Bunting from last season. That’s a pretty clear top three, but also lurking here is freshman #19 Austin Noe (Northampton), a hammer from top who earned bonus in every match but his semifinal loss to Bunting, and pinned state qualifier Conner Werner (Liberty) to punch a Regional ticket. Noe was trailing 4-1 against Werner when he took top and got a pair of turns and a fall. Noe draws Jacaruso in the first round this weekend. District 2 runner up John Corra (Hazleton) comes in ranked #15 in the state and is making his third trip to regionals. Seven of Corra’s nine wins this season have come by fall.
Prediction
1. Charlie Bunting, Nazareth (So.)
2. Zack Jacaruso, Delaware Valley (So.)
3. Cael McIntyre, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
4. Austin Noe, Northampton (Fr.)
120
The big news at 120 was the descent of #2 Dante Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic). The two time state qualifier and returning 5th place finish spent the regular season up at 132, but came down two weight classes to win the 120 pound spot for the Golden Hawks and send Ashton Campbell – ranked #5 in the state at the end of the regular season – to the bench and ended the Palisades transfer’s season. Frinzi is the clear challenger to Waynesburg’s Mac Church. Unfortunately for fans, Frinzi’s archrival Braxton Appello (Easton) is done for the season after knee surgery. Appello and Frinzi met in the D11 and NE Regional finals in both 2019 and 2020 – all four tight matches won by Appello - then Frinzi beat Appello in the 5th and 6th place match in Hershey last year. Frinzi is amongst the tallest 120 pounds you will see and is a leech on top. He had to survive an overtime bout with #10 Javien DeLeon (Liberty) last week for his first D11 title. DeLeon was a state qualifier in 2020 and looked every bit a contender at Districts last week. DeLeon got there by absolutely hammering #14 Jake Doone (Nazareth), who wrestled back to qualify for regionals. Doone was a 25 match winner as a freshman last season wrestling 113, but was squeezed out of the Nazareth lineup when their starters descended in weight for the postseason. DeLeon separating from Doone and nearly beating Frinzi makes me think that #10 state ranking is light, as this weight is wide open past Church. District 2 champ #17 Austin Fashouer (West Scranton) is unbeaten on the season and is making his fourth trip to regionals. Freshman #23 Gunnar Myers (Wallenpaupack) is the lone 9th grader in the field.
Predictions
1. Dante Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic (Jr.)
2. Javien DeLeon, Liberty (Jr.)
3. Jake Doone, Nazareth (So.)
4. Austin Fashouer, West Scranton (Sr.)
126
It was a bizarre freshman season for #3 Tyler Kasak (Bethlehem Catholic). A broken ankle during preseason wrestle-offs kept the Doylestown native out for virtually the entire season while classmate Cael McIntyre established himself as one of the best wrestlers in the state. Kasak was healthy come state duals time, and got the call against state #1 Mac Church, and beat him in a barnburner. He followed that up with a 7-1 win over eventual state finalist Jacob Vane Dee (Erie Cathedral Prep) and that vaulted the 7-0 Kasak into the #1 spot in the state. He ripped into Hershey as the favorite at 106, and held a sizeable lead in his semifinal against Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe) before getting tossed to his back for 5 points twice and dropping a wild 14-10 match. Church avenged his earlier loss to Kasak on the backside after suffering an upset of his own, and the state favorite had to settle for 5th. This year, he’s a clear favorite to get back. Kasak is an absolute tank at 126, a bruiser on his feet and one of the best and most physical mat wrestlers in the state. He’s a heavy favorite here and next weekend before what looks like a brutal bracket in Hershey that one of the deepest in the state. It is anybody’s guess behind Kasak here. #18 Parrish McFarland (Pottsville) had his freshman coming out party last week, advancing all the way to the D11 final before getting teched by Kasak. #20 Patrick Snoke (Northampton) grabbed the third spot for D11, besting Tyler Cunningham (Whitehall) who had one of the upsets of the tourney in consolation semis where he defeated previous #9 Andreo Ferraina (Nazareth) and denied him a third straight state tournament bid. Snoke has been lurking in the Northampton lineup for years, and has really blossomed in his first year as a starter, particularly as a mat wrestler. Beck Hutchinson (Hazleton) and Julian Everitt (Pittston) have been in and out of the state rankings, so it should be a five way contest for the four spots
Prediction
1. Tyler Kasak, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
2. Patrick Snoke, Northampton (Jr.)
3. Parrish McFarland, Pottsville (Fr.)
4. Beck Hutchinson, Hazleton (Sr.)
132
As part of the Bethlehem Catholic descent, #5 Matt Mayer came down from 138 to 132 where he immediately slots in as one of the best kids in an open weight class. Mayer earned fourth place medals as a freshman and a sophomore, but had a rocky state tournament in 2020 and lost the chance to become a four-time medalist. He’s funky and one of the best scramblers in the field. He’ll be a solid favorite after blitzing the field last week. Sophomore #19 Dominic Wheatley (Nazareth) made his first district final and while there is clear separation between him and Mayer, he looked great otherwise with a pair of falls and a shutout win over returning regional 5th and #23 Dawson Miller (East Stroudsburg South) . #22 Nick Velde (Emmaus) knocked out Miller to clinch the final regional bid. There are no ranked wrestlers in the field from either D2 or D12, but District 2 Champ Austin Smith (Abington Heights) seems like the best bet for the fourth Super Regional spot.
