Wrestling - District 11 Duals

[RoverNation05]

One of my favorite events of the year, District 11 Duals, takes place this weekend at Freedom High School in Bethlehem. Although it doesn't quite have the stakes of the early 2000s, where just one team from D11 qualified for the state tournament (now it's both finalists) it still is an exceptionally competitive field with more state level teams than there are slots in the field at Hershey. District 11 started their duals championship in 1992, but the state did not begin a State Duals championship until 1999 (with D11 champ Northampton famously boycotting the first state tournament by sending their JV team due to it's proximity to the D11 individual tournament). Since the tournament started, the D11 champion has gone on to win the state title 12 times in 24 years, with the runner-up also posting a win in 2007. Since they started letting two D11 teams into the tournament, the finals has been an all D11 affair five times, including the last two seasons and three of the last four. Four different D11 teams have won a state title (Easton, Nazareth, Northampton, Bethlehem Catholic) and five have made finals (Parkland joins the list).

This year will be the first in nearly a decade where Bethlehem Catholic is not the top seed. Easton went undefeated against Pennsylvania teams, including wins over Becahi and Nazareth, to claim the top seed in the tournament. They'll have a first round match up with Liberty, then a semifinal with the Northampton/Whitehall winner. The Rovers defeated Northampton last weekend rather comfortably, and would be similarly favored against Whitehall, and are solid favorites to punch a Hershey ticket in semis.

The other side of the bracket is where the intrigue is, and sets up for another classic in the Becahi/Nazareth rivalry. Bethlehem Catholic, the two seed, will get some tough individual match ups against Pottsville, but should overwhelm on the team score. Nazareth gets upstart Pocono Mountain East in the quarters, which should be a comfortable win. That pits Bethlehem Catholic and Nazareth in the other semi in a "winner goes to states, loser goes home" match. They've met in the D11 tournament five times since Becahi moved up to 3A, but all were in finals with both teams assured to move on to the state bracket. We'll break that matchup down in a little more depth after team capsules.

 

[RoverNation05]

#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.

 

[RoverNation05]

Any way I slice the Bethlehem Catholic-Nazareth match, I keep getting a two to eight point Bethlehem Catholic wins. So, I don't think it matters a ton how Nazareth bumps their lineup around, they're going to need to win toss ups. The Rath-Scanlan pair in the middle prevents Nazareth from doing some maneuvering, as they try to maximize their lineup strength from 139-172.

Of bouts that I'm almost 100% will happen, the big toss ups come from very unherladed kids. Louden Hower and Derek Fulmer at 107 is going to be massive, despite a 23-20 combined record. Mason Thomas and Dom Tunnison at 133 is a similiar, 18-18 combined but a win would be one of the teams biggest of the season. Of the more elite variety, Jack Campbell and Shane McFillin is #13 and #9 in the state and feels like it would completely tip the balances. Cade Campbell vs. Charlie Scanlan is #10 and #8 and while I feel like Scanlan should be a big favorite, he's been inconsistent despite monster performances at Beast of the East and the like. The match probably comes down to those four matches - if Nazareth can get three of them, they can win. But I don't think they have a path to victory without beating McFillin or Scanlan.

I don't think James DeLuise and Brayden Zuercher have a path to wrestle, as much as Nazareth would like to pick him off. Bethlehem Catholic normally has to maneuver around heavyweight, but Kinney is going to pin whoever he wrestles, so they actually might want to stay put with DeLuise at 189 and Lance at 215. I think if Nazareth forfeits to Rath at 152 they can send Zuercher up, but if he just trades falls with DeLuise, I don't think that does them a lick of good.

 

[Relayer]

Rover, great wtite-up. I've always said D11 should easily get more than two teams into states. The PIAA is clueless.

