Bergen Catholic (N.J.) with strong statement at the Doc Buchanan Invitational
For the first time in the 39-year history of the Doc Buchanan Invitational, it was won by an out of state team. Bergen Catholic (N.J.), ranked No. 2 nationally, ended the six year run of titles for the host squad of Clovis (Calif.) with an impressive performance in which they scored 224 points, placing 12 starting wrestlers to go along with two backups. Leading the way for the Crusaders were three weight class champions, No. 19 Gerard Angelo (120), No. 1 Nick Suriano (126), and No. 11 Joe Grello (170). Two other wrestlers earned runner-up honors: Carmen Ferrante (113) and No. 5 Kevin Mulligan (195).
Other starters to place for Bergen Catholic were Brady Ford (152) in third; freshmen Christopher Foca (132) and Josh McKenzie (182) in fifth; Ricky Cabanillas (138) in seventh; along with eight place finishes by Richie Halal (106), Andrew Somple (145), and Antonio Alfano (285). Reserve wrestlers to place were Wade Unger (138) in sixth and Nicky Cabanillas (120) in eighth. And to think state champion Shane Griffith (138) and state placer Danny DeLorenzi (220) should be returning within the next one to two weeks for the Crusaders.
Finishing as runners-up with 212 points were No. 5 Buchanan, which was coming off their title won at the Clash National High School Wrestling Duals last weekend. The Bears had eight starters place, all in the top five, as well as reserve wrestler Jake Levatino (152) finishing sixth. Weight class champions for the Bears were No. 17 Durbin Lloren (132) and Anthony Montalvo (182), runner-up finishes came from Matthew Olguin (106) and Greg Gaxiola (152), Ethan Leake (113) and Cade Belshay (170) finished third, Trevor Ervin (195) placed fourth, while No. 18 Abner Romero (160) took home fifth.
It's a testament to the perennial strength of the hosts, who are ranked No. 6 nationally, that seven placers including two champions on the way to 163 points can be called a disappointment. Especially when Clovis saw their best wrestler, No. 2 Justin Mejia, have to exit the tournament in the second round at 120 pounds; along with missing state qualifier Brandon Martino (138/145) from the lineup. Champions for the Cougars in this tournament were No. 8 (at 182) Josh Hokit (195), who earned the Outstanding Wrestler award for upper-weights, and No. 6 Seth Nevills (285); No. 11 (at 195) A.J. Nevills (220) placed second; Brandon Betancourt (106) finished sixth; Dylan Martinez (145) and Ruger Wynekem (182) placed seventh; while Jared Hill (152) finished eighth.
Despite being outside the Fab 50, though not for long, Pueblo County (Colo.) had a most excellent tournament to place fourth with 132.5 points. They were anchored by a pair of weight class champions in Josiah Nava (113) and No. 13 (at 132) Chris Sandoval (138), who was named the Outstanding Wrestler among lower-weights. Four other wrestlers placed: Grant Willits (126) in third, Hunter Willits (145) in fourth, Nathan Bonham (106) in fifth, and Justin Davis (132) in eighth.
Rounding out the weight class champions were No. 3 Nico Aguilar (Gilroy) at 106 pounds, No. 5 Zander and No. 4 Evan Wick (San Marino) at 145 and 152, No. 11 Layne van Anrooy (Rosebug, Ore.) at 160, and No. 9 Cohlton Schultz (Ponderosa, Colo.) at 220.
Mt. Carmel (Ill.) takes home the Cheese(head) in Wisconsin
One of the season's bigger stories has been the re-emergence of Mt. Carmel into a strong national force as John Kading puts his stamp on the Caravan. If it wasn't already apparent, it became abundantly clear this weekend when No. 21 Mt. Carmel (Ill.) earned the tournament title at the Cheesehead Invitational over a field that included seven other nationally ranked teams.
Mt. Carmel entered 13 wrestlers in the tournament, eleven of them placed in the top eight, another wrestler earned 9th (which meant they were champion of the "middle bracket"), while returning Kaleb Guzior (120) finished 16th after sustaining an injury in his second match that precluded him from competing further in the tournament. All eleven top eight placers finished within the top six, led by champion Matthew Reyes (285) and a runner-up finish from No. 19 Jake Tucker (152). Finishing third were Yahya Thomas (126), Cameron Lopez (60), and David Riojas (170); fifth place finishes came from Kendall Coleman (132) and Dillon Hoey (145); while Joey Egan (113), Jack Mulay (138), Dru Worker (195), and Leo Ortiz (220) each finished sixth. That was enough to amass 582 points.
Tournament runners-up despite the absence of state placer Robbie Precin (126) were No. 7 Carl Sandburg (Ill.) with 557 points, eight placers within the top eight, and an additional ninth place finisher. The Eagles were led by a first place finish from No. 6 Rudy Yates (132) as well as runner-up finishes from Louie Hayes (113) and Brian Krasowski (170). Third place finishes were earned by Kevin Stearns (120), Christian Robertson (138), and No. 18 Patrick Brucki (182). Placing fifth was John Prieto (152), while Ben Schneider (160) took eighth.
