Two sides of scale

Wilson’s DiBiagio, Salisbury’s Miller deal with weighty issues

Giovanni DiBiagio struggled mightily last season with his weight. Sweets were the main culprit.

The Wilson junior has a better grip this year on his diet, which is why the weight cut after Christmas went smoothly.

“Eating is the main thing, what I put into my body,” DiBiagio said. “I know what I’m doing now. I was a big sweet tooth, but ever since last year when I was cutting a lot of weight I basically gave [sweets] up.

“I eat fish, any seafood, fruit before my matches. That gets me through it.”

DiBiagio bounced back after a disappointing blood-round loss at Saturday’s Ultimate Duals to win Sunday’s Colonial League championship at 114 pounds.

Mitch Miller has the opposite issue. He could eat whatever he wanted for days and still be outweighed by 20, 30, 40 pounds or more every match in the 285-pound class.

The Salisbury senior maintains a healthy diet and sits around 228 pounds, so his adjustments come on the mat.

“I’ve got to prepare to wrestle bigger boys,” Miller said Sunday after winning the Colonial League title. “These guys are big, but there’s always someone bigger. It doesn’t end here.

“You have to have a lot more patience because there are smaller windows when you’re wrestling big guys. You have to watch to not get thrown, especially at my weight. It grounds you a lot better.”

Miller is 22-4 this season. Those four setbacks came against opponents who were much closer to 285 pounds than 228.

He is hoping to reach the state tournament this season after finishing one win shy last year while part of Central Catholic’s team. Salisbury and Central Catholic now have a cooperative agreement.

Miller’s 7-2 decision in the Colonial League final was his first win this season by decision. He has 18 pins and three forfeits.

DiBiagio (19-8) has a similar goal. He didn’t place at last year’s Class 2A Southeast Regional at 107 pounds.

He believes experience, an improved diet and offseason training give him a better chance.

“For most lighter weights,” he said, “they are doing the same thing. It’s not just me [cutting weight]. I love cross country and that really helps me with my training. And I’m eating right.”

LEHIGH VALLEY WRESTLING RANKINGS

(through Sunday)

107 POUNDS

1. Jr. Ayden Smith, Notre DameGP (26-3): Did not wrestle

2. Fr. Keanu Dillard, Bethlehem Catholic (4-0): Four takedowns in win over Malvern Prep

3. So. Colby Martinelli, Pennridge (19-4): 2-0 week, including a 20-second pin

4. Fr. Kole Davidheiser, Faith Christian (21-7): Off week

5. So. Jasiah Pagan, Liberty (236): Won 10 in a row, all by bonus

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order):

Tanner Berkenstock, Notre Dame-GP (10-7); Hunter Brown, Stroudsburg (17-10); Connor Dugan, Lehighton (13-12); Ben Godshall,

Upper Perkiomen (22-6); Wilmont Kai, Whitehall (21-6); Griffin King, Southern Lehigh (26-7); Jackson Max, Emmaus (13-10); Santino Micci, Wilson (21-6); Evan Reed, Catasauqua (18-10); Eli Russ, Parkland (13-10); Aiden Schlier, Tamaqua (25-9); Nick Salamone, Easton (20-6); Melvian Serrano, Executive Education (8-7); Brock Schneiderwind, Palisades (19-11); Matt Sommer, Northampton (11-8); Mason Stiff, Pocono Mountain East (14-12); Remy Trach, Nazareth (16-9)

On the shelf: Lincoln Botero, Faith Christian (0-0); Ethan Nothstein, Lehighton (17-6)

Of note: Dillard was impressive in his first sixminute varsity action against Malvern Prep’s Tyler Conroy. Pagan replaces Micci at No. 5 after a dominant run. Micci was second to Berkenstock at the Colonial League tournament. In honorable mention, Kai pinned Max. Salamone majored Russ.

