THE MORNING CALL WRESTLING RANKINGS

103 POUNDS

1. Soph. Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 34-2

2. Sr. Brett Marino (Liberty) 32-3

3. Soph. Matt Williams (Pen Argyl) 30-7

4. Soph. Bryan Israel (Saucon Valley) 32-4

5. Fr. Scott Parker (Pennridge) 33-2

Honorable mention: Fr. Kyle Baker (Easton) 27-13; Fr. Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg South) 25-9; Soph. Jaryd Flank (Wilson) 23-10; Fr. Bobby Jenne (Souderton) 29-12; Fr. Ethan Lizak (Parkland) 26-9; Fr. Colin Mashack (Tamaqua) 28-10; Sr. Nick O'Donnell (Panther Valley) 34-7; Jr. Guesseppe Rea (Stroudsburg) 27-12; Jr. Brandon Sommer (Northampton) 20-15; Soph. Dante Steffenino (Upper Perk) 32-7; Fr. Kenny Yanovich (Pleasant Valley) 31-8.

Noteworthy: Cruz began his first postseason with a District 11 2A title, beating Williams and Israel along the way. Williams gave Cruz his toughest bout, falling 9-3 in the semis. Marino edged Lizak 6-5 for the 3A title. Parker placed third in District One North.

112 POUNDS

1. Fr. Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic) 35-5

2. Sr. Anthony Cabrera (Liberty) 31-3

3. Jr. DeMarquis Holley (Dieruff) 30-4

4. Sr. Jamie Welsh (Pen Argyl) 29-8

5. Fr. Kolton Veit (Souderton) 32-4

Honorable mention: Fr. Patrick Antonacci (Central Catholic) 27-4; Soph. Sean Bianco (Pleasant Valley) 25-10; Soph. Anthony Dee (Salisbury) 21-10; Soph. Ian Evans (Parkland) 24-16; Fr. Josh Evans (Palmerton) 27-5; Jr. Jeff Hernandez (Stroudsburg) 19-13; Soph. Brian Ohl (Jim Thorpe) 24-14; Fr. Ben Ross (Pennridge) 31-8; Jr. Peter Stanley (Easton) 24-15; Soph. Dylan Steffenino (Upper Perk) 30-9; Fr. Chase Zemenak (Nazareth) 27-14.

Noteworthy: Moisey won 2A title with three pins and a major. Cabrera edged Holley 3-1 in 3A final with a takedown late in the third period. Veit won District One North title, topping Steffenino 5-3 in final.

119 POUNDS

1. Jr. Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 36-5

2. Soph. Evan DiSora (Easton) 26-8

3. Sr. Michael Fleck (Wilson) 5-2

4. Sr. Lucas Dise (Northern Lehigh) 25-6

5. Soph. Grimaldi Gonzalez (Liberty) 25-8


Honorable mention: Jr. Joe Dalessandro (Pius X) 29-14; Sr. Adam Delgado (Nazareth) 22-18; Jr. James Elphick (Pen Argyl) 12-9; Soph. Kyle Fellman (Upper Perk) 24-16; Soph. Paul Hetrick (Northampton) 16-16; Fr. James Palys (Pocono Mt. East) 26-6; Soph. Michael Rodgers (Central Catholic) 28-10.

Noteworthy: Cruz won his second district 2A title with a 6-1 victory over Fleck, who enters the rankings after transferring from Easton. DiSora was second in 3A and the only wrestler to go six minutes with champ Corey Keener of Blue Mountain. Dise was third in 2A, and Gonzalez third in 3A.

125 POUNDS

1. Sr. Franco Ferraina (Nazareth) 28-3

2. Jr. Devon Lotito (Liberty) 31-5

3. Jr. Zane Heller (Northern Lehigh) 25-5

4. Sr. Jaydon Rice (Bethlehem Catholic) 31-9

5. Soph. Robbie Rizzolino (Easton) 31-10

Honorable mention: Sr. Mike Fake (Parkland) 19-6; Sr. Josh Fritz (Emmaus) 23-10; Jr. Greg Kabakjian (Souderton) 30-11; Jr. Ernest Klingel (Pleasant Valley) 32-7; Soph. Wolfgang McStravick (Upper Perkiomen) 33-7; Jr. Sam Oberlander (Palmerton) 26-7; Jr. Paul Sloand (Saucon Valley) 24-12.

Noteworthy: Ferraina wrestled a strong 3A tournament, with two pins, a technical fall and 8-2 decision over Lotito in the final. Heller energized the Liberty gym with a 9-8 win over Rice in 2A final.

130 POUNDS

1. Sr. Zach Horan (Nazareth) 42-0

2. Sr. Scott Wolfinger (Quakertown) 28-5

3. Sr. Calvin Daly (Easton) 28-12

4. Jr. Mike Dahlstrom (Pleasant Valley) 37-4

5. Jr. Vinny Pellechia (Catasauqua) 33-2

Honorable mention: Jr. Richie Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 23-12; Sr. Chris Gannon (East Stroudsburg South) 15-11; Soph. Michael Ortiz (Northwestern) 22-6; Jr. Jarret Stoelzl (Pen Argyl) 17-15; Jr. Forest Touchberry (Parkland) 20-12.

