Ready to grapple for superiority
Bethlehem Catholic heads up Lehigh Valley-area top 10
The shorter preseason felt like a blur. The 2022-23 wrestling campaign starts Friday, with several teams competing at individual tournaments throughout the eastern half of the state.
EPC and Colonial League action begins next week. The Schuylkill League and District 1 start league encounters the week after that.
The Lehigh Valley is coming off a stellar 2021-22 season in which it had all four finalists in the PIAA Team Championships: Bethlehem Catholic and Nazareth in Class 3A, Saucon Valley and Notre Dame-Green Pond in 2A.
Those four again will be among the area’s programs despite graduation hits.
With that in mind, here are the Lehigh Valley-area preseason team rankings:
1. Bethlehem Catholic
Last year: 17-0, EPC, District 11 and PIAA Class 3A champion
Of note: Coach Jeff Karam’s Golden Hawks are talented, deep and balanced. Their upper weights will be noticeably improved, making them difficult to beat.
2. Nazareth
Last year: 18-3, EPC, District 11 and PIAA Class 3A runner-up
Of note: The Blue Eagles won’t have Virginia Tech commit Sonny Sasso until late in the season after hand surgery, but this is still a formidable lineup.
3. Notre Dame-Green Pond
Last year: 14-4, District 11 champion, PIAA Class 2A runner-up
Of note: The Crusaders are solid top to bottom, bolstered by the return of 285-pounder Aiden Compton and transfer Vince Bouzakis, a nationally ranked standout from Wyoming Seminary.
4. Faith Christian Last year:
16-2, Districts 1-12 Class 2A champion
Of note: The Lions will be roaring for the foreseeable future with a
roster loaded with young talent and more on the way. Gauge Botero is state champion material.
5. Easton Last year: Of note:
16-7
The Red Rovers have depth at many weight classes and potential at all of them. There may not be many state medalists on the roster, but there are several who believe they can prove that wrong.
6. Northampton
Last year: 13-2
Of note: Joe Provini’s approach will challenge the returnees and newcomers. Dagen Condomitti and the Wagner brothers will be among the area’s best at their respective weights.
7. Saucon Valley
Last year: 24-2, Colonial League champion, District 11 runner-up, PIAA Class 2A champion
Of note: The Panthers have a few areas of need in the lower weights and won’t have a returnee for months because of injury, but there is a lot of talent and experience
8. Quakertown
Last year: 16-3, SOL Liberty Division champion, District 1 Class 3A runner-up
Of note: The Panthers have three standouts in Mason Ziegler, Collin Gaj and Calvin Lachman as well as several other returnees.
9. Parkland
14-5
Coach Jon Trenge took a few years to build numbers back up in the program. Now he’s looking for his alma mater to build up the win total.
10. Emmaus
Last year: 15-10
Of note: The Green Hornets have a new coach, but a familiar voice. Jim Best is an excellent tactical coach and leader.
Honorable mention
(in alphabetical order): Catasauqua, Freedom, North Schuylkill, Palisades, Pennridge, Pottsville, Southern Lehigh, Stroudsburg
We rely on the support of our subscribers to fund our journalism. If you’re not already signed up, we hope you will consider subscribing. Already a print subscriber? If you haven’t already, please activate your digital access.