Predictions
1. Matt Mayer, Bethlehem Catholic (Sr. - Duke)
2. Dominic Wheatley, Nazareth (So.)
3. Nick Velde, Emmaus (Jr.)
4. Austin Smith, Abington Heights (Fr.)
138
The last of the Bethlehem Catholic descents was #10 Andrew Harmon, who made the drop from 145. Harmon was a state qualifier in 2020 after bouncing around the lineup, finally settling in at 126. This year, he’s at his real weight and is showing what made him only of the most highly regarded incoming freshmen last season. He rolled through the D11 tournament last weekend, and I think should have a similar performance this weekend. #17 CJ Fritz (Northampton) is making the most of his first year in the lineup. #18 Vinny Hebel (Nazareth) was a regional qualifier in 2020 and gives the Blue Eagles real depth. The only other ranked guys from the region were both D11 kids knocked out last week (#23 Connor Bevan of Freedom and #24 Matt Ross of Pottsville), so expect the top three to cruise here. Sam Stevens (Abington Heights) is the regional champ out of D2.
Predictions
1. Andrew Harmon, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
2. CJ Fritz, Northampton (Jr.)
3. Vinny Hebel, Nazareth (Jr.)
4. Sam Stevens, Abington Heights (So.)
145
Sophomore #5 Dagen Condomitti (Northampton) won his first D11 title last weekend with a dominant four match performance. Condomitti won a regional title as a freshman and is a heavy favorite to repeat here. Like his older brother (see 160) he’s a risk taker with great feel from his feet. His primary challenger is #16 Preston Machado (Delaware Valley), who was one match away from the state tournament in 2020. D11 finalist #22 Xavier Arner (Whitehall) is looking to be the Zephyrs first state qualifier in years. Trey Miletics (Bethlehem Catholic) has been bounced around as a depth guy for years, and slotted in here at 145 when the Hawks dropped their lineup for the postseason. His patience was rewarded with a third place finish last weekend.
Predictions
1. Dagen Condomitti, Northampton (So.)
2. Preston Machado, Delaware Valley (Sr.)
3. Xavier Arner, Whitehall (Sr.)
4. Trey Miletics, Bethlehem Catholic (Jr.)
152
District 11 champ #5 Evan Gleason (Bethlehem Catholic) is looking for his third trip to the state tournament – he qualified as a freshman for Easton, then sat out as a transfer in 2019 before a fifth place finish at states in 2020 for the Golden Hawks. He’s punishing on top and has the length to give a lot of guys problems at 152. He teched and pinned his way through Districts last weekend and did not get pushed into the third period. The runner up was sophomore #21 Noah Okamoto (Nazareth). Okamoto is part of a deep 10th grade class for the Blue Eagles getting their first shot in the lineup after the graduation of nine starters from last season. Okamoto made his varsity debut with a pair of falls, including pinning the #3 seed at Districts, then grinding out a 3-2 win in semis over #22 Kordell Waiters (Emmaus) before getting stuck by Gleason in the final. Waiters has been around the block and is a solid senior looking for his first Hershey trip and has to be looking forward at another crack at Okamoto. Nobody is ranked out of District 2 or District 12, with D2 champ Sal Shiavone (Abington Heights) the best bet at securing the fourth spot.
Predictions
1. Evan Gleason, Bethlehem Catholic (Sr. - Harvard)
2. Kordell Waiters, Emmaus (Sr.)
3. Noah Okamoto, Nazareth (So.)
4. Sal Shiavone, Abington Heights (Jr.)
160
#1 Jagger Condomitti (Northampton) celebrated his announcement that he will spend 2021-22 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs by scoring 76 points in four matches, with three pins and a tech to win his second D11 title. Condomitti is ranked as high as #4 nationally at 160 and is head and shoulders above the field. He was the state runner up in 2020 and a fourth place finisher in 2019 (in a season that included a win over national #1 and state champ Ryan Anderson). Barring catastrophe, he should secure a state championship this year. Former teammate #17 Landon Muth (Bethlehem Catholic) was his victim in the final. Muth is a really promising sophomore for the Golden Hawks, but is probably a year away from being a serious state contender. #20 Ryan Fairchild (Nazareth) is another Blue Eagle first year starter that has a lot of good wrestling in front of him. Once again, no ranked wrestlers in District 2 or District 12 means a wide open fourth spot in super regionals, with D2 champion James Spindler (Pittston) the early favorite.