114

1. So. Nathan Desmond, Bethlehem Catholic

(21-1): Beat Malvern’s Lukas Littleton-Mascara for second time this month

2. Jr. Cole Coffin, Pennridge (25-2): 2-0 week including a technical fall

3. Jr. Aidan Gruber, Lehighton (28-3): Won by major decision in only action vs. Blue Mountain

4. Jr. Blake Dergham, Parkland (24-6): 2-0 week with a technical fall, forfeit

5. Jr. Dominic Rizzotto, Nazareth (12-8): Off week

Honorable mention: Zach Berwick, Stroudsburg (23-7); Brendan Bowman, Easton (13-13); Zayne Dayoub, Northampton (13-12); Giovanni DiBiagio, Wilson (198); Gavin Hacker, Catasauqua (11-8); Steven Korte, Jim Thorpe (23-7); Evan Moretz, Freedom (4-5); Carter Smith, Bangor (15-9); Gabe Tulone, Upper Perkiomen (24-7); Isaac Williams, Quakertown (23-8)

On the shelf: Fr. Owin Brunner, Faith Christian (8-5); Justin Kuehn, Panther Valley (13-7)

Of note: Desmond beat Littleton-Mascara again in Saturday night’s intense dual meet. None of the top five lost last week. In HM, DiBiagio had a 5-1 week. He edged Smith in the semis and pinned Hacker in the Colonial League final.

121

1. So. Gauge Botero, Faith Christian (28-2): Off week

2. Sr. C.J. Horvath, Freedom (24-3): Won his 100th career match against Stroudsburg

3. Jr. Mason Ziegler, Quakertown (27-4): 2-0 week with two pins

4. Sr. Carson Wagner, Northampton (22-7): Majored Raymond in only action

5. So. Cole Hubert, Saucon Valley (26-8): 4-0 week, beat Feltman again for CL title

Honorable mention: Ryder Campbell, Bethlehem Catholic (11-4); Aaron Ciampittiello, Parkland (129); Gabe Erbe, Tamaqua (269); Cooper Feltman, Notre Dame-GP (12-10); Mikhail Hartranft, Catasauqua (24-8); Jack Jasionowicz, Stroudsburg (16-6); Chris Kelly, Easton (15-9); Aiden Knorr, Pen Argyl (15-9); Eddie Lauritsen, Pleasant Valley (187); Cody Mazzocca, Northern Lehigh (14-11); Josh Merkel, Palmerton (16-15); Damond Pascoe, Whitehall (11-8); Scotty Raymond, Pocono Mountain East (9-7); Zane Saeger, Upper Perkiomen (13-7)

On the shelf: Cole Campbell, Bethlehem Catholic (5-5); Savannah Witt, Palisades (9-8)

Of note: Ziegler one win shy of 100 after dominating both his matches, including the District 1 Class 3A team duals opener. Horvath won his 100th match last week with a technical fall. Hubert looks strong at that weight.

He had two first-period pins before majoring Feltman in the league final. In HM, Ciampittiello returned after two health issues.

127 1. Fr. Trey Wagner, Northampton (23-6):

Technical fall over Marrero in only action

2. Jr. Ben Fanelli, Easton (17-7): Majored DelVecchio in lone match

3. So. Shane McFillin, Bethlehem Catholic (10-5): 1-1 week, lost to Malvern’s nationally ranked Nick O’Neill

4. Fr. Arment Waltenbaugh, Faith Christian (12-4): Off week

5. Jr. Branden Rozanski, Upper Perkiomen (23-4): 2-0 week

Honorable mention: Logan Armstrong, Emmaus (14-11); Jake Brown, Stroudsburg (22-8); Phoenix DelVecchio, Parkland (17-10); Jack Evans, Liberty (14-7); Aiden Grogg, Saucon Valley (28-5); Gavyn Kelton, Notre Dame-GP (10-10); David M’Balla,

Wilson (16-11); Josh Marrero, Pocono Mountain East (10-7); Dayvion Marshman, Whitehall (10-6); Brendan Nye, Catasauqua (9-9); Jonny O’Brien, Faith Christian (15-9); Logan Pfistner, Quakertown (18-12); Collin Ramsay, Pen Argyl (21-5); Angelo Ziccardi, Palisades (16-13)

On the shelf: So. Tahir Parkins, Nazareth (10-2); Fr. Colby Townley, Salisbury (4-2)

Of note: No movement here. McFillin’s loss was the most impressive. He was pinned in the first period a couple weeks earlier by O’Neill, who is ranked 16th nationally. In HM, Grogg was 4-0 last week, including a pin of Ramsay in the Colonial League final. Ramsay returned from the shelf over the week and was 6-4 combined at Ultimate Warrior and CL. 133 1. Sr. Cael McIntyre, Bethlehem Catholic (18-7): 1-1 week, loss to MP’s Jack Consiglio

