Wyoming Seminary 39, Blair Academy 20
106: Will Moss (WS) dec. Matthew Vinci, 7-1
113: No. 15 Zach Sherman (B) pinned Max Toman
126: No. 6 Jack Mueller (WS) maj. dec. Requir van der Merwe, 11-2
126: Trent Olson (WS) dec. Andrew Merola, 9-3
132: No. 16 Charles Tucker (B) maj. dec. John Busiello, 13-4
138: No. 2 Matthew Kolodzik (B) pinned Will Verallis
145: Danny Boychuck (WS) dec. Michael Monica, 3-2
152: No. 3 Jordan Kutler (B) maj. dec. Jake Hendricks, 10-1
160: No. 10 Chris Weiler (WS) dec. No. 8 (at 170) Brandon Dallavia, 6-4
170: No. 6 Nick Reenan (WS) tech. fall Peter Bearse
182: No. 11 Christian Dietrich (WS) dec. No. 14 Chase Singletary 3-1 SV
195: Zane Black (WS) dec. Neil Putnam
220: Cole Nye (WS) wins by forfeit
285: Michael Rogers (WS) wins by forfeit
Four swing matches took place in the second "half" of the dual meet, and all went in favor of Wyoming Seminary. The match was tied at 10-10 after the major decision from Charles Tucker at 132 pounds. A pin by Matthew Kolodzik for Blair Academy over Will Verallis at 138 pounds, which was a rematch of last year's National Prep final, gave the Buccaneers a lead at 16-10.
The first of those four swing matches took place in the next bout at 145 pounds, where Danny Boychuck gave Wyoming Seminary a key momentum swing with a 3-2 decision over Michael Monica. Boychuck lost to Brent Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) in the Walsh Ironman quarterfinal, while Monica had split matches against Moore this season, including a crucial win the early January dual meet.
After the major decision by Jordan Kutler at 152 gave Blair a 20-13 lead, Wyoming Seminary would close the match winning six straight weight classes. It started with this swing bout between top 20 Class of 2016 prospects at 160 pounds. Chris Weiler scored a late takedown to upend Brandon Dallavia 6-4, and cut the Blue Knights' deficit down to 20-16. They would regain the lead for good in the next bout, when Nick Reenan secured a technical fall.
The next two matches were the dagger in the heart of Blair Academy. Christian Dietrich replicated a close victory at the Walsh Ironman, winning 3-1 in overtime over Chase Singletary at 182; then Zane Black would upend Neil Putnam by decision at 195, Ironman seventh over Ironman sixth in that one. Blair Academy would then forfeit the last two matches of the dual meet, with No. 9 David Showunmi not truly healthy enough to wrestle at 220 and not truly having a 285 pound wrestler.
As a result, Wyoming Seminary moves up two spots to No. 3 in the nation, while Blair Academy dropped one spot to No. 4 nationally. The Blue Knights would confirm their standing in the national rankings on Sunday afternoon when they traveled to Oradell, N.J., and came through with nine match victories in a victory over No. 11 Bergen Catholic.
Wyoming Seminary 31, Bergen Catholic 19
182: No. 11 Christian Dietrich (WS) dec. Kevin Mulligan, 6-2
195: Zane Black (WS) dec. Danny DeLorenzi, 6-4
220: Cole Nye (WS) maj. dec. Joe Caggiano, 11-3
285: Michael Rogers (WS) dec. Connor O'Brien, 5-2
106: Will Moss (WS) dec. Carmen Ferrante, 5-1
113: Evan Quinn (BC) pin Max Toman, 1:22
120: No. 2 Nick Suriano (BC) dec. No. 6 Jack Mueller, 1-0
126: Peter Lipari (BC) dec. Trent Olson, 5-3
132: John Busiello (WS) dec. Shane Griffith, 6-5
138: Lauren Angelhina (BC) dec. Will Verallis, 2-1
145: Brady Ford (BC) maj. dec. Patrick Munn
152: Jake Hendricks (WS) dec. Andrew Somple, 2-1 TB
160: No. 10 Chris Weiler (WS) pinned David Brennan, 0:51
170: No. 6 Nick Reenan (WS) dec. Joe Grello, 10-3
A very strong start in this Sunday afternoon dual meet gave the Blue Knights the necessary edge needed to take out home-standing Bergen Catholic. It was 16-0 after five bouts, including a couple of wins in matches that could be perceived as "swing bouts".
Bergen Catholic would respond, starting with a pin from Evan Quinn at 113 pounds, before arguably the two best Crusaders wrestlers came through with wins against solid Blue Knights' opposition. No. 2 Nick Suriano stayed undefeated for his in-season high school career with a 1-0 victory over No. 6 Jack Mueller at 120; while two-time state placer Peter Lipari outlasted National Prep runner-up Trent Olson 5-3 at 126 to cut the dual meet score to 16-12.