Predictions
1. Jagger Condomitti, Northampton (Sr. – Nebraska)
2. Landon Muth, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
3. Ryan Fairchild, Nazareth (Jr.)
4. James Spindler, Pittston (So.)
172
Unfortunately, returning state champion and national #1 Lenny Pinto (Stroudsburg) will not be here to defend his championship – won in the deepest bracket in recent memory – due to a knee injury suffered at FloWrestling’s Who’s #1 Event in Austin, Texas back in October. Pinto will join Jagger Condomitti at the US Olympic Training Center in the summer before heading to Nebraska. But there is still a state title contender, #3 Dominic Falcone (Easton). Falcone is a two-time state medalist, pushed Pinto to a 3-2 decision last year in the D11 finals, and took 7th in the aforementioned toughest bracket I’ve seen in Pennsylvania (which had six nationally ranked wrestlers and nine Division I commits). The West Point bound senior is short and powerful and one of the best athletes in the field. He grinded out a 5-2 win in the D11 finals over #11 Sonny Sasso (Nazareth). Sasso was the D11 champion all the way up at 195 pounds last year, but was knocked out of regionals early. He’s at his proper weight this time around, and his 6’4 frame can give a lot of people problems. He’s the younger brother of NCAA title favorite Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) and has some of the same funk on his feet shown by his two-time state champion older brother. #15 Wayne McIntyre (East Stroudsburg North) was a match away from states last season and is a tough out – he was in a tied match with Sasso before getting caught in a cradle and pinned last week, then eliminated #17 Justus Bozzi (Bethlehem Catholic) in the go-to-regionals match. #20 Thaddeus Meade (Dallas) is the Distirct 2 champ and the favorite for the #4 spot to Super Regionals.
Predictions
1. Dominic Falcone, Easton (Sr. – Army)
2. Sonny Sasso, Nazareth (So.)
3. Wayne McIntyre, East Stroudsburg North (Jr.)
4. Thaddeus Mead, Dallas (Sr.)
189
Round four of the #1 Drew Clearie (Nazareth) -#4 Isaiah Reinert (Easton) rivalry went to Clearie, who pinned Reinert in a scramble in the second period to win his second D11 title over the Red Rover. Reinert flipped the script last year at Regionals, and I would not be shocked to see a similar outcome here. Despite the NE Regional loss in 2020, Clearie ended up higher on the podium with a third place finish in Hershey compared to Reinert’s seventh. Clearie, who was sixth in the state at 138 as a sophomore before growing four inches and gaining fifty pounds, is a Brown commit and a slight state favorite over #2 Joey Milano (Spring-Ford), who will join the fun next weekend at Super Regionals - Clearie-Milano-Reinert is rock-paper-scissors, with Clearie is a bad match up for Milano, Milano is a terrible match up for Reinert, and Reinert seems to be the toughest match for Clearie. Clearie is solid on his feet, tough to score on, and has excellent short offense. Reinert in a contrast in style – long, lanky, likes to scramble and funk and is a hammer on top. Clearie has pinned him in both of his wins where Reinert gets loose and takes too many risks, but Reinert has won the two matches where there have been lots of scoring exchanges. He’s risk/reward, but is talented enough to win the bracket. Also lurking is #10 Bryce Molinaro (Hazleton) – a state qualifier at 160 last year and one of the top wrestlers in District 2. Nobody has gone the distance with Molinaro so far – he has a full slate of techs and pins on the abbreviated season. He’s probably considered a step behind Clearie and Reinert, but has the horsepower to go with both and beat at least one. The wildcard is #24 AJ DeRosa (Bethlehem Catholic). DeRosa was a state qualifier in New Jersey as a sophomore before sitting out last postseason as a transfer to Bethlehem Catholic. He’s underrated at the state level, but pushed Clearie in a 3-2 loss last weekend in semis. He’ll be on Reinert’s side and his strength could pose the Red Rover problems.
