Music, meditation and breathing practices kept Michael Good calm leading up to his 127-pound bout with Bethlehem Catholic’s A.J. Gomez in Saturday’s District 11 Class 3A team tournament final.
Training, practice partners and experience allowed the Nazareth junior to be in position to be a hero.
It took more than six minutes of competition, but Good was good enough to counter a Gomez shot attempt with one of his own midway through sudden victory for a 5-2 decision.
That clinched Nazareth’s first district team title since 2020 and ended Bethlehem Catholic’s five-year reign with a 36-26 win at Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium.
“You can be physically strong,” Good said, “but you have the mental capacity to be able to do it. I had to stay quick on my feet. [Gomez] is really fast on his feet but once he got in, he kind of slowed down when he got on his knees. I had to take that into consideration and finish my shot.”
Bethlehem Catholic had won the last six meetings against Nazareth, including in last year’s district and state finals.
District 11 champion Nazareth (16-1) faces either District 3 third seed Central Dauphin or District 1 third seed Pennridge in the first round of the PIAA Team Wrestling Championships at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday back at Freedom. That tripod winner advances to Friday’s state quarterfinals at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown against either District 1 runner-up Council Rock South or District 12 champion St. Joseph’s Prep.
District 11 runner-up Bethlehem Catholic (11-2) faces District 1 fourth seed Owen J. Roberts on Tuesday, with the winner taking on District 2 champion Abington Heights, also Tuesday at a District 2 site. The tripod survivor advances to Friday’s quarterfinals against either District 1 champion Boyertown or District 3 runner-up Wilson-West Lawn.
Action continues through the final and consolation final at 3 p.m. Saturday in Johnstown.
Bethlehem Catholic led 10-0 before Nazareth won five in a row, all by bonus, to take a 27-10 lead. The Golden Hawks closed to within 30-26 after Nico Emili’s 26-second pin at 121.
But Good clinched it and freshman teammate Caleb Kosko finished it off with 7-6 decision over two-time state qualifier Reef Dillard.
“I didn’t look at it and think that we were in real big trouble here,” Crowell said entering the last two bouts. “I definitely thought [Good] would hold his own. But can he hold his own in the points thing? I don’t know. But he came through against a very, very tough kid.
“[Good] has his own speed and has an amazing sense of which way to go, get there quickly and goes the right away. He has a lot of things that you can’t really teach. He’s just able to put those things together. In crucial situations, more times than not, he’s going to find a way.”
Because of injuries, other absences and weight descents, the Blue Eagles did not put out their best lineup until Saturday. It was needed.
After beating Liberty 59-10 in the quarterfinals, Nazareth led 18-0 before holding off Notre Dame-Green Pond 34-24 in the semis and then knocking off Bethlehem Catholic in the final.
The semifinal victory was fueled by Elijah Simak’s 5-4 win over returning state medalist Dominic Sumpolec.
Sumpolec registered a takedown 36 seconds into the match, but didn’t get another offensive point. Simak was awarded a stalling point and an escape with 72 seconds left. He then fought off a couple Sumpolec shot attempts to hold on for a 5-4 decision.
“Incredibly huge,” Crowell said of Simak’s performance in bumping up from 172. “That would be an understatement. I’ve coached for 41 years, as a head coach, this would definitely go down in my top 3 biggest upsets, at least from what most people would think.
“Now, we have a lot of faith in Eli. But he’s up a weight against a monster.”
The Crusaders also lost a team point after the 160-pound bout for unsportsmanlike conduct on the bench.
Tournament notes
— Northampton did not have returning state qualifier Chase Grabfelder (26-5) because of illness. That and the coin flip were factors in its 35-30 loss to Notre Dame-GP in the quarterfinals. It was the second year in a row the Crusaders won a close quarterfinal matchup with the Konkrete Kids.
— No. 7 Whitehall’s 33-29 win over No. 2 Emmaus was the Zephyrs’ first district duals victory in program history. Freshman Dionte Wheeler’s last-second takedown at the edge of the mat at the buzzer for a 6-5 victory at 114 was the clincher. James Hopkins also rebounded from a 6-3 deficit to get a pin at 172 for coach Tim Cunningham’s club. Emmaus remains without unbeaten 107-pounder Cam Martinez.
