Bethlehem Catholic sends seven to district finals

FROM THE MORNING CALL

The PIAA District 11 2A wrestling semifinals are over here at Freedom High School, and new team leader Bethlehem Catholic (200 points) has advanced half its lineup to the gold-medal round tonight at Liberty.

Heading to the finals for the Golden Hawks are Darian Cruz (103), Zeke Moisey (112), Randy Cruz (119), Jaydon Rice (125), Ryan Todora (140), Kyle Dehaut (152) and Elliot Riddick (160).

Not far behind is second-place Pen Argyl (187), with five finalists — Jamie Welsh (112), Mike Racciato (135), Luciano Burriesci (140), Dylan Evans (189) and Kirby Mutton (285).

Among the other semifinalists are Saucon Valley's Bryan Israel (103), John Lynch (145), Ray O'Donnell (171) and Ian Gimbar (189), Northern Lehigh's Zane Heller (125) and Colin Hedash (171), Wilson's Mike Fleck (119), Northwestern's Bobby Clymer (152), Tamaqua's Garth Lakitsky (215), Notre Dame's Jonathan Blank (160), Catasauqua's Vinny Pellechia (130) and Central Catholic's Damien Hopper (135).
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Fleck seemed to run out of gas against Northern Lehigh's Lucas Dise, after tilting him twice in the first period and taking an 8-1 lead. But he did hang on for the decision and a berth in the 119-pound final against Randy Cruz, who had little trouble in his 14-0 semifinal win over Pen Argyl's James Elphick

At 130, Pellechia was losing when he tossed Bethlehem Catholic's Richard Cruz to the mat and pinned him with 1:15 remaining in the third period.

Because Hopper chose to start on top in the second overtime of his bout against No. 2 seed Nikko Stevens of Northern Lehigh, it meant he ended up having to ride Stevens out for three consecutive 30-second periods to gain the win in the ultimate tiebreaker.

Burriesci was in trouble against Tamaqua's Kolby Mashack, who was riding with a 5-4 lead with 10 seconds remaining. But a stall warning, followed by an escape by Burriesci with 3 seconds to go enabled the senior to pull it out and get into the finals against Todora, who had an equally difficult time getting past Mahanoy Area's Nathan Fegley with a 2-1 decision.

At 160, Blank pinned his third straight opponent, Justin Marsh of Palisades. Now he must face Riddick.

SEMIFINALS

103: Darian Cruz (BC) dec. Matt Williams (PA) 9-3; Bryan Israel (SV) dec. Nicholas O'Donnell (PV) 7-0.

112: Zeke Moisey (BC) pin Anthony Dee (S) 4:28; Jamie Welsh (PA) dec. Brian Ohl (JT) 10-2.

119: Randy Cruz (BC) dec. James Elphick (PA) 14-0; Michael Fleck (W) dec. Lucas Dise (NL) 9-5.

125: Jaydon Rice (BC) dec. Sam Oberlander (Palm) 5-1; Zane Heller (NL) dec. Kody Rittenbaugh (PG) 6-2.

130: Ty Schoffstall (TV) dec. Jarett Stoelzl (PA) 5-4; Vinny Pellechia (C) pin Richie Cruz (BC) 4:45.

135: Mike Racciato (PA) dec. Blake Bowman (TV) 8-3; Damien Hopper (CC) dec. Nikko Stevens (NL) 2-1 TB.

140: Ryan Todora (BC) dec. Nathan Fegley (MA) 2-1; Luciano Burriesci (PA) dec. Kolby Mashack (T) 6-5.

145: Sam Scheib (TV) dec. Rex Lutz (PA) 5-1; John Lynch (SV) dec. Ty Herzog (NL) 10-4.

152: Kyle Dehaut (BC) dec. Connor Hedash (NL) 5-2; Bobby Clymer (NW) dec. Mitchell Moyer (L) 14-0.

160: Elliot Riddick (BC) dec. Michael Balliet (L) 18-9; Jonathan Blank (ND) pin Justin Marsh (Pali) 1:19.

171: Colin Hedash (NL) dec. Levi Veppert (NW) 14-6; Ray O'Donnell (SV) dec. Matt Edmonds (T) 9-6.

189: Ian Gimbar (SV) dec. Keith Witmer (WV) 14-4; Dylan Evans (PA) pin Luke Garner (C) 4:48.

215: Garth Lakitsky (T) pin Josh Alpha (BC) 3:54; Kane Kralik (Palm) pin Scott Yagielnskie (NS) 4:51.

285: Ben Ancheff (WV) pin Shaquane Williams (PX) 4:48; Kirby Mutton (PA) dec. Tyler Dean (NS) 8-3.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-district-wrestling2a-cn-0226-20110226,0,7070827.story