Missed this the other day - William Allen beat Bethlehem Catholic 42-18 in their junior high match. Cupboard bare in Bethlehem? (Kidding)
District 11 Wrestling
- Thread starter RoverNation05
- Start date
It stinks.
I recognize the problem - the Team States event is not a popular one with spectators, and the Hershey arena is way too big for it (and probably expensive to boot). So I get moving it to a smaller venue.
But Altoona is far from everything. I know nothing about their gym, I’m sure it’s nice. The pictures look nice. But you’ve moved the event further from most of the teams that show up to the event the most, which I think will dissipate attendance even further.
What I’ve come around on the last few years for state duals is this - I would like to go back to a single qualifier for each district and have just an 8 team state bracket. Yes, that means D11 getting both finalists wont happen even when they have the two best teams. And that’s good.
What I’ve decided I don’t like is when Nazareth and Becahi or Easton and Northampton wrestle the biggest match of the year with the biggest stakes in Hershey where the full Lehigh Valley fanbase is not going to travel. If the D11 championship is loser goes home, you rachet that event up through the roof, and you’re in the Valley where full fan bases are going to come out to Liberty/Freedom/PPL/wherever you want to host it. That could be my age showing, and the fact that the 2003 and 2004 Easton-Northampton matches in the D11 duals when both were in the top 5 in America are some of the best sporting events I’ve ever seen. To re-wrestle those in Hershey in a non-sold out gym would have been anticlimactic, even if it would have been the state final. I think that happened to Beca-Nazareth in 2017, which is one of the best duals ever, and would have been in the stratosphere if it was at Liberty in front of a full house instead of the Giant Center in front of everybody’s parents and some crazies like me who like team states and drive the couple hours. But what do I know.
At some point I think they need to consider just having a home team / higher seed host some of these finals, if for no other reason to make the atmosphere state championship worthy. If the gym holds 1000, then 250 tickets are allocated to the visitors. There has to be a better way than these neutral sites that don't draw fans.
They're going to have the home team hosting until quarters, and not having wrestlebacks for teams that don't make quarters - which makes perfect sense. But the tournament is too big, there aren't four District 1 teams or whatever that need to be competing for a state championship in duals or whatever it is. The early round match ups are largely a joke in this tournament. And absolutely nobody cares about taking 3rd in the state team tournament, I'd be fine if they eliminated wrestle-backs all together. What it's nice for is getting a couple extra matches against good competition for your best kids before the individual tournament series, but again, I think that can be sacrificed.
I don't want to come off as not liking duals - I think having a dual champion is the best thing wrestling can do, and I wish that the NCAA did the same thing. And the PIAA has been trying to figure them out. The original version (that Northampton coach Don Rohn boycotted by sending his JV team) was during the week before individual districts and totally messed with guys weights for the individual postseason and was dumb and hastiliy thought out. They pivoted off of that pretty quickly (again, one of the best teams in the country sending their JV team to the tournament made quite the statement). The version from 2000-2004 that made sense in the calendar and had the winner-take-all District 11 championship was magical for us. Northampton in 2000 and Easton in 2001 and 2002 were a cut above and won it pretty easily, but the 2003 and 2004 duals between those two were absolutely incredible. (now i'm just going down memory lane, feel free to stop reading).
For the uninitiated, in 2003, Northampton was #4 in the country, Easton was #5. The last Saturday of the regular season, Northampton beat Easton 31-29 by winning four of the last five matches of the dual. The following week, in the D11 finals, Easton turned the table and won 34-23, the catalyst being (current P'burg coach) Brad Gentzle, who lost to John Paukovitz by 15-0 tech fall in the second period, then beat Paukovitz in the D11 final, 7-5. Never seen a one week turnaround like that. Bryan Hart beat state champ Joey Ecklof two matches later and Easton rolled to the win, then ran away with the state championship the next weekend. In March, Northampton tied the record with four individual state champions, while Easton medaled seven at states and both teams were more than 30 points ahead of the field.