—
District 11 Team Wrestling Championships
Saturday at Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium
CLASS 3A
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Nazareth 59, No. 8 Liberty 10
107: Max Milia (L) tech. fall Jack Dressler, 17-1, 312
114: Derek Fulmer (N) maj. dec. Joey Miller, 13-2
121: Elijah Heimbach (L) tech. fall Matt Nigro, 17-1, 2:30
127: Michael Good (N) tech. fall John Solano, 18-2, 5:27
133: Caleb Kosko (N) tech. fall Ben Miller, 21-5, 5:24
139: Cooper Wenrich (N) pinned Jonathan Garcia, 1:44
145: Jack Campbell (N) pinned Elijah Williams, 1:48
152: Chase Brown (N) pinned Ben Reid, 5:37
160: Cade Campbell (N) pinned Daniel Rivera, 1:53
172: Dominick Tunison (N) pinned Ethan Estojak, 0:57
189: Elijah Simak (N) pinned Kaedon Hall, 0:55
215: Brayden Zuercher (N) pinned Anthony Martin, 1:26
285: Austin Christine (N) dec. Jason Doughty, 12-8
No. 7 Whitehall 33, No. 2 Emmaus 29
107: Semaj Weatherspoon (W) tech. fall Andrew Gerken, 19-3, 5:30
114: Dionte Wheeler (W) dec. Levi Max, 6-5
121: Teagan Caciolo (E) dec. Kade Pascoe, 3-2 UTB
127: Emilio Albanese (E) pinned Josiah Wright, 1:15
133: Willmont Kai (W) pinned Logan Maher, 1:47
139: Jackson Max (E) pinned Omar Omar (W), 2:26
145: Tyler Hoff (W) dec. Tommy Fallstich, 6-2
152: Mason Hopkins (W) pinned Aiden Bayard, 3:38
160: Xyler Sallit (E) pinned Rocco Fonzone, 4:48
172: Xayden Sallit (E) tech. fall FJacob igueroa, 19-3, 1:26
189: James Hopkins (W) pinned Logan Armstrong, 4:36
215: Aiden Hannis (W) maj. dec. Chase DeCesare, 11-2
285: Logan Roth (E) dec. Yousef Khalfaoui, 4-0
No. 3 Bethlehem Catholic 47, No. 6 Easton 15
107: Michael Nicosia (BC) tech. fall Michael Rambone, 15-0, 4:52
114: Gino Bozzi (BC) dec. Brayden Abrams, 6-5
121: Nico Emili (BC) dec. Gavyn Mindler, 8-1
127: A.J. Gomez (BC) pinned Jack Famularo, 8:26 UTB
133: Andre Cerrato (BC) dec. Nick Salamone, 7-4
139: Reef Dillard (BC) dec. Noah Fenner, 7-2
145: Keanu Dillard (BC) pinned Wyatt Snyder, 3:14
152: Ethan Krazer (E) pinned Jaden Santiago, 3:35
160: Mason Thomas (BC) tech. fall Tyler Cruise, 18-3, 5:12
172: Zach Papcsy (BC) pinned Logan Young, 2:50
189: James Bozzi (BC) pinned Dan Vargas, 3:02
215: Justin Cosover (E) dec. Connor Gillahan, 11-6
285: Kurtis Crossman (E) pinned Grant Mulhern, 1:47
No. 4 Notre Dame-GP 35, No. 5 Northampton 30
107: Max Quarry (ND) pinned Ben Schoeneberger, 3:16
114: Brayden Wenrich (Nor) pinned Tanner Shear, 0:59
121: Cael Muller (ND) tech. fall Cade Strauss, 16-0, 3:13
127: Davi Glykas (Nor) pinned Cole Schwartz, 3:36
133: Jacob Volpe (ND) dec. Matt Sommer, 7-0
139: Jeff Cemelli (ND) pinned Zach Hartzell, 3:50
145: Trey Wagner (Nor) dec. Gavyn Kelton, 5-4
