Late January is prime time for weight descent plans. That was evident at last Saturday’s District 11 Team Wrestling Championships.
Some of the area’s best wrestlers were already at that new weight. Others are in transition. For those teams in the hunt for a PIAA team tournament berth, wrestlers competed at multiple weights, making the rankings a little hairy.
As a result:
• One wrestler replaced his brother as No. 1 at a weight class he likely won’t be at for the individual postseason.
• Another wrestler from the same team finds his way in the top 5 at a weight class he likely won’t be at later this month.
• Another team saw one wrestler replace another at one weight class.
• Several teams continue to have multiple wrestlers in honorable mentions until the last bunch of wrestle-offs have been conducted and individual postseason lineups have been finalized.
• Plus, there were several other changes in the rankings after an entertaining weekend of district duals.
Here are the rankings entering the PIAA team wrestling tournament which begins Tuesday and continues Friday and Saturday:
Lehigh Valley-area individual wrestling rankings
(Records entering Tuesday’s action)
107 POUNDS
1. Fr. Max Quarry, Notre Dame-GP (25-8)
2. Jr. Luis Moya, Parkland (29-4)
3. Fr. Riley Crandall, Faith Christian (22-7)
4. Sr. Jack Jasionowicz, Stroudsburg (23-5)
5. Fr. Ben Schoeneberger, Northampton (17-9)
Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Fr. Dominic D’Ambola, Saucon Valley (18-12); Fr. Jack Dressler, Nazareth (15-11); Fr. Landon Eckhart, Palmerton (10-6); So. Logan Heeps, Northwestern Lehigh (16-11); Fr. Max Milia, Liberty (24-4); Jr. Tyler Mintz, Bangor (24-8); Fr. Michael Nicosia, Bethlehem Catholic (17-8); Fr. Mikael Oh, Pocono Mountain East (18-12); Fr. Brian Reese, Jim Thorpe (17-12); Sr. Isaiah Santiago, Pocono Mountain West (11-8); Sr. Jose Santiago, Pocono Mountain West (13-11); Fr. Semaj Weatherspoon, Whitehall (10-5); Fr. Deklan Wills, Pennridge (19-10); Fr. Bo Yeakel, Pen Argyl (20-8)
On the shelf: So. Cam Martinez, Emmaus (11-0)
Of note: Quarry was 3-0 with two pins, including one over Schoeneberger at district duals. That was the only loss among the top five wrestlers last week. Moya and Crandall won their only buts. Jasionowicz was 3-0 with two pins. In HM, Nicosia was 4-0 with wins over Dressler and Weatherspoon twice. Milia was 2-0, including a technical fall over Dressler.
114
1. Fr. Cruz Little, Faith Christian (22-7)
2. So. Cael Muller, Notre Dame-GP (24-8)
3. So. Braden Todora, Parkland (29-2)
4. So. Gavin Chunko, Saucon Valley (21-6)
5. So. Cole Borzio, Quakertown (27-6)
Honorable mention: Sr. Albert Bialasiewicz, Stroudsburg (18-8); Fr. Gino Bozzi, Bethlehem Catholic (10-8); Fr. Giuseppe Bozzi, Bethlehem Catholic (10-5); So. Richard Camilo, Executive Education (17-8); Fr. Ryder Croizier, Lehighton (16-15); Fr. Joseph De Pasqua, Pocono Mountain West (22-11); Sr. Derek Fulmer, Nazareth (16-11); Jr. Adam Gasteratos, Whitehall (19-11); Fr. Vincenzo Ilardi, Bangor (18-11); Jr. Levi Max, Emmaus (17-10); Fr. Joseph Miller, Liberty (15-12); Jr. Thomas Pasquariello, Palmerton (18-11); Sr. Brandon Quinton, Upper Perkiomen (23-8); So. Jake Ramos, Pennridge (13-7); Fr. Mason Ramsay, Pen Argyl (25-8); Fr. Rylan Reitz, Tamaqua (31-6); So. Talan Springer, Emmaus (19-7); Jr. Cade Strauss, Northampton (13-14); Fr. Dionte Wheeler, Whitehall (17-7)
On the shelf: Sr. Noah Gosart, Northern Lehigh (9-5); So. Chase Lobasso, Lehighton (9-3)
Of note: Little did not wrestle in Faith Christian’s only match. Muller was 3-0 with a pin and two technical falls. Todora won his only bout. Borzio was 3-1. Ramos was 3-2. Chunko was 3-0 with two technical falls and a pin so he enters at No. 4. Borzio slides one to No. 5 and Ramos goes to HM. In HM, Miller was the outstanding wrestler recipient of the annual Freedom match. Bialasiewicz was 3-0. Wheeler beat Max and Gino Bozzi. There is a lot to sort out at this weight before individual districts at Bethlehem Catholic, Whitehall and Bangor. Northampton’s Brayden Wenrich likely is dropping here for the individual postseason, so the top five will definitely change.