I'm still irritated the PIAA made Anthony Mutarelli from CR-South ineligible for state duels. The kid is wrestling for his home town school. South now has no shot to win it all, might not get by Pennridge in D1. Meanwhile SJP can have dozens of 4-star players from a hundred different districts, but that's ok. I get the rules, but the PIAA still sucks, and they always have sucked.

 

[RoverNation05]

Rover, great wtite-up. I've always said D11 should easily get more than two teams into states. The PIAA is clueless.

I'm still irritated the PIAA made Anthony Mutarelli from CR-South ineligible for state duels. The kid is wrestling for his home town school. South now has no shot to win it all, might not get by Pennridge in D1. Meanwhile SJP can have dozens of 4-star players from a hundred different districts, but that's ok. I get the rules, but the PIAA still sucks, and they always have sucked.

This is exactly what happened to Nick Kunstek for Pottsville last year. He grew up in Pottsville (actually was in the Notre Dame feeder line as a middle schooler) but then went to Blair Academy as boarding student. Had real success there, but was homesick, so came back to Pottsville as a junior. Ranked #1 in the state most of the year, but ineligible for the postseason as a “transfer” to Pottsville. Meanwhile, Vince Bouzakis, who is from Florida, left Wyoming Seminary and went to Notre Dame, was only a sophomore, so was eligible, and won a state championship at 152. He’s now back at Sem (one can only take but so much Matt Veres), so a one year rental from Florida wins a state title and bounces, while a hometown kid at a school that hasn’t had a state champ since the Korean War had to sit out.

 

[RoverNation05]

Rover, great wtite-up. I've always said D11 should easily get more than two teams into states. The PIAA is clueless.

I'm still irritated the PIAA made Anthony Mutarelli from CR-South ineligible for state duels. The kid is wrestling for his home town school. South now has no shot to win it all, might not get by Pennridge in D1. Meanwhile SJP can have dozens of 4-star players from a hundred different districts, but that's ok. I get the rules, but the PIAA still sucks, and they always have sucked.

On the two D11 teams, I actually miss the days of only sending one. Maybe because the 2003 and 2004 Easton-Northamtpon D11 finals are two of the best sporting events I’ve ever attended (not just high school, but anything I’ve seen) and without the states of it being a de facto state title match, it wouldn’t have been the same.

In 2017, Nazareth and Bethlehem Catholic wrestled an incredible state final in Hershey. Nazareth win the last match to win on criteria and win the 3A title. But there were about 1,000 people in the cavernous Hershey Park Arena, and the atmosphere came nowhere close to the moment. If only one team is coming out, you have the same match and stakes, but in front of a packed house of 4,000 at Liberty, where it’s not just people from the two schools, but everybody in the D11 wrestling community in the gym, which is quite a lot of people.

 

[RoverNation05]

Also, looking at the bracket - the D11 champ will be on the same side as Central Mountain, and Council Rock South if they win. The D11 runner-up will be down with Central Dauphin and the D7 winner, which is not stacked on the team side this year.

 

[RoverNation05]

Interesting individual results in the opening round:

Dante Morrison, Liberty decision Kurtis Crossman, Easton: 11-8.
Nick Salamone, Easton fall Jasiah Pagan, Liberty: 2:34 (after giving up two first period takedowns)
Parrish McFarland, Pottsville decision Charlie Scanlan, Bethlehem Catholic: 6-1

Nick Kunstek (#2 at 160) about to wrestle Kollin Rath (#1 at 152)

First period takedown holds up - Kollin Rath, Bethlehem Catholic decision Nick Kunstek, Pottsville: 3-2

Kegan Demarest, Pocono Mountain East decision Cade Campbell, Nazareth: 6-1

Terrell McFarland, Pottsville decision Dario Cruz, Bethlehem Catholic: 3-1. Cruz keeps it way closer than I would have anticipated.