In 2004, they were #3 and #5 nationally. Once again, Northampton beat Easton 31-30 in the final week of the regular season. The following week, Easton won maybe the best dual I've ever seen, 29-25, highlighted by Sean Richmond (RIP) getting a match-up with arch-rival Billy Haydt (who finished 3rd and 4th in the state that year) and reversing Haydt in double overtime to win 3-1 and win the dual. That was one of three bouts that night that went to overtime, and Easton won all three. Again, Easton rolled to a state title again the next week. That March, Northampton set the PIAA state record for points in a tournament (132.5) and medalists (10), which included three champs, while Easton put three in finals.
All four of those duals had to be moved to Liberty High School (with it's 5,000 seat gym) to accommodate the crowds. It was pretty cool, one of the high points in Valley wrestling.
Beast of the East starts at 8:30 tomorrow morning. It is Easton’s first trip to Beast since the 1997-98 season - no champs for the Rovers in their only trip, with a then freshman Gino Fortebuono taking second at 112. Gino went on to win a state championship as a senior, then eschewed Division I wrestling to go to NYU film school. Not something you see everyday from nationally ranked kids. Interesting cat, I see his name in credits on Netflix all the time.
Pennsylvania obviously well represented at Beast with Easton, Northampton, Nazareth, Becahi, both Council Rocks, Downingtown West, Faith Christian, Germantown Academy, Gettysburg, the Haverford School, Kennett, Northern Lebanon, Norwin, Notre Dame, Radnor, Red Lion, Saucon Valley, Southern Lehigh, the Hill School, Thomas Jefferson, Whitehall, and Wyoming Seminary.
Lots of overlap with the Ironman field, but swap out all of the local Ohio schools at Ironman with local Jersey schools for Beast. lots of Virginia schools at Beast too (weird that Great Bridge isn’t a player in the team race, they were so good for so long, and have gone to Beast forever and been in the hunt a lot).
Pennsylvania obviously well represented at Beast with Easton, Northampton, Nazareth, Becahi, both Council Rocks, Downingtown West, Faith Christian, Germantown Academy, Gettysburg, the Haverford School, Kennett, Northern Lebanon, Norwin, Notre Dame, Radnor, Red Lion, Saucon Valley, Southern Lehigh, the Hill School, Thomas Jefferson, Whitehall, and Wyoming Seminary.
Lots of overlap with the Ironman field, but swap out all of the local Ohio schools at Ironman with local Jersey schools for Beast. lots of Virginia schools at Beast too (weird that Great Bridge isn’t a player in the team race, they were so good for so long, and have gone to Beast forever and been in the hunt a lot).
After Day 1, Easton sits in 10th place at Beast of the East. Becahi leads the Lehigh Valley contingent in 8th, Notre Dame is in 11th, and Northampton is in 15th. Malvern Prep leads the field, with Faith Christian surprisingly in 3rd. Second place is Lake Highland Prep, a boarding school in Florida.
Rovers still have Nick Salamone alive on the front side, he’ll see National #1 Joey Bachman from Faith Christian in the quarterfinal. Salamone has pinned a state champ from Virginia and a state finalist from Delaware so far. Ethan Krazer (132), Justin Cosover (175), annd Kurtis Crossman (215) are alive on the backside for a medal.
Bethlehem Catholic has Nico Emili (107), Keanu Dillard (126), Charlie Scanlan (157), and Shane McFillin (165) alive in quarterfinals. Dillard has fellow state champ Gauge Botero (Faith Christian) in the morning, who beat Dillard last year at Escape the Rock. Marco Frinzi (150) and Connor Gillahan (215) are wrestling for medals.
Notre Dame has Keegan Ramsay (165) in quarters and Cael Mueller (107), Dom Sumpolec (175), and Connor Smalley (190) alive for medals.
Nazareth had top seed Tahir Parkins (145) in quarterfinals and Remy Trach (126), Jack Campbell (138), and Cade Campbell (157) in wrestle backs.
Northampton has Brayden Wenrich (113) and Gabe Ballard (126) in quarters with Trey Wagner (138) and Gavin Grell (285) in wrestle backs. Wenrich has national #1 Freddy Bachman (Faith Christian) in his quarter. Both are in the top 10 in the country.
