Hawks are Golden at state meet

FROM THE MORNING CALL

HERSHEY, Pa. —

— For two years, Bethlehem Catholic had to live with the hearbreak of falling just short of the PIAA state wrestling duals.

For the next two years, all of the Golden Hawks' 2A opponents might have to live with the reality that Bethlehem Catholic just can't be conquered anymore.

That certainly was the case this season, as its young squad arrived "ahead of schedule" in the words of third-year coach Jeff Karam, beating every small school and all but one of the big ones on its way to the state 2A dual-meet crown.

Becahi (13-1) actually faced very little drama in winning its four matches over three days here at the state tournament, which ended with a 38-21 triumph over Fort LeBoeuf in the championship match at the Giant Center.

That win followed a 45-18 demolition of Towanda in the semifinals, a 32-19 manhandling of Reynolds in the quarterfinals and a 52-9 romp over Biglerville in the first round on Thursday.

The Hawks' best competition this season was provided by District 11 neighbors Northampton, which won their Lehigh Valley Conference dual meet by criteria after finishing in a tie last month, and Pen Argyl, which nearly captured third place in this tournament after coming within nine points of Becahi in the district championship match seven days earlier.

Two more scary things to ponder: Karam believes his squad is actually a better tournament team than a dual-meet team, which means we probably haven't seen the best of the Hawks yet; and almost all of their top guns are coming back next season.

"It's kind of similar to the [Green Bay] Packers," Karam said. "You just get on a run and you feel it. That's really the way I felt. I just felt ever since districts, our kids just believed in themselves. I mean, they always believed in themselves, but just through the district tournament and state tournament, we always had a kid step up.

"Our countdown was seven. We started in districts. We've got to win seven matches to be state champions. We just counted along, one at a time, one at a time, until going out for the state final here. It was like, `this is it, guys, let's finish the chapter in the book.' "

The Hawks were as workmanlike as they were emotional.

In the championship match, for example, they were never even slightly ruffled when Fort LeBoeuf opened with back-to-back pins for a 12-0 lead.

Every wrestler in uniform still knew they would prevail if they just did their individual jobs. That went for the overmatched athletes as well as the top winners.

"Cody Gonzalez went 0-4 this weekend, but in every match, he wrestled a stud and he battled them," Karam raved. "To have a great dual-meet team, you've got to have kids like that who step up and aren't giving up six, and that's what a bunch of them did."

Perhaps nobody exemplifies Bethlehem Catholic's quiet confidence better than junior Elliot Riddick, whose stoic exterior belies the fire within.

Riddick celebrated like everyone else after his 17-9 major decision over Craig Cihon at 160 clinched the title for his team. But until that moment, it looked like he was just going against a teammate in the room during a typical practice.

"I've got to stay calm, I can't get too worked up," he said. "I would start thinking about moves and stuff, and I don't want to do that. So far it's been working for me."

That approach works because moves come so naturally.

In a sense, that's what senior Kyle Dehaut also wanted to get back to after an uneven regular season. Dehaut was all business in Hershey and in the final match scored a 14-4 major decision over Taylor Fox at 152.

"I really refined my stance, refined my mental game towards the match," Dehaut said. "I'm trying to get back to what I did last year. I was watching some film of myself from last year and really just bringing back the intensity."

Meanwhile, Pen Argyl came excruciatingly close to reaching the third-place match, responding to an opening-round loss to undefeated Burrell on Thursday by winning three straight matches — only to find Burrell, which was upset by Fort LeBoeuf in the semifinals, blocking its path again on Saturday.

HERSHEY, Pa. —

The rematch was closer, but Burrell still pulled out a 36-29 win largely on the strength of Cole Harkins' pin over Rex Lutz at 145. Lutz was leading before getting caught in a headlock.

"It's a shame for Rex," assistant coach Scott Grim said. "He's a quality kid, one of our leaders. And [Harkins] is not in his class. And to have it end up like that …"

It was a bitter pill for everyone to swallow before walking out of the building. Burrell went on to destroy Towanda 37-18 for third place.

CHAMPIONSHIP

BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC 38, FORT LeBOEUF 21

103: Darian Cruz (BC) pin George McGuire 1:40.

112: Zeke Moisey (BC) dec. Brandon Puckly 13-5.

119: Randy Cruz (BC) tech. fall Jack Middleton 15-0 in 5:18.

125: Jaydon Rice (BC) dec. Mitch Kaltenbaugh 10-5.

130: Richie Cruz (BC) dec. Ossie Bowers 6-3.

135: Riley Smith (FL) dec. Cody Gonzalez 3-0.

140: Ryan Todora (BC) dec. Brad Malinowski 7-0.

145: Kody Pace (FL) dec. Cory Gonzalez 5-1.

152: Kyle Dehaut (BC) dec. Taylor Fox 14-4.

160: Elliot Riddick (BC) dec. Craig Cihon 17-9.

171: Casey Pace (FL) dec. Jose Ortiz 9-4.

189: Josh Alpha (BC) pin Anthony Rivera 3:33.

215: Brandon Bradney (FL) pin Martin LaLuz :27.

285: Evan Daley (FL) pin Ben Bunce 4:32.

SEMIFINALS
HERSHEY, Pa. —

BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC 45, TOWANDA 18

103: Darian Cruz (BC) pin Kyle Blascak 1:20.

112: Zeke Moisey (BC) pin Terrick Vargason 1:08.
» GREEN BAY WINS! Click here to get the Packers NFL Championship Gear

119: Randy Cruz (BC) pin Ridge Sollick 1:37.

125: Cody Wheeler (T) forfeit.

130: Jaydon Rice (BC) dec. Dale Maynard 7-5.

135: Richard Cruz (BC) dec. Jimmy Sheets 3-1 OT.

140: Caleb Willey (T) dec. Cody Gonzalez 4-0.

145: Ryan Todora (BC) dec. Zachary Ripic 1-0.

152: Kyle Dehaut (BC) forfeit.

160: Jose Ortiz (BC) dec. Justin Hunsinger 6-1.

171: Elliot Riddick (BC) pin Cody Claupein :58.

189: Garrett VanDeMark (T) pin Martin LaLuz 3:15.

215: Josh Alpha (BC) dec. RJ Forbes 5-3.

285: Aaron Schultz (T) dec. Benjamin Bunce 5-4.

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS

BURRELL 36, PEN ARGYL 29

103: Matt Williams (PA) pin Dan Shepherd 1:59.

112: Jamie Welsh (PA) dec. Zachary Kelly 9-3.

119: James Elphick (PA) pin John Andrejcik 1:20.
HERSHEY, Pa. —

125: Steven Edwards (B) dec. Stephen Burriesci 5-3.

130: Dave Makara (B) pin Zachary Bartleson 1:19.

135: Michael Racciato (PA) dec. Jeremy Landowski 5-3.

140: Luciano Burriesci (PA) pin Phillip Marra 1:22.

145: Cole Harkins (B) pin Rex Lutz 4:11.

152: Hayden Greenwald (B) dec. Jeffrey Holden 1-0.

160: Travis McKillop (B) pin JD Rabenold 0:50.

171: Dakota Deslauriers (B) dec. Tyler Horn (PA) 1-0.

189: Jay Taylor (B) dec. Dylan Evans 6-1.

215: Brian Beattie (B) pin Ryan Barry :33.

285: Kirby Mutton (PA) pin Joseph Naviglia :19.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-wrestling-2a-duals-0212-20110212,0,2205121.story?page=4