THE MORNING CALL WRESTLING RANKINGS

FROM THE MORNING CALL

103 POUNDS

1. Soph. Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 37-2

2. Fr. Ethan Lizak (Parkland) 30-9

3. Sr. Brett Marino (Liberty) 34-4

4. Soph. Matt Williams (Pen Argyl) 36-10

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

Fr. Kenny Yanovich (Pleasant Valley) 35-9.

Honorable mention: Fr. Kyle Baker (Easton) 30-15; Fr. Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg South) 26-10; Soph. Jaryd Flank (Wilson) 25-13; Fr. Bobby Jenne (Souderton) 30-14; Fr. Colin Mashack (Tamaqua) 28-10; Sr. Nick O'Donnell (Panther Valley) 34-7; 5. Fr. Scott Parker (Pennridge) 36-4; Jr. Guesseppe Rea (Stroudsburg) 27-12; Jr. Brandon Sommer (Northampton) 22-17; Soph. Dante Steffenino (Upper Perk) 32-7.

Noteworthy: Cruz continues to manhandle opponents and is the favorite to win Class 2A state title. Lizak was impressive in beating Marino 9-5 for Northeast regional 3A title. Marino still among favorites at states. Williams' disqualification from Southeast 2A regional ended a promising postseason run. Israel (2A) and Yanovich (3A) made states.

112 POUNDS

1. Fr. Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic) 38-5

2. Sr. Anthony Cabrera (Liberty) 34-3

3. Jr. DeMarquis Holley (Dieruff) 33-5

4. Sr. Jamie Welsh (Pen Argyl) 33-9

5. Soph. Dylan Steffenino (Upper Perk) 33-11

Honorable mention: Fr. Patrick Antonacci (Central Catholic) 27-4; Soph. Sean Bianco (Pleasant Valley) 26-12; Soph. Anthony Dee (Salisbury) 23-12; Soph. Ian Evans (Parkland) 26-18; Fr. Josh Evans (Palmerton) 29-7; Jr. Jeff Hernandez (Stroudsburg) 19-13; Soph. Brian Ohl (Jim Thorpe) 24-14; Fr. Ben Ross (Pennridge) 31-8; Jr. Peter Stanley (Easton) 27-17; Fr. Kolton Veit (Souderton) 33-6; Fr. Chase Zemenak (Nazareth) 29-16.

Noteworthy: Moisey and Cabrera maintain tops spots and enter states as finals contenders. Holley became Dieruff's first state qualifier in 11 years. Welsh (Southeast 2A runnerup) and Steffenino (third in Southeast 3A) both qualified for Hershey. In HM, Stanley was fourth in Northeast 3A, and Dee was sixth in Southeast 2A.

119 POUNDS

1. Jr. Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 39-5

2. Soph. Evan DiSora (Easton) 29-9

3. Sr. Michael Fleck (Wilson) 9-3

4. Sr. Lucas Dise (Northern Lehigh) 27-9

5. Soph. Grimaldi Gonzalez (Liberty) 28-10

Honorable mention: Jr. Joe Dalessandro (Pius X) 29-14; Sr. Adam Delgado (Nazareth) 22-20; Jr. James Elphick (Pen Argyl) 14-11; Soph. Kyle Fellman (Upper Perk) 24-16; Soph. Paul Hetrick (Northampton) 16-18; Fr. James Palys (Pocono Mt. East) 26-8; Soph. Michael Rodgers (Central Catholic) 28-10.

Noteworthy: Cruz seeks his third state medal and first gold after placing second last year. DiSora and Fleck, teammates until January, will go to states from neighboring schools. Fleck was the Southeast 2A runnerup to Cruz. DiSora is the only area qualifier in 3A. Dise just missed states, falling in the Southeast 2A fifth-place bout.

125 POUNDS

1. Jr. Devon Lotito (Liberty) 35-5

2. Jr. Zane Heller (Northern Lehigh) 28-5

3. Sr. Mike Fake (Parkland) 22-7

4. Soph. Robbie Rizzolino (Easton) 35-11

5. (tie) Sr. Jaydon Rice (Bethlehem Catholic) 34-10

Sr. Franco Ferraina (Nazareth) 29-6

Honorable mention: Sr. Josh Fritz (Emmaus) 23-10; Jr. Greg Kabakjian (Souderton) 30-11; Jr. Ernest Klingel (Pleasant Valley) 32-7; Soph. Wolfgang McStravick (Upper Perkiomen) 38-8; Jr. Sam Oberlander (Palmerton) 26-7; Jr. Paul Sloand (Saucon Valley) 27-14.

Noteworthy: Lotito and Heller were dominant in winning their respective regional titles, and Fake was strong in 11-4 semifinal win over Ferraina. But Rizzolino was every bit as impressive. After losing opener 1-0 to Fritz, Rizzolino went 4-0 in consolation bracket, beating Fritz and Ferraina to place third. In HM, McStravick (third in Southeast 3A) and Sloand (fifth Southeast 2A) advanced.