121
1. So. Brayden Wenrich, Northampton (24-1)
2. Jr. Teagan Caciolo, Emmaus (25-4)
3. So. Nico Emili, Bethlehem Catholic (17-6)
4. Fr. Flynn Arnestad, Faith Christian (24-10)
5. Jr. Elijah Heimbach, Liberty (26-7)
Honorable mention: Sr. Isaiah Adams, Pen Argyl (21-9); Jr. Gabe Baer, Saucon Valley (8-9); Jr. Colton Becker, Palmerton (19-10); Jr. Tony Bothwell, Pocono Mountain West (24-8); Fr. Mason Frisoli, Northampton (4-4); Fr. Shane Getz, Freedom (14-7); So. Jayvian Hernandez, Executive Education (9-9); So. P.J. Irving, Pennridge (16-15); Fr. Tanner Milburn, Easton (16-10); Sr. Kade Pascoe, Whitehall (25-8); Sr. Carlos Recinos, Dieruff (10-10); Jr. Shawn Radcliffe, Pleasant Valley (20-6); Fr. Cole Schwartz, Notre Dame-GP (17-11); Fr. Chase Ulmer, Upper Perkiomen (24-10)
On the shelf: Fr. James Weiss, Pleasant Valley (4-1)
Of note: No changes here. Wenrich was 2-0 in likely his last time at this weight class. Caciolo beat Pascoe by escaping in an ultimate tie-breaker. Emili was 3-0, beating Milburn and Gasteratos. Arnestad won his only match. Heimbach was 2-0, both by technical fall. In HM, Schwartz beat Adams and Fulmer, and was pinned by Glykas at 127.
127
1. Freddy Bachmann, Faith Christian (26-1)
2. Jr. Carter Chunko, Saucon Valley (31-2)
3. Jr. Emilio Albanese, Emmaus (29-2)
4. Fr. Matt Coffin, Pennridge (29-5)
5. Jr. Michael Good, Nazareth (21-7)
Honorable mention: So. Jarrod Blunt, Salisbury (21-8); Sr. Malachi Bolinger, Pocono Mountain East (14-15); Fr. Jack Famularo, Easton (21-10); Jr. Chase Fetherman, Stroudsburg (22-7); Jr. Davi Glykas, Northampton (18-13); So. A.J. Gomez, Bethlehem Catholic (11-4); Sr. Gavin Hacker, Catasauqua (15-12); So. Weston Killar, Northwestern Lehigh (27-13); So. Jack Lucykanish, Lehighton (20-12); So. Connor Messinger, Palmerton (21-9); Fr. Trey Neith, Notre Dame-GP (12-11); Fr. Jacob Policelli, Pen Argyl (17-13); Sr. Joe Schmittinger, Upper Perkiomen (18-12); Jr. Wes Slingland, Wilson (9-6); Jr. John Solano, Liberty (18-9); Sr. Jasiah Vasquez, East Stroudsburg North (11-9)
On the shelf: Fr. Jack Cole, Bethlehem Catholic (14-7); Jr. Julian Moonlight, Quakertown (15-10)
Of note: Bachmann won his only bout. Chunko was 3-0 with two pins and a technical fall. Albanese was 2-0. Coffin was 6-0 including three pins and two technical falls. Good had a 6-0 week including an overtime win over Gomez, who pinned No. 5 Famularo in an ultimate tie-breaker. That brings Good in at No. 5 and bounces Famularo to HM. In HM, Fetherman was 3-0.
