HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING RANKINGS
One top-ranked wrestler was bumped from his perch and a slew of others were shuffled in their respective top-5s in the second installment of The Morning Call’s high school wrestling rankings.
A lot more movement is expected this week, which includes six area teams heading to Council Rock South for the Escape the Rock tournament. That comes three days after Nazareth and Northampton meet in an EPC matchup of long-standing rivals.
And, there should be several good bouts in Friday’s Saucon Valley at Wilson showdown in the Colonial League.
Last weekend saw Nazareth get tested at the Virginia Duals and Notre Dame-GP looking to reschedule its dual with national prep power Bergen Catholic. Many Blue Eagles faced strong competition for two days on their way to a third-place finish.
More importantly, a few promising young wrestlers got on the mat for the first time this season, including Pen Argyl’s Lucas Buskirk, Saucon Valley’s Ty Csencsits and Nazareth’s Sonny Sasso.
On with the rankings (records through Sunday):
106 pounds
1. Cael McIntyre, Bethlehem Catholic (12-4)
2. C.J. Horvath, Freedom (20-1) 3. Charlie Bunting, Nazareth (27-4) 4. Carson Wagner, Northampton (15-5)
5. Josh Jasionowicz, Stroudsburg (12-4)
Honorable mention: Marco Albanese, Emmaus (15-4); Zach
Borzio, Quakertown (18-8); Aaron Ciampittiello, Parkland (4-2); Josh Griffith, Pleasant Valley (15-5); Wilfred Jimenez, Whitehall (14-6); Evan Maag, Notre Dame-GP (12-7); Matt Milkowich, Upper Perkiomen (11-6); Jacob Nye, Catasauqua (8-5); Austin Oncay, Tamaqua (7-4); George Pultz, Pen Argyl (10-6); Connor Werner, Liberty (20-4).
Of note: McIntyre’s 5-3 decision over Horvath in a dual has those two flip-flopping at the top. I have a feeling those two will meet again. Bunting’s 6-0 week, including five wins at the 40th annual Virginia Duals make him a solid No. 3. Jasionowicz’s pin of previous No. 5 Werner brings the Stroudsburg junior into the rankings. Werner was 5-1 last week. In HM, Nye pinned Pultz. Albanese was 4-1 with four pins.
113
1. Brett Ungar, Notre Dame-GP (20-2)
2. Braxton Appello, Easton (10-3) 3. Javien DeLeon, Liberty (20-2) 4. Dante Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic (10-5)
5. Jaryn Hartranft, Catasauqua (14-0)
Honorable mention: Connor Bevan, Freedom (17-6); Jake Doone, Nazareth (15-6); Everett Lata, Pleasant Valley (12-7); Matt Martin, Upper Perkiomen (21-3); Todd McGann, Quakertown (17-5); Connor Nicholas, Saucon Valley (11-11); Mark Ortiz, Stroudsburg (10-7); William Schwartz, Jim Thorpe (14-4); Brenden Smay, Northern Lehigh (13-4); A.J. Stayton, Faith Christian (20-5); Gunnar Wagner, Northampton (12-6).
On the shelf: Tyler Kasak, Bethlehem Catholic (0-0)
Of note: Frinzi enters at No. 4 after he posted a technical fall over previous No. 4 Bevan in a dual.
Bevan also lost by major decision to Appello. Ungar, Appello, DeLeon and Hartranft did not lose. Doone had a 6-0 week. Schwartz had a 4-1 week. DeLeon majored McGann. Nicholas joins HM after a 5-1 week with five pins.
120
1. Brandan Chletsos, Notre Dame-GP (23-4)
2. Luis Vargas, Freedom (21-0)
3. Eric Alderfer, Faith Christian (22-2)
4. Andrew Harmon, Bethlehem Catholic (9-5)
5. Andreo Ferraina, Nazareth (18-9) Honorable mention: Lucas Buskirk, Pen Argyl (3-2); Ashton Campbell, Palisades (15-4); Johnny
Colon, Whitehall (13-7); Gavin Fehr, Catasauqua (12-5); Lukas Ferguson, Lehighton (8-4); Blaze Hartrum, Wilson (10-8); Kyle Miller, Quakertown (20-5); Ansar Niazi, Liberty (18-8); Franniel Reyes, Executive Education (8-3); Travis Riefenstahl, Saucon Valley (17-7); Landon Uhler, Bangor (13-7); Bryson Vaughn, Notre Dame-GP (4-1).