Other PA guys in the quarters are Malvern Prep’s Justin Farnsworth (107) Luke Littleton-Nascari (120), Matty O’Neill (126), and Stosh Zamora (215), Faith Christian’s Mason Wagner (144), Max Stein (150), Chase Hontz (157), Nick Singer (175), Adam Waters (190), Jason Singer (215), and Mark Effendian (285), Saucon Valley’s Carter Chunko (113) and Jackson Albert (150), Norwin’s Landon Sidun (120), Northern Lebanon’s Aaron Seidel (132), Council Rock South’s Anthony Mutarelli (138), Council Rock North’s Eren Sement (144), Thomas Jefferson’s Maddux Shaw (157) and Bode Marlow (175), Gettysburg’s Nolan Reinert (190),
Rovers still have Nick Salamone alive on the front side, he’ll see National #1 Joey Bachman from Faith Christian in the quarterfinal. Salamone has pinned a state champ from Virginia and a state finalist from Delaware so far. Ethan Krazer (132), Justin Cosover (175), annd Kurtis Crossman (215) are alive on the backside for a medal.
Bethlehem Catholic has Nico Emili (107), Keanu Dillard (126), Charlie Scanlan (157), and Shane McFillin (165) alive in quarterfinals. Dillard has fellow state champ Gauge Botero (Faith Christian) in the morning, who beat Dillard last year at Escape the Rock. Marco Frinzi (150) and Connor Gillahan (215) are wrestling for medals.
Notre Dame has Keegan Ramsay (165) in quarters and Cael Mueller (107), Dom Sumpolec (175), and Connor Smalley (190) alive for medals.
Nazareth had top seed Tahir Parkins (145) in quarterfinals and Remy Trach (126), Jack Campbell (138), and Cade Campbell (157) in wrestle backs.
Northampton has Brayden Wenrich (113) and Gabe Ballard (126) in quarters with Trey Wagner (138) and Gavin Grell (285) in wrestle backs. Wenrich has national #1 Freddy Bachman (Faith Christian) in his quarter. Both are in the top 10 in the country.
Other PA guys in the quarters are Malvern Prep’s Justin Farnsworth (107) Luke Littleton-Nascari (120), Matty O’Neill (126), and Stosh Zamora (215), Faith Christian’s Mason Wagner (144), Max Stein (150), Chase Hontz (157), Nick Singer (175), Adam Waters (190), Jason Singer (215), and Mark Effendian (285), Saucon Valley’s Carter Chunko (113) and Jackson Albert (150), Norwin’s Landon Sidun (120), Northern Lebanon’s Aaron Seidel (132), Council Rock South’s Anthony Mutarelli (138), Council Rock North’s Eren Sement (144), Thomas Jefferson’s Maddux Shaw (157) and Bode Marlow (175), Gettysburg’s Nolan Reinert (190),
Notable Beast results -
Landon Sidun (Norwin) beats National #1 Joey Bachman (Faith Christian) in a battle of freshman state champs from last year. Sidun, who won 3A 114 last year, beat Bachman, the 2A 107 champ, on an overtime reversal in rideouts.
Bachman’s brother Freddy held onto his #1 status at 113 with a win over Fargo medalist Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville, OH).
National #1 and Cornell recruit Anthony Knox from St John Vianny (NJ) hammered Lehigh recruit Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic) in a bout of top 5 national wrestlers.
Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) rolled to a title at 132.
Tahir Parkins (Nazareth) beats Eren Sement (CRN), 4-1 in overtime in a possible preview of state finals at 145. Parkins is a returning state champ, Sement has finished third three times, including a win over Parkins for third when both were sophomores.
State champ Maddox Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) had to injury default out of the tournament after semis at 157. Something to watch, as the Ohio State commit is top 3 in the country and a heavy favorite to win his second state title if healthy.
Will Henckel (Blair Academy) beat Ryan Burton (St. Joseph Regional NJ) in the latest installment in their rivalry, erasing a 3-1 deficit in a 5-3 win. Burton had defeated Henckel over the summer in the Fargo Junior Freestyle finals. They were ranked #2 and #1 in the country. Henckel is going to Penn State, Burton to Virginia Tech.
Adam Waters (Faith Christian) also had to dig out of a hole to win 5-4 over Lane Hoarde (Benedictine, VA) in a rematch of the Ironman final that Waters won by fall. Waters is #2 nationally while Hoarde is #3.