Kam Abboud, Liberty decision Ben Fanelli, Easton: 3-1. Great win for Abboud over the #6 wrestler in the state at 139

 

[Relayer]

CRS barely gets by Quakertown in the D1 semis, 33-31. Without Mutarelli, I can't see them taking Pennridge. The Rams rolled over Boyertown 53-14 and are fully healthy.

 

[RoverNation05]

CRS barely gets by Quakertown in the D1 semis, 33-31. Without Mutarelli, I can't see them taking Pennridge. The Rams rolled over Boyertown 53-14 and are fully healthy.

How are they covering it? Is it that Zimmerman kid at 121 then they’re bumped from there?

 

[Relayer]

How are they covering it? Is it that Zimmerman kid at 121 then they’re bumped from there?

135 - Mason Ziegler (Quakertown) over Pat Woloshyn (Council Rock South) Dec 8-5
141 - Ajay Bhatt (Council Rock South) over Evan Hilton (Quakertown) TF 18-1
147 - Gavin Carroll (Quakertown) over Ben Brillhart (Council Rock South) Fall 5:10
154 - Maxwell Hibsman (Quakertown) over Caleb Christian (Council Rock South) Maj 24-12
162 - Collin Gaj (Quakertown) over Max Nepochatov (Council Rock South) Fall 2:15
174 - Gavin Cole (Council Rock South) over David Clayton (Quakertown) Fall 1:37
191 - Bekhruz Sadriddinov (Council Rock South) over Owen Richwine (Quakertown) Fall 0:24
217 - Dylan Fenstermacher (Quakertown) over Scott Linkewich (Council Rock South) Fall 3:21
287 - Calvin Lachman (Quakertown) over Jeffrey Gessner (Council Rock South) Fall 0:38
109 - Eddie Alvarez (Council Rock South) over Gunnar Jozefowski (Quakertown) Dec 7-2
116 - Connor Lenahan (Council Rock South) over Julian Moonlight (Quakertown) TF 24-7
123 - Christian Zimmerman (Council Rock South) over Waylen Strzelski (Quakertown) TF 18-2
129 - Luke Reitter (Council Rock South) over Isaiah Williams (Quakertown) Dec 6-2

 

[RoverNation05]

Nazareth Becahi updates

285: Sean Kinney, Nazareth pins Grant Mullen, Becahi: Nazareth up 6-0

The pin breaks Sammy Sasso’s career record for falls at Nazareth, giving Kinney 89 for his career. Thats particularly crazy because Kinney was a freshman during the COVID season and only wrestled 11 matches (all postseason). Sasso was a 2x NCAA finalist for Ohio State and captained Nazareth’s 2017 state championship team.

107: Derek Fulmer, Nazareth decision Louden Hower, Becahi 8-4. Nazareth up 9-0

First major toss up that Nazareth needed. Fulmer got an escape and a takedown to have a 3-2 lead at the end of the first. Then put Hower on his back for 3 as he rode out the second. Big win

114: Reef Dillard, Becahi tech fall Remy Trach, Nazareth: 16-1, 6:00. Nazareth up 9-5.

I had this as a pin in my matchups, so Nazareth saved a team point by staying off their back.

121: Keanu Dillard, Becahi pins Cooper Wenrich, Nazareth: 1:02 Becahi up 11-9

As expected. State champ gets three takedowns and a fall.

127: Ryder Campbell, Becahi decision Dom Rizzotto, Nazareth: 5-4 Becahi up 14-9

Weird match. Campbell gives up two stalling points and a locked hands point, but a takedown and reversal holds up. That was a toss Nazareth needed. Gives back 107.

133: Dom Tunison, Nazareth decision Mason Thomas, Becahi: 5-3. Becahi up 14-12

HUGE win for Nazareth. Thomas got an escape and a takedown in the second, but a reversal right before the end of the period cut the score to 3-2. Tunison tied with an escape, then scored the winning takedown with 30 seconds left. Teeth of both lineups coming up.