152: Carter Chlebove (Nor) tech. fall Jared Gonzalez, 18-2, 3:10
160: Gio Labbadia (Nor) tech. fall Dominick Tocci, 20-4, 5:50
172: Gabe Ballard (Nor) tech. fall Cole Retos, 15-0, 4:00
189: Dominic Sumpolec (ND) pinned Nick Harding, 0:33
215: Connor Smalley (ND) pinned Joell Small, 1:16
285: Noah Knorp (ND) dec. Brandon McIntyre, 5-1
Semifinals
No. 1 Nazareth 34, No. 4 Notre Dame-GP 24
107: Max Quarry (ND) pinned Jack Dressler, 1:43
114: Cael Muller (ND) pinned Jace Nelligan, 2:52
121: Cole Schwartz (ND) tech. fall Derek Fulmer, 15-0, 4:24
127: Michael Good (Naz) dec. Trey Neith, 8-1
133: Caleb Kosko (Naz) tech. fall Jacob Volpe, 15-0, 4:00
139: Cooper Wenrich (Naz) tech. fall Jeff Cemelli, 16-1, 4:22
145: Jack Campbell (Naz) dec. Gavyn Kelton, 10-3
152: Cade Campbell (Naz) tech. fall Gavyn Kanuck, 16-1, 3:54
160: Jared Gonzalez (ND) tech. fall Chase Brown, 15-0, 1:23
172: Dominick Tunison (Naz) pinned Cole Retos, 0:57
189: Elijah Simak (Naz) dec. Dominic Sumpolec, 5-4
215: Brayden Zuercher (Naz) maj. dec. Connor Smalley, 10-2
285: Noah Knorp (ND) dec. Austin Christine, 3-0
No. 3. Bethlehem Catholic 38, No. 7 Whitehall 21
107: Michael Nicosia (BC) pinned Semaj Weatherspoon, 2:36
114: Dionte Wheeler (W) dec. Gino Bozzi 8-1
121: Nico Emili (BC) tech. fall Adam Gasteratos, 17-1, 2:56
127: A.J. Gomez (BC) dec. Kade Pascoe, 10-7
133: Willmont Kai (W) dec. Reef Dillard, 5-2 SV
139: Andre Cerrato (BC) tech. fall Omar Omar, 18-3, 2:35
145: Keanu Dillard (BC) tech. fall Tyler Hoff, 19-4, 4:44
152: Mason Hopkins (W) pinned Jaden Santiago, 2:37
160: Mason Thomas (BC) tech. fall Rocco Fonzone, 15-0, 4:00
172: James Hopkins (W) pinned Zach Papcsy, 2:38
189: Aiden Hannis (W) dec. James Bozzi, 4-1
215: Connor Gillahan (BC) pinned Caiden Robinson, 2:39
285: Grant Mulhern (BC) dec. Yousef Khalfaoui, 6-0
Final
No. 1 Nazareth 36, No. 3 Bethlehem Catholic 26
107: Michael Nicosia (BC) tech. fall Jack Dressler, 20-1, 4:30
114: Derek Fulmer (N) dec. Gino Bozzi, 10-6
121: Nico Emili (BC) pinned Jace Nelligan, 0:26
127: Michael Good (N) dec. A.J. Gomez, 5-2 SV
133: Caleb Kosko (N) dec. Reef Dillard, 7-6
139: Andre Cerrato (BC) maj. dec. Cooper Wenrich, 13-5
145: Keanu Dillard (BC) pinned Travis Paulkovitch, 0:45
152: Jack Campbell (N) by forfeit
160: Cade Campbell (N) pinned Jaden Santiago, 4:27
172: Elijah Simak (N) maj. dec. Mason Thomas, 13-5
189: Dominick Tunison (N) pinned Zack Papcsy, 1:49
215: Brayden Zuercher (N) tech. fall James Bozzi, 17-2, 5:06
285: Connor Gillahan (BC) tech. fall Austin Christine, 17-2, 5:20
Referees: Chris Grammes, Rich Dunkelberger
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com