Music, meditation and breathing practices kept Michael Good calm leading up to his 127-pound bout with Bethlehem Catholic\u2019s A.J. Gomez in Saturday\u2019s District 11 Class 3A team tournament final.<\/p>\n
Training, practice partners and experience allowed the Nazareth junior to be in position to be a hero.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
That clinched Nazareth\u2019s first district team title since 2020 and ended Bethlehem Catholic\u2019s five-year reign with a 36-26 win at Freedom\u2019s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can be physically strong,\u201d Good said, \u201cbut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bethlehem Catholic had won the last six meetings against Nazareth, including in last year\u2019s district and state finals.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s state quarterfinals at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown against either District 1 runner-up Council Rock South or District 12 champion St. Joseph\u2019s Prep.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s quarterfinals against either District 1 champion Boyertown or District 3 runner-up Wilson-West Lawn.<\/p>\n
Action continues through the final and consolation final at 3 p.m. Saturday in Johnstown.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 26-second pin at 121.<\/p>\n
But Good clinched it and freshman teammate Caleb Kosko finished it off with 7-6 decision over two-time state qualifier Reef Dillard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t look at it and think that we were in real big trouble here,\u201d Crowell said entering the last two bouts. \u201cI definitely thought [Good] would hold his own. But can he hold his own in the points thing? I don\u2019t know. But he came through against a very, very tough kid.<\/p>\n
\u201c[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\u2019t really teach. He\u2019s just able to put those things together. In crucial situations, more times than not, he\u2019s going to find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of injuries, other absences and weight descents, the Blue Eagles did not put out their best lineup until Saturday. It was needed.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The semifinal victory was fueled by Elijah Simak\u2019s 5-4 win over returning state medalist Dominic Sumpolec.<\/p>\n
Sumpolec registered a takedown 36 seconds into the match, but didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIncredibly huge,\u201d Crowell said of Simak\u2019s performance in bumping up from 172. \u201cThat would be an understatement. I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, we have a lot of faith in Eli. But he\u2019s up a weight against a monster.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Crusaders also lost a team point after the 160-pound bout for unsportsmanlike conduct on the bench.<\/p>\n
Tournament notes<\/p>\n
\u2014 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.<\/p>\n