133
1. Sr. Willmont Kai, Whitehall (33-1)
2. Fr. Caleb Kosko, Nazareth (20-3)
3. Andre Cerrato, Bethlehem Catholic (16-6)
4. Sr. Nick Salamone, Easton (28-6)
5. Jr. Matt Velez, Parkland (27-9)
Honorable mention: Sr. Bernard Axe, East Stroudsburg South (14-10); Jr. Cole Clifford, Pocono Mountain East (8-6); Sr. Danny Edgar, Lehighton (18-12); Sr. Shaun Evans, Stroudsburg (13-11); Fr. Adam Griffith, Northwestern Lehigh (10-9); Sr. Stephen Korte, Jim Thorpe (19-6); Jr. Kevin McFadden, Pennridge (20-10); Jr. Ben Miller, Liberty (18-10); So. Jaxs Miller, Palmerton (16-13); Jr. Sean Murray, Upper Perkiomen (26-4); So. Shane Naylor, Freedom (7-4); Sr. Carter Smith, Bangor (29-10); Sr. Matt Sommer, Northampton (17-10); Sr. Theodore Tise, Dieruff (9-6); Sr. Jacob Volpe, Notre Dame-GP (8-5); Jr. Mason Wenhold, Saucon Valley (17-11); So. Nathan Yoder, Faith Christian (14-13)
Of note: Kai celebrated his Nebraska commit with a 4-0 week including two pins, a technical fall another SV win over Dillard. Salamone lost to Andre Cerrato, who has wrestled all over the place. Kosko, who lost in early December to Salamone, was 3-0 including a 7-6 win over Dillard in the district duals 3A final. Velez won his only match. I’m going to put Cerrato at this weight since that’s where he’s been in seven of his last 11 matches. Kosko moves to No. 2, Cerrato enters at No. 3 and Salamone drops to No. 4. Dillard goes to 139, where he’s been in four of his last nine matches and bump older brother Keanu up to 145, where he’s been the last four times out. Those are not the weights the three Golden Hawks will be for the individual postseason, but this works for now. In HM, Volpe was 2-1 in his return from the shelf.
139
1. Jr. Reef Dillard, Bethlehem Catholic (13-10)
2. Jr. Noah Fenner, Easton (23-5)
3. Jr. Cooper Wenrich, Nazareth (25-6)
4. Sr. Collin Ramsay, Pen Argyl (29-4)
5. Jr. Lukas Croizier, Lehighton (26-11)
Honorable mention: Sr. Connor Dugan, Lehighton (19-10); Jr. Dylan Gappa, Quakertown (27-8); Sr. Ben Godshall, Upper Perkiomen (25-8); So. Justin Hetrick, Wilson (14-13); So. Sam Kurtz, Freedom (17-7); Sr. Jackson Max, Emmaus (25-9); Sr. Matt Ramos, Executive Education (13-7); Jr. Cris Recinos, Dieruff (19-4); Jr. Zach Rygiel, Saucon Valley (15-10); Jr. Jared Santilli, Parkland (13-13); Jr. Brody Schlier, Tamaqua (23-12); Sr. Brock Schneiderwind, Palisades (13-4)
On the shelf: So. Chris Gerheart, Pocono Mountain East (1-0); Sr. Cole Meenan, Pennridge (15-6); Fr. Reece Movahed, Faith Christian (18-5); So. Aiden Vanicky, Notre Dame-GP (2-7)
Of note: Dillard moves up here for now at No. 1, taking his brother’s place. Fenner was 1-1, losing to Reef Dillard. Wenrich was 5-1, losing to Cerrato. Ramsay was 2-0 and Croizier won his only match.
