Falcons, Tigers, Skins hoping to be in mix for SOL crown
Although most everyone seems to agree the road to the Suburban One National League championship probably goes through one of the Council Rocks, it is encouraging to note the Pennsbury High School wrestling team is once again very part of the mix.
Once one of the top programs in the enWLUH DUHD, 3HQQVEuUy LV PDNLQJ VLJQLfiFDQW progress under second-year coach Phil Kealey. The schedule has been improved, the Falcons look strong in most of the weights and there’s a new sense of optimism in Fairless Hills following a dry spell.
Also keep an eye on Truman, which isn’t among the conference’s elite teams, but could have a .500 season if a few things fall right.
STRENGTHS: Led by DiSanto, the Falcons have one of the best sets of lightweights around. On course to be the school’s all-time winningest wrestler, DiSanto has 107 career victories after winning a region title and taking a seventh at states. DiEmidio has 82 career wins and was second at regions last year. Bing has 73 career wins and was third at regions. The team also has some strengths up top with 2’BULHQ DQG UHJLRQ TuDOLIHU 7HVVHLQ. 7KH
OUTLOOK: In addition to all the individual honors, Pennsbury projects as one RI WKH WRS fivH WHDPV LQ WKH DUHD. 7KH WHDP VKRuOG FKDOOHQJH IRU D OHDJuH WLWOH, TuDOLIy for the District 1 Duals, and be a force in sections and districts.
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STRENGTHS: The Tigers are best at the fiUVW DQG ODVW wHLJKWV. 1uWWDO wDV 24-8 DV D freshman, while Seiberlich was 27-11 DeNofa, Huber and Goodman were all over .500. Schiotis showed promise as a freshman before getting hurt last year.
OUTLOOK: If Truman can get some points out of the middle, it will have the ability to beat a lot of the lesser teams and put together a winning season.
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The Redskins went just 3-4 against SOL National Conference foes last season with wins against Truman, William Tennent and Abington. Neshaminy lost to both Rocks, Pennsbury, and Bensalem. With only two wrestlers graduating in 2012, the ‘Skins returned most everyone else including Section One champions Ryan O’Connor at 145 and Kody Lupfer at 182.
“We think we can compete for a league title though the ultimate goal is to get as many guys through regions and on to states,” said Neshaminy head coach Dan Winter.
Along with 2012 graduate Harry Wilson, O’Connor (3rd in District I) and Lupfer (4WK) TuDOLfiHG IRU UHJLRQV ODVW yHDU. APRQJ VRPH RI WKH UHWuUQLQJ JUDSSOHUV wKR TuDOLfiHG IRU GLVWULFWV LQ 2012 DUH DRPLQLF 6WDELOLWR, wKR fiQLVKHG IRuUWK DW VHFWLRQDOV DQG goe Simcox, who took third. Dan Rudolph, DQRWKHU GLVWULFW TuDOLfiHU wLWK D WKLUG-SODFH trophy at sections, has since graduated.
Among the pleasant surprises thus far for the Redskins is heavyweight Bruce Graeber who went 4-1 Dec. 8 at the nuakertown Duals.
“We like the work being turned in by our freshman classs so far,” said Winter. “Bruce went 4-1 with four falls and that’s not an easy thing to do for a freshman 2S0-pounder.
“We are expecting a lot of good things from him this year.”
Neshaminy went 2-3 in the nuakertown Duals with wins against Hazleton Area and the host team, both by the same 4527 score. The ‘Skins dropped dual meets against Wyoming salley West 42-24 and Upper Perkiomen (45-27) along with a close one with Pittston Area, 39-33.
Neshaminy competed in the Penn Manor Tournament Dec. 13 and 14 in Millersville. The Skins open SOL National competition Dec. 19 at home against Bensalem.