Youth gets served in postseason
Nazareth freshman Kinney among the district champs
Four powerhouse programs combined to win all District 11 Class 3A gold: Nazareth, Northampton, Easton and Bethlehem Catholic. Five Colonial League schools totaled the 13 Class 2A first-place medals, led by Notre Dame-GP’s eight.
However, in a COVID-19-impacted season in which many wrestlers opted not to participate or stopped at some point, there was a common theme from both tournaments: Youth was served.
Many newcomers were finding their way to the medal stands, including some who came to the district events with no varsity experience. Nazareth freshman Sean Kinney led the charge. He won the 285-pound bracket — arguably the hardest one to win as a ninth-grader.
Kinney is the first 3A freshman to medal at heavyweight since Freedom’s Cordell Cotto was sixth in 2013. Only five freshmen the previous two decades have medaled at the highest weight, including Nazareth’s Brandon Lance who was second in 2012.
The Blue Eagle is the first freshman to claim district gold since at least 1996.
Three other freshmen claimed district gold this year, including 2A outstanding wrestler Dalton Clymer of Northwestern at 145.
Seven sophomores and seven juniors also were on the top step of the podium Sunday. Seniors were first in only eight of 26 brackets.
Seeds held true in most brackets in both classes in what is considered by some as a rebuilding season for District 11. Only four 3A wrestlers seeded fifth or lower secured regional berths: No. 11 Noah Okamoto of