Expand<\/a><\/p>\nBETHLEHEM \u2014 When Gabe Caufield won his quarterfinal match, boos rained down from the stands inside Liberty High School\u2019s gym.<\/p>\n
As Caufield walked off the mat, Wallenpaupack coach Steve Krushnowski told his senior wrestler, \u201cWhen they\u2019re booing you, you\u2019re doing something right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caufield rallied from a five-point, third-period deficit to secure a 10-9 victory over Nazareth\u2019s Elijah Simak in the 172-pound quarterfinals of the Class 3A Northeast Regional. He was one of three Lackawanna Leaguers, including West Scranton\u2019s Tommy Schechterly (160) and Abington Heights\u2019 Lucas Drake (152) to advance to Saturday\u2019s semifinals, which are scheduled for 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo see the whole Nazareth section booing, I like it,\u201d Krushnowski said. \u201cThat\u2019s a good thing, because we\u2019ve been taking it on the chin all night, and Gabe\u2019s worked hard and he deserves it. He doesn\u2019t quit, so I\u2019m really proud of Gabe. He did a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simak, ranked 10th in the state at 172 pounds according to PA Power Wrestling, secured an escape and a takedown in the second period for a 4-0 advantage. Caufield (19th in state) responded with an escape in the second period and another escape in the third period to cut the deficit to 4-2. However, Simak added another takedown with 1:37 left for a 7-2 lead.<\/p>\n
Then, Caufield escaped, secured a takedown and tacked on four backs points in 18 seconds to take a 10-7 advantage.<\/p>\n
Simak escaped and Caufield was hit with a stall point to cut his lead to 10-9, but Simak ran out of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was awesome,\u201d Krushnowski said. \u201cThe Nazareth kid is super tough. We know him, and Gabe just didn\u2019t quit. We knew we had a few stalls to give. He gave the stall late, and he did everything he could. That\u2019s Gabe. He\u2019s giving it everything. It\u2019s a senior leaving it on the mat.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll face Emmaus\u2019 Xayden Sallit (11th in state) in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
Rolling along<\/p>\n
West Scranton\u2019s Tommy Schechterly and Abington Heights\u2019 Lucas Drake didn\u2019t have much trouble in their first two regional matches, as both secured a pin and a technical fall to advance to the semifinals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt great,\u201d Schechterly (fourth in state) said. \u201cIt felt like I was prepared with everything I did in my training, eating right, losing weight right. It was a good weight cut.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Round of 16, Schechterly pinned Southern Lehigh\u2019s Keith Barker (22nd in state) in the second period.<\/p>\n
Then, he cruised to a 17-2, second-period tech fall over Parkland\u2019s Jorge Moya (10th in state) in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI treat it like every other match, get in there and just get right to your offense,\u201d said Schechterly of his mentality headed into the quarterfinals. \u201cNo waiting around, just get straight to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The West Scranton sophomore will face Emmaus\u2019 Xyler Sallit (eighth in state) in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
Drake (24th in state) didn\u2019t waste much time either, pinning Williamsport\u2019s Jahki Burget in 1:33 in the Round of 16.<\/p>\n
In the quarterfinals, he tacked on a 19-2, third-period tech fall over Freedom\u2019s Nicholas Lyden (18th in state).<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I wrestled how I work,\u201d Drake said. \u201cI put a lot of work into this, so that\u2019s how I\u2019m supposed to perform out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll return to the mat in the morning to face Northampton\u2019s Gabriel Ballard (first in state) in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