139: Tahir Parkins, Nazareth decision Marco Frinzi, Becahi 10-3. Nazareth up 15-14

Parkins is one of the best wrestlers in the state without a state championship yet. Put a lot of distance between himself and a fellow top ten wrestler, but a point shy of a major stings there. Nazareth needed more. What happens with the Campbell twins coming up will decide the match.

145: Shane McFillin, Becahi decision Jack Campbell: 3-1. Becahi up 17-15

McFillin gets two penalty points in the first which hold up. No offensive points. Nazareth needs a miracle.

152: Charlie Scanlan, Becahi decision Cade Campbell, Nazareth: 5-3. Becahi up 20-15

Pair of takedowns do it for Scanlan, a top 8 wrestler at 160 who has cut down to 152 for (at least?) this weekend.

After Rath pins a Nazareth JV kid, Nazareth will need to win the final three matches, and find bonus points in two of them. Zuercher and Simak can do that, not sure if their 215 can actually win.

160: Kollin Rath, Becahi pins Jayden Quach, Nazareth: 0:29. Becahi up 26-15

Right strategic decision for Nazareth. Becahi still in really good shape.

172: Elijah Simak, Nazareth decision Dario Cruz, Becahi 10-6. Becahi up 26-18.

Simak was up 10-4 in the third, but Cruz countered a takedown attempt to avoid a major decision in the final 30 seconds. Huge score that likely clinched Becahi yet another states berth.

BUT Tony Phillips, legendary official, deducts a team pint from Becahi for unnecessary roughness after the match. So 25-18, a major and a decision will do it.

189: Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth decision James DeLuise, Becahi 7-4. Becahi up 25-21.

Zuercher, a state qualifier as a freshman, bumps up to beat state top 8 DeLuise at 189. But he had Deluise on his back in the second and couldn’t finish. And a 5-1 lead after two periods didn’t yield bonus points.

215: Jacob Lance, Becahi major decision Vinny Giacobbe, Nazareth 12-3. Becahi wins 29-21

Unheralded guys, but Lance a little too much, particularly when Giacobbe essentially had to pin. Hawks clinch another state berth - they’ve been every year since they decided to take wrestling seriously in 2009.

 

[RoverNation05]

On the other side of the bracket, Easton officially clinches a berth in the state tournament with one bout to go against Nazareth. This will be head coach Jody Karam’s first time at state duals in his thirty plus year coaching career (year four at Easton after 26 at Liberty and three in NJ). His closest shot was in 2019 even Liberty made a D11 final, and Becahi avenged a regular season loss by beating the HUrrivanes, then Liberty lost the “true second” bout to Northampton, when Becahi, Liberty, and Northampton were 1,2,3 in the state. Becahi beat Northampton in the state final.

 

[Relayer]

Wow, what a great match this must have been.

Council Rock South defeated Pennridge 26-25

• 147 - Ben Brillhart (Council Rock South) over Brady McMahon (Pennridge) Maj 12-4
• 154 - Sam Kuhns (Pennridge) over Max Nepochatov (Council Rock South) Fall 5:14
• 162 - Gavin Cole (Council Rock South) over Ryan Gallagher (Pennridge) Dec 5-2
• 174 - Bekhruz Sadriddinov (Council Rock South) over Talan Hogan (Pennridge) Dec 9-3
• 191 - Scott Linkewich (Council Rock South) over Ryan Rowe (Pennridge) Dec 5-3
• 217 - Riley Cullen (Pennridge) over Aryn Valeriano (Council Rock South) Fall 0:59
• 287 - Chase Washington (Pennridge) over Jeffrey Gessner (Council Rock South) Dec 9-7
• 109 - Eddie Alvarez (Council Rock South) over Kevin McFadden (Pennridge) Dec 6-5
• 116 - Colby Martinelli (Pennridge) over Connor Lenahan (Council Rock South) Dec 9-2
• 123 - Cole Coffin (Pennridge) over Christian Zimmerman (Council Rock South) Maj 14-4
• 129 - Quinn McBride (Pennridge) over Luke Reitter (Council Rock South) SV-1 6-4
• 135 - Pat Woloshyn (Council Rock South) over Danny Metzler (Pennridge) Fall 0:54
• 141 - Ajay Bhatt (Council Rock South) over Anthony Granite (Pennridge) Maj 11-0

 

[RoverNation05]

Wow, what a great match this must have been.

