The Express-Times Individual Wrestling rankings for Feb. 28

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

106 pounds

1. Jr. Darian Cruz (36-2) Bethlehem Catholic
2. So. Ethan Lizak (36-1) Parkland
3. So. Tyrone Klump (23-5) Nazareth
4. So. Anthony Parisi (24-11) Easton
5. Fr. Max Nauta (28-5) Warren Hills

Honorable mention (listed in alphabetical order): So. Dante Albanese (21-8) Pius X; Jr. Jaryd Flank (34-2) Wilson; Fr. Stephen Friedman (21-16) Phillipsburg; Jr. Tyler Harka (37-8) Saucon Valley; So. Cody Ihling (21-13) Voorhees; Jr. Matt Moncourtois (28-10) North Hunterdon; Fr. John Ritter (23-13) Liberty; Fr. Michael Scheetz (10-8) Northampton; So. Travis Shoemaker (20-10) Allen.

Comments: Klump's District 11 AAA runner-up finish bump him to No. 3, and Parisi, No. 4 at D-11 AAA, re-enters after injury. Flank finished fourth at D-11 AA, which doesn't seem as impressive as Nauta's runner-up finish at Region 1 and thus the Blue Streak frosh re-enters the top 5. Lizak defeated Parisi 18-7 and Klump 12-1 at D-11, so the gap here is between 2 and 3. Cruz rolled to D-11 AA crown.

113 pounds

1. Jr. Matt Williams (27-3) Pen Argyl
2. Fr. Ryan Pomrinca (35-3) North Hunterdon
3. So. Dylan Nace (31-5) Hunterdon Central
4. Jr. Zach Fisher (28-10) Phillipsburg
5. So. Zach Valley (29-5) Northampton

Honorable mention: So. Taiwo Adetula (22-5) Warren Hills; So. Thomas Beishke (21-11) Voorhees; Jr. Michael Connelly (20-14) Liberty; So. Josh Evans (27-5) Palmerton; So. Robert Lindsey (12-4) Bangor; Fr. Jonathan Manning (29-9) Pius X; So. Matty Ritchie (20-9) North Warren; Fr. Nick Sanders (20-16) Palisades; So. Taylor Schaf (26-11) Emmaus; So. Tyler Tarsi (15-8) Nazareth.

Comments: Williams handled Evans 3-1 in D-11 AA final which is just impressive enough to hold off Pomrinca, who fell in Region 5 final to unbeaten Kyle Brady of Bishop Ahr on a tiebreaker. Nace's season ended, very surprisingly, in R-5 wrestlebacks and Fisher's ended sadly with a hand injury. Valley was a very solid third at D-11 AAA, losing just 5-3 to eventual champ Sean Bianco of Pleasant Valley in a semi. Pomrinca could go to No. 1 with a strong showing in Atlantic City.

120 pounds

1. Jr. Grimaldi Gonzalez (30-4) Liberty
2. Sr. Peter Stanley (28-4) Easton
3. So. Zeke Moisey (24-6) Bethlehem Catholic
4. So. Chase Zemenak (21-4) Nazareth
5. Sr. Sam Oberlander (33-3) Palmerton

Honorable mention: Fr. Michael Comunale (25-10) Pius X; Jr. Anthony Dee (27-4) Salisbury; Jr. Ian Evans (22-9) Parkland; Jr. Matt Gilmore (23-10) Delaware Valley; Sr. Chris Greenwald (17-5) Warren Hills; Jr. Paul Hetrick (21-11) Northampton; Jr. Bryan Israel (30-8) Saucon Valley; Jr. Andrew Kaluzny (16-14) Phillipsburg; So. Mackenzie Lawarence (14-8) Emmaus; So. Jacob Rusnock (26-12) Catasauqua; So. Adam Ziegler (21-10) Southern Lehigh.

Comments: Major shakeup here, as Gonzalez edged Stanley 3-1 in D-11 AAA final and takes No. 1. Stanley stays No. 2 on basis of a head-to-head win over Moisey, who waltzed to the AA title, but Moisey is pushing big-time. Israel was runner-up in AA and Oberlander third, but they didn't wrestle and the Blue Bomber's body of work keeps him at No. 5. Dee lost to both Israel and Oberlander. Zemenak drops from 126 and his third-place at D-11 AAA pushes him to No. 4 here.