In D11 news, Bethlehem Catholic medaled four, with Nico Emili (107) and Keanu Dillard losing in finals. Emili made the 107 finals as an unseeded wrestler, and dominated his way to the title match before losing to Justin Farmsworth (Malvern Prep), 13-3. Emili announced himself as a definite state title contender. Shane McFillin and Charlie Scanlan also placed.
Easton got a medal from Nick Salamone (120), who lost on the front side to Bachman and on the backside to a New York State champ. He beat state finalists from Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey on his way to a medal. Kurtis Crossman (215) lost in the blood round, and Justin Cosover (175) and Ethan Krazer (132) lost in the round of 16.
Northampton got a medal out of Gabe Ballard (126). Brayden Wenrich (114) lost a fight match to Freddy Bachman kn quarters then surprisingly lost his R12 match. Trey Wagner (139) and Gavin Grell (285) lost in R16.
Parkins was the only medalist for Nazareth. Jack Campbell and Remy Trach lost in R16.
Notre Dame had Dom Sumpolec (175) and Keegan Ramsay (165) both lose in R12.
Saucon Valley had two medalists in Carter Chunko (113) and Jackson Albert (150). Chunko beat Sam Woolford (Northern Lebanon) in a battle of possible 2A state finalists.
Faith Christian won the team title, with Lake Highland Pre (FL) taking second and Malvern Prep taking third. Blair was fourth, and Brecksville (OH) took the public school title in fifth. Bethlehem Catholic was 7th, Nazareth 14th, Easton 17th, Notre Dame 18th, Northampton 19th, and Saucon Valley 23rd in the 184 team field.
Landon Sidun (Norwin) beats National #1 Joey Bachman (Faith Christian) in a battle of freshman state champs from last year. Sidun, who won 3A 114 last year, beat Bachman, the 2A 107 champ, on an overtime reversal in rideouts.
Bachman’s brother Freddy held onto his #1 status at 113 with a win over Fargo medalist Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville, OH).
National #1 and Cornell recruit Anthony Knox from St John Vianny (NJ) hammered Lehigh recruit Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic) in a bout of top 5 national wrestlers.
Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) rolled to a title at 132.
Tahir Parkins (Nazareth) beats Eren Sement (CRN), 4-1 in overtime in a possible preview of state finals at 145. Parkins is a returning state champ, Sement has finished third three times, including a win over Parkins for third when both were sophomores.
State champ Maddox Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) had to injury default out of the tournament after semis at 157. Something to watch, as the Ohio State commit is top 3 in the country and a heavy favorite to win his second state title if healthy.
Will Henckel (Blair Academy) beat Ryan Burton (St. Joseph Regional NJ) in the latest installment in their rivalry, erasing a 3-1 deficit in a 5-3 win. Burton had defeated Henckel over the summer in the Fargo Junior Freestyle finals. They were ranked #2 and #1 in the country. Henckel is going to Penn State, Burton to Virginia Tech.
Adam Waters (Faith Christian) also had to dig out of a hole to win 5-4 over Lane Hoarde (Benedictine, VA) in a rematch of the Ironman final that Waters won by fall. Waters is #2 nationally while Hoarde is #3.
In D11 news, Bethlehem Catholic medaled four, with Nico Emili (107) and Keanu Dillard losing in finals. Emili made the 107 finals as an unseeded wrestler, and dominated his way to the title match before losing to Justin Farmsworth (Malvern Prep), 13-3. Emili announced himself as a definite state title contender. Shane McFillin and Charlie Scanlan also placed.
Easton got a medal from Nick Salamone (120), who lost on the front side to Bachman and on the backside to a New York State champ. He beat state finalists from Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey on his way to a medal. Kurtis Crossman (215) lost in the blood round, and Justin Cosover (175) and Ethan Krazer (132) lost in the round of 16.
Northampton got a medal out of Gabe Ballard (126). Brayden Wenrich (114) lost a fight match to Freddy Bachman kn quarters then surprisingly lost his R12 match. Trey Wagner (139) and Gavin Grell (285) lost in R16.
Parkins was the only medalist for Nazareth. Jack Campbell and Remy Trach lost in R16.