Noteworthy: Horan marched through 3A bracket to become Nazareth's first four-time district champ. Wolfinger won his first D1 North title. Daly edged Dahlstrom in 3A consolation final. Pellechia pinned Cruz on way to placing second in 2A.

135 POUNDS

1. Soph. Mike Racciato (Pen Argyl) 41-2

2. Sr. Joey Rizzolino (Easton) 37-5

3. Sr. Greg Noll (Nazareth) 35-8

4. Jr. Jason Stephen (Northampton) 31-9

5. Sr. Eric Howey (Stroudsburg) 29-11

Honorable mention: Sr. George Bastian (East Stroudsburg South) 20-8; Sr. Damien Hopper (Central Catholic) 26-2; Soph. Mike Marano (Parkland) 22-17; Soph. Eric Matz (Catasauqua) 24-9; Sr. Nikko Stevens (Northern Lehigh) 23-7; Sr. Tye Vallone (Southern Lehigh) 17-11.

Noteworthy: Racciato won 2A title with 8-3 victory over Hopper. Rizzolino topped Noll in entertaining 3A final. Stephen decisioned Howey 4-1 for 3A third. Stevens was third in 2A.

140 POUNDS

1. Jr. Mitch Minotti (Easton) 37-2

2. Soph. Ryan Todora (Bethlehem Catholic) 34-7

3. Sr. D.P. Miller (E.S. South) 21-7

4. Sr. Luciano Burriesci (Pen Argyl) 32-10

5. Jr. Anthony Farole (Lehighton) 31-6

Honorable mention: Sr. Elijah Angradi (Stroudsburg) 21-13; Jr. Dylan Hofmann (Northern Lehigh) 16-11; Sr. Briar Malischewski (Quakertown) 29-9; Sr. Kolby Mashack (Tamaqua) 34-3; Sr. Zach Wilson (Northampton) 23-11; Jr. Alex Yanovich (Pleasant Valley) 33-8.

Noteworthy: Minotti dominated 3A bracket with two pins and two majors. Todora pinned Burriesci for 2A title. Farole rallied from quarterfinal loss to Mahanoy's Nathan Fegley to place third, beating Fegley in the consolation final.

145 POUNDS

1. Sr. John Lynch (Saucon Valley) 29-4

2. Jr. Cole Sheptock (Northampton) 27-6

3. Sr. Anthony Minotti (Easton) 25-9

4. Sr. Justin Heller (Parkland) 23-8

5. Soph. Ty Herzog (Northern Lehigh) 26-5

Honorable mention: Jr. Victor Embardino (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 22-9; Jr. Kevin Finn (East Stroudsburg South) 22-9; Sr. Matt Gotzon (Southern Lehigh) 18-8; Sr. Josh LaBar (Pius X) 32-12; Sr. Rex Lutz (Pen Argyl) 28-10; Sr. Wyatt Miller (Nazareth) 18-25; Sr. Matt Murphy (Pocono Mt. East) 22-11.

Noteworthy: Lynch had a strong 2A tournament, defeating previously unbeaten Sam Scheib of Tri Valley 7-5 in final. Sheptock won the first of three 3A titles for Northampton. Minotti was second in 3A, and Herzog topped LaBar for third in 2A.

152 POUNDS

1. Sr. John Lambert (Northampton) 26-5

2. Sr. Bobby Clymer (Northwestern) 28-4

3. Sr. Kyle Dehaut (Bethlehem Catholic) 25-9

4. Sr. Luke Gotzon (Southern Lehigh) 23-5

5. Sr. Solomon Sohn (Easton) 12-7

Honorable mention: Soph. Travis Buddock (Saucon Valley) 19-8; Jr. Connor Hedash (Northern Lehigh) 18-10; Sr. Peter Jenne (Souderton) 29-12; Sr. Mason McIntyre (Easton) 22-1; Sr. Dylan Moore (Pennridge) 28-9; Jr. Mitchell Moyer (Lehighton) 25-11; Sr. Ryan Price (Pocono Mt. East) 24-8; Jr. Aaron Transue (Stroudsburg) 23-14.

Noteworthy: Lambert edged Gotzon for 3A title, while Clymer finished a strong 2A run with pin of Dehaut. Unusual instance of two ranked wrestlers from Easton: Sohn beat Pottsville's Ty Gardner (the No. 2 seed) twice on his way to finishing third. McIntyre deserves mention though his season ended because of injury.

160 POUNDS

1. Sr. Mike Ottinger (Parkland) 27-2

2. Jr. Elliot Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic) 35-6

3. Sr. Ryan Krecker (Nazareth) 28-2

4. Jr. Jonathan Blank (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 27-3

5. Sr. Rich Jasinski (Pennridge) 19-1

Honorable mention: Jr. Michael Balliet (Lehighton) 27-9; Soph. Dyvon Gibson (Easton) 6-7; Jr. Justin Marsh (Palisades) 24-4; Jr. JD Rabenold (Saucon Valley) 19-14; Sr. Kyle Sorensen (Northwestern) 26-9; Sr. Ed Helm V (Pocono Mt. East) 21-7; Sr. Tim Kunkel (Northampton) 21-11; Sr. Jacobi Nordmark (Stroudsburg) 22-14.

