Bethlehem Catholic crowns five district wrestling champs

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Back and forth they went, each round yielding something different in the two-horse race that was this year's PIAA District 11 2A Wrestling Championships.

In the end, Bethlehem Catholic's star power won out over Pen Argyl's balance and depth as the Golden Hawks won five gold medals Saturday night at Liberty High School to take the team title with 240 points.

The Hawks won the first three bouts in the finals, starting with Darian Cruz's pin of Saucon Valley's Bryan Israel in 4:57 at 103 pounds, and ending with Randy Cruz earning a solid 6-1 decision over Wilson's Mike Fleck at 119.

In between, Zeke Moisey took care of business — his loose shoulder again not an issue — in scoring a 9-1 decision over Pen Argyl's Jamie Welsh at 112.

Alas, their almost certain lock to win the first four was spoiled by Northern Lehigh junior Zane Heller, who came back from a 7-1 deficit against Jaydon Rice in the second period to win a 9-8 decision at 125.

Heller bear-hugged Rice to the mat for the winning takedown in the closing seconds of the bout. He had closed the second period by putting Rice on his back for a 5-point move. The pin was there had Rice not been saved by the buzzer.

Even with the reprieve, Rice failed to capitalize. He still had a 1-point lead but had to start the third on offense. Heller, too tough to hold down, escaped for the tie.

The bout was in sharp contrast to their quarterfinal meeting at last year's district tournament. Heller won that one as well, but by a 2-1 count in overtime.

"He was more of a counter wrestler," Heller said. "He came out this year and he was more aggressive. He was on the offensive, and I wasn't expecting it. When I got down 5-0, I just realized it was either come back now or lose."

Heller, who won this tournament last year at 119, didn't plan to go upper body for the winner. It just worked out that way.

"I'm not a guy that really likes to pick up and take kids down," Heller said. "I more or less just wrestle them and keep them down. But he did a good job, he fought the whole way through.

"… I was pretty tired [before that final takedown], but I knew it was either take him down now and get the win, or go into overtime and be even more tired."

More importantly, Heller is in position now to trump his father Ron's wrestling accomplishments with the same program some two-plus decades earlier.

"My dad was a two-time district champ, and my goal is to be a three-timer," Heller said. "So I'm one step up on him. I'm already at two."

Also winning gold for Becahi were Ryan Todora at 145 and Elliot Riddick at 160.

Those winning performances were enough to finally overcome Pen Argyl, who produced champion Mike Racciato (135) and runners-up Jamie Welsh (112), Luciano Burriesci (140), Dylan Evans (189) and Kirby Mutton (285).

However, Scott Desmond, who took over the team when Scott Kupec resigned suddenly following the district duals, was named District 11 2A Coach of the Year.

The top four in each weight class advance to next weekend's 2A Southeast Regional at Wilson-West Lawn.

John Lynch became the first of two Saucon Valley champions when he came through with the first upset of the finals — a 7-5 decision over previously unbeaten Sam Scheib of Tri-Valley at 145.

"I had never wrestled him before," Lynch said. "I knew he was tough, that was about it. I mean, if you're undefeated anywhere, you're obviously pretty good. I knew that would be the matchup and I trained all week for it, but I really didn't know anything about him."

Which could explain why he wasn't trying to be too aggressive at the end.

"I pretty much beat him on my feet," Lynch said. "I took him down three times. Near the end, he just got in on a shot, and that's about it. He almost tilted me there. It was kind of scary. He had a one-count. It was close."

Four bouts later Ian Gimbar joined his teammate as a gold medalist by earning a 7-4 decision over Evans, who in the semifinals had taken out No. 2 seed Luke Garner of Catasauqua with a pin.

Meanwhile, Tamaqua senior Garth Lakitsky just kept rolling along as clearly the most dominant wrestler of any weight class in this district. He continued his season-long streak of pinning every opponent by flattening North Schuylkill's Scott Yagielnski in 1:03 at 215.

The Lakitsky has yet to enter the third period with any opponent this season, though he came close in the semifinals, when Bethlehem Catholic's Josh Alpha didn't succumb until 6 seconds remained in the second. He earned the district's 2A Pinner Award with three falls in a cumulative time of 5:21.

Also winning gold medals Saturday night were Northwestern's Bobby Clymer (152), Tri-Valley's Ty Schoffstall (130) and Williams Valley's Ben Ancheff (285).

Clymer rocked Becahi's Kyle Dehaut, the top seed, with a pin in 3:03 at 152 to win the Outstanding Wrestler Award.

Ancheff pinned his way through the tournament until Mutton went the distance with him in a 9-0 loss to finish the tournament.

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