Nazareth’s Kinney closing in on history
On a night when Nazareth’s Dave Crowell added to his coaching legacy, senior Sean Kinney could have put his name up next to Blue Eagles legend Sammy Sasso on the program’s career pins list.
It would have put a cool exclamation point Monday on Nazareth’s win — the 600th of Crowell’s career.
Instead, Kinney never broke a sweat. His arm was raised for a forfeit because Pleasant Valley’s 285-pounder was in street clothes.
Sasso, a two-time PIAA champion, finished his storied career in 2018 with 88 pins, part of his school-record 180 victories.
Kinney, a two-time PIAA champion, has 87 career pins entering Saturday’s District 11 Team Wrestling Championships. He is 112-5 in his career with three district and Northeast Regional Class 3A titles plus two state gold medals and one silver medal with one more postseason run left.
The Lafayette-bound senior remains atop the Lehigh Valley’s top 10 pound for pound rankings entering the team postseason.
It appears inevitable that Kinney will be atop Nazareth’s career pins list.
Lehigh Valley-area top 10 pound-for-pound
(Entering Wednesday’s matches) 1. Sr. Sean Kinney, Nazareth (26-1, 1): He is one pin away from tying Sammy Sasso’s school record for a career.
2. Fr. Joey Bachmann, Faith Christian (25-0, 2): 10 of his last
12 matches have been determined by fall or technical fall.
3. Jr. Kollin Rath, Bethlehem Catholic (27-1, 3): Two pins this month of 12 seconds or fewer.
4. Jr. Gauge Botero, Faith Christian (17-0, 4): Bumped up to beat Tyler Wood of St. Mary’s Ryken (Md.) at 126.
5. So. Adam Waters, Faith Christian (28-4, 5): Did not wrestle against St. Mary’s Ryken (Md.).
6. Sr. Mason Ziegler, Quakertown (29-3, 7): School’s career wins leader with 146 and counting.
7. Jr. Collin Gaj, Quakertown (26-4, 9): Had five pins, two forfeits last week.
8. Sr. Ayden Smith, Notre Dame-GP (30-2, 6): On pace for a third consecutive 40-win season.
9. Fr. Gabe Ballard, Northampton (29-1, 8): 19 of his last 22 wins are by bonus points.
10. So. Keanu Dillard, Bethlehem Catholic (22-5, 10): Three bonus-point wins since losing to Botero.
Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Emilio Albanese, Emmaus (24-2); Keegan Demarest, Pocono Mountain East (29-5); Noah Fenner, Easton (23-2); Luke Fugazzotto, Northwestern (30-3); Jared Karabinus, Freedom (25-1); Calvin Lachman, Quakertown (30-3); Tahir Parkins, Nazareth (28-2); Charlie Scanlan, Bethlehem Catholic (20-6); Max Stein, Faith Christian (26-7); Cael Weidemoyer, Faith Christian (10-1).
On the shelf: Colby Martinelli, Pennridge (6-1).
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com