Rankings full of final movements
Minus the abbreviated PIAA
Team Wrestling Championships, the condensed 2021 season is over.
It was a wild postseason ride for District 11 competitors, capped by some unpredictable results at last weekend’s state tournament at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Huge upsets. Disappointing results. Overachieving. And medals for everyone who competed there.
It all produced another reshuffling of the final top-10 pound-for-pound rankings. Only the top three, who walked away with PIAA gold, stayed put.
Enjoy a healthy debate.
10. Ayden Smith, Notre Dame-GP
Year: Fr.
Weight: 106
Last week: Unranked
What happened: He lost to eventual state champion Louie Gill of Hickory in the quarterfinals thanks to two near-fall points late in the third period. He finished fourth after an 8-4 loss to returning state champion Brandon Wentzel of Montoursville.
Next up: He will be part of Notre Dame-GP’s run later this month in the PIAA Class 2A Team Wrestling Championships.
9. Dante Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic (15-2) Year: Jr. Weight: 120 Last week :9 What happened:
He was
2-2 to finish fourth. He gave up a five-point move early in the third period of his semifinal to Chambersburg’s Karl Shindledecker. He lost in the third-place match after giving up a five-point move late in the first period to Dover’s Mason Leiphart.
Next up: He will be part of Bethlehem Catholic’s run later this month in the PIAA Class 3A Team Wrestling Championships.
8. Nate Wickersham, Tamaqua (25-3)
Year: Sr.
Weight: 215
Last week: Unranked
What happened: He allowed one point in three victories on the way to third place. He lost to eventual state champion Dayton Pitzer of Mount Pleasant in the semis.
Next up: To college where he hopes to continue wrestling.
7. Dom Falcone, Easton (15-1)
Year: Sr.
Weight: 172
Last week :10
What happened: Falcone allowed four points in three state victories to take third. He lost to eventual champion Luca Augustine 3-2 in the semis.
Next up: Headed to ArmyWest Point in the fall.
6. Drew Clearie, Nazareth (13-3)
Year: Sr.
Weight: 189
Last week: Unranked
What happened: Clearie ran into Spring-Ford standout Joey Milano again in the semifinals before rebounding to take third. Milano became his school’s first state champion.
Next up: Headed to Brown University in the fall.
5. Brandan Chletsos, Notre Dame-GP (15-1)
Year: Jr.
Weight: 132
Last week :4
What happened: Chletsos controlled his first two matches before running into a national stud in Forest Hills junior Jackson Arrington in the final.
Next up: Another grind of an offseason to make that fourth trip to the state podium a golden
one.
4. Sean Kinney, Nazareth (11-2)
Year: Fr.
Weight: 285
Last week: Unranked
What happened : He knocked off state No. 1 Isaiah Vance of Hempfield Area in the semis, then took state No. 2 and 2019 state champion
Nate Schon of Selinsgrove into overtime before coming up just short. He made watching heavyweights fun again.
Next up: A likely state No. 1 ranking in all the 2021-22 preseason polls.
3. Tyler Kasak, Bethlehem Catholic (15-0) Year: Weight:
So.
126
Last week What happened:
:3
He won his quarterfinal without a takedown, 2-1 over Central Dauphin’s Matt Repos on a penalty point. He then handled Central Mountain freshman Luke Simcox in the semis before getting an escape with 31 seconds left in the final against 150-match winner Carter Dibert of Franklin Regional to capture his first state title.
Next up: He will be part of Bethlehem Catholic’s bid later this month for another PIAA Class 3A Team Wresting title.
2. Brett Ungar, Notre Dame-GP (14-0)
Year: Sr.
Weight: 120
Last week :2
What happened: He scored a takedown in sudden victory to knock off Reynolds’ Gary Steen in the state semis, then decked Bishop McCort’s Mason Gibson early in the third period of the final to win his first gold medal.
Next up: The Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic on Friday, April 2.
1. Jagger Condomitti, Northampton (16-0) Year: Sr. Weight: 160 Last week :1 What happened:
He scored a takedown with four seconds left in the third period of the state final, then got another one with three seconds left in sudden victory to capture his first gold medal in dramatic fashion.
Next up: The Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic on Friday, April 2, if his left ankle is healthy enough.
Dropped out
No. 8 Ben Haubert, Palisades (26-3); No. 7 Carson Wagner, Northampton (14-2); No. 6 Holden Garcia, Notre Dame-GP (15-3); No. 5 Evan Gleason, Bethlehem Catholic (15-2)
Honorable mention (in alphabetical order)
Eric Alderfer, Faith Christian; Charlie Bunting, Nazareth; Dagen Condomitti, Northampton; Matt Cruise, Easton; Josh Jones, Saucon Valley; Mason Ziegler, Quakertown.
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Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com