2. Sr. Charlie Bunting, Nazareth (20-4): Off week

3. Jr. Keegan Demarest, Pocono Mountain East (27-4): 2-0 week including decision over Micheli

4. Fr. Mason Wagner, Faith Christian (24-6): Off week

5. Kam Abboud, Liberty (21-6): Won 12 in a row since a loss to Bunting

Honorable mention: Kam Abboud, Liberty (21-6); Marco Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic (8-0); Michael

Fuller, Bangor (10-7); Brandon Godshall, Upper Perkiomen (22-9); Rider Heckman, Wilson (17-9); John Haubert, Palisades (24-7); Leo Kern, Parkland (14-11); Dillon Lombardi, Palmerton (20-9); Aidan Micheli, Northampton (16-11); John Samy, Salisbury (23-5); Ridge Snyder, Jim Thorpe (20-11); Evan Wentz, Lehighton (21-8); Cam Wickemeyer, Freedom (17-13)

On the shelf: Jonanthan Cordon-Pinto, Catasauqua (5-4); Aidan McNulty, Bangor (0-0); Hector Mateo, Saucon Valley (17-7)

Of note: Nine of Abboud’s last 12 wins in a row were by bonus points. He replaces Micheli at No. 5. In HM, Haubert held off Samy in the semifinals and majored Heckman to win the Colonial League title. Samy beat Fuller for third.

139

1. So. Kollin Rath, Bethlehem Catholic (22-1): Knocked off Malvern’s Spencer Barnhart

2. Sr. Oliver Fairchild, Easton (20-4): Pin in only match

3. Fr. Jack Campbell, Nazareth (21-6): Off week

4. Fr. Shane Wagner, Faith Christian (11-4): Off week

5. Sr. Bryson Vaughn, Notre Dame-GP (17-10): Did not wrestle

Honorable mention:

Jackson Albert, Saucon

Valley (26-8); Gavin Carroll, Quakertown (8-0); Roy Cobb, Upper Perkiomen (14-6); Adriaan DeLeon, Liberty (20-5); Chase Hontz, Faith Christian (24-8); Derek King, Palmerton (24-8); Sam Kuhns, Pennridge (20-7); Austin Noe, Northampton (18-9); Seth Pascoe, Whitehall (15-8); Keenan

Ray, Freedom (13-13); Xayden Sallit, Emmaus (11-10); Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh (17-12); Nick Zeigenfuss, Lehighton (19-12)

Of note: Don’t be fooled by the scores of some of Rath’s matches. He’s nonstop action. The sophomore knocked off another top-flight talent to start a five-bout winning streak that propelled Bethlehem Catholic past Malvern Prep. In HM, Pascoe beat Sallit in a 3-0 week. Kuhns has a pin and technical fall. Albert 4-0, including three pins to win the Colonial League title.

145

1. So. Collin Gaj, Quakertown (30-0): 2-0 week with a pin, forfeit

2. So. Vince Bouzakis, Notre Dame-GP (24-7): Did not wrestle

3. So. Max Stein, Faith Christian (27-7): Off week

4. Sr. Marco Albanese, Emmaus (22-6): Forfeit in only match

5. So. Charlie Scanlan, Bethlehem Catholic (18-7): Beat Malvern Prep’s Sean O’Donnell

Honorable mention: Joey Bodnar, Freedom (18-8);

Jake Doone, Nazareth (20-7); Gavin Fehr, Catasauqua (264); Quentin Hammerstone, Easton (13-9); Richard Kenna, Jim Thorpe (16-13); Tristan Minnich, Wilson (14-7); Gabe Sanfelice, Upper Perkiomen (17-12)

On the shelf: Braedon Alder, Southern Lehigh (12-5); Caleb Gaffney, Palmerton (0-0); Cael Harmon, Pocono Mountain East (13-4)

Of note: Scanlan’s last three losses were to Gaj and Bouzakis twice. He replaces Doone at No. 5. Fehr is two wins shy of 100 for his career after winning the Colonial League title with a technical fall and a pin.

