The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
One more stop before Hershey for local wrestlers
Quakertown isn’t Hershey. But that’s OK with Central Buck West’s Carl DiGiorgio.
“It’s not ideal — I love Hershey, it’s so much fun,” The Bucks junior said last Saturday at the South East 3A Regional. “Last year I was kind of happy just making states, like it was the best time I ever had. But this year, I’m trying to get on the podium.
“Luckily, it’s a familiar area, I’ve been there — districts was there — I’m very lucky for that actually.”
Wrestling’s COVID-19-impacted postseason schedule has one more stop before finally heading to Hershey’s Giant Center and the PIAA Championships. The top four finishers from both the South East and North East Regionals travel to Quakertown Community High School Saturday to compete at the Class 3A East Super Regional.
Action on the mats will be split into two sessions. Weights 106-138 start at 8:30 a.m. with championship finals at 11:30 a.m. and third and fifth place matches at 12:15 p.m. Weights 145-285 begin at 3:30 p.m. with championship finals at 6:30 p.m. and third and fifth place at 7:15 p.m.
DiGiorgio, who took third in 215 at regionals, is one of six local wrestlers aiming for a top four finish, which will advance them to join the top four from the West Super Regional at the state tournament in Hershey on Saturday, March 13.
Both North Penn and La Salle qualified a pair of wrestlers — Knights senior Eddie Galang (132) and junior William Morrow (145) each placing third at the South East Regional while La Salle’s senior Ryan Loughney (172) and Dante Burns (215) placed fourth in their respective weights at the North East Regional.
“I guess it’s considered a state qualifier but we’re not going to Hershey which isn’t the same but I’ve been working my whole career for this moment,” said Galang last Saturday.
Galang (13-3) beat Strath Haven junior Kelton Brunner by an 11-0 major decision for 132 regional bronze and opens the Super Regional