On the shelf: Alex Hanley, Northampton (0-2).
Of note: No movement here. Chletsos pinned Northwestern’s Jake Dellicker and majored Pen Argyl’s Lucas Buskirk, who just returned to the lineup after recovering from an injury. Vargas beat Harmon 7-5. Ferraina had a 3-3 week. In HM, Niazi had a 5-1 week, losing only to Miller. Colon was 6-1. Fehr won both his matches.
126
1. Ryan Crookham, Notre Dame-GP (21-1)
2. Matt Mayer, Bethlehem Catholic (5-2)
3. David Kreidler, Central Catholic (19-3)
4. Vinny DeSpirito, Quakertown (21-5)
5. Connor Huber, Freedom (16-4) Honorable mention: Austin Brett, Catasauqua (11-5); Jake Dellicker, Northwestern (12-8); Steve Fritzinger, Lehighton (13-7); Gabe Heaney, Jim Thorpe (16-5); Vinny Hebel, Nazareth (18-9); Cael Markle, Saucon Valley (18-8); Trey Miletics, Bethlehem Catholic (7-7); Dawson Miller, East Stroudsburg South
(11-4); Gabe Montanez, Parkland (9-9); Caden Poff, Bangor (14-5); Noah Reichelderfer, Northampton (12-7); John Samy, Salisbury (10-7); Blake Sheridan, Wilson (14-5).
On the shelf: Evan Camire, Emmaus (8-3); Andrew Smith, Nazareth (3-2).
Of note: Crookham had a pair of first-period pins. Mayer did not wrestle. Kreidler stays put at No. 3 despite losing twice — both close decisions to a pair of returning Class 2A state medalists, including champion Jackson Arrington of Forest Hills. DeSpirito moves up one spot after a 5-1 week that helped Quakertown knock off perennial District 1 power Council Rock South in a dual and win the dual-meet tournament the Panthers hosted. Huber enters at No. 5 after a 3-0 week in which he beat Montanez and Miletics. Hebel falls out of the top five after a 3-3 week. Buskirk beat Brett in his season debut. Reichelderfer beat Miller 1-0. Heaney had a 5-0 week. 132
1. Patrick Noonan, Stroudsburg
(17-3)
2. Evan Gleason, Bethlehem Catholic (18-5)
3. Chris Arciuolo, Saucon Valley (13-4)
4. Dagen Condomitti, Northampton (15-4)
5. Zack Lewis, Quakertown (17-2) Honorable mention: Braedon Alder, Salisbury (13-4); Xavier Arner, Whitehall (18-7); Josh Bauman, Notre Dame-GP (9-8); Kyron
Bryson, Easton (6-5); Nick Foster, Nazareth (6-5); Ben Griffith, Northwestern (14-6); Lucas Kern, Parkland (18-5); Reinaldo Lebron, Freedom (15-6); Dennis Lombardi, Palmerton (8-5); Nick Velde, Emmaus (10-7); Jerry Villanueva, Dieruff (5-5); Isiah Vizcarrondo, Faith Christian (17-9).
Of note: No change here. Noonan had a 5-0 week, including a major of Lewis, who was 5-1. Gleason, Arciuolo and Condomitti did not lose. In HM, Arner had a 5-1 week, losing only to a 2A Northeast Regional champ. He beat Foster 2-1. Kern had a 3-0 week. Alder won the Matness at the MACC title at Montgomery.
138
1. Kenny Herrmann, Bethlehem Catholic (18-2)
2. Holden Garcia, Notre Dame-GP (18-6)
3. Ethan Szerencsits, Northampton (16-3)
4. Jake Jones, Saucon Valley (21-5) 5. Kordell Waiters, Emmaus (14-2) Honorable mention: Attikos Clifford, Central Catholic (19-6); Tyler Cunningham, Whitehall (13-3); Dom DeFalco, Quakertown (21-4); Jon DeNato, Palisades (10-7); Bryan Diaz, Parkland (17-7); Thaddeus Howland, Freedom (9-7); Dustin Hunara, Wilson (7-5); Lorenzo Reto, Pen Argyl (12-6); Zach Rozanski, Upper Perkiomen (17-6); Lucas Sangiuliano, Lehighton (9-8); Randy Steigerwalt, Tamaqua (10-7); Blaine
Wilson, Nazareth (16-9).