Noteworthy: Ottinger reclaimed top spot with UTB win over Krecker in 3A final. Riddick was dominant in winning 2A title, majoring Blank in final. Jasinski was third in District 1 North. Kudos to Gibson, a JV district champ who also advanced to regionals.

171 POUNDS

1. Sr. Colin Hedash (Northern Lehigh) 27-2

2. Soph. Ray O'Donnell (Saucon Valley) 32-5

3. Sr. Cody Ambrose (Upper Perk) 34-6

4. Sr. Zach Bambary (Easton) 15-13

5. Sr. Tyler Horn (Pen Argyl) 35-10

Honorable mention: Sr. Matt Edmonds (Tamaqua) 26-12; Soph. Joseph Fogle (Pocono Mt. East) 25-8; Soph. Robert Karstendiek (Stroudsburg) 7-10; Sr. Willie O'Brien (East Stroudsburg South) 20-12; Fr. Jovon Reyes (Dieruff) 20-5; Jr. Levi Veppert (Northwestern) 27-7; Jr. Eric Wolak (Nazareth) 21-8.

Noteworthy: Hedash topped O'Donnell 5-2 for 2A title. Bambary reached 3A final with 6-5 OT victory over Reyes, who placed fifth. Ambrose was third in District 1 North. Special HM mention to Karstendiek, a district JV champ who went from 17th seed to regional qualifier. He went 4-3, wrestling the most bouts of anyone at 3A districts.

189 POUNDS

1. Sr. Ian Gimbar (Saucon Valley) 34-2

2. Sr. Troy Newhard (Emmaus) 25-6

3. Jr. Dylan Evans (Pen Argyl) 27-10

4. Soph. Evan Kauffman (Freedom) 14-5

5. Sr. Cory Bruder (Parkland) 22-7

Honorable mention: Sr. Ben Bradley (Nazareth) 20-11; Jr. Dalton Fleming (Upper Perk) 30-11; Jr. Luke Garner (Catasauqua) 28-3; Jr. Marcus Newsom (Northampton) 23-9; Sr. Blake Smith (Pocono Mt. East) 24-8.

Noteworthy: Gimbar edged Evans 7-4 for 2A title. Evans had three pins on the way to final. Newhard won Emmaus' first district title since 2005, beating Kauffman 7-2 in 3A final. Chronic injuries limited Kauffman this season, but he's finding his form in the postseason.

215 POUNDS

1. Sr. Joe Stolfi (Souderton) 38-1

2. Sr. Garth Lakitsky (Tamaqua) 35-0

3. Sr. Tarik Haddad (Parkland) 21-3

4. Soph. Tyler Greene (Easton) 32-9

5. Jr. David Wilke (Nazareth) 27-13

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Honorable mention: Soph. Josh Alpha (Bethlehem Catholic) 24-11; Jr. Ryan Barry (Pen Argyl) 28-13; Jr. Jacob Dolin (Whitehall) 18-16; Jr. Kane Kralik (Palmerton) 23-8; Soph. Tyler Pearson (Freedom) 13-17; Sr. Michael Wright (Northampton) 14-15.

Noteworthy: Stolfi had two more pins and a 6-0 decision in winning District 1 North title. Lakitsky won 2A title with three pins, giving him 32 on the season. Haddad decisioned Greene 5-3 for 3A title.

285 POUNDS

1. Jr. Nick Sharga (Northampton) 33-5

2. Soph. Aaron Bradley (Nazareth) 23-4

3. Sr. Jalal Paige (Easton) 38-5

4. Sr. Josh Gonzalez (Pocono Mt. West) 27-3

5. Jr. Kirby Mutton (Pen Argyl) 29-8

Honorable mention: Sr. Sean Fortes (Freedom) 18-12; Soph. Shaun Heist (Parkland) 22-12; Jr. Brandon Loch (Northern Lehigh) 12-8; Jr. Joe McNamara (Souderton) 30-5; Soph. Daulton Romano (Southern Lehigh) 22-12; Soph. Michael Williams (Notre Dame-GP) 18-11; Jr. Joe McNamara (Souderton) 30-5.

Noteworthy: Sharga wrestled just four bouts all season at 285 before winning 3A title with close decisions over Paige (5-3) and Bradley (3-2). Paige then topped Gonzalez for third. Mutton reached 2A final, falling to Williams Valley's Ben Ancheff.

The Morning Call wrestling rankings are compiled by Mark Wogenrich. Honorable-mention wrestlers are listed in alphabetical order. Records based on those reported by coaches and to the National Wrestling Coaches Association website. Please send comments, corrections and additions to mark.wogenrich@mcall.com.

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