\u2014 No. 7 Whitehall\u2019s 33-29 win over No. 2 Emmaus was the Zephyrs\u2019 first district duals victory in program history. Freshman Dionte Wheeler\u2019s 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\u2019s club. Emmaus remains without unbeaten 107-pounder Cam Martinez.<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
District 11 Team Wrestling Championships<\/p>\n
Saturday at Freedom\u2019s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium<\/p>\n
CLASS 3A<\/p>\n
Quarterfinals<\/p>\n
No. 1 Nazareth 59, No. 8 Liberty 10<\/p>\n
107: Max Milia (L) tech. fall Jack Dressler, 17-1, 312<\/p>\n
114: Derek Fulmer (N) maj. dec. Joey Miller, 13-2<\/p>\n
121: Elijah Heimbach (L) tech. fall Matt Nigro, 17-1, 2:30<\/p>\n
127: Michael Good (N) tech. fall John Solano, 18-2, 5:27<\/p>\n
133: Caleb Kosko (N) tech. fall Ben Miller, 21-5, 5:24<\/p>\n
139: Cooper Wenrich (N) pinned Jonathan Garcia, 1:44<\/p>\n
145: Jack Campbell (N) pinned Elijah Williams, 1:48<\/p>\n
152: Chase Brown (N) pinned Ben Reid, 5:37<\/p>\n
160: Cade Campbell (N) pinned Daniel Rivera, 1:53<\/p>\n
172: Dominick Tunison (N) pinned Ethan Estojak, 0:57<\/p>\n
189: Elijah Simak (N) pinned Kaedon Hall, 0:55<\/p>\n
215: Brayden Zuercher (N) pinned Anthony Martin, 1:26<\/p>\n
285: Austin Christine (N) dec. Jason Doughty, 12-8<\/p>\n
No. 7 Whitehall 33, No. 2 Emmaus 29\u00a0<\/p>\n
107: Semaj Weatherspoon (W) tech. fall Andrew Gerken, 19-3, 5:30<\/p>\n
114: Dionte Wheeler (W) dec. Levi Max, 6-5<\/p>\n
121: Teagan Caciolo (E) dec. Kade Pascoe, 3-2 UTB<\/p>\n
127: Emilio Albanese (E) pinned Josiah Wright, 1:15<\/p>\n
133: Willmont Kai (W) pinned Logan Maher, 1:47<\/p>\n
139: Jackson Max (E) pinned Omar Omar (W), 2:26<\/p>\n
145: Tyler Hoff (W) dec. Tommy Fallstich, 6-2<\/p>\n
152: Mason Hopkins (W) pinned Aiden Bayard, 3:38<\/p>\n
160: Xyler Sallit (E) pinned Rocco Fonzone, 4:48<\/p>\n
172: Xayden Sallit (E) tech. fall FJacob igueroa, 19-3, 1:26<\/p>\n
189: James Hopkins (W) pinned Logan Armstrong, 4:36<\/p>\n
215: Aiden Hannis (W) maj. dec. Chase DeCesare, 11-2<\/p>\n
285: Logan Roth (E) dec. Yousef Khalfaoui, 4-0<\/p>\n
No. 3 Bethlehem Catholic 47, No. 6 Easton 15<\/p>\n
107: Michael Nicosia (BC) tech. fall Michael Rambone, 15-0, 4:52<\/p>\n
114: Gino Bozzi (BC) dec. Brayden Abrams, 6-5<\/p>\n
121: Nico Emili (BC) dec. Gavyn Mindler, 8-1<\/p>\n
127: A.J. Gomez (BC) pinned Jack Famularo, 8:26 UTB<\/p>\n
133: Andre Cerrato (BC) dec. Nick Salamone, 7-4<\/p>\n
139: Reef Dillard (BC) dec. Noah Fenner, 7-2<\/p>\n
145: Keanu Dillard (BC) pinned Wyatt Snyder, 3:14<\/p>\n
152: Ethan Krazer (E) pinned Jaden Santiago, 3:35<\/p>\n
160: Mason Thomas (BC) tech. fall Tyler Cruise, 18-3, 5:12<\/p>\n
172: Zach Papcsy (BC) pinned Logan Young, 2:50<\/p>\n
189: James Bozzi (BC) pinned Dan Vargas, 3:02<\/p>\n
215: Justin Cosover (E) dec. Connor Gillahan, 11-6<\/p>\n
285: Kurtis Crossman (E) pinned Grant Mulhern, 1:47<\/p>\n
No. 4 Notre Dame-GP 35, No. 5 Northampton 30<\/p>\n
107: Max Quarry (ND) pinned Ben Schoeneberger, 3:16<\/p>\n
114: Brayden Wenrich (Nor) pinned Tanner Shear, 0:59<\/p>\n
121: Cael Muller (ND) tech. fall Cade Strauss, 16-0, 3:13<\/p>\n
127: Davi Glykas (Nor) pinned Cole Schwartz, 3:36<\/p>\n
133: Jacob Volpe (ND) dec. Matt Sommer, 7-0<\/p>\n