The 132 pound match, the ninth of the dual meet, was a crucial one. John Busiello came through with a 6-5 victory for Wyoming Seminary over the talented freshman Shane Griffith to end the Crusaders run of momentum, and extend the Blue Knights lead to 19-12. However, the next two bouts would go in favor of Bergen Catholic to tie the dual meet, including a 2-1 upset victory for Lauren Angelhina over National Prep runner-up Will Verallis at 138 pounds.
Wyoming Seminary took the lead for good with the 2-1 tiebreaker victory from Jake Hendricks at 152, before team anchors Chris Weiler (160) and Nick Reenan (170) closed out the 31-19 dual meet victory with a pin and 10-3 decision respectively.
That was not to say Bergen Catholic had a bad week by any stretch of the imagination, as they did earn a pair of dual meet victories over nationally ranked opposition.
Bergen Catholic 33, Don Bosco Prep 28
220: Eric Chakonis (DBP) dec. Joe Caggiano, 8-5
285: No. 2 Zach Chakonis (DBP) maj. dec. Connor O'Brien, 10-1
106: Carmen Ferrante (BC) pinned Tim Fyock, 1:06
113: Evan Deluise (DBP) dec. Evan Quinn, 3-1
120: No. 2 Nick Suriano (BC) pinned Matt Donelion, 1:07
126: Peter Lipari (BC) dec. Avery Shay, 5-1
132: Sam Cali (DBP) dec. Shane Griffith, 3-2
138: Kyle Bierdumpfel (DBP) pinned Lauren Angelhina, 5:33
145: Dominick Mandarino (DBP) dec. Brady Ford, 5-3
152: Andrew Somple (BC) dec. Andrew Rosenweig, 7-3
160: Taylor Shay (DBP) pinned David Brennan, 4:37
170: Joe Grello (BC) pinned Joe Napoleon, 1:30
182: Kevin Mulligan (BC) pinned Peter Accardi, 3:26
195: Danny DeLorenzi (BC) dec. Jeff Lombardi, 7-2
Bergen Catholic had to rally back from deficits three different times during the course of the dual meet, including a 28-18 deficit with three bouts remaining. The teams split the matches at seven apiece; however, it was bonus point victories that made the difference. Bergen Catholic won four matches by fall, compared to just two pins and a major decision for Don Bosco Prep. In addition, the four Ironmen decisions came by three points or less; while the three Bergen Catholic decisions were by four, four, and five points.
The dual meet started at 220 pounds, which meant the Chakonis brothers took to the mat for Don Bosco Prep. Eric came through with an 8-5 decision at 220, while No. 2 in the nation Zach scored a 10-1 major decision. It was three wins in the next four bouts to give Bergen Catholic a 15-10 lead through the 126 pound weight class. The Ironmen responded with wins in the next three matches, including a 3-2 decision at 132 and a 5-3 decision at 145, to open up a 22-15 lead.
The teams traded victories in the next pair of matches, with Taylor Shay's pin at the 4:37 mark giving Don Bosco Prep that 28-18 lead. Pins from state placers Joe Grello (170) and Kevin Mulligan (182) gave Bergen Catholic the lead at 30-28 to set up a "winner-take-all" match at 195 pounds, which Danny DeLorenzi won 7-2. However, this dual meet confirms that a Don Bosco Prep team at full personnel is more than formidable, and the Ironmen will move up to No. 25 nationally in this week's Fab 50.
No. 11 Bergen Catholic 42, No. 35 Bound Brook 16
170: No. 9 Josh Ugalde (BB) dec. Joe Grello, 1-0
182: Kevin Mulligan (BC) pinned Josue Sandoval, 3:59
195: Danny DeLorenzi (BC) pinned Aaron Saavedra, 0:59
220: Joe Caggiano (BC) dec. Abraham Saavedra, 3-2
285: Connor O'Brien (BC) pinned Ryan Galdamez, 1:56
106: Joe Casey (BB) dec. Carmen Ferrante, 3-1
113: Evan Quinn (BC) dec. Anthony Lopez, 8-7
120: No. 2 Nick Suriano (BC) wins by forfeit
126: Peter Lipari (BC) pinned Tyler McIntosh, 0:42
132: Shane Griffith (BC) dec. Nick Accetta, 4-0
138: Mekhi Lewis (BB) dec. Lauren Angelhina, 4-2
145: Stephan Glasgow (BB) dec. Brady Ford, 3-1
152: Sean Glasgow (BB) maj. dec. Andrew Somple, 12-3
160: David Brennan (BC) dec. George Walton, 7-5 SV
In the "undercard" bout before the showdown between Bergen Catholic and Wyoming Seminary, the battle of Crusaders was held with Bergen Catholic prevailing 42-16 as they took home victories in nine of the fourteen weight classes. Despite the margin being distant, seven of the fourteen matches were decided by two points or less, with Bound Brook holding a 4-3 edge in those bouts. The margin was significantly influenced by four pins and a forfeit all going in favor of Bergen Catholic.