Predictions
1. Isaiah Reinert, Easton (Sr. – Bucknell)
2. Drew Clearie, Nazareth (Sr. – Brown)
3. Bryce Molinaro, Hazleton (Jr.)
4. AJ DeRosa, Bethlehem Catholic (Sr.)
215
The first and only weight where there is not a D11 favorite. #4 Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley) is a two-time All State middle linebacker who will play at Old Dominion in the fall. He’s hardnosed, a great athlete, and explosive on his feet. He’s in the mix to win a state championship, which would be the first for Delaware Valley since Lehigh All American Joe Kennedy won 189 back in 2008. Henderson took fifth last season, narrowly dropping a match to current state #1 Ryan Catka (Sun Valley) on the backside, who he should see next weekend. He also qualified for states as a sophomore. His big rival is #6 Sam Hunsinger (Hazleton) who he handled 7-2 last week in the D2 finals. Hunsinger was a state qualifier and regional finalist last year at 195 after finishing a match away from states as a sophomore. He teched Sonny Sasso on his way to that state birth, then went 1-2 in Hershey. The D11 champ is #14 Chase Levey (Nazareth). Levey was a regional qualifier as a freshman at 195, but missed all of his sophomore season with an elbow injury suffered during football (he’s an outside linebacker for the Blue Eagles). Fully healthy this year, he ripped through the 215 bracket in D11, going Fall, 9-3, 10-4, Fall. He’s a step behind the top two here, but should solidly finish third and qualify for Super Regionals. Behind that, this is as wide open as a weight gets. Ajay Hiller (East Stroudsburg South) was the two seed at D11’s, but got picked apart by Levey in their semifinal. Manny Rodriguez (William Allen) was a Cinderalla and made William Allen’s first D11 final since Zeke Lane won 160 in 2003, but he do that two weekends in a row? Without state qualifier Logan Holland (Blue Mountain) here – he was upset in the first round of Districts then knocked out on the back side – there is no clear fourth guy. Out of D12, Dante Burns (LaSalle) is a really promising freshman who won a weight normally dominated by upperclassmen. He had all first period falls in the D12 tournament, though his lone out of D12 match is getting pinned in the first minute by #5 Josh Harkless (Wilson West Lawn).
Predictions
1. Jason Henderson, Delaware Valley (Sr. - Old Dominion - football)
2. Seth Hunsinger, Hazleton (Jr.)
3. Chase Levey, Nazareth (Jr.)
4. Dante Burns, LaSalle (Fr.)
285
The talk of the District 11 tournament was freshman #8 Sean Kinney (Nazareth), who knocked off previous #5 Matthew Cruise (Easton – now #9) in a 2-0 win in semifinals, then brought the house down with a pin of #16 Sebastian Khamis (Stroudsburg) in the finals to win the team title for Nazareth by one point. Kinney, who started at left tackle for the Blue Eagles’ D11 championship football team, is big, athletic, and a monster on top. He rode Cruise for nearly 4 minutes in his semifinal win, and used a reversal as the only offensive points in the match. He was one of the most hyped freshmen in the state (ranked #12 overall by PaPower Wrestling in the incoming class going to PIAA schools), but might be a medal contender even sooner than anticipated. #9 Cruise is no slouch himself – he was a state qualifier at 220 as a sophomore and was a match away from medaling, and owned a win over 2A state finalist Kolby Flank. Cruise is also an excellent mat wrestler – though a rushed attempt to cradle and turn Kinney turned into the winning reversal – but the biggest thing to see this postseason is how his offense on his feet improves. He and Kinney were even in neutral for two minutes, but Kinney had a clear advantage on the mat. Heavyweight also has the added depth of #12 Cameron Butka (West Scranton) who is on the opposite side of the bracket from both Cruise and Kinney (who should meet for the second straight week in a semi, not a final). Butka was a match away from states last year and pinned his way through the District 2 tournament, and should be waiting in the finals for whoever emerges from the D11 crew. Khamis, whose older brother was a regional champ, is a safe bet to grab the fourth spot.
Predictions
1. Matthew Cruise, Easton (Jr.)
2. Cameron Butka, West Scranton (Sr.)
3. Sean Kinney, Nazareth (Fr.)
4. Sebastian Khamis, Stroudsburg (Sr.)
The upside for the locals is all three District 11 qualifiers for this weekend have an excellent shot at finishing in the top four and moving onto next weekend's Super Regionals. And even with just adding D1 in the mix, there could be a record number of District 11 kids punching through and earning state medals (since everybody in Hershey is in the top 8). The flip side is, District 7, 3, 6, and 10 will be a bloodbath in the other half of the state to get the four western spots. I will preview both sets of Super Regionals next week (though I can give overviews of the other four regions this weekend if there is some appetite for it).
106
It seems like a relative reprieve for the D11 crowd at 106 after six of the top 20 wrestlers in the state battled it out for three available spots last weekend at Districts. Surviving the gauntlet were #1 Carson Wagner (Northampton), #4 Josh Jasionowicz (Stroudsburg), and #8 Charlie Pavis (Bethlehem Catholic), whose consolation finals upset of then #7 CJ Horvath (Freedom) kept the Patriot star home this weekend as the highest ranked wrestler in the state eliminated from competition. Wagner handled Pavis 9-4 in the semifinal, then thumped Jasionowicz in a battle of state qualifiers, leading 10-3 before pinning the Stroudsburg senior. Wagner is the highest returning medalist at 106 after taking 6th in Hershey last year despite barely weighing in at 100 pounds. This year he’s grown into the weight and has established himself as the favorite. Jasionowicz made a surprise trip to Hershey in 2020, but like Wagner, has grown into the class and is right in the medal hunt, although the D11 final results shows a clear gap between the two. Pavis is a junior who sat the past two seasons behind Dante Frinzi and Tyler Kasak, both D11 and NE Regional finalists and state qualifiers at 106. Pavis is big and has a maturity advantage on the underclassman heavy weight class. Distirct 2 champ #18 Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights) was a match away from Hershey, but was beaten pretty soundly by younger and lighter versions of Wagner and Jasionowicz last year at regionals (Wagner winning 6-2 and Jasionowicz pinning him in the first period). Still, he should cruise as he’s the best of the bunch in D2 and there are no threats from District 12 until about 195.
