Morning Call wrestling rankings

FROM THE MORNING CALL

103 POUNDS

1. Soph. Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 21-2

2. Sr. Brett Marino (Liberty) 26-2

3. Soph. Matt Williams (Pen Argyl) 22-5

4. Soph. Dante Steffenino (Upper Perk) 22-2

5. Soph. Bryan Israel (Saucon Valley) 24-2

Honorable mention: Sr. Frederic Agou (Whitehall) 14-7; Fr. Dante Albanese (Pius X) 24-7; Fr. Patrick Antonacci (Central Catholic) 17-1; Fr. Kyle Baker (Easton) 17-7; Jr. Jacob Hoats (Lehighton) 20-5; Fr. Ethan Lizak (Parkland) 18-8; Fr. Colin Mashack (Tamaqua) 18-4; Sr. Nick O'Donnell (Panther Valley) 22-5; Jr. Guesseppe Rea (Stroudsburg) 19-6; Fr. Kolton Veit (Souderton) 19-4; Fr. Kenny Yanovich (Pleasant Valley) 21-3.

Noteworthy: Cruz lost a 4-3 decision to C.R. South's Billy Rappo, ranked second in 3A behind Marino. Cruz and Marino will decide the top spot in a dual match Wednesday. Williams topped Easton's Baker at NHSCA final Four. Israel went 5-0 at Juniata Duals.

112 POUNDS

1. Fr. Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic) 22-5

2. Sr. Anthony Cabrera (Liberty) 25-2

3. Jr. Peter Stanley (Easton) 15-9

4. Sr. Jamie Welsh (Pen Argyl) 18-5

5. Soph. Sean Bianco (Pleasant Valley) 15-4

Honorable mention: Soph. Anthony Dee (Salisbury) 12-6; Fr. Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg South) 15-5; Fr. Josh Evans (Palmerton) 17-3; Soph. Dylan Steffenino (Upper Perk) 19-5; Fr. Chase Zemenak (Nazareth) 14-10; Fr. Adam Ziegler (Southern Lehigh) 11-5.

Noteworthy: Moisey and Cabrera could stage a Beast of the East rematch Wednesday; Moisey won 4-3 in December. Stanley beat Welsh in OT at the NHSCA Final Four. Bianco moves into the top 5.

119 POUNDS

1. Jr. Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 24-5

2. Fr. Josh Ortman (Parkland) 20-7

3. Jr. DeMarquis Holley (Dieruff) 18-3

4. Soph. Evan DiSora (Easton) 16-4

5. Soph. Grimaldi Gonzalez (Liberty) 19-6

Honorable mention: Sr. Lucas Dise (Northern Lehigh) 17-5; Soph. Gregg Donley (Souderton) 18-8; Soph. Dillon Masington (Palmerton) 18-5; Fr. James Palys (Pocono Mt. East) 16-2; Soph. Michael Rodgers (Central Catholic) 14-6; Sr. Marcus Rushie (E.S. South) 18-2; Soph. George Schaffer (Bangor) 18-3.

Noteworthy: Cruz, ranked No. 2 in state in 2A, beat Ortman but fell to Big Spring's Dereck Enders, a returning 3A medalist. Ortman takes second spot after pinning Holley. DiSora was 3-2 at NHSCA Final Four, and Gonzalez had a major decision and technical fall last week.

125 POUNDS

1. Sr. Jaydon Rice (Bethlehem Catholic) 21-6

2. Sr. Franco Ferraina (Nazareth) 13-2

3. Jr. Devon Lotito (Liberty) 25-3

4. Sr. Mike Fake (Parkland) 15-4

5. Jr. Zane Heller (Northern Lehigh) 18-4

Honorable mention: Jr. Joe Dalessandro (Pius X) 24-9; Jr. Tyler Galasso (Freedom) 12-7; Jr. Greg Kabakjian (Souderton) 21-4; Jr. Ethan Keichel (Northwestern) 13-8; Jr. Ernest Klingel (Pleasant Valley) 21-2; Jr. Sam Oberlander (Palmerton) 17-5.

Noteworthy: Rice's most recent losses were to state-ranked wrestlers out-of-area, so he stays on top. Ferraina topped Lotito 5-2 and has three quality wins since loss to Rice. Fake won his 100th at NHSCA Final Four.

130 POUNDS

1. Sr. Zach Horan (Nazareth) 26-0

2. Jr. Mike Dahlstrom (Pleasant Valley) 24-1

3. Sr. Calvin Daly (Easton) 18-7

4. Sr. Damien Hopper (Central Catholic) 15-1

5. Sr. Arian Kohler (E.S. South) 11-5

Honorable mention: Sr. Sean Aris (Pocono Mt. West) 14-10; Jr. Richie Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 12-9; Sr. Michael Crawn (Bangor) 16-4; Sr. Brandon Mayberry (Wilson) 14-6; Soph. Michael Ortiz (Northwestern) 13-4; Fr. Jesse Snyder (Palisades) 13-4.