152

1. Fr. Cael Weidemoyer, Faith Christian (20-3): Off week

2. Sr. Liam Scrivanich, Saucon Valley (32-4): 4-0 week, CL champion

3. Jr. Jake Dailey, Bethlehem Catholic (23-7): Pivotal win over Nathan Rickards

4. Sr. Zach Borzio, Quakertown (27-6): 2-0 week with 2 first-period pins

5. Sr. Ryan Santiago, Liberty (20-5): 2-0 week with 2 first-period pins

Honorable mention: Mason Beckowski, Saucon Valley (15-7); Cade Campbell, Nazareth (17-8); Jacob Ferguson, Lehighton (23-11); James Geiger, Easton (18-7); Gio Iadonisi, Pennridge (16-8); Daniel Lucykanish, Palmerton (5-4); Josh Montesino,

Dieruff (9-7); Alex Moser,

Pen Argyl (16-9); Juan Moya, Parkland (24-7); Adim Ogbolu, Stroudsburg (16-11); Keegan Ramsay, Notre Dame-GP (129); Hudson Saylor, Whitehall (17-9); Jacob Schlier, Tamaqua (25-13); Jesse Scott, Emmaus (17-8); Cody Wagner, Faith Christian (10-8)

Of note: Scrivanich is officially down at this weight. He had two pins totaling 63 seconds and 2-minute technical fall to win the Colonial League title. The Panther enters here at No. 2. The others each bump down one spot, including Campbell to HM. Dailey reversed an earlier setback to Rickards in last Saturday’s dual against Malvern Prep. In HM, Scott beat Saylor. Geiger beat Moya.

160 1. Sr. Andrew Harmon, Bethlehem Catholic (24-6):

Avenged two previous losses to MP’s Reed Fulmer

2. Sr. Dagen Condomitti, Northampton (22-5): Firstperiod pin in only match

3. So. Luke Sugalski, Faith Christian (15-6): Off week

4. Fr. Luke Fugazzotto, Northwestern (26-6): 3-0 week, won Colonial League title

5. Sr. Nolan Krazer, Easton (18-7): Wrestling best of his career

Honorable mention: Robbie Bibeau, East Stroudsburg North (18-6); Victor Carrasquilla, Parkland (15-8); Lane Frankenfield, Palisades (11-11); Ryan Gallagher, Pennridge (4-0); Nuallan King, Pen Argyl (17-12); Toby Linn, Salisbury (13-9); Chase Moffit, Northern Lehigh (15-13); Bradley Whalen, Tamaqua (23-12); Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth (19-9)

On the shelf: Joey LaPenna, Notre Dame-GP (4-4)

Of note: Everyone bumps up one spot thanks to Scrivanich’s exit and Krazer at No. 5 enters after a solid stretch including a pin over Carrasquilla. Fugazzotto had a major decision and two pins to win the Colonial League title. His last 16 wins are by bonus, including 15 pins. Linn took third at CL.

172

1. Fr. Adam Waters, Faith Christian (29-1): Off week

2. Sr. Holden Garcia, Notre Dame-GP (22-6): Did not wrestle

3. Sr. Dom Wheatley, Nazareth (21-3): Off week

4. Sr. Luke Thomas, Bethlehem Catholic (14-5): Won twice including 1-0 over MP’s Duncan Christensen

5. Jr. Danny Haubert, Palisades (28-4): Beat Clymer for CL title

Honorable mention: Reilly Bechtel, Emmaus (10-9); Landon Beckowski, Saucon Valley (11-8); Dalton Clymer, Northwestern (31-4); James DeLuise, Bethlehem Catholic (8-6); Jayden Hazzard,

Easton (11-11); Jacob Hehn, Tamaqua (25-11); Talan

Hogan, Pennridge (21-7); Jared Karabinus, Freedom (21-6); Kris Kessler, Pen Argyl (16-9); Jack Kocher, Whitehall (12-9); Christian London, Stroudsburg (19-9); Marcus McNeill, East Stroudsburg South (7-0); Cade Sawyer, Southern Lehigh (16-11); Brok Solt, Lehighton (16-11); Billy Stuhldreher, Northampton (8-7)

On the shelf: Giovani Macario, Easton (5-3); Jared Rohn, Saucon Valley (13-7)

Of note: Quiet week for the top three. Thomas had a huge 1-0 win thanks to a second-period rideout against Malvern Prep’s Duncan Christensen. Haubert reversed a loss to Clymer at the Coal Cracker by beating him in the Colonial League final. Those two flip-flop spots. In HM, Kocher beat Bechtel. Sawyer was third at CL and Beckowski fifth by beating Kessler.