126 pounds

1. So. Gary Dinmore (25-7) Hunterdon Central
2. Jr. Mike Pongracz (34-2) Delaware Valley
3. Sr. Zane Heller (23-6) Bethlehem Catholic
4. So. Jose Roche (8-1) Easton
5. Jr. Joey Kratochvil (21-11) Warren Hills

Honorable mention: Jr. Brody Bisson (23-14) Saucon Valley; So. Anthony Calantoni (31-8) Wilson; Fr. Max Elling (26-11) Phillipsburg; So. Johnny Hayes (15-10) North Warren; Sr. Joey Giordiano (22-10) Southern Lehigh; Sr. Walter Gonsiewski (23-9) Voorhees; Jr. Travis Haycock (21-12) Pius X; Jr. Dillon Masington (22-11) Palmerton; Jr. Michael Rodgers (29-9) Central Catholic; Fr. Charlie Sell (17-9) Bangor; So. Andrew Sutton (25-16) Pen Argyl; Jr. Jacob Younger (21-11) Emmaus.

Comments: Crazy stuff here. We've never seen a Top 5 cleared out like last week's was -- one wrestler moved down (Zemenak), one up (Liberty's Devon Lotito) and one right off the team (Easton's Elijah Brown). That leaves Pongracz and Dinmore, whose vicious two-scorpions-in-a-bottle rivalry continued Saturday in yet another massively controversial bout won narrowly by Dinmore, who has beaten Pongracz two out of three, all matches heavily disputed by the losing side. Then what do you do with Easton's Jose Roche, a JV wrestler most of the year who beat the No. 4, No.5 and No. 1 seeds at D-11 AAA -- and not by fluke, either: 14-5, 13-3 and by fall -- en route to finishing second? Heller took D-11 AA, Kratochvil was an impressive second at R-1 and Elling fought back to make states through consys at R-1. Sell moved on to regionals. Dinmore rules the roost for now, but this class is still very fluid.

132 pounds

1. Sr. Randy Cruz (37-1) Bethlehem Catholic
2. Sr. Devon Lotito (32-1) Liberty
3. Sr. Dylan Thorsen (36-2) Belvidere
4. Jr. Robbie Rizzolino (27-11) Easton
5. Sr. DeMarquis Holley (30-5) Dieruff

Honorable mention: So. Ryan Carty (15-13) Central Catholic; Fr. Zack Christman (17-10) Palmerton; So. Mike Ciavarro (28-9) North Hunterdon; Fr. Cole Franklin (22-13) Emmaus; Sr. Tyler Galasso (24-13) Freedom; So. Christian Okulicz (20-14) Voorhees; Jr. Jon Raso (31-8) Pius X; Jr. George Schaffer (16-9) Bangor; Fr. Jim Schuitema (29-10) Phillipsburg; Jr. Casey Simmons (15-8) Catasauqua; Sr. Paul Sloand (28-10) Saucon Valley; Jr. Jarett Stoelzl (25-12) Pen Argyl; Sr. K.C. Wanamaker (19-8) Warren Hills.

Comments: Lotito's shift upwards, and his 1-0 win over Holley in D-11 AAA final, brings him back to the top 5 here at No. 2. Neither Rizzolino or Holley scored on Lotito in D-11 semis (6-0) and final. Cruz found himself down 5-0 to Stoelzl, who dropped here (and may be the most exciting D-11 wrestler to watch in any class), before rallying for a 15-5 decision in D-11 AA semis. Cruz stays No. 1 here. Thorsen dropped the R-1 final in the ultimate tiebreaker to Pequannock's 34-2 R.J. DeGeorge, but that doesn't cost the County Seater a spot.