Notre Dame had Dom Sumpolec (175) and Keegan Ramsay (165) both lose in R12.
Saucon Valley had two medalists in Carter Chunko (113) and Jackson Albert (150). Chunko beat Sam Woolford (Northern Lebanon) in a battle of possible 2A state finalists.
Faith Christian won the team title, with Lake Highland Pre (FL) taking second and Malvern Prep taking third. Blair was fourth, and Brecksville (OH) took the public school title in fifth. Bethlehem Catholic was 7th, Nazareth 14th, Easton 17th, Notre Dame 18th, Northampton 19th, and Saucon Valley 23rd in the 184 team field.
Bethlehem Hurricane Classic
Biggest news from Day 1 was Brayden Wenrich (Northampton) and Sam Wolford (Northern Lebanon) meeting in the second round at 114. Wolford is nationally ranked at 114, while Wenrich is #7 nationally at 107, but has been up at 114 for the Nazareth dual, Beast of the East, and now the Hurricane. Wenrich beat Wolford 1-0 at Beast, but Woolford put it on him yesterday in a 10-5 revenge win.
In other Northampton vs Northern Lebanon news, Gabe Ballard moved up from 127 to 133 to challenge national #2 Aaron Seidel. They’ll meet in finals.
Biggest surprise of semis so far is Jonny O’Brien putting it on state #5 Gavin Carroll (Quakertown) - and as I was typing this, Carroll took O’Brien to his back and pinned him. Sophomore Teagan Caciolo (Emmaus), who I think is going to be a very good one, pushed state #2 Nick Salamone, it was a 2-1 match the whole way, with Salamone getting a late takedown to seal it. Green Hornets lightweights are something to be reckoned with.
Finals (with state rankings)
107: #20 Jackson Max, Emmaus vs 2A #17 Nathan Schuman, Honesdale
114: #2 Emilio Albanese, Emmaus vs 2A #5 Sam Wolford, Northern Lebanon
121: #2 Nick Salamone, Easton vs #10 Connor Lagier, West Scranton
127: #11 Noah Fenner, Easton vs Mack Santoro, Saucon Valley
133: #3 Gabe Ballard, Northampton vs 2A #2 Aaron Seidel, Northern Lebanon
139: #1 (at 133) Trey Wagner, Northampton vs #5 Jack Campbell, Nazareth
145: #1 Tahir Parkins, Nazareth vs #5 McKaden Speece, Wilson West Lawn
152: #3 Michael Turi, West Scranton vs #5 Gavin Carroll, Quakertown
160: NJ #1 Gavin Hawk, Phillipsburg (NJ) vs #1 Colin Gaj, Quakertown
172: #9 Blaise Eidel, Wilson West Lawn vs #7 Gavin Cole, Council Rock South
189: 2A #3 Luke Fugazzoto, Northwestern Lehigh vs #7 Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth
215: #6 Kurtis Crossman, Easton vs Kaleb Dumin, Boyertown
285: #1 Gavin Grell, Northampton vs #5 Connor Hudak, Spring-Ford
Biggest news from Day 1 was Brayden Wenrich (Northampton) and Sam Wolford (Northern Lebanon) meeting in the second round at 114. Wolford is nationally ranked at 114, while Wenrich is #7 nationally at 107, but has been up at 114 for the Nazareth dual, Beast of the East, and now the Hurricane. Wenrich beat Wolford 1-0 at Beast, but Woolford put it on him yesterday in a 10-5 revenge win.
In other Northampton vs Northern Lebanon news, Gabe Ballard moved up from 127 to 133 to challenge national #2 Aaron Seidel. They’ll meet in finals.
Biggest surprise of semis so far is Jonny O’Brien putting it on state #5 Gavin Carroll (Quakertown) - and as I was typing this, Carroll took O’Brien to his back and pinned him. Sophomore Teagan Caciolo (Emmaus), who I think is going to be a very good one, pushed state #2 Nick Salamone, it was a 2-1 match the whole way, with Salamone getting a late takedown to seal it. Green Hornets lightweights are something to be reckoned with.
