Holley becomes Dieruff's first state-wrestling qualifier in 11 years

FROM THE MORNING CALL

DeMarquis Holley returned Dieruff to states for the first time in 11 years by winning his semifinal bout of the Northeast Regional 3A tournament at Freedom.

Holley, a 112-pound junior, hit a takedown with 40 seconds left to edge Nazareth's Chase Zemenak 5-3. Earlier, Holley closed the second period with an escape-takedown sequence to even the score after Zemenak had taken a 3-1 lead with 10 seconds remaining.

Holley (33-4) became Dieruff's first state qualifier since Mitch Marcks in 2000. He will face Liberty's Anthony Cabrera in tonight's championship finals, which begin at 6:30 p.m. Cabrera earned a return trip to states with an 8-1 win over Parkland's Ian Evans.

The Trojans went 5-1 in the semifinals to take a sizable lead in the team standings. Parkland had 110.5 points heading into the third round of consolations. Easton, with three semifinalists and 10 wrestlers still competing, was second with 90.5 points.

Nazareth (79 team points) had a rough morning at regionals. The Blue Eagles went 2-4 in the semifinals, getting wins from Zach Horan (130) and Ryan Krecker (160). They lost one semifinal in overtime and two others late in the third period. In addition, five more Nazareth wrestlers fell in the consolation bracket, all by decisions of three points or less.

Parkland's list of semifinalists includes senior Mike Fake, who defeated Nazareth senior Franco Ferraina, the District 11 champ, 11-4 at 125. Fake previously placed eighth at states as a sophomore. Joining him are teammates Ethan Lizak (103), Justin Heller (145), Mike Ottinger (160) and Tarik Haddad (215).

Liberty senior Brett Marino (103) earned his first trip to states with a pin of Easton's Kyle Baker. Devon Lotito (119) is Liberty's third finalists, having pinned all three of his regional opponents in the first period.

Northampton went 3-1 in the semifinals, highlighted by junior Jason Stephen's 6-5 victory over Nazareth's Greg Noll at 135. Stephen hit a reversal at the third-period buzzer to tie the score at 4-4. Then, after giving up an escape in the third overtime period, Stephen hit a takedown at the buzzer for the victory. Stephen will wrestle Easton's Joey Rizzolino in the 135-pound final.

Stephen's teammate Cole Sheptock also advanced to the regional final with an overtime victory. Sheptock (145) hit a takdeown in overtime to clinch a 6-4 victory over Crestwood's Kyle Hankinson. John Lambert (152) advanced with a 13-2 win over Pottsville's Ty Gardner. .

The 160-pound final will be a familiar bout between Ottinger and Krecker. Ottinger won last week's district final in overtime, his second district-title win over Krecker. Last year, though, Ottinger could not wrestle the regional final because of a shoulder injury that also kept him out of states.

Senior Zack Bambary (171) completed Easton's list of three finalists with a 5-4 win over Nazareth's Eric Wolak. Trailing 4-3 with 15 seconds left in the third period, Bambary reversed Wolak to earn his first trip to states. He will join Rizzolino and Mitch Minotti (140) in the finals.

The consolation finals are scheduled for 5 p.m., with the championship finals to follow at 6:30. Five of the title bouts are rematches of last week's District 11 finals.

TOP 5 TEAMS (Semifinalists, consolation wrestlers in parentheses)

1. Parkland 110.5 (5, 1); 2. Easton 90.5 (3, 7); 3. Nazareth 79 (2, 4); 4. Northampton 77.5 (3, 3); 5. Liberty 66 (3, 1).

SEMIFINALS

103: Ethan Lizak (Pa) dec. Kenny Yanovich (PV) 9-1; Brett Marino (L) pin Kyle Baker (Ea) 1:56.

112: Anthony Cabrera (L) dec. Ian Evans (Pa) 8-1; DeMarquis Holley (D) dec. Chase Zemenak (Na) 5-3.

