Wrestling - Individual Postsesaon

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Headed into the medal round, Easton and Bethlehem Catholic are tied with 214.5 points. Nazareth is in third at 202.5. Easton leads with six finalists and nine already qualifier for Regional, and one more who can win his 5th place match and move on. Bethlehem Catholic has eleven wrestlers still alive (to Easton’s ten), and five in finals. Becahi has qualified eight for next weekend, with three needing to win a 5th place match to move on. Nazareth has five in finals, eight qualified for regionals l, and two more in 5th place matches.

Seeds mostly held, as nine of the finals are 1 vs 2. Easton freshman Justin Cosover is in finals as the 6th seed at 172 - he beat state #3 Terrrell McFarland of Pottsville in the semifinal, a monster win for the precociously talented 9th grader. Three seeds Kam Abboud (Liberty 139), Kurtis Crossman (Easton 215) and Gavin Grell (Northamtpon 285) are the other semi upsets to make finals, which are this afternoon.

 

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Finals picks, with state rankings

107: #4 Nick Salamone, Easton over #6 Emilio Albanese, Emmaus
Salamone has dropped from 114 to 107 (controversially knocking out teammate Noah Fenner, who was also a top 5 wrestler at 107) and Salamone is a short list contender to win a state title. Albanese is an excellent freshman, probably his first of four D11 finals.

114: #6 Gabe Ballard, Northampton over #8 Reef Dillard, Becahi
Ballard is a monster, one of the best freshmen in the state and the country. I think he is a state finalist this year. Dillard is solid and can medal, but I think Ballard shows the separation today.

121: #1 Keanu Dillard, Becahi over #29 Blake Dergham, Parkland
Dillard is a returning state champ. Near lock here.

127: #3 Trey Wagner, Northampton over #7 Chris Kelly, Easton
This was a 3-2 match back in December up at 133. Let’s see how far each has come. Wagner was #1 up at 133 for parts of the year, he’s an Uber talented sophomore. Kelly seems to have hit a new gear after moving down. One of the best matches of the day.

133: #1 Tahir Parkins, Nazareth over #3 Ben Fanelli, Easton
Could be a D11, NE Regional, and PIAA Final. But Parkins is also a solid favorite, and I don’t think Fanelli has enough offense for the upset.

139: #8 Jack Campbell, Nazareth over #13 Kam Abboud, Liberty
Abboud upset state #9 Marco Frinzi in semis. Campbell probably a little to slick on his feet to get caught up in Abboud’s physicality.

145: #5 Shane McFillin, Becahi over #13 Cade Campbell, Nazareth
McFillin one of the most underrated guys in the state. He rolls.

152: #1 Kollin Rath, Becahi over #9 Keegan Demarest, Pocono Mountain East
Demarest is great and can be PME’s first medalist in years. But Rath is a monster. Won’t go the distance.

160: #2 Nick Kunstek, Pottsville over #8 Charlie Scanlan, Becahi
One of the most fun stylistic match ups today. Scanlan was a Beast of the East finalist, but runs hot and cold. Kunstek on a mission after sitting out last postseason.

172: #24 Justin Cosover, Easton over #13 Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth
Cosover already with a huge win today. I think he keeps the momentum rolling over Zuercher and this is the start of a beautiful three year rivalry between to talented underclassman upper weights. Maybe a 2026 state finals preview?

189: #3 Jared Karabinus, Freedom over #16 Shae Linegar, Easton
Karabinus is a great athlete (D1 lacrosse signee) making his final wrestling run. Linegar is a great story (sub .500 as a freshman, JV as a sophomore, now in D11 finals) but doesn’t quite have enough on his feet.

215: #9 Brandon Stiehler, Pocono Mountain West over #27 Kurtis Crossman, Easton
This was 10-1 Stiehler back in January. Crossman avenged two losses to Dante Morrison in semis, but don’t think he’s made up enough ground in this one. Stiehler trying to be the first PMW state medalist ever. Crossman only a 10th grader, first of many tournament finals for him in the next three years.

285: #1 Sean Kinney, Nazareth over #15 Gavin Grell, Northampton
Kinney becomes the first 4x D11 heavyweight champ. First of many clubs he will start this postseason - the final will be him becoming the first ever 4x finalist and the first ever 3x state champ at heavyweight.

 

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Becahi up 8 after consolation finals - got pin, pin, tech in their third place matches. Easton went 2-1 in third place bouts and only got bonus in one ( a fall at 160)

 

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107- Salamone wins 4-3, gave up the first takedown, but a third period TD and rideout wins his first D11 title.

114 - Ballard needed OT to beat Dillard 5-3, way closer than I anticipated.

121 - Dillard by tech fall. Minimal drama

127 - Wagner wins 2-0 in OT. Kelly rode out the second period, Wagner rode out the third period. These guys are incredibly close, could see either as a state finalist.

133 - Parkins beat Fanelli 4-2. Lone takedown of the match belonged to Parkins. Very likely to see this the next two weekends.

139 - Campbell wins 2-1 with a stall and an escape, no offensive points scored.

145 - McFillin controlled it, 5-2. Was up 4-0 after a minute and cruised.

152 - Rath wins 5-1 with a pair of second period takedowns. Didn’t put on a show, but didn’t have to.

160 - Kunstek wins 6-0. Good wrestlers, but never in doubt.

172 - maybe the best match of the night, Zuercher wins 5-4. First period takedown held up. Cosover appeared to have the winning TD as time expired, but waived off as after the buzzer.

189 - Karabinus pinned Linegar. Took him down to his back and stuck him in the second.

215 - Stiehler wins 3-1. A much narrower margin than their first meeting, but he essentially put the match to a stop on top.

285 - Kinney wins 5-0. Did not have something dramatic happen for his fourth D11 title, but never in doubt. He’s the 11th four time champ in 3A (or single class), joins Sammy Sasso and Zach Horan as four timers from Nazareth. Surpasses Mike Labriola (138-152-170-170) as the heaviest four-timer. Next week he can become the 12th four time regional champ, and fifth from Nazareth (Sasso and Horan, plus Brad Silimperi and Tim Darling have accomplished the feat).