Prediction
1. Carson Wagner, Northampton (So.)
2. Josh Jasionowicz, Stroudsburg (Sr.)
3. Charlie Pavis, Bethlehem Catholic (Jr.)
4. Luke Sirianni, Abington Heights (So.)
113
Maybe the most loaded weight in the tournament. The top three here all missed Hershey for a variety of bizarre reasons last year and are loaded for bear this season. District 11 champ #6 Charlie Bunting (Nazareth) was the top seed at last season’s D11 tournament and a top five wrestler at 106, but broke his hand in his first round match and ended up defaulting out of the tournament and ending his season. #9 Cael McIntyre (Bethlehem Catholic) but was also ranked in the top 10 in the state last year at 106, then lost the postseason wrestle-off to Tyler Kasak, who went on to win D11 and NE Regional titles and finish 5th in the state while McIntyre sat home (because Kasak missed most of the season with an ankle injury, he was Bunting’s first round opponent as the 16 seed when the Bunting injury occurred). Bunting and McIntyre wrestled a 2-1 match last week in the D11 final, separated by just a penalty point. District 2 champion #8 Zack Jacaruso (Delaware Valley) is also seeking his first trip to Hershey. He was slotted as high as #3 in PA at 106 last year, but was pinned by Kasak in NE Regional semis, then dropped a wild late scramble to Carson Wagner in the blood round, ending his season and sending the Konkrete Kid to states. Jacaruso owns a pair of wins over Bunting from last season. That’s a pretty clear top three, but also lurking here is freshman #19 Austin Noe (Northampton), a hammer from top who earned bonus in every match but his semifinal loss to Bunting, and pinned state qualifier Conner Werner (Liberty) to punch a Regional ticket. Noe was trailing 4-1 against Werner when he took top and got a pair of turns and a fall. Noe draws Jacaruso in the first round this weekend. District 2 runner up John Corra (Hazleton) comes in ranked #15 in the state and is making his third trip to regionals. Seven of Corra’s nine wins this season have come by fall.
Prediction
1. Charlie Bunting, Nazareth (So.)
2. Zack Jacaruso, Delaware Valley (So.)
3. Cael McIntyre, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
4. Austin Noe, Northampton (Fr.)
120
The big news at 120 was the descent of #2 Dante Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic). The two time state qualifier and returning 5th place finish spent the regular season up at 132, but came down two weight classes to win the 120 pound spot for the Golden Hawks and send Ashton Campbell – ranked #5 in the state at the end of the regular season – to the bench and ended the Palisades transfer’s season. Frinzi is the clear challenger to Waynesburg’s Mac Church. Unfortunately for fans, Frinzi’s archrival Braxton Appello (Easton) is done for the season after knee surgery. Appello and Frinzi met in the D11 and NE Regional finals in both 2019 and 2020 – all four tight matches won by Appello - then Frinzi beat Appello in the 5th and 6th place match in Hershey last year. Frinzi is amongst the tallest 120 pounds you will see and is a leech on top. He had to survive an overtime bout with #10 Javien DeLeon (Liberty) last week for his first D11 title. DeLeon was a state qualifier in 2020 and looked every bit a contender at Districts last week. DeLeon got there by absolutely hammering #14 Jake Doone (Nazareth), who wrestled back to qualify for regionals. Doone was a 25 match winner as a freshman last season wrestling 113, but was squeezed out of the Nazareth lineup when their starters descended in weight for the postseason. DeLeon separating from Doone and nearly beating Frinzi makes me think that #10 state ranking is light, as this weight is wide open past Church. District 2 champ #17 Austin Fashouer (West Scranton) is unbeaten on the season and is making his fourth trip to regionals. Freshman #23 Gunnar Myers (Wallenpaupack) is the lone 9th grader in the field.
