The Morning Call all-area wrestling team

FROM THE MORNING CALL

FIRST TEAM

103: Darian Cruz, Bethlehem Catholic

Sophomore, 41-3, PIAA 2A 3rd

Denied a postseason ride as a freshman due to an injury, Cruz came back this season on a mission that landed him in the state semifinals against Kittanning's undefeated Jason Nolf, who prevailed 2-1 by escaping in an ultimate tiebreaker on his way to the title.

Cruz's only other losses came at the hands of Cuyahoga (Ohio) Christian's Nathan Tomasello, who finished the season unbeaten and ranked first in the nation by the Amateur Wrestling News, and Council Rock South's Billy Rappo, who won the PIAA 3A championship at 103. Cruz finished with a No. 10 national ranking.

112: Zeke Moisey, Bethlehem Catholic

Freshman, 42-7, PIAA 2A 5th

Wrestled all season with a shoulder injury that will require surgery this offseason. Finished eighth at The Ironman and second at the Beast of the East, falling to J.R. Wert of Christianburg (Va.) in the final. Twice defeated crosstown rival Anthony Cabrera, the Liberty senior who went on to place fourth in the 3A state tournament.

In the state tournament, Moisey lost a 3-2 decision in the quarterfinals to eventual champ Nick Roberts of North Star, then later fell in the consolations to Line Mountain's Zain Retherford, who placed third.

119: Randy Cruz, Bethlehem Catholic

Junior, 42-6, PIAA 2A 2nd

Nearly pulled off a tremendous upset by taking Derry Area's James Gulibon, ranked first in the nation, to the wire in the state championship match before succumbing 6-5. Placed seventh at The Ironman and fifth at the Beast of the East.

The older brother of Darian, Randy Cruz also made it to the state final last season. He is a two-time district and three-time regional champion.

125: Devon Lotito, Liberty

Junior, 39-6, PIAA 3A 3rd

Lotito went on a strong postseason run, going 8-1 with five pins through regionals and states. His only loss came in the state semifinals, where he tested three-time state champ Nico Megaludis before falling 4-1. After losing to Nazareth's Franco Ferraina in the District 11 final, Lotito won the Northeast Regional title with four pins, three in the first period.

Lotito is a two-time state medalist who went 28-4 during the regular season. He also placed third at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic and fifth at the Beast of the East. Lotito was one of three Liberty wrestlers to medal at states.

130: Zach Horan, Nazareth

Senior, 49-0, PIAA 3A champ

Horan completed an unbeaten season with a 5-1 win over Westmont Hilltop's Tanner Hough to claim his first state title. Horan broke his own school record for victories in a season and finished with a career record of 169-12, tying Tim Darling's Nazareth mark.

Horan began the season by winning Beast of the East and Bethlehem Holiday Classic titles and claimed victories over five wrestlers ranked in the state top 10. In January, Horan edged Walsh Jesuit's nationally ranked Jonni DiJulius 4-3, a victory that convinced him to remain at 130 for the postseason. Horan, who will wrestle at Central Michigan, also became Nazareth's first four-time district champ.

135: Mike Racciato, Pen Argyl

Sophomore, 48-2, PIAA 2A champ

Racciato shook off early season losses to Latrobe's Ty Lydic at The Ironman and McDowell's Steve Spearman at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic to run the table the rest of the way, including wins over Burrell's Jeremy Landowski in the state duals and again in the state individual semifinals, where he won 5-4.

Last season Racciato won the district title before finishing second at regionals to eventual state champ Joe Spisak of Boiling Springs. He then took third at the state tournament

140: Mitch Minotti, Easton

Junior, 44-2, PIAA 3A champ

Minotti won the 35th state title in school history with a 12-6 decision over Central Dauphin's Kevin Gooding in the final. He also clinched his third state medal, having placed seventh and fifth the two previous seasons.

Minotti sustained both of his losses at the NHSCA Final Four in January. After that, he won 23 consecutive bouts along with district and regional titles. He was particularly dominant after dropping from 145. Minotti had three falls and four major decisions in the postseason, and only one bout was decided by fewer than six points.

145: Justin Heller, Parkland

Senior, 29-11, PIAA 3A 8th

Heller won his 100th career bout at districts on the way to a state medal, helping Parkland to a school-record total of five. After placing third at districts, Heller won the Northeast Regional title, avenging a district-tournament loss to Northampton's Cole Sheptock.

At states, Heller bounced back from a quarterfinal loss to reach the third round of consolations and ultimately place eighth. He also finished second at the Escape the Rock tournament in January. Heller finished his career with a 108-52 record.

152: John Lambert, Northampton

Senior, 31-8, PIAA 3A 8th

In his first trip to states, Lambert was Northampton's only state medalist, finishing eighth. His postseason run included a 6-0 record through districts and regionals, where he won both titles. Lambert won the Bethlehem Holiday Classic title and scored a pair of pins at the Beast of the East.

Lambert went 7-1 in Lehigh Valley Conference action, losing only to Easton's Mason McIntyre. He won the Northeast Regional title with a 4-3 decision over Hazleton's Tim Samec, who he also beat to clinch the state medal.

160: Mike Ottinger, Parkland

Senior, 32-3, PIAA 3A champ

Ottinger won Parkland's seventh state title, edging Pittsburgh Central Catholic's Jason Luster 2-1 in a tiebreaker. Wrestling with a shoulder injury, Ottinger neared the winning escape in the second tiebreaker period when Luster was called for a locked-hands penalty, sealing the victory.

