National high school wrestling news, notes, updates (1/22/2023)
There was a ton of great wrestling action from coast-to-coast this weekend, including the Georgia dual meet state finals where Camden County edged Buford in the 7A final.
Faith Christan Academy (Pennsylvania) captures the Coal Cracker
Pennsylvania’s Faith Christian Academy captured the title at the mostly Pennsylvania affair Coal Cracker Invitational at Lehighton High School on Sunday afternoon by one hundred plus points, 319-204, over Wilson West Lawn. Delaware’s William Penn was the only out of state team in the fold.
Faith Christian Academy put seven in the finals and saw six of them put their names on the final line of the bracket. Three additional Lions placed third (No. 24 Nick Singer (160), Cody Wagner (189), and Jason Singer (215)).
No. 1 Joe Bachmann with a tech-fall at 106 and No. 24 Mark Effendian with a pin at heavyweight had the easiest time in the finals. Mason Wagner (139) and No. 1 Adam Waters (172) put 9-3 wins on their chart, with Waters’ being over Abington Heights Honorable Mention wrestler, Brian Heard.
No. 3 Gauge Botero won the 121-pound gold with a 6-3 win over Wyoming Seminary’s Dale Corbin. At 145, Chase Hontz edged Central Dauphin’s Gavin Reynolds, 1-0. No. 21 Max Stein fell in overtime, 3-2 UTB, in the 152-pound final to Wyoming Seminary’s Anthony Evanitsky (No. 24 at 157).
Wilson’s lone champ came at 127 with a one-point victory from McKaden Speece, 9-8, over the Blue Knights’ Wyatt Fry.
Germantown Academy’s Jack Baron took home the top honors at 114 with a 2-1 win over his teammate Shai Sabag. To reach the final, Baron upset Wyoming Seminary’s Nikos Filipos, who would be in the national rankings if he was Seminary’s starter (Davis Motyka is) as he has wins over a few guys in our 113-pound rankings.
Neither Baron nor Sabag is nationally ranked, but Baron sits at 113 in the latest National Prep Tournament rankings, while Sabag has been at 120. This tournament allowed multiple entries per team/per weight.
Wallenpaupack’s Gunnar Myers (No. 11 at 165) won the 160-pound title with a 3-2 decision of No. 12 Ryan Garvick (Central Dauphin). Myers also took out nationally ranked Nick Singer 4-2 in the semis.
Honorable Mention Caleb Marzolino (Abington Heights) was crowned the 215-pound champ after a 4-2 win over Wilson’s Ryan McMillan. Blue Ridge’s Jackson Maby was the champ at 133 and Selinsgrove’s Tucker Teats took the top position at 189.
Edmond North crowns 11 champs in winning Jay Hancock Memorial in Oklahoma
The Jay Hancock Memorial Tournament at Yukon High School in Oklahoma was dominated by Edmond North and their whopping total of eleven champions. All of North’s placers won gold except for Christian Belford who forfeited to sixth place after losing a semi-final meeting with Collinsville’s Canon Acklin, 5-1, and Jake Goodin (No. 16 at 106).
At 113, teammates squared off as Tommy Baker defeated Goodin, 1-0. Honorable mention Devon Miller won an ultimate tiebreaker match, 3-2, over Cascia Hall’s Gerald Harris at 120.
Hudson Hackbarth (132), No. 15 Hunter Hollingsworth (138), and Jude Randall (175, HM at 165) all won matches decided by one-point. Hackbarth got by Allen, Texas’ Jair Jackson-Bey, 6-5, Hollingsworth was a 1-0 winner over Treshuan Tecson (Cascia Hall), and Randall’s was the 3-2 variety against Cole Olguin (Westmoore).
From 144 to 157 the Huskies posted two major decisions and a tech-fall with No. 4 Layton Schneider putting a 13-2 win over Allen’s Javin Jakson-Bey on the 144lb bracket and Joseph Jeter (HM) blanking Trae Rios (Westmoore), 8-0, at 150. No. 8 Kody Routledge put up a 19-4 tech of Carter Nekvapil (Allen) in the 157-pound final.
Winning their crowns on the power of pins were Brayden Lucas at 165 with a second period decking of Bryson Hall (Guthrie), 3:27. No. 11 Oscar Williams (215) needed just 20 seconds to secure his gold against the host school’s Destry Lujan. No. 11 Ricky Thomas locked down the heavyweight glory with a first period pin of his own over Gavin Gagnon, although, in the back half of the frame, 1:44.