Finals (with state rankings)
107: #20 Jackson Max, Emmaus vs 2A #17 Nathan Schuman, Honesdale
114: #2 Emilio Albanese, Emmaus vs 2A #5 Sam Wolford, Northern Lebanon
121: #2 Nick Salamone, Easton vs #10 Connor Lagier, West Scranton
127: #11 Noah Fenner, Easton vs Mack Santoro, Saucon Valley
133: #3 Gabe Ballard, Northampton vs 2A #2 Aaron Seidel, Northern Lebanon
139: #1 (at 133) Trey Wagner, Northampton vs #5 Jack Campbell, Nazareth
145: #1 Tahir Parkins, Nazareth vs #5 McKaden Speece, Wilson West Lawn
152: #3 Michael Turi, West Scranton vs #5 Gavin Carroll, Quakertown
160: NJ #1 Gavin Hawk, Phillipsburg (NJ) vs #1 Colin Gaj, Quakertown
172: #9 Blaise Eidel, Wilson West Lawn vs #7 Gavin Cole, Council Rock South
189: 2A #3 Luke Fugazzoto, Northwestern Lehigh vs #7 Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth
215: #6 Kurtis Crossman, Easton vs Kaleb Dumin, Boyertown
285: #1 Gavin Grell, Northampton vs #5 Connor Hudak, Spring-Ford
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Hurricane Classic Finals
107: Jackson Max, Emmaus decision Nathan Schuman, Honesdale: 11-10
Max scores 8 points in the first period that hold up. Nice tournament for the Emmaus sophomore who sat behind Emilio Albanese last year.
114: Sam Wolford, Northern Lebanon decision Emilio Albanese, Emmaus: 7-3
Wolford has a great tournament beating 3A state title contender Albanese, he’s brutal on top. Brayden Wenrich finishes third and out scores the backside 84-1 after his second round loss to Wolford.
121: Nick Salamone, Easton decision Connor Lagier, West Scranton: 2-0
Salamone reversed Lagier early in the second period, and Lagier never got off of bottom for the rest of the match. Salamone is suffocating on top, if he can get enough neutral offense, he’s dangerous in March (I say for the third year in a row).
127: Noah Fenner, Easton fall Mack Santoro, Saucon Valley: 3:07
Fenner built up a 12-0 lead, then nearly got pinned in the second period, then reversed and flattened Santoro. I would never coach a kid to wrestle the way Fenner does, but he’s an awfully tough, awkward match up and can score a billion points on the mat. He went major, tech, tech, pin through the tournament. Editorial note - it’s weird seeing a Santoro (son of Lehigh coach Pat), not wrestling for Bethlehem Catholic, where uncle Rich won two state titles and his dad was a state bronze medalist before winning two NCAA titles. He’s a freshman to watch with obvious bloodlines.
133: Aaron Seidel, Northern Lebanon major Gabe Ballard, Northampton: 16-2
Ballard is one of the best sophomores in America. But Seidel is one of the best pound for pound wrestlers in America. Seidel is now 165-2 in his high school career. He and Jax Forest could have a national # 1 vs #2 in state finals.
139: Trey Wagner, Northampton decision Jack Campbell, Nazareth: 4-2
Similar to their dual a week ago, Wagner is impressive going up a weight class and beating a potential state finalist. Not sure why Anthony Mutarelli (CRS) was out for this tournament, but would have liked to see him against Wagner here.
145: Tahir Parkins, Nazareth decision McKaden Speece, Wilson West Lawn: 7-3
Kind if a ho-hum finale from Beast champ and returning state champ Parkins. The Rutgers recruit is one of the best in the country, good on Speece for hanging with him.
152: Michael Turi, West Scranton decision Gavin Carroll, Quakertown: 6-1
Turi is the most underrated good wrestler in the state.
160: Colin Gaj, Quakertown major Gavin Hawk, Phillipsburg (NJ): 16-4
Gaj is a monster. Senior and former state champ (2023) and 2x finalist is the #4 ranked 160 pounder in America, and put it on returning New Jersey finalist and top ranked wrestler in the Garden State. Always nice for PA to dominate a potential state champ vs state champ match up with Jersey.
172: Gavin Cole, Council Rock South decision Blaise Eidle, Wilson West Lawn: 7-0
Nice win for Cole in a bout of top ten wrestlers in the state. Cole is really good on top.
