State’s best head up final Lehigh Valley rankings
The PIAA’s best dual-meet teams reside in the Lehigh Valley area. They proved it this weekend at the annual state team wrestling championships.
Those teams can be found at the top of the final top 10 poll for 2022-23.
Bethlehem Catholic rolled through the Class 3A field and
Nazareth was the clear No. 2 team.
Faith Christian made history and only broke a sweat against Notre Dame-Green Pond in the 2A quarterfinals. Those two were better than everyone else in the bracket.
Saucon Valley, despite missing two starters, still won four matches in the 2A event.
The one surprise among The Morning Call weekly top 10 poll begin in the second half of the rankings.
Pennridge was expected to continue its rise under coach Brian Kuhns but accelerated its ascent by winning its first District 1 team tournament title and finishing 2-2 at states. The Rams have will not surprise anyone next season with 12 returning starters.
Northampton somehow pieced together the EPC’s third-best team despite youth and working through the top half of its lineup under firstyear head coach Joe Provini.
There is little doubt that, despite graduations, Provini will keep the Konkrete Kids prominent for years to come.
Easton continues to carve out an identity under third-year head coach Jody Karam and assistant Corey Keener. The Red Rovers were a solid dual-meet team with a tough, hard-nosed approach. An infusion of talent from the feeder programs will only ensure the program will continue to trend upward. 1 . Bethlehem Catholic Record: 18-0
Last week: 1
Of note: Lost only four of 39 bouts in routing Council Rock South, Waynesburg and Central Mountain to reach the PIAA Class 3A team tournament final, then knocked off Nazareth for a second time this season, 35-23, to win a state-record ninth championship.
Up next: The District 11 Class 3A individual tournament Feb. 24-25 at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.
2 . Faith Christian
Record: 13-1
Last week: 2
Of note: The Lions dominated the PIAA team tournament field to win their first state title. They lost only six bouts in the four matches, four against third-place finisher Notre Dame-GP.
Up next: The Districts 1-12 Class 2A individual tournament Feb. 25 at Faith Christian
3 . Nazareth
Record: 18-3
Last week: 3
Of note: Lost to Bethlehem Catholic in the PIAA Class 3A team tournament final after handling St. Joseph’s Prep, Delaware Valley, Central Dauphin and Canon-McMillan. Central Dauphin and Canon-McMillan finished third and fourth, respectively.
Up next: The District 11 Class 3A individual tournament Feb. 24-25 at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.
4 . Notre Dame-Green Pond
Record: 16-2
Last week: 4
Of note: Finished third at the PIAA Class 2A team tournament. Lost to eventual state champion Faith Christian in the quarterfinals, then beat Honesdale, Brookville, Burgettstown and Berks Catholic.
Up next: The District 11 Class 2A individual tournament Feb. 24-25 at Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium.
5 . Saucon Valley
Record: 20-4
Last week: 5
Of note: Beat Bishop McDevitt and United before losing to Burgettstown in the PIAA Class 2A team tournament quarterfinals. Beat Huntingdon and Chestnut Ridge before losing to Berks Catholic in
the consolation semifinals. Up next: The District 11 Class 2A individual tournament Feb. 24-25 at Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium.
6 . Pennridge
Record: 22-5
Last week: 6
Of note: Won the first two PIAA Class 3A team tournament matches in program history over Cumberland Valley and Spring-Ford for the second time in two weeks.
Up next: The Suburban One League Colonial Championships on Wednesday at at North Penn.
7. Northampton Record: 9-3 Last week: 6
Of note: Off last week
Up next: The District 11 Class 3A individual tournament Feb. 24-25 at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.
8 . Easton
Record: 17-6
Last week: 8
Of note: Off last week.
Up next: The District 11 Class 3A individual tournament Feb. 24-25 at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.
9 . Parkland
Record: 12-4
Last week: 9
Of note: Knocked off Emmaus 39-22.
Up next: The District 11 Class 3A individual tournament Feb. 24-25 at Liberty’s Memorial Gym.
1 0 . Quakertown
Record: 15-8
Last week: 10
Of note: Off last week.
Up next: The Suburban One League Liberty Championships on Wednesday at Quakertown.
Honorable mention (In alphabetical order):
Catasauqua (10-5; HM), Emmaus (14-6; HM), Freedom (13-8; HM), Lehighton (12-5; HM), Liberty (11-8; NR), North Schuylkill (14-3; HM), Pen Argyl (11-5; NR), Pottsville (17-1; HM), Stroudsburg (14-6; HM), Whitehall (10-5, HM).