MAT ANSWERS
A look at the top threats to Lehigh Valley competitors
District 11 will continue its dominance at the Class 3A Northeast Regional tournament by hogging most of the medals, but that won’t be the case at the 2A Southeast Regional, where District 3 is deep at many weights and Faith Christian brings 11 Districts 1-12 champions into the mix.
Here’s a look 10 wrestlers in 3A and 20 in 2A who likely will be grabbing regional medals and PIAA berths at the expense of District 11:
Class 3A Northeast Regional (top 10)
Grade wrestler, school (weight, record)
1. Sr. Luke Sirianni, Abington Heights (107, 38-2): Two-time state medalist who lost to Bethlehem Catholic’s Nate Desmond in last year’s regional final. Two losses this year were to St. Joseph’s Regional (N.J.) standout Johnathon McGinty by a combined three points at Escape the Rock. Headed to West Point.
2. Jr. Tyson Cook, West Scranton (114, 33-1): Has wins over PSU commit Branden Wentzel of Montoursville, a three-time top-3 finisher at states, and Franklin Regional’s returning state fourthplace finisher Tyler Kapusta.
3. Fr. Michael Turi, West Scranton (127, 41-3): Has wins over Northampton’s Aidan Micheli plus Wallenpaupack’s Gunnar Myers, Liberty’s Kam Abboud and Pocono Mountain East’s Keegan Demarest at 133. He’s in the bottom half of the bracket with Bethlehem Catholic’s Shane McFillin (quarters) and Easton’s Ben Fanelli (semis). 4. Jr. Gunnar Myers, Wall en pa up a ck (133, 38-3): Two losses are to Abington Heights’ Austin Smith at 139 and Turi, who bumped up. Two wins from 100. Was third at regional last season, fifth at state two years ago. He and Nazareth’s Charlie Bunting in the semis would be a good one. He’ll see Abboud in the quarters. Headed to the Naval Academy. 5. Jr. Austin Smith, Abington Heights (139, 35-4): Losses are to out-of-staters (2), a returning Class 2A state medalist and Myers (2-1 against him). Two-time regional medalist.
6. Sr. Martin Turi, West Scranton (145, 35-5): Two of his losses are to Emmaus’ Marco Albanese and Nazareth’s Jake Doone, both of whom are in the other half of the bracket. He likely has Liberty’s Ryan Santiago in the quarters and Bethlehem Catholic’s Charlie Scanlan in the semis.
7. So. Brian Heard, Abington Heights (152, 38-4): Two of his losses are to out-of-staters and two more to Faith Christian’s Cael Weidemoyer. Has wins over Notre Dame-GP’s Keegan Ramsay and Quakertown’s Zach Borzio. Won a wild match at last year’s regional over Pottsville’s Parrish McFarland, whom he’ll see in the quarters. 8. Sr. James Spindler, Pittston Area (160, 33-3): Lost in last year’s regional opener 6-2 to Parkland’s Adrian Gacek. Three-time District 2 champion who was a state qualifier two years ago.
9. Jr. Caleb Marzolino, Abington Heights (189, 38-4): Lost in last year’s regional final to Bethlehem Catholic’s Luke Thomas. Losses this year are to two of District 3’s best upper weights — Trinity’s Tucker Paynter and Bishop McDevitt’s Jake Gilfoil. Will have to beat
Nazareth’s Marco Malerba and Whitehall’s Melquan Warren to get to Parkland’s Gacek in the final. 10. Sr. Magnus Bibla, Crestwood (215, 31-2): Regional runner-up last year to Nazareth’s Chase Levey. Only losses this season are to a pair of District 3 Class 3A standouts.
Class 2A Southeast Regional (top 20)
1. So. Aaron Seidel, Northern Lebanon (107, 41-0): Defending state champion and national No. 2 to Bethlehem Catholic’s Keanu Dillard. Notre Dame-GP’s Tanner Berkenstock, Trinity’s Will Detar and Faith Christian’s Kole Davidheiser will battle for the right to face him in the final. 2. Sr. Mason McLendon, Susquenita (114, 29-3): Three-time state qualifier who lost last year to Saucon Valley’s Aiden Grogg and Faith Christian’s Gauge Botero at regionals. Only loss this year at this weight was to Trinity’s Major Lewis, whom he could see in the quarterfinals.