Allen was the only non-Oklahoma team present at the event, and they took home top honors in two weights, 106 with Maddux Tindal and 190 with Aiden Cooley. Tindal used a first period pin of Bryson Hand (Choctaw), while Cooley was engaged in a tight match with Wura Yinusa (Union), posting a 4-2 decision.
Collinsville’s Acklin was the final champ with a 2-1 tiebreaker win over Kelby Bernard (Allen) at 126.
Gilroy hosts and wins the MidCals
Gilroy hosted the MidCals this weekend. A tournament made up of mostly California teams saw Gilroy capture the team title over Oklahoma’s Tuttle, 319.5-276.5.
Interestingly, all nine of Gilroy’s placers reached the finals, and six of them secured gold. Standing atop the podium were No. 8 Moses Mendoza (120), No. 4 Isaiah Cortez (126), Daniel Zepeda (144, No. 14 at 150), Travis Grace (157), Kaleo Garcia (165), and No. 1 Cody Merrill (285).
Only Zepeda was challenged in the championship bouts, posting a 5-2 win over No. 13 Beau Hickman (Tuttle). Placing second for Gilroy were Dominic Bozniac (113), No. 15 Elijah Cortez (132), and Brian Haran (175).
Tuttle crowned Ethan Teague (175) as it’s sole champ with a 16-1 tech-fall of Gilroy’s Haran. In addition to Hickman, Cody Abston (215) collected silver.
Central Catholic’s Victor-Alexander Gutierrez (HM) authored the biggest upset of the tournament when he squeezed by Elijah Cortez, 2-1, at 132.
Frontier’s No. 2 Miguel Estrada worked for a 23-7 tech-fall over TJ Arvizu (De La Salle) at 150. Honorable mention Brokton Borelli (Los Banos) pinned Scott Beadles (Calaveras) in the second period, 2:30, at 190.
The other champions were Palma’s Aiden Garcia (106), De La Salle’s Caleb Tatad (113), Demarcus Turner (Grace Davis, 138), and JFK Fremont’s Jayden Tadeo Gosal (215).
Bettendorf edges Fort Dodge for the Ed Winger crown in Iowa
The Ed Winger Invitational at Urbandale High School in Iowa saw a tight race for the team title with Bettendorf coming out ahead of Fort Dodge, 199.5-194.5. Bettendorf crowned three champs out of its four finalists, while Fort Dodge was two-for-five in the championship bouts.
For Bettendorf, No. 25 Jake Knight downed Fort Dodge’s honorable mention Dru Ayala, 5-3, at 120. TJ Koester (HM) won the 126-pound gold with an 8-0 major decision of Ryker Graff (Waverly Shell Rock), and Jayce Luna pocketed the 132-pound title with a 6-3 win versus John King (Waukee Northwest).
Lincoln Jipp was second at 165 for Bettendorf. Brayden Koester was third at 190. Jayden Luna placed fourth at 113. Ronan Numkena was sixth at 215. Placing seventh was Armon Williams (175) and landing in the eighth spot was Hudson Fleming (106).
Fort Dodge’s two gold medalists were the Ross brothers, Damarion (175) and No. 5 Dreshaun at 215. Damarion slid by Waverly Shell Rock’s Braxten Westendorf, 3-2, while Dreshaun tallied a 23-8 tech-fall with Mitchell Grider (Ankeny).
Settling for silver for Fort Dodge were Ayala, Koy Davidson (138), and Cal Hartman (190).
Ankeny was the only other team with more than one champ, and they were back-to-back, with Maximus Dhabolt (144) beating Johnston’s Parker Casy, 4-1, and Lucas Bruhl upsetting Waverly Shell Rock’s Bas Diaz, 3-1, at 150.
Norwalk’s Tyler Harper (HM) won his bracket at 113 with a 5-1 decision of Cale Vandermark (Ankeny). Waukee Northwest’s Carter Freeman avenged an earlier 2-1 loss to Davidson at the Council Bluffs tournament with a 3-2 win here at 138.
Rounding out the champions were the host’s Cain Tigges at 190, Dowling Catholic’s Jack Wallukait (106), Cinsere Clark (157, Valley, West Des Moines), Jacob Helgeson (165, Johnston), and Waverly Shell Rock’s Caden Wetherell (285).
Helgeson got by Bettendorf’s Jipp, 9-5.
St. Joseph Regional takes control of the George Jockish Bergen County Tournament in New Jersey
The George Jockish Bergen County Tournament took place at Garfield Middle School in New Jersey this weekend. St. Joesph Regional took control of the action by placing ten in the finals and crowning nine champions.