The dual meet opened with a match between returning state placers, No. 9 Josh Ugalde of Bound Brook beat Joe Grello 1-0 at 170 pounds. However, Bergen Catholic responded with a pair of four match win streaks within the next nine bouts to take a 39-6 lead through ten bouts. All four pins and the one forfeit came within the stretch from 182 through 132 pounds. The dual meet was already clinched at that point.
Statement by Clovis lost within Blue Knights' Blaze
The pre-match hype for the dual meet this past Thursday between top ten in the nation neighbors from the Fresno, Calif. area was extremely high. It was the annual dual meet between Clovis and Buchanan, which this year was hosted in front of an overflow crowd at Buchanan. While the quality of the wrestling was extremely high, and did not disappoint the big crowd, the dual meet outcome was extraordinarily one sided.
Starting at 170 pounds, Clovis opened the match with five straight wins to take an 18-0 lead, and remove much of the starch out of the home crowd. The match opened with a one-point bout at 170 pounds, which returning state placer Josh Hokit (Clovis) won 3-2 over freshman Anthony Montalvo. State placer A.J. Nevills came thorugh with a pin over Cade Belshay at 182. Adam Prentice won a 7-5 overtime decision over Young Woo An at 195 pounds in a battle of top five ranked wrestlers in California. Similarly, top five wrestlers in California met at 220 with Seth Nevills earning a 4-1 decision over Kai Dill. Finally, in this opening salvo for the Cougars, Hexton Coronado upended Zach Levatino 10-4.
The host Bears would get on the board with a pin from Ethan Leake at 106 pounds. However, Clovis quickly removed hopes of a rally with a 23-6 technical fall from No. 2 Justin Mejia at 113, before returning state placer followed it up with a 7-1 decision over Ross Arve at 126.
Buchanan would cut that 26-6 deficit down to 26-12 with decisions in the next two bouts. Nominal reserve Joel Romero would score the 9-4 victory over Dylan Martinez at 126, as the Bears bumped their normal 126-138 starters up one weight class to cover for the injured Kyler Hansen at 145. No. 18 at 126 Durbin Lloren went up to the 132 weight class and scored an 8-2 victory over Brandon Martino.
In the next two weight classes, Khristian Olivas (Clovis) upended Dean Esquibel 9-2 at 138, while Greg Gaxiola (Buchanan) beat Jared Hill 7-5 in the 145 pound match. Clovis would close the dual meet out with three-time state placer Isaiah Hokit scoring a 10-2 major decision against returning state placer Connor Francis at 152; and two-time state qualifier Dominic Kincaid receiving a forfeit at 160, as state placer Abner Romero was out with an injury (note Kincaid is ranked No. 3 in California, while Romero is No. 4).
It is unfortunate, but due to national landscape, Clovis dropped one spot in the rankings to No. 5. That sounds extraordinarily convoluted, given a 10-4 match count win over the still No. 6 ranked Buchanan Bears.
No. 7 Franklin Regional survives stern tests in WPIAL Class 3A "Final Four"
Normally if one was to read a summary statement of "eight wrestlers (starting lineup positions) went a combined 3-13 during two dual meets," that would spell disaster. However, the six nationally ranked wrestlers for No. 7 Franklin Regional, Pa., compensated for that factoid with an 11-1 record of their own. The Panthers split the fourteen weight classes at seven-apiece in both the semifinal and final dual meet; however, they came through with victories in each match.
No. 7 Franklin Regional 32, North Allegheny 30
170: No. 2 (at 160) Josh Shields (FR) pinned Jacob Fritch, 1:08
182: Clay Byerly (NA) dec. Max Kubas, 3-2
195: Jeff Clemens (NA) pinned Theodore Wohlin, 1:59
220: Zach Smith (NA) pinned Jeremy Nestor, 1:50
285: Layne Skundrich (NA) dec. Jake Pickup, 3-1
106: Gabe Falo (NA) dec. Mark Prucnal, 5-4
113: No. 6 Devin Brown (FR) wins by forfeit
120: No. 1 Spencer Lee (FR) pinned Zach Stedeford, 4:35
126: No. 15 Gus Solomon (FR) dec. Luke Landefeld, 2-0
132: Jake Hinkson (NA) pinned Ryan Krause, 2:41
138: Dom Giannangelli (FR) dec. A.J. Boeh, 6-3
145: Sean Kalmeyer (NA) dec. Caleb Camacho, 4-0
152: No. 1 (at 145) Michael Kemerer (FR) maj. dec. Sean Hoover, 13-4
160: No. 6 (at 152) Josh Maruca (FR) maj. dec. Jake Woodley, 19-6
North Allegheny was able to make the semifinal dual meet competitive by winning three narrow decision matches early in the dual meet, which enabled the Tigers to take a 21-6 lead through six weight classes. From a lineup strategy standpoint within the first six matches, Franklin Regional bumped Shields up one weight class, while North Allegheny flipped their 195 and 220 from where they are lined up in individual tournament competition (something also done in the consolation final).
