Nazareth’s Kinney voted MVP of EPC
Nazareth three-time PIAA champion Sean Kinney was voted MVP of the EPC wrestling coaches’ all-star team that was announced recently.
Kinney this month became the state’s first four-time PIAA finalist at the same weight and first three-time state champion at 285 pounds.
The Lafayette-bound senior along with Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Ayden Smith are participating in the annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic on March 30 at Peters Township High School in Washington County.
Nazareth teammates Tahir Parkins (133 pounds), Jack Campbell (139) and Brayden Zuercher (172) also were voted to the first team.
Other first-team selections: Emmaus’ Emilio Albanese (107), Northampton’s Gabe Ballard (114) and Trey Wagner (127), Bethlehem Catholic’s Keanu Dillard
(121), Shane McFillin (145), Kollin Rath (152) and Charlie Scanlan (160); Freedom’s Jared Karabinus (189) and Pocono Mountain West’s Brandon Stiehler (215).
Albanese and Ballard finished fourth in the state in Class 3A at their respective weights. Dillard, Wagner, Parkins and Rath were state champions. Dillard and Rath
are two-time PIAA gold medalists.
McFillin and Karabinus were fourth-place finishers at the state tournament. Stiehler was seventh. Scanlan lost in the blood round.
Second-team members were Whitehall’s Wilmont Kai (107), Bethlehem Catholic’s Reef Dillard (114), Ryder Campbell (127), Marco Frinzi (139) and James
DeLuise (189); Parkland’s Blake Dergham (121), Easton’s Ben Fanelli (133), James Geiger (160), Justin Cosover (172) and Kurtis Crossman (215); Nazareth’s Cade Campbell (145), Pocono Mountain East’s Keegan Demarest (152) and Northampton’s Gavin Grell (285).
Kai and Demarest were seventh in the state.
Third-team selections were Easton’s Nick Salamone (107), Chris Kelly (127), Quentin Hammerstone (152) and Shae Linegar (189); Nazareth’s Remy Trach (114), Emmaus’ Teagan Caciolo (121) and Jesse Scott (160), Whitehall’s Trokon Kai (133), Liberty’s Kam Abboud (139) and Dante Morrison (215), Northampton’s Austin Noe (145), Freedom’s Noah MacIlroy (172) and Parkland’s Michael Gavrilesku (285).
Salamone was eighth at states.