139: Jeff Cemelli (ND) pinned Zach Hartzell, 3:50<\/p>\n
145: Trey Wagner (Nor) dec. Gavyn Kelton, 5-4<\/p>\n
152: Carter Chlebove (Nor) tech. fall Jared Gonzalez, 18-2, 3:10<\/p>\n
160: Gio Labbadia (Nor) tech. fall Dominick Tocci, 20-4, 5:50<\/p>\n
172: Gabe Ballard (Nor) tech. fall Cole Retos, 15-0, 4:00<\/p>\n
189: Dominic Sumpolec (ND) pinned Nick Harding, 0:33<\/p>\n
215: Connor Smalley (ND) pinned Joell Small, 1:16<\/p>\n
285: Noah Knorp (ND) dec. Brandon McIntyre, 5-1<\/p>\n
Semifinals<\/p>\n
No. 1 Nazareth 34, No. 4 Notre Dame-GP 24<\/p>\n
107: Max Quarry (ND) pinned Jack Dressler, 1:43<\/p>\n
114: Cael Muller (ND) pinned Jace Nelligan, 2:52<\/p>\n
121: Cole Schwartz (ND) tech. fall Derek Fulmer, 15-0, 4:24<\/p>\n
127: Michael Good (Naz) dec. Trey Neith, 8-1<\/p>\n
133: Caleb Kosko (Naz) tech. fall Jacob Volpe, 15-0, 4:00<\/p>\n
139: Cooper Wenrich (Naz) tech. fall Jeff Cemelli, 16-1, 4:22<\/p>\n
145: Jack Campbell (Naz) dec. Gavyn Kelton, 10-3<\/p>\n
152: Cade Campbell (Naz) tech. fall Gavyn Kanuck, 16-1, 3:54<\/p>\n
160: Jared Gonzalez (ND) tech. fall Chase Brown, 15-0, 1:23<\/p>\n
172: Dominick Tunison (Naz) pinned Cole Retos, 0:57<\/p>\n
189: Elijah Simak (Naz) dec. Dominic Sumpolec, 5-4<\/p>\n
215: Brayden Zuercher (Naz) maj. dec. Connor Smalley, 10-2<\/p>\n
285: Noah Knorp (ND) dec. Austin Christine, 3-0<\/p>\n
No. 3. Bethlehem Catholic 38, No. 7 Whitehall 21<\/p>\n
107: Michael Nicosia (BC) pinned Semaj Weatherspoon, 2:36<\/p>\n
114: Dionte Wheeler (W) dec. Gino Bozzi 8-1<\/p>\n
121: Nico Emili (BC) tech. fall Adam Gasteratos, 17-1, 2:56<\/p>\n
127: A.J. Gomez (BC) dec. Kade Pascoe, 10-7<\/p>\n
133: Willmont Kai (W) dec. Reef Dillard, 5-2 SV<\/p>\n
139: Andre Cerrato (BC) tech. fall Omar Omar, 18-3, 2:35<\/p>\n
145: Keanu Dillard (BC) tech. fall Tyler Hoff, 19-4, 4:44<\/p>\n
152: Mason Hopkins (W) pinned Jaden Santiago, 2:37<\/p>\n
160: Mason Thomas (BC) tech. fall Rocco Fonzone, 15-0, 4:00<\/p>\n
172: James Hopkins (W) pinned Zach Papcsy, 2:38<\/p>\n
189: Aiden Hannis (W) dec. James Bozzi, 4-1<\/p>\n
215: Connor Gillahan (BC) pinned Caiden Robinson, 2:39<\/p>\n
285: Grant Mulhern (BC) dec. Yousef Khalfaoui, 6-0<\/p>\n
Final<\/p>\n
No. 1 Nazareth 36, No. 3 Bethlehem Catholic 26<\/p>\n
107: Michael Nicosia (BC) tech. fall Jack Dressler, 20-1, 4:30<\/p>\n
114: Derek Fulmer (N) dec. Gino Bozzi, 10-6<\/p>\n
121: Nico Emili (BC) pinned Jace Nelligan, 0:26<\/p>\n
127: Michael Good (N) dec. A.J. Gomez, 5-2 SV<\/p>\n
133: Caleb Kosko (N) dec. Reef Dillard, 7-6<\/p>\n
139:\u00a0 Andre Cerrato (BC) maj. dec. Cooper Wenrich, 13-5<\/p>\n
145: Keanu Dillard (BC) pinned Travis Paulkovitch, 0:45<\/p>\n
152: Jack Campbell (N) by forfeit<\/p>\n
160: Cade Campbell (N) pinned Jaden Santiago, 4:27<\/p>\n
172: Elijah Simak (N) maj. dec. Mason Thomas, 13-5<\/p>\n
189: Dominick Tunison (N) pinned Zack Papcsy, 1:49<\/p>\n
215: Brayden Zuercher (N) tech. fall James Bozzi, 17-2, 5:06<\/p>\n
285: Connor Gillahan (BC)\u00a0 tech. fall Austin Christine, 17-2, 5:20<\/p>\n
Referees: Chris Grammes, Rich Dunkelberger<\/p>\n
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com<\/p>\n
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