130 POUNDS

1. Sr. Zach Horan (Nazareth) 45-0

2. Sr. Scott Wolfinger (Quakertown) 30-6

3. Jr. Mike Dahlstrom (Pleasant Valley) 41-5

4. Sr. Calvin Daly (Easton) 31-14

5. Jr. Richie Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) 26-14

Honorable mention: Sr. Chris Gannon (East Stroudsburg South) 15-13; Soph. Michael Ortiz (Northwestern) 25-9; Jr. Vinny Pellechia (Catasauqua) 33-4; Jr. Jarret Stoelzl (Pen Argyl) 17-15; Jr. Forest Touchberry (Parkland) 22-14.

Noteworthy: Interesting bracket for Horan, who likely will get South Western's Cameron Throckmorton (35-0) in Friday's quarters. Wolfinger (2nd Southeast 3A) and Dahlstrom (3rd Northeast 3A) are in the same half of the bracket. Cruz is District 11's lone 2A qualifier, edging Ortiz 6-4 for the fifth spot from Southeast 2A.

135 POUNDS

1. Soph. Mike Racciato (Pen Argyl) 44-2

2. Sr. Joey Rizzolino (Easton) 40-5

3. Jr. Jason Stephen (Northampton) 34-10

4. Sr. Eric Howey (Stroudsburg) 33-12

5. Sr. Greg Noll (Nazareth) 38-10

Honorable mention: Sr. George Bastian (East Stroudsburg South) 20-8; Sr. Damien Hopper (Central Catholic) 30-3; Soph. Mike Marano (Parkland) 24-19; Soph. Eric Matz (Catasauqua) 24-9; Sr. Nikko Stevens (Northern Lehigh) 25-10; Sr. Tye Vallone (Southern Lehigh) 17-13.

Noteworthy: Racciato and Rizzolino proved unbeatable at regionals. Stephen and Howey claimed the remaining two state berths in Northeast 3A. Howey advanced with 6-4 win over Noll in consolation final. In HM, Hopper, an Oklahoma state champ as a freshman, makes his first trip to Pennsylvania states.

140 POUNDS

1. Jr. Mitch Minotti (Easton) 40-2

2. Soph. Ryan Todora (Bethlehem Catholic) 37-7

3. Sr. Luciano Burriesci (Pen Argyl) 35-11

4. Jr. Anthony Farole (Lehighton) 35-7

5. Sr. D.P. Miller (E.S. South) 24-9

Honorable mention: Sr. Elijah Angradi (Stroudsburg) 21-15; Sr. Nathan Fegley (Mahanoy Area) 36-7; Jr. Dylan Hofmann (Northern Lehigh) 16-11; Sr. Briar Malischewski (Quakertown) 33-11; Sr. Kolby Mashack (Tamaqua) 34-3; Sr. Zach Wilson (Northampton) 25-13; Jr. Alex Yanovich (Pleasant Valley) 33-10.

Noteworthy: Minotti, who won his second Northeast 3A champ, is the only area 3A qualifier and positioned well for a run at the final. He outscored opponents 42-11 last weekend. Todora, Burriesci, Farole and Fegley of Mahanoy Area all qualified in 2A.

145 POUNDS

1. Sr. Justin Heller (Parkland) 27-8

2. Jr. Cole Sheptock (Northampton) 29-7

3. Sr. John Lynch (Saucon Valley) 31-6

4. Sr. Matt Gotzon (Southern Lehigh) 23-9

5. Soph. Ty Herzog (Northern Lehigh) 30-7

Honorable mention: Jr. Victor Embardino (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 22-9; Jr. Kevin Finn (East Stroudsburg South) 27-13; Sr. Josh LaBar (Pius X) 34-14; Sr. Rex Lutz (Pen Argyl) 28-10; Sr. Anthony Minotti (Easton) 25-9; Sr. Matt Murphy (Pocono Mt. East) 22-11.

Noteworthy: A confident Heller won Northeast 3A title with two pins and 8-2 decision over Sheptock in the final. Lynch seeks to rebound from fourth-place finish in Southeast 2A. Gotzon is Southern Lehigh's first state qualifier since 2006. Herzog advanced in 2A.

152 POUNDS

1. Sr. John Lambert (Northampton) 29-5

2. Sr. Bobby Clymer (Northwestern) 31-5

3. Sr. Kyle Dehaut (Bethlehem Catholic) 28-11

4. Sr. Luke Gotzon (Southern Lehigh) 25-7

5. Sr. Solomon Sohn (Easton) 13-9

Honorable mention: Soph. Travis Buddock (Saucon Valley) 19-10; Jr. Connor Hedash (Northern Lehigh) 18-10; Sr. Peter Jenne (Souderton) 30-14; Sr. Mason McIntyre (Easton) 22-1; Sr. Dylan Moore (Pennridge) 31-11; Jr. Mitchell Moyer (Lehighton) 26-13; Sr. Ryan Price (Pocono Mt. East) 24-10; Jr. Aaron Transue (Stroudsburg) 27-15.

Noteworthy: Lambert won Northeast 3A title to become District 11's lone 3A qualifier. Clymer (third Southeast 2A) and Dehaut (fourth in 2A) earned spots in Hershey. Gotzon nearly joined brother Matt at states, falling 2-1 in Northeast 3A consolation final. Sohn lost a UTB bout in the 3A consolations.