Reaching the top of the podium for St. Joe were Jon McGinty (113), Mikey Bautista (120), Vincent Paino (126), No. 3 Adrian DeJesus (132), Donny Almeyda (132), James Sloan (144), No. 23 Frank DiBella (157), No. 3 Ryan Burton (175), and No. 17 Rocco Dellagatta (285).
Of those, Bautista had the closest finals match with a 5-2 in over Devin Ryan (New Milford). Charlie Esposito was second at 106 for St. Joe. Joseph Paretti placed third at 165 and No. 22 Zach Ballante forfeited his semi final match and subsequent matches to finish in sixth place.
Paramus Catholic was second (349.5-278) and pushed seven into the finals but only crowning two as champions, Daniel Rella (HM) at 190 and Xavier Williams at 215.
Finishing second for Paramus Catholic were Nicholas Barone (126), Nicholas Pallitto (132), Abe Zaretsky (144), John Quinonez (165), and Eddie Terreri (175).
Don Bosco Prep had two champs in Joey Monticello (150) and Ben Garcia (165). Monticello upset August Hibler (Leonia/Palisades Park), 1-0. Hibler is ranked No. 12 in the country at 144lbs.
Teaneck’s Oumar Tounkara decisioned St. Joe’s Esposito, 10-5, in the 106lb final.
Camden County wins Georgia 7A State Dual Title
Two nationally recognized teams clashed in the Georgia 7A State Dual Finals on Saturday with Camden County and Buford wrestling to a tie that was decided on criteria. The tiebreaker in this one ended up being Stall Warnings: two vs five.
Buford took a 4-0 lead on Aaron Riner’s major decision at 285 in the opening bout. Camden County swept the next three matches to go up 13-4, including a major decision and a pin, with a 3-1 win by Bradley Patterson over DJ Clarke at 113.
Camden County topped Buford on criteria in a tight Georgia 7A State Duals final
Buford put forth their own three match win streak next to go up by three points, 16-13. Their run included two decisions and a pin by Drew Gorman at 138.
Camden County tied it at 16 with Waylon Rozier’s decision at 144, only to see Buford go back out front, 20-16, in the next match at 150 when Gavin Pope put a major decision in the book.
Camden County’s Weaver boys won back-to-back matches at 157 and 165, with a major by Brock and a pin by Konlin at 165 to reclaim the lead, 26-20.
Grayson Santee’s tech fall at 175 brought Buford with in one, 26-25, before Ryder Wilder decked Jax Pope at 190 to extend Camden County’s lead to 31-25.
Buford’s Connor McCloskey used a quick pin at 215 to force the tie and have the coaches and referees scouring over the scorebook to figure out the winner.
Georgia held dual meet states for all seven classifications this weekend with all taking place in different locales.
1st Place Match
Camden County defeated Buford HS 31-31 (Tie Breaker: Stall Warnings: 2.0 vs. 5.0)
285 - Aaron Riner (Buford HS) over Jesse Batten (Camden County) Maj 8-0
106 - Elijah Hattaway (Camden County) over Tyson Matz (Buford HS) Maj 8-0
113 - Bradley Patterson (Camden County) over DJ Clarke (Buford HS) Dec 3-1
120 - Brandon Higgins (Camden County) over Rylan Ibold (Buford HS) Fall 1:19
126 - Kieron McCormack (Buford HS) over Hunter Prosen (Camden County) Dec 6-4
132 - Maddox McArthur (Buford HS) over Anthony Santos (Camden County) Dec 7-5
138 - Drew Gorman (Buford HS) over Christopher Williams (Camden County) Fall 1:18
144 - Waylon Rozier (Camden County) over Hudson Danielson (Buford HS) Dec 7-4
150 - Gavin Pope (Buford HS) over Brandon Russelburg (Camden County) Maj 14-2
157 - Brock Weaver (Camden County) over Callum McCormack (Buford HS) Maj 10-2
165 - Konlin Weaver (Camden County) over Cristian Hernandez (Buford HS) Fall 0:50
175 - Grayson Santee (Buford HS) over Zaelyn Fletcher (Camden County) TF 15-0
190 - Ryder Wilder (Camden County) over Jax Pope (Buford HS) TF 17-1
215 - Conor McCloskey (Buford HS) over Joseph Schulze (Camden County) Fall 1:10
1A:
Social Circle 55, Mt. Pisgah Christian School 12
2A:
Rockmart 55, Toombs County 21
3A:
Lumpkin County 34, Columbus 33
4A:
Central (Carroll) 47, North Hall 33
5A:
Cass 34, Ola 28
6A:
South Effingham 33, Glynn Academy 33 (decided on tiebreaker: most points/wins four vs three)