3. Sr. Major Lewis, Trinity (Sr., 34-5): State seventh last year who is headed to Bloomsburg next year. Two district losses last week were by a total of three points, one in a tie-breaker.
4. So. Jackson Rush, West Perry (121, 35-3): Losses to a pair of returning state medalists, including Faith Christian’s Botero. Could see Saucon Valley’s Grogg in the semis.
5. Jr. Marvin Armistead, Berks Catholic (127, 40-3): Had a great battle at team states with Faith Christian’s Arment Waltenbaugh. Other losses were to ConwellEgan’s Charlie Robson and Bethlehem Catholic’s Marco Frinzi — both at 133. Waltenbaugh and Pen Argyl’s Collin Ramsay are in the other half of the bracket.
6. So. Noah Doi, Camp Hill (133, 30-2): Has won 22 in a row since his last loss. Grinded out decisions in his last seven matches. Notre Dame-GP’s Tanner McQueen and John Samy are in his half of the bracket.
7. So. Ian Vitalo, Schuylkill Valley (139, 36-0): Somewhat of a surprise district champion with Devan Ponce of Biglerville and West Perry’s Tyler Morrison, both of whom are in the same half of the regional bracket as Faith Christian’s Chase Hontz. Notre DameGP’s Bryson Vaughn is with Vitalo.
8. So. Tyler Morrison, West Perry (139, 37-7): Lost last week to Ponce after beating him the week before and has a likely quarterfinal meeting with Hontz.
9. So. Ryan Lawler, Bishop McDevitt (145, 32-6): Won his last 13, all by bonus, including tech. falling his way to a district title. He and Notre Dame-GP’s Vince Bouzakis should meet in the semis.
10. Sr. Nolen Zeigler, West Perry (152, 32-6): Beat Berks Catholic’s Carmine Lenzi in overtime for last week’s district title. He’ll likely run into Faith Christian’s Cael Weidemoyer in the semis.
11. Sr. Jagger Gray, Trinity (160, 36-3): Spent most of his season at 172 and 189, where he lost to Palisades’ Danny Haubert. He’s away from Northwestern’s Luke Fugazzotto and Faith Christian’s Luke Sugalski until the final.
12. Sr. Justice Hockenberry-Folk, West Perry (160, 29-6): Lost the last two weeks in the finals to Gray. Has a likely quarterfinal meeting with Fugazzotto.
13. So. Lucas Lawler, Bishop McDevitt (172, 28-6): Twice shut out Berks Catholic’s Davis to win sectional and district gold. Likely meets Palisades’ Haubert in the quarters and Faith Christian’s Adam Waters in the semis.
14. Jr. Gabe Davis, Berks Catholic (172, 37-6): Has three losses to Lawler and was tech. falled by Waters at the PIAA team duals. Has a likely semifinal meeting with Notre Dame-GP’s Holden Garcia.
15. Sr. Jake Gilfoil, Bishop McDevitt (189, 32-5): Four of five losses were to out-of-state wrestlers. The other was to 3A state No. 1-ranked Tucker Hogan of Daniel Boone. Won his last eight by pin. Two victories from 100.
16. Jr. Brody Kline, Berks Catholic (215, 38-4): Beat Faith Christian’s Mark Effendian (3-2 UTB) and Notre Dame-GP’s Jared Blobe (3-1) at state team duals. He is opposite both in the regional brackets.
17. Jr. Tucker Paynter, Trinity (215, 34-5): He’ll face Blobe in the quarters with Effendian and banged-up Tyler Pfizenmayer of Saucon Valley also in the lower half of the bracket.
18. Jr. Owen Hutchison, Big Spring (215, 34-6): Beat Paynter for sectional gold then lost in overtime to Kline in the district final. He faces Pfizenmayer in the first round with the winner getting Effendian.
19. Sr. Riley Robell, Bishop McDevitt (285, 30-2): Four-time district champion and returning state champion who is ranked No. 1 in the state. Has pinned every foe since a major decision over Notre Dame-GP’s Aiden Compton at Escape the Rock.
20. Sr. Charles Sheppard, Hamburg (285, 36-9): Returning state eighth-place finisher who faces Compton in the quarterfinal.