145
1. Sr. Keanu Dillard, Bethlehem Catholic (30-3)
2. Sr. Jack Campbell, Nazareth (20-2)
3. So. Mack Santoro, Saucon Valley (28-5)
4. Sr. Trey Wagner, Northampton (26-3)
5. Sr. Gavyn Kelton, Notre Dame-GP (17-8)
Honorable mention: Sr. Micah Alicea, East Stroudsburg North (13-10); So. Andre Cerrato, Bethlehem Catholic (16-6); Sr. Anthony Crisafulli, Freedom (12-7); So. Max Crouse, Quakertown (21-13); Jr. Tommy Fallstich, Emmaus (21-11); Jr. Kevin Gerheart, Pocono Mountain East (23-8); Sr. Kiovanny Hamlin, Dieruff (22-1); Sr. Tyrell Hoff, Whitehall (17-11); Sr. Griffin King, Southern Lehigh (17-9); Jr. Ethan Krazer, Easton (20-5); Sr. Quinn McBride, Pennridge (26-5); Fr. Tycen Norman, Parkland (10-9); So. Cole Smith, Bangor (23-11); So. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh (20-11)
On the shelf: Jr. Donovan Armanini, East Stroudsburg North (5-1); Jr. Trent Croll, Northwestern Lehigh (26-11); Sr. Evan Reed, Catasauqua (9-11)
Of note: Dillard, who was 3-0 with two pins and a technical fall, moves up here to No. 1, pushing Campbell to No. 2. Campbell was 6-0 with three pins, a major decision and a 10-3 win over Kelton. Santoro slides one to No. 3 after a 3-0 week with two pins and a major. Wagner stays at No. 4 after avenging an earlier loss to Kelton, who drops two to No. 5 after also losing to Campbell. McBride, who was 5-0 with two pins and two technical falls, drops to HM.
152
1. Jr. Joe Bachmann, Faith Christian (15-2)
2. Jr. Rory Dixon, Mahanoy Area/Marian Catholic (35-4)
3. Sr. Chase Grabfelder, Northampton (26-5)
4. Jr. Nick Lyden, Freedom (20-4)
5. Fr. Mason Hopkins, Whitehall (24-11)
Honorable mention: Sr. Luca Albanese, Pen Argyl (26-9); Sr. Aiden Bayard, Emmaus (17-14); So. Chase Brown, Nazareth (14-11); So. Eziah Cartagena, Bangor (18-13); Fr. Patrick Decker, Pleasant Valley (14-14); Sr. Jared Gonzalez, Notre Dame-GP (16-9); So. Jonathan Joseph, Wilson (9-7); Jr. Nick Panepinto, East Stroudsburg South (17-12); Jr. Ben Reid, Liberty (18-11); Sr. Kyler Roesener, Quakertown (17-14); Fr. Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley (20-11); Sr. Jordan Tocci-Wachter, Salisbury (15-14); Sr. Riyell Wann, Dieruff (9-8); Sr. Evan Wentz, Lehighton (22-11); Jr. Jake Wood, Pennridge (10-6)
On the shelf: Jr. Braydon Uricchio, Northwestern Lehigh (13-7)
Of note: Bachmann did not wrestle. Dixon was 2-0. Grabfelder won his only bout, but missed district duals due to illness. Lyden won his only match. Gonzalez was 2-1, losing by technical fall to Chlebove who came all the way down to 152 for district duals. But teammate Gabe Ballard is coming down here for the individual postseason. That leaves Grabfelder going to 145 and Chlebove at 160. Hopkins came down from 160 to go 4-0 with three pins and a technical fall. He replaced Gonzalez at No. 5. In HM, Rohn was 3-0 with two pins.