On the shelf: Jeff Pasciak, Stroudsburg (8-1); Gavin Marks, Upper Perkiomen (7-3).
Of note: Herrmann picked up a win over Clifford, who was 7-2 and finished seventh at the Mid-Winter Mayhem. Garcia had a pair of bonus-point wins. Szerencsits had two, as well. Jones was 6-0 with five pins and a technical fall. Waiters, who was 5-0 with four pins and a forfeit, moves into No. 5 spot after Wilson has a 3-3 week against solid competition. In HM, Cunningham had a 6-1 week.
145
1. Jagger Condomitti, Northampton (17-1)
2. DaShawn Farber, Nazareth (16-5) 3. Steven Storm, Pocono Mountain East (21-2)
4. Matt Lackman, Bethlehem Catholic (8-2)
5. Jason Rezac, Liberty (21-3) Honorable mention: Devon Alder, Salisbury (10-7); Nick Alejandro, East Stroudsburg South (14-4); Trevor Amorim, Northern Lehigh (15-4); Ashtyn Berberena, Wilson (17-4); Chris Clifford, Central Catholic (20-6); Aaron Coccio, Tamaqua (9-8); Chris Colasurdo, Southern Lehigh (15-9); Joe Dolak, Parkland (15-5); Michael Gomes, Freedom (12-5); Jamar Harrison, Allen (11-5); Patrick McCoy, Quakertown (16-7); Andy Muzika, Faith Christian (14-6); Mason Smeland, Palisades (16-6); Thomas Spirk, Saucon Valley (21-5); Shane Storm, Freedom (19-5).
On the shelf: Michael Gomes, Freedom (11-3).
Of note: No change here. Condomitti became the 37th Northampton wrestler to reach 100 career wins. Farber also reached the milestone in a 5-1 week with a onepoint loss at Virginia Duals. Storm was 5-1 and finished third at MidWinter Mayhem at IUP, losing in SV to a returning 2A state medalist. Lackman was 2-0 and Rezac was 6-0, including bonus-point wins over McIntyre at 152 and McCoy. In HM, Spirk was 6-0. Harrison was 5-1. Clifford was 6-3 and finished fifth at Mid-Winter Mayhem. Amorim was 2-0, beating Berberena, Colasurdo. Berberena beat Smeland.
152
1. Cole Handlovic, Bethlehem Catholic (17-4)
2. Ben Haubert, Palisades (15-3) 3. Jake Dressler, Nazareth (17-6) 4. Gino Ianelli, Pocono Mountain East (19-6)
5. Anthony Micci, Wilson (15-5) Honorable mention: Harrison Bernhard, Northwestern (18-6); C.J. Fritz, Northampton (8-3); Wayne McIntyre, East Stroudsburg North (16-5); Tyler Pfizenmayer, Saucon Valley (16-9); Aaron Sanchez, Quakertown (12-6); Gavin Sandt, Bangor (15-11); Caleb Sell, Tamaqua (13-6); James Syracuse, Pleasant Valley (14-5); Luke Yatcilla, Parkland (12-9). Of note: Top three stay the same. Haubert won a close match with Micci, who enters at No. 5. Ianelli, seventh at the Mid-Winter Mayhem, moves up one to No. 4. McIntyre drops to HM after a 4-3 week included getting pinned by Harrison (moving up) and Rezac, who also moved. up. Sanchez had a 5-1 week to join HM.