\u201c(I\u2019ll) make sure my weight\u2019s good, and just keep the same mentality,\u201d Drake said. \u201cI\u2019ll try to eat well, get good sleep and try to stay focused.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wyoming Valley Conference<\/p>\n
Pittston Area\u2019s Brody Spindler (215), and Hazleton Area\u2019s Gabe (114) and Jake Benyo (121) also advanced to the semifinals, giving District 2 six wrestlers still in the hunt for regional gold.<\/p>\n
The top five finishers in each weight class advance to states.<\/p>\n
PIAA Class 3A Northeast Regional<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s District 2 results<\/p>\n
Quarterfinals<\/p>\n
114: Elijah Heimbach (Liberty-Bethlehem) dec. Dakota Sandy (Abington Heights), 10-4. Gabe Benyo (Hazleton Area) dec. Cael Muller (Notre Dame \u2013 Green Pond), 4-0.<\/p>\n
121: Nico Emili (Bethlehem Catholic) tech fall Santino Aniska (West Scranton), 17-2 1:06. Jake Benyo (Hazleton Area) dec. Teagan Caciolo (Emmaus), 4-1.<\/p>\n
127: Emilio Albanese (Emmaus) tech fall Carlo Salinas (Wilkes Barre Area), 20-3 2:44. Anthony Colantuono (St. Joseph\u2019s Prep) dec. Ayden Blaut (Wallenpaupack), 4-2. Nicholas Salamone (Easton Area) dec. Brady Full (Abington Heights), 4-1.<\/p>\n
133: Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic) pinned Giovanni Lomonaco (Wallenpaupack), 1:21. Carter Smith (Bangor Area) dec. Jude Salko (Hazleton Area), 2-1. Caleb Kosko (Nazareth Area) dec. Mason Whitney (Abington Heights), 2-1 TB2.<\/p>\n
145: Jack Campbell (Nazareth Area) pinned Chace Berry (Abington Heights), 1:40. Gavyn Kelton (Notre Dame \u2013 Green Pond) dec. Micah Engelman (Crestwood), 7-2.<\/p>\n
152: Lucas Drake (Abington Heights) tech fall Nicholas Lyden (Freedom), 19-2 4:31. Cade Campbell (Nazareth Area) dec. Ethan Aftewicz (Pittston Area), 4-1.<\/p>\n
160: Dominick Tunison (Nazareth Area) maj. dec. Tristan Braxton (Wallenpaupack), 13-4. Carter Chlebove (Northampton Area) dec. Liam Evanko (Wilkes-Barre Area), 5-4. Tommy Schechterly (West Scranton) tech fall Jorge Moya (Parkland), 17-2 3:31.<\/p>\n
172: Gabriel Caufield (Wallenpaupack) dec. Elijah Simak (Nazareth Area), 10-9. Brock Frable (Southern Lehigh) tech fall Gene Ardo (Wilkes Barre Area), 22-6 3:55. Connor Davidson (Athens) pinned Jaxson Johnson (Hazleton Area), 0:30.<\/p>\n
189: Dominic Sumpolec (Notre Dame \u2013 Green Pond) pinned JJ Segal (Delaware Valley), 1:42. Justin Cosover (Easton Area) tech fall Mariusz Bibla (Crestwood), 17-1 4:59. Terrell Mcfarland (Pottsville Area) dec. Mason Marolo (Hazleton Area), 6-4.<\/p>\n
215: Brody Spindler (Pittston Area) dec. Jackson Raker (Williamsport), 4-1 TB2.<\/p>\n
Round of 16<\/p>\n
107: Luis Moya (Parkland) pinned Greg Nalesnik (Wallenpaupack), 1:17. Michael Nicosia (Bethlehem Catholic) dec. James McKeown (Wilkes Barre Area), 8-3. Jack Jasionowicz (Stroudsburg) dec. David Krantz (Pittston Area), 10-4.<\/p>\n
114: Max Hallman (Shikellamy) dec. Zion Colon (Delaware Valley), 4-3. Dakota Sandy (Abington Heights) tech fall Landen Hess (Columbia Montour Vo-Tech), 15-0 0:59. Gabe Benyo (Hazleton Area) tech fall Derek Fulmer (Nazareth Area), 17-2 2:30.<\/p>\n
121: Santino Aniska (West Scranton) dec. Matt McCarthy (Cardinal O\u2019Hara), 13-10. Dillon Carr (Archbishop Ryan) maj. dec. Declan Brown (Wallenpaupack), 8-0. Jake Benyo (Hazleton Area) tech fall Aiden Shaw (Academy at Palumbo), 15-0 1:48.<\/p>\n
127: Carlo Salinas (Wilkes-Barre Area) dec. Collin Nasdeo (Williamsport), 8-5 SV. Ayden Blaut (Wallenpaupack) pinned Braylon Chestnut (Shikellamy), 3:02. Brady Full (Abington Heights) dec. Michael Good (Nazareth Area), 4-0.<\/p>\n
133: Giovanni Lomonaco (Wallenpaupack) dec. Keatin Lattimore (Shikellamy), 11-6. Jude Salko (Hazleton Area) pinned Steven Bott (Williamsport), 2:36. Mason Whitney (Abington Heights) pinned Frankie Warshaw (Archbishop Wood), 0:44.<\/p>\n
139: Trey Wagner (Northampton Area) pinned Drew Churchill (Delaware Valley), 4:50. Noah Fenner (Easton Area) pinned Kyle Scartelli (Wallenpaupack), 1:30. Kiovanny Hamlin (Louis E Dieruff) tech fall Drew Leonori (Scranton), 20-2 5:52.<\/p>\n
