Almost déjà vu for Nazareth, Becahi
Semifinals resembled what happened last year at states
Nazareth coach Dave Crowell and several of his wrestlers thought about it.
Bethlehem Catholic’s Jeff Karam was having flashbacks, too.
“[Saturday] morning, we’ve been there,” Karam said. “Last year at states. I know that feeling. A lot of our guys know that feeling.”
Saturday morning’s session at the Class 3A Northeast Regional felt a lot like last year’s blood round at the PIAA Wrestling Championships.
Nazareth put a jolt of electricity into the crowd at Liberty’s Memorial Gym much like it did during its historic hour or so last March at Hershey’s Giant Center.
The Blue Eagles won seven of eight semifinals. Only a late third-period takedown by Whitehall’s Melquan Warren kept Crowell’s crew from being perfect. Meanwhile, Karam’s Golden Hawks scuffled by winning only five of 10 semis.
Nazareth finished it off by claiming gold medals in six of its seven finals and advancing eight to this weekend’s state event.
“I thought we wrestled well last week,” Crowell said. “I think we wrestled even better this week.”
Jake Doone’s dominant run through the 145-pound bracket and freshman Jack Campbell’s surprise run to the final at 139 sparked Nazareth’s flurry.
“We had a little deja vu,” senior 215-pound champion Sonny Sasso said. “That [morning] round felt great. We kept it going into the finals. What more can you ask for?”
But Bethlehem Catholic bounced back with a 6-2 run in the next two rounds of consolations, then won nine of 11 medal matches to hang onto the team title 231.5 to 221.5.
The Golden Hawks won the previous week at districts by 42.5 points.
Karam’s motivational speech that included a history lesson and a stern tone at times ahead of the medal round helped assure the Golden Hawks didn’t repeat last March.
“I told them that they went through a lot this year, but you know what you went through last year,” Karam said. “I said that we couldn’t take our foot off the gas.
“Some other things were said in there, too. I felt we responded well to the circumstances.”
There are 10 Golden Hawks headed to Hershey looking to go 5-for-5 this postseason with District 11 and PIAA team tournament titles and district, Northeast Regional and state team championships at the individual competitions.
But history has proven that these Blue Eagles won’t go down without a fight.
Banner day at the 3A Southeast Regional
Quakertown advanced all six of its wrestlers to the PIAA tournament, including champions Mason Ziegler (121) and Collin Gaj (145). Gaj was named the regional’s outstanding wrestler after registering three pins and an 18-8 major in the final. The sophomore takes a 45-0 record to the state event, 90-7 in two seasons.
Other Panthers who advanced: Zach Borzio (152) and Calvin Lachman (215), who were runners-up, plus Gavin Carroll (third at 139) and Isaac Williams (fifth at 114). Five of coach Kurt Handel’s six qualifiers are underclassmen.
Quakertown nudged neighbor Pennridge 129.5-128.5 for the regional team title.
The Rams advanced five to states: champions Colby Martinelli (107) and Sam Kuhns (139), plus Cole Coffin (third at 114), Quinn McBride (second at 121) and Talan Hogan (second at 171).
All five of coach Brian Kuhns’ qualifiers are underclassmen.
Branden Rozanski lost his firstround match in overtime to Pennridge’s McBride, then won five in a row to finish third and be Upper Perkiomen’s only state qualifier at 121.
Class 2A Southeast Regional notes
Faith Christian qualified all 11 of its wrestlers for the state tournament, including five champions. Gauge Botero had two pins and a technical fall in the final to win at 121. Arment Waltenbaugh had a 16-second pin then grinded out three decisions to take 127 gold.
Chase Hontz avenged one of his losses this season at the PIAA team tournament by knocking off Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Bryson Vaughn 3-0 in the 139-pound final.
Cael Weidemoyer beat Saucon Valley’s Liam Scrivanich 6-3 in the 152 final. Adam Waters beat returning state champion and two-time regional champion Holden Garcia for a second time this year 5-3 to win gold at 172.
Other top-4 finishers for coach Ben Clymer’s Lions: Kole Davidheiser (third at 107), Mason Wagner (third at 133), Max Stein (second at 145), Luke Sugalski (second at 160), Jason Singer (fourth at 189) and Mark Effendian (second at 215).
Sophomores Botero and Hontz won their second regional titles.
Notre Dame-GP finished second (232-189) to Faith Christian in the team race and advanced 10 to Hershey, including champions Ayden Smith (114) and Vince Bouzakis (145). Smith is one win shy of 100 for his career.
Saucon Valley was third in the team race and has seven state qualifiers, including runners-up Scrivanich (160) and Jake Jones (189). Jones had two pins to give him 99 for his career. Scrivanich has 96 career victories.
Other area qualifiers were: Northwestern’s Luke Fugazzotto (fourth at 160) and Lucas Miller (fifth at 189); Catasauqua’s Mikhail Hartranft (sixth at 121), Gavin Fehr (fifth at 145) and Chad Beller (sixth at 215); Palisades cousins John (fourth at 133) and Danny Haubert (fifth at 172); Salisbury’s John Samy (sixth at 133) and Pen Argyl’s Collin Ramsay (fourth at 127).
Notes
■ District 11 captured 37 of the 52 available state berths, including all 13 championships, at Class 3A Northeast Regional. District 2 secured 13 berths, including four by Abington Heights.
■ District 12, which qualifies five wrestlers per weight class into regionals, had two state berths (a second-place medalist and a third-place finisher) out of its 65 competitors.
Elite company
Dagen Condomitti’s four 3A NE Regional titles has him in elite company. Previous four-time 3A champions: Easton’s Jack Cuvo (1982-1985), Nazareth’s Brad Silimperi (1987-1990), Whitehall/ Northampton’s Whitey Chlebove (1991-1994), Whitehall’s Christian Franco (1999-2002), Northampton’s Jeff Ecklof (2000-2003), Nazareth’s Tim Darling (20042007), Easton’s Jordan Oliver (2005-2008), Nazareth’s Zach Horan (2008-2011), Blue Mountain’s Corey Keener (2009-2012), Parkland’s Ethan Lizak (20112014) and Nazareth’s Sammy Sasso (2015-2018).
Only four have done it at the 2A Southeast Regional: Northwestern’s Chris Wentz (1974-1977), Catasauqua’s Matt Gerhard (19811984), Salisbury’s Lee Todora (1985-1988) and North Schuylkill’s Mark Cesari (1986-1989).
Nazareth’s Sean Kinney (285) will have a chance next season to join the 3A list.
Bethlehem Catholic’s Luke Karam won two in 2A (2013-14) and two in 3A (2015-16).
Gerhard is one of only 13 in both classes in the state to be a fourtime PIAA champion.