The three ranked lower-weights for Franklin Regional all came through with wins to level the dual meet at 21-21 through nine matches. Jake Hinkson would give North Allegheny a 27-21 lead with four matches to go, and then the crucial match of the dual meet took place at 138 pounds. In a battle of state qualification contenders, Dom Giannangelli came through with a 6-3 decision, which gave Franklin Regional the one win from other than the "Super Six" that they needed "on paper" to win the dual meet. Sean Kalmeyer would push the North Allegheny lead out to 30-24 with two to go. However, the Panthers had nationally ranked wrestlers taking to the mats, and they came through with major decisions respectively.
No. 7 Franklin Regional 33, No. 30 Belle Vernon 27
182: Austin Bell (BV) pinned Max Kubas
195: Milton Kobaly (BV) dec. Theodore Wohlin, 6-2
220: Mike Fine (BV) dec. Jeremy Nestor, 6-0
285: Billy Korber (BV) dec. Jake Pickup, 3-2 UTB
106: Jacob Dunlop (BV) pinned Unknown
113: Mark Prucnal (FR) pinned Elijah Johnson
120: Zach Hartman (BV) dec. No. 6 (at 113) Devin Brown, 8-5
126: No. 1 (at 120) Spencer Lee (FR) maj. dec. Brock Godzin
132: No. 15 (at 126) Gus Solomon (FR) maj. dec. Nelko Kurtz, 8-0
138: Mitch Hartman (BV) dec. Dom Giannangelli, 8-4
145: No. 1 Michael Kemerer (FR) dec. Jared Verkleeren, 7-4
152: No. 6 Josh Maruca (FR) maj. dec. Derek Verkleeren, 13-4
160: No. 2 Josh Shields (FR) pinned Josh Godzin, 1:34
170: Ryan DeLoach (FR) pinned Ian Dollata, 2:29
The WPIAL Class 3A final was like two dual meets put into one. The first half of the match was all for Belle Vernon, as the Leopards won six of seven matches to take a 24-6, but it was with three decisions and three pins. Within the stretch of the match, Belle Vernon bumped their normal starters at 170 and 182 up a weight class to avoid the possibility of Franklin Regional placing three-time state placer Josh Shields onto returning state qualifier Austin Bell at 170. Also, this part of the dual meet saw Franklin Regional bump their starters at 106-to-126 up to 113-to-132.
The underlying intent of this strategy for Franklin Regional was to go 4-1 in the five-match stretch from 106-to-132, instead of looking at just wins from their three ranked wrestlers, a loss at 106, and a tossup/underdog position at 132. However, that strategy did not work out when returning state champion Devin Brown, up a weight from his 113 weigh-in was upset by freshman Zach Hartman; Hartman had placed third at the Powerade five weeks prior.
The second half of the match was all Franklin Regional, as the Panthers won six of seven bouts. The difference being that five of their six wins in the stretch came with bonus points three major decisions and two pins. The two decisions in that stretch were the swing bouts. At 138, Belle Vernon got their last win, an 8-4 decision from Mitch Hartman over Dom Giannangelli. The result was a reversal from the mid-December dual meet, and gave the Leopards a 27-14 lead with four bouts to go.
However, No. 1 Michael Kemmerer won a 7-4 decision over No. 11 Jared Verkleeren to start the match-ending four weight class win streak for Franklin Regional. Josh Maruca's major decision and Josh Sheilds' pin set up the winner take all bout at 170, which was a win by fall at the 2:29 mark for Ryan DeLoach of Franklin Regional.
State Tournament Results -- Last Week
Tennessee -- dual meet Results
*Division I (Class AAA) -- champion was Cleveland
*Division I (Class A-AA) -- champion was Pigeon Forge
*Division II -- champion was The Baylor School
*Division II (Invitational) -- champion was Franklin Road Academy
State Tournaments -- This Coming Week
Dual Meet -- Pennsylvania (Thursday through Saturday), North Carolina (Saturday)
Individual Bracket -- Alaska (Class 4A)
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