160 POUNDS

1. Sr. Ryan Krecker (Nazareth) 32-2

2. Sr. Mike Ottinger (Parkland) 28-3

3. Jr. Elliot Riddick (Bethlehem Catholic) 38-6

4. Sr. Rich Jasinski (Pennridge) 23-1

5. Jr. Jonathan Blank (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 31-4

Honorable mention: Jr. Michael Balliet (Lehighton) 27-9; Jr. Justin Marsh (Palisades) 26-7; Jr. JD Rabenold (Saucon Valley) 21-16; Sr. Kyle Sorensen (Northwestern) 26-9; Sr. Ed Helm V (Pocono Mt. East) 24-9; Sr. Tim Kunkel (Northampton) 24-13; Sr. Jacobi Nordmark (Stroudsburg) 24-16.

Noteworthy: Perhaps the strongest top 5, with all five advancing to states, three as regional champs. Krecker hit a second-period takedown to edge Ottinger 3-2 at Northeast 3A. Riddick controlled Southeast 2A bracket, and Jasinski went 4-0 to win Southeast 3A title. Jasinski, a state qualifier two years ago, is riding under the 160-pound radar. Blank was third in Southeast 2A.

171 POUNDS

1. Sr. Colin Hedash (Northern Lehigh) 30-2

2. Sr. Zack Bambary (Easton) 18-14

3. Soph. Ray O'Donnell (Saucon Valley) 36-6

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

5. Sr. Tyler Horn (Pen Argyl) 38-13

Honorable mention: Sr. Matt Edmonds (Tamaqua) 26-12; Soph. Joseph Fogle (Pocono Mt. East) 25-10; Sr. Willie O'Brien (East Stroudsburg South) 20-12; Fr. Jovon Reyes (Dieruff) 20-7; Jr. Levi Veppert (Northwestern) 27-7; Jr. Eric Wolak (Nazareth) 23-10.

Noteworthy: Hedash continued his sharp postseason with Southeast 2A title and is positioned well for state-final run. Bambary's an inspiring story, gutting out three tight regional wins (while handling his Type 1 diabetes) to make states as a senior. O'Donnell rallied from Southeast 2A semifinal loss to place third and advance.

189 POUNDS

1. Sr. Ian Gimbar (Saucon Valley) 37-2

2. Jr. Dylan Evans (Pen Argyl) 30-11

3. Sr. Troy Newhard (Emmaus) 26-8

4. Soph. Evan Kauffman (Freedom) 16-7

5. Jr. Marcus Newsom (Northampton) 26-11

Honorable mention: Sr. Ben Bradley (Nazareth) 21-13; Sr. Cory Bruder (Parkland) 22-9; Jr. Dalton Fleming (Upper Perk) 30-11; Jr. Luke Garner (Catasauqua) 28-3; Sr. Blake Smith (Pocono Mt. East) 24-10.

Noteworthy: Gimbar defeated Evans in the Southeast 2A final and is a state-title contender. District 11 had a tough go at Northeast 3A, with all six qualifiers being eliminated.

215 POUNDS

1. Sr. Garth Lakitsky (Tamaqua) 38-0

2. Sr. Joe Stolfi (Souderton) 40-2

3. Sr. Tarik Haddad (Parkland) 24-3

4. Soph. Tyler Greene (Easton) 35-11

5. Soph. Josh Alpha (Bethlehem Catholic) 28-13

Honorable mention: Jr. Ryan Barry (Pen Argyl) 28-13; Jr. Jacob Dolin (Whitehall) 18-18; Jr. Kane Kralik (Palmerton) 24-10; Jr. David Wilke (Nazareth) 29-15; Sr. Michael Wright (Northampton) 14-17.

Noteworthy: Lakitsky ascends after winning Southeast 2A title, though he did have to go six minutes twice. Stolfi fell 8-7 in Southeast 3A final but remains a title-bout contender at states. Haddad rolled through Northeast 3A bracket and hopes to see Southeast champ Matt Idelson of Garnet Valley in state semis. Alpha advance in 2A.

285 POUNDS

1. Sr. Josh Gonzalez (Pocono Mt. West) 30-4

2. Sr. Jalal Paige (Easton) 42-7

3. Jr. Kirby Mutton (Pen Argyl) 33-9

4. Jr. Nick Sharga (Northampton) 34-7

5. Soph. Aaron Bradley (Nazareth) 24-6

Honorable mention: Sr. Sean Fortes (Freedom) 18-12; Soph. Shaun Heist (Parkland) 24-14; Jr. Brandon Loch (Northern Lehigh) 12-8; Jr. Joe McNamara (Souderton) 32-6; Soph. Daulton Romano (Southern Lehigh) 19-13; Soph. Michael Williams (Notre Dame-GP) 19-13.

Noteworthy: Gonzalez outlasted Sharga 12-10 on his way to Northeast final and is the only District 11 3A qualifier. Paige edged Bradley and Sharga but lost in consolation final. Paige also has a regular-season 3-2 win over Mutton, who took third in Southeast 2A with three pins and a major.

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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