Ottinger defeated every wrestler he faced this season, with all three losses coming to the same opponent: Ryan Krecker of Nazareth. Ottinger topped Krecker 4-2 in overtime to win the District 11 title. He was a master of overtime wins, getting four this season. Ottinger, who also plays soccer, is undecided about college.

171: Colin Hedash, Northern Lehigh

Junior, 32-5, PIAA 2A 6th

Came through with district and regional championships to reach state tournament with momentum he needed to reach semifinals, where a 7-4 loss to Grove City's undefeated Wes Phipps derailed his title hopes. After suffering an ankle injury in that match, Hedash bowed out of the tournament with a 7-6 loss in a tiebreaker to Saucon Valley rival Ray O'Donnell and then forfeited the fifth-place match.

Hedash was second at districts, third in the region and fifth in the state last season. He won the regional championship and was fourth at states the year before.

189: Ian Gimbar, Saucon Valley

Senior, 41-3, PIAA 2A 3rd

Dominated weight class in this region, scoring bonus points in all but seven of his wins this season. Won district and regional titles before advancing to state semifinals. Finished second at Bethlehem Holiday Classic following second of two regular-season losses. The first was a defensive pin. Gimbar beat Colonial League rival Dylan Evans of Pen Argyl all three times this season. Evans finished fifth in the state.

Gimbar is a three-time district and two-time regional champion.

215: Garth Lakitsky, Tamaqua

Senior, 42-0, PIAA 2A champ

All but four of Lakitsky's wins were falls or forfeits as he dominated his weight class from start to finish after moving up from last year's weight of 189. State championship earned him invitation to Dapper Dan Classic, where he will face Andrew Campolattano of Bound Brook (N.J.). Campolattano is ranked third in the country.

Lakitsky's closest call this season came in state title match, where a second stall warning against Milton's Ryan Solomon proved to be the difference in a 2-1 decision.

285: Josh Gonzalez, Pocono Mt. West

Senior, 30-6, PIAA 3A qualifier

Gonzalez was District 11's only state qualifier in the heavyweight bracket. He advanced to Hershey by reaching the Northeast Regional final, in which he fell to Williamsport's Tim Maeshack.

After placing fourth at districts, Gonzalez reached the regional final with a 12-10 win over District 11 champ Nick Sharga of Northampton. Gonzalez entered the postseason with a 24-1 record, having lost only to Jack Delia of North Hunterdon (N.J.). Gonzalez also was named first-team all-Mountain Valley Conference in football as an offensive and defensive lineman.

SECOND TEAM

103: Fr. Ethan Lizak (Parkland) 33-10

112: Sr. Anthony Cabrera (Liberty) 37-5

119: Soph. Evan DiSora (Easton) 30-11

125: Jr. Zane Heller (Northern Lehigh) 30-8

130: Sr. Scott Wolfinger (Quakertown) 31-8

135: Sr. Joey Rizzolino (Easton) 43-7
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140: Soph. Ryan Todora (Bethlehem Catholic) 40-10

145: Jr. Cole Sheptock (Northampton) 30-9

152: Sr. Bobby Clymer (Northwestern) 32-7

160: Sr. Ryan Krecker (Nazareth) 34-5

171: Soph. Ray O'Donnell (Saucon Valley) 40-8

189: Jr. Dylan Evans (Pen Argyl) 33-13

215: Sr. Joe Stolfi (Souderton) 45-3

285: Sr. Jalal Paige (Easton) 42-7

HONORABLE MENTION

103: Sr. Brett Marino (Liberty); Soph. Matt Williams (Pen Argyl); Soph. Bryan Israel (Saucon Valley).

112: Jr. DeMarquis Holley (Dieruff); Sr. Jamie Welsh (Pen Argyl); Soph. Dylan Steffenino (Upper Perk).

119: Sr. Michael Fleck (Wilson); Sr. Lucas Dise (Northern Lehigh); Soph. Grimaldi Gonzalez (Liberty).

125: Sr. Mike Fake (Parkland); Soph. Robbie Rizzolino (Easton); Sr. Jaydon Rice (Bethlehem Catholic); Sr. Franco Ferraina (Nazareth).

130: Jr. Mike Dahlstrom (Pleasant Valley); Sr. Calvin Daly (Easton); Jr. Richie Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic).

135: Sr. Eric Howey (Stroudsburg); Jr. Jason Stephen (Northampton); Sr. Damien Hopper (Central Catholic); Soph. Peter Renda (Brandywine).

140: Sr. Luciano Burriesci (Pen Argyl); Jr. Anthony Farole (Lehighton); Sr. D.P. Miller (E.S. South).

145: Sr. John Lynch (Saucon Valley); Sr. Matt Gotzon (Southern Lehigh); Soph. Ty Herzog (Northern Lehigh).

152: Sr. Kyle Dehaut (Bethlehem Catholic); Sr. Luke Gotzon (Southern Lehigh); Sr. Mason McIntyre (Easton).

160: Jr. Elliot Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic); Sr. Rich Jasinski (Pennridge); Jr. Jonathan Blank (Notre Dame-Green Pond).

171: Sr. Zack Bambary (Easton); Sr. Cody Ambrose (Upper Perk); Sr. Tyler Horn (Pen Argyl).

189: Sr. Troy Newhard (Emmaus); Soph. Evan Kauffman (Freedom); Jr. Marcus Newsom (Northampton).

215: Sr. Tarik Haddad (Parkland); Soph. Tyler Greene (Easton); Soph. Josh Alpha (Bethlehem Catholic).

285: Jr. Kirby Mutton (Pen Argyl); Jr. Nick Sharga (Northampton); Soph. Aaron Bradley (Nazareth).

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