Predictions
1. Dante Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic (Jr.)
2. Javien DeLeon, Liberty (Jr.)
3. Jake Doone, Nazareth (So.)
4. Austin Fashouer, West Scranton (Sr.)
126
It was a bizarre freshman season for #3 Tyler Kasak (Bethlehem Catholic). A broken ankle during preseason wrestle-offs kept the Doylestown native out for virtually the entire season while classmate Cael McIntyre established himself as one of the best wrestlers in the state. Kasak was healthy come state duals time, and got the call against state #1 Mac Church, and beat him in a barnburner. He followed that up with a 7-1 win over eventual state finalist Jacob Vane Dee (Erie Cathedral Prep) and that vaulted the 7-0 Kasak into the #1 spot in the state. He ripped into Hershey as the favorite at 106, and held a sizeable lead in his semifinal against Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe) before getting tossed to his back for 5 points twice and dropping a wild 14-10 match. Church avenged his earlier loss to Kasak on the backside after suffering an upset of his own, and the state favorite had to settle for 5th. This year, he’s a clear favorite to get back. Kasak is an absolute tank at 126, a bruiser on his feet and one of the best and most physical mat wrestlers in the state. He’s a heavy favorite here and next weekend before what looks like a brutal bracket in Hershey that one of the deepest in the state. It is anybody’s guess behind Kasak here. #18 Parrish McFarland (Pottsville) had his freshman coming out party last week, advancing all the way to the D11 final before getting teched by Kasak. #20 Patrick Snoke (Northampton) grabbed the third spot for D11, besting Tyler Cunningham (Whitehall) who had one of the upsets of the tourney in consolation semis where he defeated previous #9 Andreo Ferraina (Nazareth) and denied him a third straight state tournament bid. Snoke has been lurking in the Northampton lineup for years, and has really blossomed in his first year as a starter, particularly as a mat wrestler. Beck Hutchinson (Hazleton) and Julian Everitt (Pittston) have been in and out of the state rankings, so it should be a five way contest for the four spots
Prediction
1. Tyler Kasak, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
2. Patrick Snoke, Northampton (Jr.)
3. Parrish McFarland, Pottsville (Fr.)
4. Beck Hutchinson, Hazleton (Sr.)
132
As part of the Bethlehem Catholic descent, #5 Matt Mayer came down from 138 to 132 where he immediately slots in as one of the best kids in an open weight class. Mayer earned fourth place medals as a freshman and a sophomore, but had a rocky state tournament in 2020 and lost the chance to become a four-time medalist. He’s funky and one of the best scramblers in the field. He’ll be a solid favorite after blitzing the field last week. Sophomore #19 Dominic Wheatley (Nazareth) made his first district final and while there is clear separation between him and Mayer, he looked great otherwise with a pair of falls and a shutout win over returning regional 5th and #23 Dawson Miller (East Stroudsburg South) . #22 Nick Velde (Emmaus) knocked out Miller to clinch the final regional bid. There are no ranked wrestlers in the field from either D2 or D12, but District 2 Champ Austin Smith (Abington Heights) seems like the best bet for the fourth Super Regional spot.
Predictions
1. Matt Mayer, Bethlehem Catholic (Sr. - Duke)
2. Dominic Wheatley, Nazareth (So.)
3. Nick Velde, Emmaus (Jr.)
4. Austin Smith, Abington Heights (Fr.)
138
The last of the Bethlehem Catholic descents was #10 Andrew Harmon, who made the drop from 145. Harmon was a state qualifier in 2020 after bouncing around the lineup, finally settling in at 126. This year, he’s at his real weight and is showing what made him only of the most highly regarded incoming freshmen last season. He rolled through the D11 tournament last weekend, and I think should have a similar performance this weekend. #17 CJ Fritz (Northampton) is making the most of his first year in the lineup. #18 Vinny Hebel (Nazareth) was a regional qualifier in 2020 and gives the Blue Eagles real depth. The only other ranked guys from the region were both D11 kids knocked out last week (#23 Connor Bevan of Freedom and #24 Matt Ross of Pottsville), so expect the top three to cruise here. Sam Stevens (Abington Heights) is the regional champ out of D2.
Predictions
1. Andrew Harmon, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
2. CJ Fritz, Northampton (Jr.)
3. Vinny Hebel, Nazareth (Jr.)
4. Sam Stevens, Abington Heights (So.)
145
Sophomore #5 Dagen Condomitti (Northampton) won his first D11 title last weekend with a dominant four match performance. Condomitti won a regional title as a freshman and is a heavy favorite to repeat here. Like his older brother (see 160) he’s a risk taker with great feel from his feet. His primary challenger is #16 Preston Machado (Delaware Valley), who was one match away from the state tournament in 2020. D11 finalist #22 Xavier Arner (Whitehall) is looking to be the Zephyrs first state qualifier in years. Trey Miletics (Bethlehem Catholic) has been bounced around as a depth guy for years, and slotted in here at 145 when the Hawks dropped their lineup for the postseason. His patience was rewarded with a third place finish last weekend.
Predictions
1. Dagen Condomitti, Northampton (So.)
2. Preston Machado, Delaware Valley (Sr.)
3. Xavier Arner, Whitehall (Sr.)
4. Trey Miletics, Bethlehem Catholic (Jr.)
152
District 11 champ #5 Evan Gleason (Bethlehem Catholic) is looking for his third trip to the state tournament – he qualified as a freshman for Easton, then sat out as a transfer in 2019 before a fifth place finish at states in 2020 for the Golden Hawks. He’s punishing on top and has the length to give a lot of guys problems at 152. He teched and pinned his way through Districts last weekend and did not get pushed into the third period. The runner up was sophomore #21 Noah Okamoto (Nazareth). Okamoto is part of a deep 10th grade class for the Blue Eagles getting their first shot in the lineup after the graduation of nine starters from last season. Okamoto made his varsity debut with a pair of falls, including pinning the #3 seed at Districts, then grinding out a 3-2 win in semis over #22 Kordell Waiters (Emmaus) before getting stuck by Gleason in the final. Waiters has been around the block and is a solid senior looking for his first Hershey trip and has to be looking forward at another crack at Okamoto. Nobody is ranked out of District 2 or District 12, with D2 champ Sal Shiavone (Abington Heights) the best bet at securing the fourth spot.
