Michael Colaiocco seeks to become just the third wrestler to win four Beast of the East titles (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)In its 26th edition, the Beast of the East is going to truly live up to its name. The nation's top three ranked teams are present in the field, as are seven wrestlers currently ranked No. 1 nationally in their weight class.
Even so, national No. 1 Blair Academy (N.J.) enters the tournament as strong favorites to win this event for the 23rd time over the course of its existence. Directly challenging the Buccaneers will be No. 2 Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) and No. 3 Bergen Catholic (N.J.), along with seven other nationally ranked teams: No. 8 Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), No. 11 Bethlehem Catholic (Pa.), No. 25 Elyria (Ohio), No. 30 Mt. St. Joseph's (Md.), No. 37 Brecksville (Ohio), No. 40 Northampton (Pa.), and No. 43 Delbarton (N.J.)
Though he is not ranked No. 1, Michael Colaiocco of Blair Academy (N.J.) seeks to become just the third wrestler to win four titles at this tournament; he would join Buccaneer alum Mark Grey and Bergen Catholic alum Nick Suriano, who is currently ranked third nationally at 133 for Rutgers. Standing in the way of No. 4 Colaiocco at 126 pounds could be six additional nationally ranked wrestlers, including national No. 1 Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
Howard beat Colaiocco last season when the teams met in a mid-January dual meet, one in which Bergen Catholic emerged with the upset at home. At the Beast of the East, Howard lost 4-3 to Sammy Alvarez (St. Joseph Montvale, N.J.) in the quarterfinal round; Alvarez enters the tournament ranked No. 5 overall in this weight class. Additional ranked wrestlers slated to compete are No. 9 Ryan Jack (Danbury, Ct.), No. 11 Dylan Shawver (Elyria, Ohio), No. 14 Sean Pierson (Nazareth, Pa.), and No. 16 Drew Munch (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.)
Six others join Colaiocco in hunt of a repeat Beast of the East crown come Saturday and Sunday. One of those would be Kurt McHenry (St. Paul's, Md.), who is ranked No. 1 nationally at 113 pounds, and won this weight class last year at the tournament. Among the challengers to McHenry will be last year's 106-pound champion Nick Kayal (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), along with five additional ranked wrestlers -- all within the top twelve of the country. They include No. 4 Anthony Ferrari (Blair Academy, N.J.), No. 5 Troy Spratley (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), No. 8 Cooper Flynn (McDonogh, Md.), No. 9 Dean Peterson (St. John Vianney, N.J.), and No. 12 Nico Nardone (Delbarton, N.J.)
Another of the top ranked wrestlers is Trevor Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, N.J.), who competes at 120 pounds, and is after his first title at the Beast of the East despite having won titles this season and last season at the Walsh Ironman. Last year, Mastrogiovanni lost 4-3 in the Beast of the East final to McHenry, a loss that was avenged in the National Prep final. Six other nationally ranked wrestlers are in the hunt at 120: No. 4 Ryan Crookham (Notre Dame - Green Pond, Pa.), No. 5 Nic Bouzakis (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), No. 7 Anthony Clark (Delbarton, N.J.), No. 9 Dylan Cedeno (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), No. 11 Lachlan McNeil (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), and No. 15 Eddie Ventresca (Pope John XXIII, N.J.). It should be noted that Cedeno may be ineligible for this tournament due to NJSIAA regulations related to transfer.
Yet another Blair Academy wrestler ranked first nationally is Shayne Van Ness, winner of the Walsh Ironman two weeks ago at 132 pounds. Among the six other nationally ranked wrestlers in this weight class is returning tournament champion No. 5 Nick Raimo (Camden Catholic, N.J.). Also present are No. 4 Beau Bartlett (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), No. 6 Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.), No. 15 Justin Rivera (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), No. 16 Kenny Herrmann (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), and No. 18 Mick Burnett (Elyria, Ohio). Unranked wrestlers to watch include sophomore Justin Mastroianni (New Canaan, Ct.) and freshman Nick Vafiadis (New Kent, Va.)
Also ranked first nationally is Jojo Aragona (Pope John XXIII, N.J.), who is slated to compete at 138 pounds. The Rutgers signee is featured in a weight class that could have six other nationally ranked competitors. That group is headlined by a pair of Junior National freestyle All-Americans, No. 3 Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.) and No. 5 Lucas Revano (Camden Catholic, N.J.); others include No. 7 Travis Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, N.J.), No. 8 Chris Rivera (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), No. 10 Jonathon Miers (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), and No. 18 Matt Lackman (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.)
It should be noted that Miers has yet to compete for the Blue Knights this season. Additional contenders include home state star Jackson Dean (Caesar Rodney, Del.), a Cadet freestyle All-American this summer; along with state medalist Devon Britton (Northampton, Pa.), who beat Lackman 8-2 in dual meet action on Thursday night.
An additional No. 1 is Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), 2017 champion of the Super 32 Challenge and winner of the Walsh Ironman two weeks ago. Anderson leads a field at 145 pounds that also includes returning tournament champion Ricky Cabanillas (DePaul Catholic, N.J.), who is ranked No. 8 nationally. Another pair of ranked wrestlers are possible to be present, No. 4 Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) and No. 7 Ryan Vulakh (Pope John II, Pa.). A pair of Lehigh Valley underclassmen merit mention as well, junior Andrew Cerniglia (Notre Dame - Green Pond, Pa.) and sophomore Jager Condomiti (Northampton, Pa.)
Rounding out the top-ranked wrestlers nationally in the field is A.J. Ferrari (Blair Academy, N.J.), who headlines a 195 pound weight class that also features national No. 2 Jacob Cardenas (Bergen Catholic, N.J.); Ferrari was at a different school last year, so he was not at the Beast, while Cardenas was runner-up at 182 pounds losing 4-3 to Blair Academy's Leonardo Tarantino. An additional contender at this weight class could be Zac Brown (Eastern View, Va.)
The last two defending champions not already mentioned are Julian Ramirez (Blair Academy, N.J.) and John Birchmeier (Broad Run, Va.).
Ramirez is ranked No. 3 nationally at 170 pounds, and is joined by just one other nationally ranked wrestler in his weight class, No. 15 Luke Nichter (Chambersburg, Pa.). An additional contenders to watch are Junior National double All-American Jake Stefanowicz (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) and Junior National freestyle All-American Luca Pontone (Belmont Hill, Mass.)
Birchmeier, ranked No. 8 nationally, is the lone ranked wrestler in this field at 285 pounds.
Below are the additional nationally ranked wrestlers expected to compete at the Beast of the East this weekend.
106: No. 2 Alex Almeyda (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), No. 11 Kelly Dunnigan (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.), No. 17 Richard Fedalen (McDonogh, Md.), and No. 19 Evan Holloway (New Kent, Va.)
Note: Dunnigan may be ineligible due to NJSIAA rules related to transfer
152: No. 14 Victor Voinovich (Brecksville, Ohio)
160: No. 9 Domonic Mata (Blair Academy, N.J.)
182: No. 6 Darrien Roberts (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), No. 7 Chris Foca (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), No. 8 Jackson Turley (St. Christopher's, Va.), No. 17 Jack Parr (St. Paul's, Md.)
220: No. 2 Owen Trephan (Blair Academy, N.J.), No. 5 Hunter Catka (Sun Valley, Pa.), No. 8 Jacob Kaminski (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), No. 13 Andy Smith (Christiansburg, Va.)
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