Council Rock South defeated Pennridge 26-25

• 147 - Ben Brillhart (Council Rock South) over Brady McMahon (Pennridge) Maj 12-4
• 154 - Sam Kuhns (Pennridge) over Max Nepochatov (Council Rock South) Fall 5:14
• 162 - Gavin Cole (Council Rock South) over Ryan Gallagher (Pennridge) Dec 5-2
• 174 - Bekhruz Sadriddinov (Council Rock South) over Talan Hogan (Pennridge) Dec 9-3
• 191 - Scott Linkewich (Council Rock South) over Ryan Rowe (Pennridge) Dec 5-3
• 217 - Riley Cullen (Pennridge) over Aryn Valeriano (Council Rock South) Fall 0:59
• 287 - Chase Washington (Pennridge) over Jeffrey Gessner (Council Rock South) Dec 9-7
• 109 - Eddie Alvarez (Council Rock South) over Kevin McFadden (Pennridge) Dec 6-5
• 116 - Colby Martinelli (Pennridge) over Connor Lenahan (Council Rock South) Dec 9-2
• 123 - Cole Coffin (Pennridge) over Christian Zimmerman (Council Rock South) Maj 14-4
• 129 - Quinn McBride (Pennridge) over Luke Reitter (Council Rock South) SV-1 6-4
• 135 - Pat Woloshyn (Council Rock South) over Danny Metzler (Pennridge) Fall 0:54
• 141 - Ajay Bhatt (Council Rock South) over Anthony Granite (Pennridge) Maj 11-0

Just looked at the box score. Hell
of a finish and a nice kick in the last two weights. Looks like Alvarez at 106 was the swing match?

 

[RoverNation05]

Easton and Bethlehem Catholic for the D11 title

107: Noah Fenner pins Louden Hower
114: Reef Dillard decision Nick Salamone 10-4.
Dillard with two takedowns in scrambles. Salamone couldn’t convert a good shot. Salamone had a cradle locked up in the third. Got a reversal but couldn’t get the back points to tie it, then got reversed to his back in the finals seconds.
121: Keanu Dillard Pins Ethan Krazer

 

[steelcurtain55.]

When did the team state title begin?

 

[RoverNation05]

Service was too spotty in the gym, sorry for losing updates.

Bethlehem Catholic beat Easton 32-23. Bethlehem Catholic got the huge tossup from Dillard at 114, then bumped up their entire lineup from 127 on up to totally change around match ups. And it worked - Chris Kelly pinned Becahi’s JV kid. After splitting 133 and 139, Becahi ran off wins at 145 (pin), 152, 160, and got a forfeit to Kollin Rath at 172. Then, Easton won a great match at 189 to give themselves a shot. But James DeLuise blew open a tight match with Shae Linegar with a five point throw at the end of the first period when Linegar got over aggressive in a tight match, and then DeLuise was able to extend the lead to a major as Linegar pressed in must win mode. Easton got a decision at heavy, but too little, too late.

Team states start Thursday. Becahi will get the winner of Quakertown-Central Dauphin. Easton has to wrestle a pig tail on Monday against St. Joseph’s Prep. They will kill them - taking D11 revenge for football I guess - and then Easton will have a first round match up in Hershey on Thursday against West Scranton. That will feed them into a quarterfinal against Gettysburg.

The big match Thursday will be the quarterfinal between Council Rock South and Central Mountain, who are 1 and 2 in the state. Winner will get Becahi in semis.