Predictions
1. Evan Gleason, Bethlehem Catholic (Sr. - Harvard)
2. Kordell Waiters, Emmaus (Sr.)
3. Noah Okamoto, Nazareth (So.)
4. Sal Shiavone, Abington Heights (Jr.)
160
#1 Jagger Condomitti (Northampton) celebrated his announcement that he will spend 2021-22 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs by scoring 76 points in four matches, with three pins and a tech to win his second D11 title. Condomitti is ranked as high as #4 nationally at 160 and is head and shoulders above the field. He was the state runner up in 2020 and a fourth place finisher in 2019 (in a season that included a win over national #1 and state champ Ryan Anderson). Barring catastrophe, he should secure a state championship this year. Former teammate #17 Landon Muth (Bethlehem Catholic) was his victim in the final. Muth is a really promising sophomore for the Golden Hawks, but is probably a year away from being a serious state contender. #20 Ryan Fairchild (Nazareth) is another Blue Eagle first year starter that has a lot of good wrestling in front of him. Once again, no ranked wrestlers in District 2 or District 12 means a wide open fourth spot in super regionals, with D2 champion James Spindler (Pittston) the early favorite.
Predictions
1. Jagger Condomitti, Northampton (Sr. – Nebraska)
2. Landon Muth, Bethlehem Catholic (So.)
3. Ryan Fairchild, Nazareth (Jr.)
4. James Spindler, Pittston (So.)
172
Unfortunately, returning state champion and national #1 Lenny Pinto (Stroudsburg) will not be here to defend his championship – won in the deepest bracket in recent memory – due to a knee injury suffered at FloWrestling’s Who’s #1 Event in Austin, Texas back in October. Pinto will join Jagger Condomitti at the US Olympic Training Center in the summer before heading to Nebraska. But there is still a state title contender, #3 Dominic Falcone (Easton). Falcone is a two-time state medalist, pushed Pinto to a 3-2 decision last year in the D11 finals, and took 7th in the aforementioned toughest bracket I’ve seen in Pennsylvania (which had six nationally ranked wrestlers and nine Division I commits). The West Point bound senior is short and powerful and one of the best athletes in the field. He grinded out a 5-2 win in the D11 finals over #11 Sonny Sasso (Nazareth). Sasso was the D11 champion all the way up at 195 pounds last year, but was knocked out of regionals early. He’s at his proper weight this time around, and his 6’4 frame can give a lot of people problems. He’s the younger brother of NCAA title favorite Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) and has some of the same funk on his feet shown by his two-time state champion older brother. #15 Wayne McIntyre (East Stroudsburg North) was a match away from states last season and is a tough out – he was in a tied match with Sasso before getting caught in a cradle and pinned last week, then eliminated #17 Justus Bozzi (Bethlehem Catholic) in the go-to-regionals match. #20 Thaddeus Meade (Dallas) is the Distirct 2 champ and the favorite for the #4 spot to Super Regionals.
Predictions
1. Dominic Falcone, Easton (Sr. – Army)
2. Sonny Sasso, Nazareth (So.)
3. Wayne McIntyre, East Stroudsburg North (Jr.)
4. Thaddeus Mead, Dallas (Sr.)
189
Round four of the #1 Drew Clearie (Nazareth) -#4 Isaiah Reinert (Easton) rivalry went to Clearie, who pinned Reinert in a scramble in the second period to win his second D11 title over the Red Rover. Reinert flipped the script last year at Regionals, and I would not be shocked to see a similar outcome here. Despite the NE Regional loss in 2020, Clearie ended up higher on the podium with a third place finish in Hershey compared to Reinert’s seventh. Clearie, who was sixth in the state at 138 as a sophomore before growing four inches and gaining fifty pounds, is a Brown commit and a slight state favorite over #2 Joey Milano (Spring-Ford), who will join the fun next weekend at Super Regionals - Clearie-Milano-Reinert is rock-paper-scissors, with Clearie is a bad match up for Milano, Milano is a terrible match up for Reinert, and Reinert seems to be the toughest match for Clearie. Clearie is solid on his feet, tough to score on, and has excellent short offense. Reinert in a contrast in style – long, lanky, likes to scramble and funk and is a hammer on top. Clearie has pinned him in both of his wins where Reinert gets loose and takes too many risks, but Reinert has won the two matches where there have been lots of scoring exchanges. He’s risk/reward, but is talented enough to win the bracket. Also lurking is #10 Bryce Molinaro (Hazleton) – a state qualifier at 160 last year and one of the top wrestlers in District 2. Nobody has gone the distance with Molinaro so far – he has a full slate of techs and pins on the abbreviated season. He’s probably considered a step behind Clearie and Reinert, but has the horsepower to go with both and beat at least one. The wildcard is #24 AJ DeRosa (Bethlehem Catholic). DeRosa was a state qualifier in New Jersey as a sophomore before sitting out last postseason as a transfer to Bethlehem Catholic. He’s underrated at the state level, but pushed Clearie in a 3-2 loss last weekend in semis. He’ll be on Reinert’s side and his strength could pose the Red Rover problems.