160
1. Andrew Cerniglia, Notre Dame-GP (17-1)
2. Matt Arciuolo, Saucon Valley
(22-1)
3. Max Schultz, Faith Christian (22-3)
4. Nathan Stefanik, Nazareth (16-4) 5. Jamir Jiminez, Bethlehem Catholic (4-2)
Honorable mention: Patrick Carrillo, Freedom (12-7); Kai Clark, Whitehall (17-6); Nick DeNave, Southern Lehigh (14-5); Shawn Gardner, Palmerton (11-4); Kyle Goodwin, Quakertown (17-7); Jared Groller, Emmaus (12-3); Dylan
Hogan, East Stroudsburg North (15-7); Colby Judd, Northampton (11-4); Chris Jurado, Freedom (12-8); Eric Moyer, Panther Valley (6-5); Zach Orsargos, Stroudsburg (9-7); Christian Reid, Liberty (16-9); Jared Reto, Bangor (16-7); Manuel Rodriguez, Allen (14-7).
Of note: Only change here is a flip flop of Schultz and Stefanik. Schultz became first four-year wrestler at Faith Christian to reach 100 career victories. Stefanik was 3-2, including a major of Clark. A shame Notre Dame-GP’s match with Bergen Catholic was postponed. Cerniglia and his mates would have faced tough competition. Arciuolo was
6-0 with four pins and two technical falls. Jiminez won his two matches. In HM, Rodriguez had a 6-0 week and Groller was 5-0 with five pins. He moves here from 170. Reid was 5-1.
170
1. Lenny Pinto, Stroudsburg (20-1) 2. Connor Herceg, Nazareth (23-2) 3. Dom Falcone, Easton (8-2)
4. Dane Csencsits, Saucon Valley (20-4)
5. Kevin Hennessy, Liberty (20-5) Honorable mention: Anthony DeRosa, Bethlehem Catholic (5-2); Anthony Diaz, Executive Education (7-5); Tommy Flud, Upper
Perkiomen (9-8); Rich Fronheiser, Lehighton (12-1); Danny Kelleher, Palisades (12-7); Ben Krauss, Salisbury (11-6); Matt Lalik, Palmerton (11-5); Ceasar Lewis, Pocono Mountain West (10-5); Jared Newhall, Jim Thorpe (17-2); Dusten Pompei, Quakertown (13-7); Traisach Roland, Northampton (17-5); Gavin Sandt, Bangor (15-11); Cayden Trimmer, Wilson (15-3); Damon Waltenbaugh, Faith Christian (9-0); Tyler Watson, Northwestern (10-6); Alex Womack, Pleasant Valley (17-2).
On the shelf: Jaden Youwakim, Bethlehem Catholic (0-1); Carson Krell, Tamaqua (5-3).
Of note: Hennessy was the only one of the top five to suffer a loss. He was 5-1 last week, losing to a returning 3A regional runnerup. Pinto was 5-0 with four pins totaling 4 minutes, 36 seconds. Herceg was 6-0. Falcone was 2-0 and Csencsits 4-0. In HM, DeRosa was 2-0 with two pins. Newhall was 5-0 with five pins. Fronheiser had six pins among his 7-0 showing. Womack 4-0 and was first at Danville’s Iron Hammer Invitational.
182
1. Drew Clearie, Nazareth (20-6) 2. Caden Wright, Emmaus (16-2) 3. Isaiah Reinert, Easton (11-5) 4. Derek Berlitz, Notre Dame-GP (9-3)
5. Braydyn Lugardo, Saucon Valley (13-7)
Honorable mention: Ty Csencsits, Saucon Valley (2-0); Dom DiDomenico, Upper Perkiomen (12-7); Ajay Hiller, East Stroudsburg South (11-8); Micah Kunkle, Quakertown (7-4); Caleb McDermott, Jim Thorpe (12-8); Charlie Maloy, Pocono Mountain West (13-3); Adam Reinhart, Catasauqua (13-4); Alec Snyder, Wilson (16-3); Britton Walter,
Faith Christian (13-7); Nate Wickersham, Tamaqua (14-3); Alex Zeigenfuss, Lehighton (11-7).
On the shelf: Gavin Dorn, Pleasant Valley (6-2); Riley Gallagher, Northampton (7-6).
Of note: Clearie (5-1) was the only one to lose among the top five, but he’s not budging. It came by decision to returning state champion and unbeaten Gerrit Nijenhuis of Canon-McMillan in the third-place match of the Virginia Duals. Wright was 5-0 with four pins. Reinert and Berlitz were 2-0 each. Lugardo was 3-0. Csencsits made his season debut after recovering from a football injury with a pair of first-period pins.