Team race is a quite something here. It’s Nazareth 172, Easton 169, Northampton 168.5. Each team had one finalist left (189, 215, 285, respectively). Easton has one going for third (189), Nazareth has one going for seventh (285). If Luke Fugazzoto beats Brayden Zuercher here, it’ll be a wild finish.
189: Luke Fugazzotto, Northwestern Lehigh decision Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth: 4-1
Always fun to see elite 2A vs 3A local match ups. Fugazzotto was a state finalist last year as a sophomore. Zuercher has been to states twice, and is a finals contender kn 3A despite breaking a number of bones in his face at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic (he just got cleared this weekend). Big second period takedown win it for Fugazzotto. And in the third place bout, Shae Linegar had a 4-3 lead, then put Noah McIlroy (Freedom) on his back for 7 and an 11-3 major decision. That gives Easton the team race lead.
215: Kurtis Crossman, Easton decision Kaleb Dumin, Boyertown: 4-2
Workmanlike decision from Crossman will win Easton their first Hurricane Classic title. Fitting In Jody Karam’s last season - Karam founded the tournament as the Liberty head coach back in 1994. He’s now won the tournament as a coach three times, previously winning at Liberty in 2017 and 2018.
285: Gavin Grell, Northampton decision Connor Hudak, Spring-Ford: 7-2
Grell gives the KKids their second champ and he cruises at heavyweight. With Lehigh commit Dean Bechtold (Owen J Roberts) currently injured, Grell is the top ranked heavyweight in 3A and wrestled solidly as a favorite this weekend. Grell’s win, combined with a Nazareth loss in the 7th place match, pushes the Konkrete Kids into second place by half a point.
Final Team Scores (top 10)
1. Easton 178
2. Northampton 172.5
3. Nazareth 172
4. Saucon Valley 142
5. Emmaus 131
6. Phillipsburg (NJ) 120.5
7. Northern Lebanon 115.5
8. Boyertown 114
9. Quakertown 112
10. Wilson West Lawn 109.5
The Rovers, who started attending the Hurricane in 2016, win the tournament its 30th season, joining Northampton, Blair Academy, Nazareth, Wyoming Seminary, Liberty, and Council Rock South as tournament champions. Blair holds the record with 12 titles, Northampton and Nazareth have five, Wyoming Seminary has four. Easton previously had been runner up in 2016 and 2022.
Easton goes 3 for 3 in finals and an eye popping 7-1 in medal round matches, with a pin, a tech, and two majors. After a first session yesterday that Karam said “had us looking for a bridge to jump off of”, quite the recovery for the Red Rovers.
107: Jackson Max, Emmaus decision Nathan Schuman, Honesdale: 11-10
Max scores 8 points in the first period that hold up. Nice tournament for the Emmaus sophomore who sat behind Emilio Albanese last year.
114: Sam Wolford, Northern Lebanon decision Emilio Albanese, Emmaus: 7-3
Wolford has a great tournament beating 3A state title contender Albanese, he’s brutal on top. Brayden Wenrich finishes third and out scores the backside 84-1 after his second round loss to Wolford.
121: Nick Salamone, Easton decision Connor Lagier, West Scranton: 2-0
Salamone reversed Lagier early in the second period, and Lagier never got off of bottom for the rest of the match. Salamone is suffocating on top, if he can get enough neutral offense, he’s dangerous in March (I say for the third year in a row).
127: Noah Fenner, Easton fall Mack Santoro, Saucon Valley: 3:07
Fenner built up a 12-0 lead, then nearly got pinned in the second period, then reversed and flattened Santoro. I would never coach a kid to wrestle the way Fenner does, but he’s an awfully tough, awkward match up and can score a billion points on the mat. He went major, tech, tech, pin through the tournament. Editorial note - it’s weird seeing a Santoro (son of Lehigh coach Pat), not wrestling for Bethlehem Catholic, where uncle Rich won two state titles and his dad was a state bronze medalist before winning two NCAA titles. He’s a freshman to watch with obvious bloodlines.