145: Chace Berry (Abington Heights) dec. Isardor Madorifov (George Washington), 13-9. Omar Morales (Central) pinned Teagen Butler (Wilkes-Barre Area), 0:25. Micah Engelman (Crestwood) pinned Ayden Garcia (Father Judge), 1:29.<\/p>\n
152: Gabe Paradis (Selinsgrove) maj. dec. Logan Pop (Hazleton Area), 14-3. Lucas Drake (Abington Heights) pinned Jahki Burget (Williamsport), 1:33. Ethan Aftewicz (Pittston Area) maj. dec. Mason Hopkins (Whitehall), 8-0.<\/p>\n
160: Tristan Braxton (Wallenpaupack) pinned Austin Dunlap (Williamsport), 3:23. Liam Evanko (Wilkes-Barre Area) pinned Ryan Howard (Athens), 0:25. Tommy Schechterly (West Scranton) pinned Keith Barker (Southern Lehigh), 3:32.<\/p>\n
172: Gabriel Caufield (Wallenpaupack) tech fall Donte Bazemore (Central), 15-0 2:35. Gene Ardo (Wilkes-Barre Area) dec. Zach Russell (Roman Catholic), 8-4. Jaxson Johnson (Hazleton Area) dec. Francis Kitching (St. Joseph\u2019s Prep), 13-10.<\/p>\n
189: JJ Segal (Delaware Valley) tech fall Riley Kanski (Jersey Shore), 17-2 4:35. Mariusz Bibla (Crestwood) pinned Alex Modawar (Selinsgrove), 2:58. Mason Marolo (Hazleton Area) pinned Khalif Wardlaw (St. Joseph\u2019s Prep), 1:17.<\/p>\n
215: Connor Smalley (Notre Dame \u2013 Green Pond) pinned Frank Scialpi (Abington Heights), 1:06. Zion Essington (Stroudsburg) pinned Tyler Gallo (Wallenpaupack), 2:41. Brody Spindler (Pittston Area) pinned Johnathan Adjin-Tetty (East Stroudsburg Area South), 1:10.<\/p>\n
285: Noah Knorp (Notre Dame \u2013 Green Pond) pinned Altamir Terry (Wilkes-Barre Area), 5:59. Josiah Rodriguez (East Stroudsburg Area South) pinned Noah Gruber (Pittston Area), 0:48. Kurtis Crossman (Easton Area) pinned Mikey Seltzer (Delaware Valley), 5:20.<\/p>\n
Consolation first round<\/p>\n
107: Brandon Briddes (Cardinal O\u2019Hara) pinned Greg Nalesnik (Wallenpaupack), 3:26. David Krantz (Pittston Area) dec. Joey Devlin (Father Judge), 6-1. James McKeown (Wilkes-Barre Area) tech fall Gabe Spagnuolo (Williamsport), 18-3 1:51.<\/p>\n
114: Zion Colon (Delaware Valley) pinned Vinny Buonanno (Archbishop Wood), 3:32.<\/p>\n
121: Cole Schwartz (Notre Dame \u2013 Green Pond) tech fall Declan Brown (Wallenpaupack), 16-0 3:16.<\/p>\n
133: Keatin Lattimore (Shikellamy) tech fall Xavier Resto (Abraham Lincoln), 16-0 3:26.<\/p>\n
139: Matt Gerz (Father Judge) dec. Drew Churchill (Delaware Valley), 4-2. Jackson Max (Emmaus) maj. dec. Kyle Scartelli (Wallenpaupack), 12-0. Mehki Hill (Martin Luther King) maj. dec. Drew Leonori (Scranton), 10-1.<\/p>\n
145: Ryan Harpster (Selinsgrove) tech fall Teagen Butler (Wilkes-Barre Area), 16-0 1:25.<\/p>\n
152: Logan Pop (Hazleton Area) tech fall Daniel Cunningham (Father Judge), 20-2 3:31.<\/p>\n
215: Frank Scialpi (Abington Heights) pinned Joell Small (Northampton Area), 2:42. Tyler Gallo (Wallenpaupack) tech fall Jeremy Manon-Peralta (Mariana Bracetti Academy), 16-1 3:14.<\/p>\n
285: Justin Walker (Father Judge) pinned Altamir Terry (Wilkes-Barre Area), 4:12. Myles Lysek (Parkland) dec. Mikey Seltzer (Delaware Valley), 4-2. Noah Gruber (Pittston Area) maj. dec. Kyree Mitchell (La Salle College), 13-1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"West Scranton\u2019s Tommy Schechterly, top, wrestles Parkland\u2019s Jorge Moya in the 160-pound quarterfinals at the Class 3A Northeast…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126042,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[305,178,180,179,726],"class_list":["post-126041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-high-school-sports","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126041\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126042"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"West](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/STT-L-MATS-01_0bf470.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Abington](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/STT-L-MATS-01_1ff9b9.jpg?w=620\")
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<\/p>\n![\"West](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/STT-L-MATS-01.jpg?w=620\")
<\/p>\n![\"Wallenpaupack\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/STT-L-MATS-01_268fa7.jpg?w=620\")
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