138 pounds

1. Jr. Mike Racciato (43-1) Pen Argyl
2. Sr. Jason Stephen (26-5) Northampton
3. Sr. Richy Cruz (28-10) Bethlehem Catholic
4. Sr. Derek Zehnbauer (33-2) Delaware Valley
5. Jr. Tyler Kozimor (28-10) Hackettstown

Honorable mention: Sr. Joe Dalessaandro (24-12) Pius X; Sr. Josh Henninger (33-8) Whitehall; Jr. Anthony Johnson (15-11) Phillipsburg; Sr. Ethan Keichel (23-11) Northwestern; So. Isaac Kolman (21-15) Liberty; Sr. Chris Louszko (15-10) Bangor; Sr. Steve Mettin (23-12) Palisades; So. Josh Ortman (29-11) Parkland; Sr. Vinny Pellechia (23-4) Catasauqua; Jr. Mason Ryzoff (19-11) North Warren

Comments: Suddenly a weight class in considerable flux. Racciato drops here, defeated Cruz 4-2 in D-11 AA final, and immediately takes No. 1 from Stephen, who looked very impressive in romping to D-11 AAA crown, but who takes a back seat to a returning state champ. Then Kozimor goes and wins R-1 -- 4-2 over the on-fire Johnson -- while Zehnbauer had to rally to make states after a 6-1 loss to Hillsborough's Rhys Weinberger at R-5. So, we move Cruz up a spot for that tough loss to Racciato, bring Kozimor in at No. 5 and drop Ortman and Pellechia to Honorable Mention. Whew.

145 pounds

1. Sr. Mitch Minotti (34-0) Easton
2. Sr. Ronnie Honickel (35-3) Voorhees
3. Jr. Ryan Todora (32-10) Bethlehem Catholic
4. Jr. Michael Marano (30-8) Parkland
5. Fr. Matthew Mirth (27-3) Southern Lehigh

Honorable mention: Jr. Tyler Cote (23-10) Hunterdon Central; So. Bobby Fehr (20-10) Northampton; Jr. Cody Gonzalez (21-8) Freedom; Sr. Ty Herzog (26-6) Northern Lehigh; So. Jake Kocsis (19-12) Phillipsburg; Jr. Brandon Rothman (17-10) Hackettstown; So. Rhaine Sziy (25-12) Catasauqua.

Comments: Racciato's drop to 138 opens a top-five spot here ... almost, but not quite, for Herzog, a 4-3 loser to Todora in the D-11 AA final, a sour-spirited match if there ever was one. Mirth's 11-9 win in January over Herzog keeps the Spartan No. 5. Todora's deliberate style is anything but crowd-pleasing, but it's undeniably effective. Be intriguing to watch him wrestle the go-go-go Honickel. who was upset by Franklin's Cory Goshkagarian in R-5 final but battled back to make states. On body of work Honickel stays No. 2. Mirth beat Fehr in OT for fifth in D-11 AAA, but falls behind Marano's AAA third. Minotti won his 150th career match Friday and defeated the previously unbeaten Raymond Nicosia of Pocono Mountain East in D-11 AAA final.

BEST OF THE BEST:

1. Sr. Randy Cruz (37-1) Bethlehem Catholic, 132 pounds

2. Sr. Mitch Minotti (34-0) Easton, 152 pounds

3. Jr. Ray O'Donnell (39-0) Saucon Valley, 195 pounds

4. Jr. Mike Racciato (43-1) Pen Argyl, 145 pounds

5. Jr. Darian Cruz (36-2) Bethlehem Catholic, 106 pounds

6. Sr. Elliot Riddick (36-2) Bethlehem Catholic, 170 pounds

7. Sr. Devon Lotito (32-1) Liberty, 132 pounds

8. Jr. Jadaen Bernstein (36-1) Voorhees, 160 pounds

9. So. Ethan Lizak (36-1) Parkland, 103 pounds

10. Sr. Aaron Bradley (19-1) Nazareth, 220 pounds

"Best of the best" is the top 10 wrestlers, regardless of weight class.
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152 pounds

1. Sr. Cole Sheptock (28-5) Northampton
2. Sr. Beau Vrancken (30-2) North Hunterdon
3. Jr. Michael Ortiz (25-6) Northwestern
4. Sr. Bryson Berard (33-9) Parkland
5. Sr. V.J. DelMonico (28-12) Phillipsburg

Honorable mention: Sr. Steven Baker (20-12) Voorhees; Sr. Billy Christensen (24-10) Wilson; Jr. Gordon Daichendt (30-9) Emmaus; So. Kody Eichlin (20-8) Delaware Valley; Jr. David Fenton (25-12) Hunterdon Central; Sr. Cody Grohotolski (27-5) Palmerton; 5. Sr. Dylan Hofmann (25-8) Northern Lehigh; Jr. Erik Matz (23-7) Catasauqua; Sr. JD Rabenold (21-17) Pen Argyl; Jr. Adam Russek (19-10) Southern Lehigh; Fr. Brad Schuler (20-14) Whitehall; Sr. Michael Staufenberger (27-9) North Warren; Fr. Jake Young (21-10) Freedom.