119: C.J. Palmer (DV) dec. Evan DiSora (Pa) 5-0; Corey Keener (BM) dec. Kyle Krasavage (WVW) 13-6.

125: Mike Fake (Pa) dec. Franco Ferraina (Na) 11-4; Devon Lotito (L) pin Josh Fritz (Em) 1:55.

130: Zach Horan (Na) pin Mike Dahlstrom (PV) :44; Brandon Choate (BM) dec. Leroy Harman (W) 3-2.

135: Joey Rizzolino (Ea) dec. Eric Howey (St) 5-1; Jason Stephen (No) dec. Greg Noll (Na) 6-5 OT.

140: Mitch Minotti (Ea) dec. Cody Zechman (Se) 15-3; Matt Ritz (Cr) dec. Matt Neff (Sh) 6-4.

145: Justin Heller (Pa) pin Brandon Dolan (Pi) 5:40; Cole Sheptock (No) dec. Kyle Hankinson (Cr) 6-4 OT.

152: Tim Samec (Cr) dec. Luke Gotzon (SL) 7-2; John Lambert (No) dec. Ty Gardner (Po) 13-2.

160: Mike Ottinger (Pa) dec. Marc Wagner (DV) 5-2; Ryan Krecker (Na) tech. fall Mark Granahan (Sc) 21-5 in 5:47.

171: Travis Moyer (BM) tech. fall Taiten Valiquette (Sh) 19-4 in 4:45; Zack Bambary (Ea) dec. Eric Wolak (Na).

189: Josh Popple (Cr) pin Evan Kauffman (F) 3:47; Mike Mirra (Cr) dec. Adam Manzoni (DV) 3-1.

215: Tarik Haddad (Pa) by injury default over Roy Dennis (B) 5:45; Jason Laboranti (Pi) dec. Nick Bennick (Sh) 4-3.

285: Tim Maeshack (W) dec. Morgan Craig (AH) 8-4; Josh Gonzalez (PMW) dec. Nick Sharga (No) 12-10 OT.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS

*103: Fr. Ethan Lizak (Parkland, 29-14) vs. Sr. Brett Marino (Liberty, 34-3).

*112: Sr. Anthony Cabrera (Liberty, 33-3) vs. Jr. DeMarquis Holley (Dieruff, 33-4).

119: Jr. C.J. Palmer (Delaware Valley, 45-1) vs. Jr. Corey Keener (Blue Mountain, 44-5).

125: Sr. Mike Fake (Parkland, 22-6) vs. Jr. Devon Lotito (Liberty, 34-4).

*130: Sr. Zach Horan (Nazareth, 44-0) vs. Sr. Brandon Choate (Blue Mountain, 45-6).

135: Sr. Joey Rizzolino (Easton, 39-5) vs. Jr. Jason Stephen (Northampton, 34-9).

140: Jr. Mitch Minotti (Easton, 39-2) vs. Sr. Matt Ritz (Crestwood, 39-4).

145: Sr. Justin Heller (Parkland, 26-8) vs. Jr. Cole Sheptock (Northampton, 29-6).

152: Sr. Tim Samec (Hazleton, 35-3) vs. Sr. John Lambert (Northampton, 28-5).

*160: Sr. Mike Ottinger (Parkland, 28-2) vs. Sr. Ryan Krecker (Nazareth, 31-2).

*171: Jr. Travis Moyer (Blue Mountain, 42-5) vs. Sr. Zack Bambary (Easton, 18-13).

189: Sr. Josh Popple (Coughlin, 40-0) vs. Sr. Mike Mirra (Crestwood, 35-5).

215: Sr. Tarik Haddad (Parkland, 23-3) vs. Sr. Jason Laboranti (Pittston, 19-3).

285: Sr. Tim Maeshack (Williamsport, 33-1) vs. Sr. Josh Gonzalez (Pocono Mt. West, 30-3).

* District 11 championship rematch.

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