DAY 1 RECAP OF WRESTLING AT LIBERTY

Saucon Valley High School returns to mats at Bethlehem Holiday Classic Wrestling Tournament

Saucon Valley head wrestling coach Chad Shirk hugs wrestler Brandon Palik after he captured a PIAA Class AA wrestling title.It was a long wait for the wrestlers at Saucon Valley High School, but today they finally opened their season at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic Wrestling Tournament at Liberty High School.

Saucon Valley failed to advance a wrestler to Tuesday's semifinal round, but coach Chad Shirk's team did earn some valuable experience.

"We've had three days of practice," Shirk said. "This feels like the start of the wrestling season ... we're excited to see how the kids progress."

Blair Academy leads the two-day tournament with 109.5 points. Nazareth is fourth with 93 and Liberty fifth with 87.

TEAM SCORES

1. Blair Academy, BA, 109.5; 2. St. Mark's, SM, 96; 3. Cox, Co, 94.5; 4. Nazareth, Naz, 93; 5. Liberty, Lib, 87; 6. Council Rock South, CRS, 86; 7. Stroudsburg, Str, 81.5; 8. Northampton, Nor, 81.5; 9. Hazleton, Haz, 75.5; 10. Pen Argyl, PA, 69.5; 11. Quakertown, Q, 68; 12. Northern Lehigh, NL, 64.5; 13. Camden Catholic, CC, 51; 14. Saucon Valley, SV, 50.5; 15. Selinsgrove, Sel, 49; 16. Lehighton, Leh, 48; 17. Northern York, NY, 42; 17. Poquoson, Poq, 42; 19. McDowell, McD, 41; 20. Warwick, War, 39; 21. North Penn, NP, 38.5; 22. Jersey Shore, JS, 36; 23. Bound Brook, BB, 32.5; 24. Hughesville, Hug, 30.5; 25. Milton, Mil, 29.5; 26. Freedom, Fre, 28; 27. Northwestern, Nwt, 25; 28. Delaware Valley, DV, 21.

QUARTERFINALS

103 pounds -- Anthony Cabrera, Lib, p. Brandon Sutter, Naz, :59; Max Hvolbeck, BA, d. Cody Stageberg, Co, 7-1; Thomas Payne, Poq, p. Billy Rappo, CRS, 1:14; Jacob Hoats, Leh, md. Ethan Quinn, War, 8-0.

112 pounds -- Evan Silver, BA, md. Devon Lotito, Lib, 11-2; Matt Valentin, Str, d. Jeffrey Ogburn, Poq, 5-4; Tyler Pendergast, SM, p. Eric Wolfe, Mil, 4:51; Caleb Richardson, Co, inj.def. Jamie Welsh, PA.

119 pounds -- Matt Sausman, CC, d. Bryan Whitt, Co, 5-3; Franco Ferraina, Naz, d. CJ Palmer, DV, 3-1; Mark Grey, BA, md. Greg Rinker, Nor, 9-0; Zach Ross, NY, p. Sean Dolan, SM, :50.

125 pounds -- Zach Horan, Naz, p. Eddie Faust, Nwt, 2:15; Matt Rappo, CRS, tf. Adam Phillippi, SV, 16-1, 3:55; Anthony Marino, Lib, d. Jordan Glykas, Nor, 4-0; Sean Boylan, SM, d. Mark Uliano, Haz, 9-2.

130 pounds -- Nick Schenk, SM, d. Greg Noll, Naz, 7-0; Eric Howey, Str, md. Tyler Snyder, Hug, 12-1; Todd Preston, BA, d. Jason Stephen, Nor, 3-0; Mikey Racciato, PA, d. Michael Chalfant, Co, 5-2.

135 pounds -- Steve Spearman, McD, p. Drew Daubert, NP, 2:44; John Chillen, CC, disqualification Cody Zechman, Sel; Dashon Eure, Co, d. Dan Hong, Lib, 6-3; Matt Buckworth, SM, d. Luciano Burriesci, PA, 6-3.

140 pounds -- Steffan Baker, Poq, md. Elliot Packer, JS, 15-7; Rex Lutz, PA, d. Tim Samec, Haz, 6-3; Josh Dziewa, CRS, p. Billy Paukovits, Nor, 1:57; Nikko Stevens, NL, d. Frank Varallo, CC, 10-4.

145 pounds -- Chris Villalonga, BA, d. Tyler Torcivia, Naz, 4-0; Jared Ross, NY, md. Tom Biesadesky, Haz, 12-2; Taylor Walsh, CC, d. Tyler Lauchaire, Str, 8-6; Ben Dorsay, Co, md. Garret Henning, Lib, 14-3.

152 pounds -- Ryan Krecker, Naz, p. Matt Richmond, NY, 1:40; Austin Sommer, Nor, d. Eric Koch, Q, 5-1; Jesse Shanaman, BA, md. David Lucykanish, Leh, 11-3; Craemer Hedash, NL, p. Steven Boyser, Co, 1:34.

160 pounds -- Pat LaBuz, Haz, tf. Shane Gilmore, CRS, 16-1, 5:32; Chris Yocum, Str, p. Mike Balliet, Leh, 2:43; Edwin Gonzalez, Q, p. John Lambert, Nor, 5:22; Mike Brown, Lib, d. Brad Bishop, BA, 8-2.

171 pounds -- Colin Hedash, NL, d. Adam Geiger, NY, 11-5; Dylan Evans, PA, d. Jackson Rust, Co, 9-6; Chris Pintado, Lib, d. Tyler Marx, Nor, 9-3; Jared Kay, Haz, p. Taylor Stabley, JS, 1:13.

189 pounds -- Andrew Campolattano, BB, p. Matt Dorward, Leh, 1:03; Michael Mauk, SM, d. Ryan Solomon, Mil, 4-3; Matt Transue, Str, d. Ian Gimbar, SV, 7-2; Mike Evans, BA, p. Tyler Horn, PA, :28.

215 pounds -- Connor O'Hara, Co, d. Bryan McCall, War, 9-4; Cody Mason, JS, d. Dillon Hoffman, BA, 6-4 OT; Spencer Myers, SE, p. Nick Sharga, Nor, 1:05; Bobby LaVelle, CRS, d. Dan Martisofski, Lib, 3-2.

285 pounds -- Bobby Telford, SM, p. DJ King, Naz, 1:54; Gregg Walker, Q, p. Kenny Taffur, BB, 5:34; Ross Burbank, Co, p. Kelton Mehls, NY, 1:15; Brooks Black, BA, p. Briar Stern, Leh, 1:22.

Mike Blouse of Express Times