160
1. Jr. Gabe Ballard, Northampton (29-5)
2. Sr. Cade Campbell, Nazareth (29-2)
3. Sr. Shane Wagner, Faith Christian (27-7)
4. So. Xyler Sallit, Emmaus (20-7)
5. Sr. Jorge Moya, Parkland (25-9)
Honorable mention: Jr. Giovanni Alvarez, Stroudsburg (9-5); Jr. Dillon Anthony, Palmerton (7-2); Fr. Asher Bacon, Faith Christian (13-7); Sr. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic/Mahanoy Area (6-7); Sr. Michael Elisseou, Pocono Mountain West (15-15); So. Nolan Koehler, Northwestern Lehigh (26-7); Sr. Konner Nalesnik, Lehighton (10-9); Sr. Logan Pfistner, Quakertown (28-5); Jr. Daniel Rivera, Liberty (16-13); Sr. Brandon Roca, East Stroudsburg North (10-5); Jr. Mason Rothrock, Northern Lehigh (16-7); Sr. Zane Saeger, Upper Perkiomen (27-6); Jr. Michael Segata, Salisbury (17-10); Jr. Michael Taylor, Allen (13-11); Jr. Mason Thomas, Bethlehem Catholic (15-10)
On the shelf: Jr. Keith Barker, Southern Lehigh (15-4); Jr. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley (4-2); Sr. Lance Thatcher, Wilson (7-4); Sr. Mason Wagner, Faith Christian (0-0)
Of note: Ballard won his only match in his last time at this weight. Campbell, who has descended to 152 for a couple matches, was 6-0 with three pins and three technical falls. Bacon, who didn’t wrestle last week, drops to HM and teammate Shane Wagner comes in at No. 3. Sallit, who had two pins, slides one to No. 4. Moya won his only bout and stays at No. 5. In HM, Koehler was 2-0. Pfistner was 4-0 with three first-period pins and a technical fall.
172
1. Jr. Nick Singer, Faith Christian (20-3)
2. Sr. Elijah Simak, Nazareth (27-7)
3. Jr. Brock Frable, Southern Lehigh (33-5)
4. Sr. Xayden Sallit, Emmaus (25-9)
5. Jr. Vinnie Fugazzotto, Northwestern Lehigh (32-7)
Honorable mention: Jr. Brody Blomgren, Pennridge (16-16); So. Carter Chlebove, Northampton (25-9); So. Donato Ciampittiello, Parkland (18-10); Sr. Len DeMaria, Stroudsburg (17-9); Sr. Carter Hontz, Lehighton (24-8); Sr. James Hopkins, Whitehall (28-7); Jr. Zack Papcsy, Bethlehem Catholic (13-10); Jr. Ceejay Serfrass, Pocono Mountain East (14-11); Jr. Alexander Tripoli, Central Catholic (23-9); Sr. Dominick Tunison, Nazareth (20-6); Sr. Connor Zurawa, Jim Thorpe (11-10)
On the shelf: Sr. Adriaan DeLeon, Liberty (0-0); Jr. Michael Gomez, East Stroudsburg North (3-1)
Of note: Singer won his only bout. Simak moves up two spots to No. 2 after beating state No. 1 at 189, Dominic Sumpolec, as part of a 6-0 week. Five of the wins came at 189 as Nazareth stretches its lineup up top in the team postseason. Frable, who had the week off, slides one to No. 3. Sallit, who was 2-0 with a pin and technical fall, drops one to No. 4. Fugazzotto stays at No. 5 after registering two first-period pins. In HM, Tunison, who likely is at 160 for the individual postseason, was 6-0 with five pins. Hopkins was 4-0, including a pivotal win at 189 in district duals against Emmaus.
189
1. Sr. Adam Waters, Faith Christian (19-3)
2. Sr. Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth (31-2)
3. Sr. Dominic Sumpolec, Notre Dame-GP (29-5)
4. Sr. Luke Fugazzotto, Northwestern Lehigh (25-2)
5. Jr. Justin Cosover, Easton (22-5)
Honorable mention: Sr. Logan Armstrong, Emmaus (18-5); Jr. Brit Ash, Saucon Valley (9-8); Jr. Conner Arrigo, Northern Lehigh (12-9); So. Ryan Bonham, Wilson (13-12); Jr. David Clayton, Quakertown (29-6); Jr. Curtis Cooper, Allen (21-9); Jr. Charles Dodge, Pennridge (17-15); Jr. Connor Gillahan, Bethlehem Catholic (22-6); Jr. Preston DiGrazia, Lehighton (19-11); Fr. Ben Jebran-Cruz, Liberty (13-6); Jr. Jaxson Kreider, Bangor (21-10); Sr. Jasper McEachern, Pocono Mountain West (10-10); Jr. Yahveh Rosario, Dieruff (14-8); Jr. Layony Sanchez, Whitehall (19-9); Sr. Jason Singer, Faith Christian (22-4); Sr. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh (11-10); Jr. Adis Vukel, Pleasant Valley (16-10)
On the shelf: Sr. Ivan Laubach, East Stroudsburg South (4-5)
Of note: Waters won his only bout. Sumpolec was 1-1, losing to Simak at district duals. Zuercher was 6-0 with three pins, a technical fall and major decisions over Gillespie and Smalley at 215. He flip flops with Sumpolec. Fugazzotto had two pins totaling 56 seconds. Cosover was 2-0, including a win over Cosover. In HM, Cooper was 2-0 with two pins. Clayton was 4-0 with three first-period pins and a technical fall.