Noteworthy: Horan remained unbeaten with a 4-3 win over Walsh Jesuit's Johnni DiJulius, a two-time Ohio state champ and Buckeyes recruit. Dahlstrom had three weekend pins, and Daly went 3-2 at NHSCA Final Four. Hopper enters with record that includes only one loss, to Horan.

135 POUNDS

1. Soph. Mike Racciato (Pen Argyl) 22-2

2. Sr. Scott Wolfinger (Quakertown) 16-5

3. Sr. Kolby Mashack (Tamaqua) 24-0

4. Jr. Jason Stephen (Northampton) 20-7

5. Sr. Greg Noll (Nazareth) 21-7

Honorable mention: Sr. George Dalessandro (Pius X) 20-10; Sr. Eric Howey (Stroudsburg) 18-7; Soph. Mike Marano (Parkland) 16-12; Jr. Mark Misczenski (Easton) 12-10; Jr. Jose Morales (Dieruff) 12-7; Soph. Nick Musa (E.S. South) 11-5; Jr. Vinny Pellechia (Catasauqua) 24-1; Sr. Daniel Rodenberger (Upper Perk) 17-6; Jr. Alex Yanovich (Pleasant Valley) 21-3.

Noteworthy: Racciato went 5-0 at NHSCA Final Four with a pin and two majors. Noll has 4 quality wins since OT loss at Virginia Duals. In HM, Howey has pinned last 3 opponents, including a fall against Liberty in the program's 500th victory.

140 POUNDS

1. Sr. Joey Rizzolino (Easton) 25-3

2. Sr. Luciano Burriesci (Pen Argyl) 21-7

3. Sr. Briar Malischewski (Quakertown) 19-6

4. Sr. Nikko Stevens (Northern Lehigh) 16-5

5: Sr. Zach Wilson (Northampton) 15-6

Honorable Mention: Sr. Elijah Angradi (Stroudsburg) 14-6; Sr. Paul Derkits (Central Catholic) 13-8; Soph. Eric Matz (Catasauqua) 17-4; Sr. George Bastian (East Stroudsburg South) 11-5; Sr. Eric Seals (Allen) 14-8; Soph. Ryan Todora (Bethlehem Catholic) 22-6.

Noteworthy: Several close bouts here last week. Burriesci edged Stevens 2-1 in OT, and Wilson topped Todora 4-3. Wilson enters top 5 with that win. Rizzolino went 5-0 at NHSCA Final Four, with win over Burriesci and three technical falls. Malischewski has 7 pins and a technical in last 8 bouts.

145 POUNDS

1. 1. Jr. Mitch Minotti (Easton) 23-2

2. Sr. D.P. Miller (E.S. South) 10-5

3. Sr. Justin Heller (Parkland) 16-7

4. Jr. Anthony Farole (Lehighton) 23-3

5. Soph. Ty Herzog (Northern Lehigh) 18-4

Honorable mention: Soph. Travis Buddock (Saucon Valley) 11-4; Jr. Victor Embardino (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 13-4; Sr. Kyle Kilpatrick (Wilson) 16-7; Jr. Evan Mashack (Tamaqua) 17-9; Jr. Aaron Morekin (Whitehall) 19-4; Sr. Matt Murphy (Pocono Mt. East) 14-5; Jr. Cole Sheptock (Northampton) 16-5.

Noteworthy: Minotti sustained his first two losses to stiff competition at NHSCA Final Four. Miller jumps up with OT win over Farole; he has just one loss at 145. Heller was 4-1 at the Final Four, and Herzog has won 7 straight.

152 POUNDS

1. Sr. John Lambert (Northampton) 17-4

2. Sr. Kyle Dehaut (Bethlehem Catholic) 15-6

3. Sr. Rex Lutz (Pen Argyl) 20-5

4. Sr. Anthony Minotti (Easton) 17-5

5. Sr. John Lynch (Saucon Valley) 19-4

Honorable mention: Soph. Matt Bonshak (Whitehall) 18-4; Jr. Billy Christensen (Wilson) 18-3; Sr. Bobby Clymer (Northwestern) 19-4; Sr. Matt Gotzon (Southern Lehigh) 12-5; Soph. Connor Hedash (Northern Lehigh) 13-6; Sr. Josh LaBar (Pius X) 25-9; Sr. Ryan Price (Pocono Mt. East) 13-4; Jr. Aaron Transue (Stroudsburg) 16-7; Soph. Josh Young (Freedom) 16-4.

Noteworthy: Lambert claims top spot following teammate Tim Kunkel's 4-3 win over Dehaut last week (though the bout was at 160). Lutz is on fire, with 14 straight wins, including a pin of Minotti at NHSCA Final Four. Lynch went 4-1 at Juniata Duals.