195
1. Logan Green, Pennridge (18-3) 2. Jon Owens, Pocono Mountain West (12-2)
3. Leo Muzika, Faith Christian (16-1) 4. Isaac Kassis, Dieruff (14-1) 5. Justus Bozzi, Bethlehem Catholic (8-5)
Honorable mention: De’Antay Alston, Panther Valley (6-2); Joe Capobianco, Nazareth (10-5); Garrett Fitzgerald, Parkland (8-5); Chris Frable, Pleasant Valley (16-2); Matt Frame, Northern Lehigh (10-8); Collin Gill, Southern Lehigh (13-10); Ryan Havercamp, Northwestern (10-6); Kendall Herron, Jim Thorpe (11-8); Gavin Kreschollek, Palisades (9-7); Juwan Little, Stroudsburg (9-7); Max Marrero, Freedom (17-5); Kyle Perl, Northampton (10-6); Josh Pittenger, Bangor (12-7); Freddie Retter, Quakertown (13-9); Sonny Sasso, Nazareth (1-2); Jason Sine, Notre Dame-GP (11-7); Austin Wickham, Wilson (9-3).
On the shelf: Tavion Banks, Bethlehem Catholic (1-0); Chase Levey, Nazareth (1-1).
Of note: Green won his only bout last week. Owens was 6-0 with three pins. Bozzi pinned Marrero, so he enters at No. 5. Marrero is bumped out. Muzika and Kassis, after a 4-0 week, each move up one spot. In HM, Frable was 3-0 and finished first at Danville’s Iron Hammer.
220
1. Stephen Schott, Nazareth (21-6) 2. Matt Cruise, Easton (10-4)
3. Kolby Flank, Wilson (20-1)
4. Blake Lambert, Northampton (13-4)
5. Brett Gasker, Lehighton (15-3) Honorable mention: Jerome Balliet, Tamaqua (8-2); Matt Bogardo, Freedom (14-4); Alex Brunetti, Pocono Mountain East (11-8); Aiden Compton, Pen Argyl (10-5); Cody Lafaver, Emmaus (9-5); Ralph Martin, Quakertown (13-9); Zaire Mitchell, Liberty (18-8); Randy Okungu, Whitehall (12-7); Nick Paredes, East Stroudsburg North (11-10); Glenn Pittius, Pocono Mountain West (8-4); Zach Scheirer, Catasauqua (9-6); Jullian Sparks, Stroudsburg (13-3).
Of note: Schott had a 5-1 week and stays No. 1. Cruise and Flank, who has won 11 in a row since losing at the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic to Cruise, stay 2-3, respectively. Lambert had a pair of bonuspoint wins and stays at No. 4. Martin drops out after a 3-2 week. In HM, Gasker was 7-0 with five pins. That’s good enough to replace Martin at No. 5. Mitchell continues his steady progression with a 5-1 week.
285
1. Karam Chakif, Allen (13-1)
2. Derek Hunter, Jim Thorpe (17-1) 3. Bronson Strouse, Tamaqua (16-1) 4. Nick Warnke, Saucon Valley
(23-2)
5. Lavonte Bouie, Catasauqua (9-5) Honorable mention: Matt Burton, Nazareth (11-8); Riley Craft, Southern Lehigh (12-4); Kyle Harris, East Stroudsburg North (13-6); Makei Hubert, Northampton (8-6); Sebastian Khamis, Stroudsburg (12-5); Jeremy McGuigan, Quakertown (22-4); Nick Rode, Parkland (15-9); Roger Russell, Wilson (16-3); James Santichen, Emmaus (12-7); Josh Schaffer, Northern Lehigh (13-5); Aaron Williams, Pocono Mountain East (14-9).
Of note: Chakif had a 4-0 week. Hunter was 5-0 with three pins. Strouse was 6-0. So was Warnke, who had five falls. Bouie, who played hero with a pin to win the Pen Argyl dual, moves into the rankings at No. 5. He replaces Craft, who lost to Warnke and Schaffer. In HM, McGuigan was 6-0 with four pins. He’s won 12 in a row. Burton had a 4-1 week. Russell majored Schaffer.