Predictions
1. Isaiah Reinert, Easton (Sr. – Bucknell)
2. Drew Clearie, Nazareth (Sr. – Brown)
3. Bryce Molinaro, Hazleton (Jr.)
4. AJ DeRosa, Bethlehem Catholic (Sr.)
215
The first and only weight where there is not a D11 favorite. #4 Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley) is a two-time All State middle linebacker who will play at Old Dominion in the fall. He’s hardnosed, a great athlete, and explosive on his feet. He’s in the mix to win a state championship, which would be the first for Delaware Valley since Lehigh All American Joe Kennedy won 189 back in 2008. Henderson took fifth last season, narrowly dropping a match to current state #1 Ryan Catka (Sun Valley) on the backside, who he should see next weekend. He also qualified for states as a sophomore. His big rival is #6 Sam Hunsinger (Hazleton) who he handled 7-2 last week in the D2 finals. Hunsinger was a state qualifier and regional finalist last year at 195 after finishing a match away from states as a sophomore. He teched Sonny Sasso on his way to that state birth, then went 1-2 in Hershey. The D11 champ is #14 Chase Levey (Nazareth). Levey was a regional qualifier as a freshman at 195, but missed all of his sophomore season with an elbow injury suffered during football (he’s an outside linebacker for the Blue Eagles). Fully healthy this year, he ripped through the 215 bracket in D11, going Fall, 9-3, 10-4, Fall. He’s a step behind the top two here, but should solidly finish third and qualify for Super Regionals. Behind that, this is as wide open as a weight gets. Ajay Hiller (East Stroudsburg South) was the two seed at D11’s, but got picked apart by Levey in their semifinal. Manny Rodriguez (William Allen) was a Cinderalla and made William Allen’s first D11 final since Zeke Lane won 160 in 2003, but he do that two weekends in a row? Without state qualifier Logan Holland (Blue Mountain) here – he was upset in the first round of Districts then knocked out on the back side – there is no clear fourth guy. Out of D12, Dante Burns (LaSalle) is a really promising freshman who won a weight normally dominated by upperclassmen. He had all first period falls in the D12 tournament, though his lone out of D12 match is getting pinned in the first minute by #5 Josh Harkless (Wilson West Lawn).
Predictions
1. Jason Henderson, Delaware Valley (Sr. - Old Dominion - football)
2. Seth Hunsinger, Hazleton (Jr.)
3. Chase Levey, Nazareth (Jr.)
4. Dante Burns, LaSalle (Fr.)
285
The talk of the District 11 tournament was freshman #8 Sean Kinney (Nazareth), who knocked off previous #5 Matthew Cruise (Easton – now #9) in a 2-0 win in semifinals, then brought the house down with a pin of #16 Sebastian Khamis (Stroudsburg) in the finals to win the team title for Nazareth by one point. Kinney, who started at left tackle for the Blue Eagles’ D11 championship football team, is big, athletic, and a monster on top. He rode Cruise for nearly 4 minutes in his semifinal win, and used a reversal as the only offensive points in the match. He was one of the most hyped freshmen in the state (ranked #12 overall by PaPower Wrestling in the incoming class going to PIAA schools), but might be a medal contender even sooner than anticipated. #9 Cruise is no slouch himself – he was a state qualifier at 220 as a sophomore and was a match away from medaling, and owned a win over 2A state finalist Kolby Flank. Cruise is also an excellent mat wrestler – though a rushed attempt to cradle and turn Kinney turned into the winning reversal – but the biggest thing to see this postseason is how his offense on his feet improves. He and Kinney were even in neutral for two minutes, but Kinney had a clear advantage on the mat. Heavyweight also has the added depth of #12 Cameron Butka (West Scranton) who is on the opposite side of the bracket from both Cruise and Kinney (who should meet for the second straight week in a semi, not a final). Butka was a match away from states last year and pinned his way through the District 2 tournament, and should be waiting in the finals for whoever emerges from the D11 crew. Khamis, whose older brother was a regional champ, is a safe bet to grab the fourth spot.
Predictions
1. Matthew Cruise, Easton (Jr.)
2. Cameron Butka, West Scranton (Sr.)
3. Sean Kinney, Nazareth (Fr.)
4. Sebastian Khamis, Stroudsburg (Sr.)