133: Aaron Seidel, Northern Lebanon major Gabe Ballard, Northampton: 16-2
Ballard is one of the best sophomores in America. But Seidel is one of the best pound for pound wrestlers in America. Seidel is now 165-2 in his high school career. He and Jax Forest could have a national # 1 vs #2 in state finals.
139: Trey Wagner, Northampton decision Jack Campbell, Nazareth: 4-2
Similar to their dual a week ago, Wagner is impressive going up a weight class and beating a potential state finalist. Not sure why Anthony Mutarelli (CRS) was out for this tournament, but would have liked to see him against Wagner here.
145: Tahir Parkins, Nazareth decision McKaden Speece, Wilson West Lawn: 7-3
Kind if a ho-hum finale from Beast champ and returning state champ Parkins. The Rutgers recruit is one of the best in the country, good on Speece for hanging with him.
152: Michael Turi, West Scranton decision Gavin Carroll, Quakertown: 6-1
Turi is the most underrated good wrestler in the state.
160: Colin Gaj, Quakertown major Gavin Hawk, Phillipsburg (NJ): 16-4
Gaj is a monster. Senior and former state champ (2023) and 2x finalist is the #4 ranked 160 pounder in America, and put it on returning New Jersey finalist and top ranked wrestler in the Garden State. Always nice for PA to dominate a potential state champ vs state champ match up with Jersey.
172: Gavin Cole, Council Rock South decision Blaise Eidle, Wilson West Lawn: 7-0
Nice win for Cole in a bout of top ten wrestlers in the state. Cole is really good on top.
Team race is a quite something here. It’s Nazareth 172, Easton 169, Northampton 168.5. Each team had one finalist left (189, 215, 285, respectively). Easton has one going for third (189), Nazareth has one going for seventh (285). If Luke Fugazzoto beats Brayden Zuercher here, it’ll be a wild finish.
189: Luke Fugazzotto, Northwestern Lehigh decision Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth: 4-1
Always fun to see elite 2A vs 3A local match ups. Fugazzotto was a state finalist last year as a sophomore. Zuercher has been to states twice, and is a finals contender kn 3A despite breaking a number of bones in his face at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic (he just got cleared this weekend). Big second period takedown win it for Fugazzotto. And in the third place bout, Shae Linegar had a 4-3 lead, then put Noah McIlroy (Freedom) on his back for 7 and an 11-3 major decision. That gives Easton the team race lead.
215: Kurtis Crossman, Easton decision Kaleb Dumin, Boyertown: 4-2
Workmanlike decision from Crossman will win Easton their first Hurricane Classic title. Fitting In Jody Karam’s last season - Karam founded the tournament as the Liberty head coach back in 1994. He’s now won the tournament as a coach three times, previously winning at Liberty in 2017 and 2018.
285: Gavin Grell, Northampton decision Connor Hudak, Spring-Ford: 7-2
Grell gives the KKids their second champ and he cruises at heavyweight. With Lehigh commit Dean Bechtold (Owen J Roberts) currently injured, Grell is the top ranked heavyweight in 3A and wrestled solidly as a favorite this weekend. Grell’s win, combined with a Nazareth loss in the 7th place match, pushes the Konkrete Kids into second place by half a point.
Final Team Scores (top 10)
1. Easton 178
2. Northampton 172.5
3. Nazareth 172
4. Saucon Valley 142
5. Emmaus 131
6. Phillipsburg (NJ) 120.5
7. Northern Lebanon 115.5
8. Boyertown 114
9. Quakertown 112
10. Wilson West Lawn 109.5
The Rovers, who started attending the Hurricane in 2016, win the tournament its 30th season, joining Northampton, Blair Academy, Nazareth, Wyoming Seminary, Liberty, and Council Rock South as tournament champions. Blair holds the record with 12 titles, Northampton and Nazareth have five, Wyoming Seminary has four. Easton previously had been runner up in 2016 and 2022.
Easton goes 3 for 3 in finals and an eye popping 7-1 in medal round matches, with a pin, a tech, and two majors. After a first session yesterday that Karam said “had us looking for a bridge to jump off of”, quite the recovery for the Red Rovers.
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I saw that Mutarelli had an injury default at the Beast last week. I think he was also injured over the summer. Hope he gets healthy after having to sit out last years post-season.