Comments: Sheptock looked so good in winning D-11 AAA, and that, coupled with his quality losses and Vrancken's 3-2 loss to East Brunswick's Jonathan Schleifer in R-5 final, moves the K-Kid up to No. 1 by a smidge. It's very close, and Vrancken can go back ahead this weekend in Atlantic City. Ortiz beat Hofmann and Grohotolski en route to D-11 AA crown and comes in at No. 3. Berard was runner-up in AAA. Rabenhold pinned the the No. 1 seed in D-11 AA, Tri-Valley's Ty Schoffstahl, but wound up sixth.

160 pounds

1. Jr. Jadaen Bernstein (36-1) Voorhees
2. Jr. Matt Bonshak (25-2) Whitehall
3. Sr. Justin Marsh (31-6) Palisades
4. Sr. Nathan Dow (33-6) Belvidere
5. Jr. Dyvon Gibson (21-15) Easton

Honorable mention: So. Zack Bradley (28-8) Catasauqua; Jr. Travis Buddock (36-8) Saucon Valley; Sr. William Hailey (22-9) Southern Lehigh; Sr. Kyler Kutzler (29-15) Pen Argyl; Sr. Ryan Larkin (23-9) Hunterdon Central; Sr. Joe Moyer (20-18) Phillipsburg; Sr. Richie Ruiz (20-15) Liberty; Jr. Josh Young (28-8) Freedom; So. Luke Zehnbauer (20-10) Delaware Valley.

Comments: Bonshak beat the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds en route to a D-11 AAA crown to leap to No. 2. Marsh defeated Bradley and Buddock, plus top-seed Sam Scheib of Tri-Valley, en route to a D-11 AA title. Gibson's 7-6 loss to Bonshak and his fourth-place in D-11 AAA get him the No. 5 berth narrowly over Kutzler's third place at D-11 AA. It is disappointing that Dow missed states. Bernstein took R-5 in businesslike fashion.

170 pounds

1. Sr. Elliot Riddick (36-2) Bethlehem Catholic
2. Sr. Will Van Doren (29-3) Delaware Valley
3. So. Nezar Haddad (31-8) Parkland
4. Sr. Joe Ragsdale (31-9) North Hunterdon
5. Sr. Tom Scerbo (21-13) Hunterdon Central

Honorable mention: Sr. Anthony Clifford (20-10) Central Catholic; Jr. Sam Dickey (25-13) Saucon Valley; Sr. Kyle Greenawald (23-7) Northern Lehigh; Sr. Devin Grade (17-15) Phillipsburg; Jr. Keith Hird (21-3) Dieruff; So. Jagger Miller (21-15) Easton; Sr. Kyle Spina (24-13) Freedom; Jr. Sean Williams (21-10) Notre Dame.

Comments: As usual, 170 is pure calm in an oasis of chaos. The top three won D-11 AA, R-5 and D-11 AAA, in order, and there's no reason for any change down the line, either.

182 pounds

1. Jr. Tyler Greene (32-6) Easton
2. Jr. Evan Bray (34-3) Belvidere
3. Jr. Liam Korbul (34-3) North Hunterdon
4. Sr. Levi Veppert (30-2) Northwestern
5. So. Jose Ortiz (29-9) Bethlehem Catholic

Honorable mention: Fr. Tom Alcaro (28-7) Emmaus; Sr. Dylan Evans (35-6) Pen Argyl;
Sr. Tyler Evans (21-15) Saucon Valley; So. Fouad Haddad (20-12) Whitehall; So. Louie Hill (25-5) Palisades; Sr. Ryker Kern (15-11) Warren Hills; Sr. Shaun Maloy (22-12) Phillipsburg; Sr. Marcus Newsom (24-9) Northampton; Sr. Michael Swan (21-7) Southern Lehigh; Jr. Nick Ruggiero (27-10) Voorhees.