160 POUNDS

1. Sr. Mike Ottinger (Parkland) 19-1

2. Jr. Elliot Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic) 22-6

3. Sr. Ryan Krecker (Nazareth) 14-1

4. Sr. Mason McIntyre (Easton) 12-1

5. Jr. Jonathan Blank (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 16-2

Honorable mention: Sr. Leroy Bachert (Emmaus); Sr. Luke Gotzon (Southern Lehigh) 18-3; Sr. Peter Jenne (Souderton) 19-7; Sr. Travis Veronsky (Tamaqua) 21-5; Sr. Kyle Sorensen (Northwestern) 18-6; Sr. Ed Helm V (Pocono Mt. East) 11-4; Sr. John Fritz (Jim Thorpe) 20-2; Sr. Tim Kunkel (Northampton) 13-6; Jr. Justin Marsh (Palisades) 16-2.

Noteworthy: Ottinger went 5-0 with 2 technical falls at NHSCA Final Four. Riddick had a pin against Northampton, while Krecker had a technical and a pin. McIntyre went 4-0 (plus a forfeit) at Final Four and is hitting his stride.

171 POUNDS

1. Sr. Colin Hedash (Northern Lehigh) 19-2

2. Sr. Tyler Horn (Pen Argyl) 24-5

3. Sr. Cody Ambrose (Upper Perk) 22-3

4. Soph. Ray O'Donnell (Saucon Valley) 23-4

5. Jr. Michael Balliet (Lehighton) 20-6

Honorable mention: Sr. Matt Edmonds (Tamaqua) 18-5; Soph. Joseph Fogle (Pocono Mt. East) 13-5; Soph. Keith Hird (Dieruff) 10-6; Jr. Levi Veppert (Northwestern) 19-5.

Noteworthy: Hedash went 3-0 last week and has 4 first-period falls in his last 5. Horn went 4-1 at NHSCA Final Four, losing only a 1-0 decision.

189 POUNDS

1. Sr. Ian Gimbar (Saucon Valley) 24-2

2. Sr. Cory Bruder (Parkland) 17-5

3. Jr. Luke Garner (Catasauqua) 19-1

4. Sr. Ben Bradley (Nazareth) 13-5

5. Jr. Dylan Evans (Pen Argyl) 17-6

Honorable mention: Jr. Dalton Fleming (Upper Perk) 18-7; Jr. Troy Newhard (Emmaus); Fr. Jovon Reyes (Dieruff) 17-3; Sr. Blake Smith (Pocono Mt. East) 12-6; Sr. Brandon Steele (Liberty) 14-10; Jr. Marcus Newsom (Northampton) 13-6.

Noteworthy: Some injuries causing problems here: Bruder didn't wrestle at Final Four, and Bradley was pinned by Liberty's Brandon Steele. Gimbar remains sharp, with a 6-0 week, including three pins at Juniata Duals. Evans won at 215 against Easton. In HM, Newsom had big win for Kids vs. Becahi.

215 POUNDS

1. Sr. Joe Stolfi (Souderton) 25-1.

2. Sr. Garth Lakitsky (Tamaqua) 25-0

3. Jr. Nick Sharga (Northampton) 22-4

4. Soph. Tyler Greene (Easton) 22-5.

5. Sr. Tarik Haddad (Parkland) 12-3

Honorable mention: Soph. Josh Alpha (Bethlehem Catholic) 14-8; Sr. Jaime Aquilla (Allen) 13-7; Soph. Dennis Atiyeh (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 7-4; Soph. Anthony Harris (Catasauqua) 11-7; Soph. Evan Kauffman (Freedom) 11-4; Jr. David Wilke (Nazareth) 17-9.

Noteworthy: Upon further review: Dropping Stolfi was unmerited last week, so he reclaims top spot. Stolfi's loss was to three-time state champ Andrew Campolattano of Bound Brook. Since that, he has 3 pins, including one at 285 against Quakertown. Lakitsky remains unstoppable. Greene fell to Pen Argyl's Dylan Evans at Final Four, where Haddad went 4-1.

285 POUNDS

1. Soph. Aaron Bradley (Nazareth) 13-1

2. Sr. Jalal Paige (Easton) 23-4

3. Sr. Josh Gonzalez (Pocono Mt. West) 21-1

4. Jr. Joe McNamara (Souderton) 20-2

5. Jr. Shaquane Williams (Pius X) 23-7

Honorable mention: Sr. Michael Bryan (Pocono Mt. East) 8-3; Sr. Steven Farr (Dieruff) 17-5; Sr. Lance Francois (E.S. North) 16-3; Sr. Jordan Gonzalez (Allen) 9-3; Jr. Brandon Loch (Northern Lehigh) 8-5; Jr. Kirby Mutton (Pen Argyl) 17-7; Sr. Jake Swearingen (Quakertown) 15-8.

Noteworthy: Bradley had 2 pins last week, and Paige went 4-1 at NHSCA Final Four, including a 3-2 win over Mutton. In HM, Farr is rising, with 4 pins in last 6 bouts.

The Morning Call wrestling rankings are compiled by Mark Wogenrich. Honorable-mention wrestlers are listed in alphabetical order. Records based on those reported by coaches and to the National Wrestling Coaches Association website. Please send comments, corrections and additions to mark.wogenrich@mcall.com.