215
1. Sr. Cael Weidemoyer, Faith Christian (27-4)
2. Sr. Connor Smalley, Notre Dame-GP (21-8)
3. Jr. Sawyer Ermigiotti, Pennridge (30-3)
4. Sr. Evan Gillespie, Pleasant Valley (27-2)
5. Sr. Zion Essington, Stroudsburg (25-7)
Honorable mention: Sr. Jonathan Adjin-Tetty, East Stroudsburg South (19-11); Sr. Drew Bennett, Upper Perkiomen (20-9); Sr. Silas Day, Palisades (16-8); Jr. Chase DeCesare, Emmaus (16-12); Fr. Aiden Hannis, Whitehall (14-10); Jr. Carlos Maldonado-Rosa, Panther Valley (14-14); So. Dawson Newhard, Northern Lehigh (17-11); Jr. Alonzo Parker, Easton (22-9); Sr. William Shakir, Allen (22-6); Jr. Joell Small, Northampton (13-13); Jr. Liam Stoneback, Saucon Valley (15-15); Jr. Asher Traylor, Lehighton (27-9); Sr. Kody Ward, Bangor (10-3); Jr. Cody Wesner, Southern Lehigh (16-9)
On the shelf: Sr. Max Pugach, Parkland (12-11)
Of note: Weidemoyer did not wrestle. Smalley was 2-1, losing to Zuercher. Ermigiotti was 5-0 with two pins. Gillespie was 1-1, losing to Zuercher. Shakir was 1-1, losing to Essington, who lost to Gillespie. Essington replaces Shakir at No. 5. In HM, Adjin-Tetty was 5-1. Hannis was 3-0.
285
1. Sr. Mark Effendian, Faith Christian (33-0)
2. Sr. Dan Schiffert, Freedom (21-1)
3. Sr. Kurtis Crossman, Easton (16-2)
4. Jr. Noah Knorp, Notre Dame-GP (22-10)
5. Jr. Josiah Rodriguez, East Stroudsburg South (27-6)
Honorable mention: Sr. Alex Ball, Stroudsburg (20-10); Jr. Ezekiel Deily, Saucon Valley (24-7); So. Jason Doughty, Liberty (13-13); Sr. Isaac Jackovitz, Northern Lehigh (15-8); Jr. Estrella Kubola, Upper Perkiomen (16-14); Jr. Hunter Hopstetter, Bangor (20-12); Sr. Sam Krauss, Salisbury (16-8); Jr. Myles Lysek, Parkland (19-11); Sr. Brandon McEntire, Northampton (14-12); Jr. Marc Macias, Lehighton (24-7); Sr. Frederick Merklin, Pleasant Valley (13-12); So. McCoy Miller, Central Catholic (18-10); Sr. Logan Roth, Emmaus (16-13); Jr. Marcus Soto, Dieruff (13-9)
Of note: Effendian and Schiffert had pins in their only action. Crossman was 2-0 with a pin and technical fall. Knorp was 3-0. Rodriguez was 5-0, winning the Cedar Crest Falcon Classic with three pins and a major. He also pinned Lysek. In HM, Ball was 3-0.
Records are from results reported to The Morning Call as well as PAwrestling.com and trackwrestling.com