Comments: This makes up for 170's lack of movement. First, Greene and Newsom drop here; Greene as D-11 AAA champ and Newsom as third. Ortiz beat Evans 2-1 but then fell in D-11 AA final to Veppert. Bray continued his sizzling-hot streak by winning R-1 and impressively so over a very tough Nick Dellaferra of Wayne Valley. Korbul was a R-5 runner-up and gave fearsome unbeaten Tevin Shaw of Piscataway a fine match in the final. What to do with all this talent? Following the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately rule results in what you see above. Count on more changes here.

195 pounds

1. Jr. Ray O'Donnell (39-0) Saucon Valley
2. Sr. Troy Newhard (32-2) Emmaus
3. Sr. David Wilke (15-6) Nazareth
4. So. Jovon Reyes (28-2) Dieruff
5. Sr. Francis Slover (32-7) Easton

Honorable mention: Sr. Dan Hauck (24-7) North Warren; Jr. Dan Pepe (31-9) North Hunterdon; Sr. Derek Pierson (13-10) Phillipsburg; Sr. Chet Stivers (20-11) Voorhees; Sr. David Tirpak (16-5) Northwestern.

Comments: Newhard drops here and won D-11 AAA with three pins and a technical fall (though Slover was winning in the third period before he was pinned) but not even such an impressive showing dislodges O'Donnell, the OW in D-11 AA with four pins in 2:35 (three in 49 seconds). Wilke beat Reyes 8-4 in D-11 AAA semis and moves on up.

220 pounds

1. Jr. Aaron Bradley (19-1) Nazareth
2. Sr. Brandon Hull (34-3) Phillipsburg
3. Jr. Evan Kauffman (18-2) Freedom
4. Jr. Josh Alpha (27-9) Bethlehem Catholic
5. Jr. Shaun Heist (34-4) Parkland

Honorable mention: So. Justin Blobe (30-10) Saucon Valley; Sr. Jacob Dolin (28-6) Whitehall; Sr. Luke Garner (34-2) Catasauqua; So. Jake Gunning (20-18) Liberty; Sr. Kane Kralik (32-2) Palmerton; Sr. Max Lamport (23-9) Voorhees; Jr. J.B. Lawson (32-6) Belvidere; Jr. Andrew Lumsden (15-6) Bangor; So. Brady Mutton (32-15) Pen Argyl; Jr. Mike Roszkowski (26-9) Palisades; Sr. Dan Smith (26-6) Warren Hills.

Comments: Kauffman's 9-0 hammering of Heist in D-11 AAA semis was one of the finest wins posted by any wrestler at Liberty all weekend and jumps him in the Top 5 at No. 3. Both of Kauffman's losses are to Bradley, including a 5-2 decision in D-11 AAA final. Hull was pretty much untouchable at R-1. Alpha moved up here and avenged an earlier loss to Garner in D-11 AA final, after beating Kralik 7-6 in a semi. I wouldn't want to wrestle Lawson in Atlantic City.

285 pounds

1. Sr. Anthony Pare (32-6) Phillipsburg
2. Jr. Daulton Romano (25-3) Southern Lehigh
3. Sr. Ben Bunce (23-10) Bethlehem Catholic
4. Fr. Brandon Lance (17-12) Nazareth
5. Jr. Tyler Peerson (32-5) Freedom

Honorable mention: Jr. Ryan Appelby (31-8) Belvidere; Sr. Jason Auricchio (18-15) Hunterdon Central; Sr. Brian Fang (24-10) Whitehall; Jr. Chris Longyhore (22-8) North Warren; Sr. Kirby Mutton (39-6) Pen Argyl; Fr. Andrew Pacheco (9-6) Warren Hills; Jr. Skyler Rosenberry (18-12) Palmerton; Sr. Ismail Saleh (21-6) Hackettstown; Jr. Jacob Schlinkman (25-6) Catasauqua; So. Brandon Vigo (26-7) Allen; Sr. Forrest Wooden (26-4) Delaware Valley

Comments: I honestly didn't expect Romano to win D-11 AAA, and certainly not against Nazareth's precocious Lance in the final to do so, but he did both and moves to No. 2 for it. I still think Pare, No. 3 at R-1 would win head-to-head and that belief is reflected above. Mutton's loss to Bunce (who won D-11 AA over Schlinkman in the final) costs the Green Knight a Top 5 spot to make room for Lance, who defeated Peerson en route to a 1-0 loss to Romano in D-11 AAA final. No room for Wooden, a R-5 runner-up. Expect more changes here.


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