189

1. Sr. Adrian Gacek, Parkland (26-2): 2-0 with two pins

2. Sr. Jake Jones, Saucon Valley (29-4): 4-0 week, 3 first-period pins to win CL title

3. Sr. Melquan Warren, Whitehall (20-3): 3-0 week, 2 pins, major

4. Sr. Landon Muth, Bethlehem Catholic (10-3): Lost to Malvern’s Nick Weymeyer in testy match

5. Sr. Lucas Miller, Northwestern (27-6): Colonial League runner-up to Jones

Honorable mention: Jonny Beckett, Faith Christian (11-9); Ronald Davis, Pocono Mountain West (7-5); Jakub Gloc, Salisbury (21-6); Gian Greggo, Pen Argyl (20-10); Jake Gross, Emmaus (23-5); Aidan Hutchison, Easton (1111); Aaron Kirby, Stroudsburg (21-9); Noah MacIlroy, Freedom (9-0); Ryan Rowe, Pennridge (15-9); Jason Singer, Faith Christian (18-6)

On the shelf: Marco Malerba, Nazareth (15-6); Noah Okamoto, Nazareth (6-2); Caleb Sine, Faith Christian (0-0); Jason Schubert, Pleasant Valley (9-7); Allen Starr, Catasauqua (9-8)

Of note: The top three were dominant. Muth saved Bethlehem Catholic team points in a 21-18 win over Malvern Prep by allowing only a decision to Weymeyer, who weighed 20-plus pounds more. In HM, Gloc beat Greggo for third.

215

1. Sr. Sonny Sasso, Nazareth (7-0): Off week

2. Jr. Calvin Lachman, Quakertown (27-3): 2-0 week, 2 first-period pins

3. Sr. Ty Pfizenmayer, Saucon Valley (26-6): 4-0 week, CL champion

4. Fr. Mark Effendian, Faith Christian (26-8): Off week

5. Jr. Chad Beller, Catasauqua (27-5):

CL runner-up, lost to Pfizenmayer

Honorable mention: Jared Blobe, Notre Dame-GP (198); Tyler Cocciolillo, Easton (12-11); Riley Cullen, Pennridge (17-9); Tommy Flud, Upper Perkiomen (14-10); Michael Culver, Pen Argyl (13-11); Joe Doumat, Northampton (6-5);

James Hopkins, Whitehall (18-7); Noah Schlofer, Northwestern (21-12); Wyatt Sherer, Lehighton (19-13); Brandon Stiehler, Pocono Mountain West (20-4); Auggie Warke, Bethlehem Catholic (11-9)

Of note: Pfizenmayer had two first-period pins before handling Beller 4-0 in the Colonial League final. Lachman continues to roll. In HM Fluck beat Schlofer for third. Culver was fifth.

285

1. Jr. Sean Kinney, Nazareth (16-0): Off week

2. Sr. Aiden Compton, Notre Dame-GP (24-8): Did not wrestle

3. Jr. Reese Balk, Lehighton (27-5): First-period pin in his only action

4. Sr. Mitch Miller, Salisbury (22-4): 4-0 week, won CL title

5. Jr. Michael Gavrilesku, Parkland (22-7): Pinned Embardino, beat Kolb

Honorable mention: E.J. Boney, Emmaus (13-11); Dart DeLillo, Northwestern (12-9); Anthony Embardino, Easton (17-6); Nick Farrel, Freedom (11-8); Sam Frame, Northern Lehigh (18-12); Nicholas Khamis, Stroudsburg (19-7); Seth Kolb, Liberty (14-9); Evan Leibert, Saucon Valley (11-7); Elijah Thompson, Bethlehem Catholic (11-6)

On the shelf: James Barruzza, Pleasant Valley (155); Nathan Pizarro, Executive Education (4-3); Malachi Walters, Pocono Mountain West (13-3)

Of note: Balk continues to impress in his breakout season. Miller had two pins and a decision to win the Colonial League title. Delillo beat Frame for third. Gavrilesku replaces Thompson at No. 5 after a solid 2-0 week. He could be dangerous in the postseason.

Rankings and records are based on scores reported to The Morning Call and other databases. Report any updates/corrections to Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick at thousenick@mcall.com