It was a tight battle for third place between a trio of Minnesota teams - No. 39 Kasson-Mantorville (465 points), No. 18 St. Michael-Albertville (459), and No. 16 Apple Valley (445.5). The Komets placed nine in the top eight, including two finalists, champion No. 4 Brady Berge (160) and runner-up Noah Ryan (195); St. Michael-Albertville only placed six in the top eight, but all of them were in the top three, including the weight class titles won by No. 16 Patrick and No. 5 Mitchell McKee at 106 and 138; while the Eagles placed six in the top eight and an additional wrestler in ninth, led by weight class champions in No. 1 Mark Hall (170) and No. 1 Gable Steveson (220), despite missing state placer Brock Morgan (145) from the lineup.
Finishing sixth in the tournament was No. 33 Platte County (Mo.) with 438.5 points, as they had eight top eight placers. The Pirates were led by the weight class title won by No. 8 Matthew Schmitt (126) and the runner-up finishes from Cody Phippen (106) and No. 14 Ethan Karsten (145). No. 14 Southeast Polk (Iowa) finished eighth with 354.5 points, as they were without state placer Adam Brown (120) and two other starters; leading the way for the Rams were runner-up finishes from Zach Barnes (138) and No. 6 Ethan Andersen (220).
No. 27 Montini Catholic (Ill.) finished ninth with 313 points, led by five top eight placers; while feeling the absence of No. 16 Will Lewan at 138 pounds. The Broncos lone champion was No. 2 Real Woods (113), No. 8 Dylan Duncan (132) placed second, while No. 10 Joey Melendez (106) placed third.
Rounding out the weight class champions were Paul Bianchi (Two Rivers, Wis.) at 120 pounds, No. 3 Austin O'Connor (St. Rita's, Ill.) at 145, No. 3 Griffin Parriott (New Prague, Minn.) at 152, No. 3 Beau Breske (Hartford Union, Wis.) at 182, and No. 16 Jacob Raschka (Pewaukee, Wis.) at 195.
No. 1 Pletcher falls to defeat in finals of the WCCA Tournament
Two nationally ranked teams and a large number of nationally ranked individuals were among the field at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Tournament held at Franklin Regional High School just outside of Pittsburgh this weekend. No. 40 Kiski Area outlasted No. 12 Belle Vernon Area by a score of 215 to 209 for the title, though it should be noted that the runner-up Leopards were without the presence of No. 3 Austin Bell at 170 pounds.
The tournament champion Cavaliers placed eleven wrestlers, led by four runner-ups: Noah Levett (120), Matt Siszka (126), Tyler Worthing (182), and Chad Kuhn (220). Four other wrestlers placed third, two more took fourth, and another earned fifth.
Runner-up Belle Vernon had three weight class champions in Derek Verkleeren (152), Mitch Hartman (160), and Milton Kobaly (182); while Jacob Dunlop (106) and No. 6 Jarod Verkleeren (145) placed second. Three Leopards wrestlers also finished third, while single wrestlers placed fourth and sixth.
Two showdowns of nationally ranked wrestlers happened in the finals: No. 3 George Phillippi (Derry Area) upset No. 1 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) in the 138 pound final, winning with a rideout in the ultimate tiebreaker after the match was tied 2-2; while No. 2 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) upended Jarod Verkleeren 2-0 in the 145 pound final.
Other weight class champions were Job Chishko (Penn Trafford) at 106, Colton Camacho (Franklin Regional) at 113, Ty Griffiths (Southmoreland) at 120, No. 6 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe) at 126, Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area) at 132, Drew Phipps and Hayden Rice from Norwin at 195 and 285, along with Derek Berberick Greensburg-Salem) at 220. Rice won the 285 pound weight class when No. 10 Jake Beistel (Southmoreland) did not contest the final due to injury.
Blair Academy (N.J.) bounces back with dominant repeat at the Geary Invitational
Coming off of last Saturday's upset dual meet loss at St. Paris Graham (Ohio), No. 3 Blair Academy (N.J.) continued its rigorous schedule with a trip to Oklahoma for the nation's oldest high school in-season tournament, the Geary Invitational. The Buccaneers dominated their way to the title with 209 points, placing 13 wrestlers, including six weight class champions: No. 13 Michael Colaiocco (106), Chris Cannon (113), Andrew Merola (145), No. 17 Ryan Karoly (160), No. 4 Brandon Dallavia (170), and No. 3 Chase Singletary (195). Requir van der Merwe, ranked No. 11 nationally, lost his championship bout by 5-3 decision to No. 3 Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) at 132 pounds.
Finishing second in the standings was No. 11 Tuttle (Okla.) with 141.5 points, as the Tigers placed nine wrestlers, including three champions: Noah McQuigg (120), Brik Filippo (138), and Blake Berryhill (220); McQuigg upset No. 12 (at 126) Dalton Duffield (Westmoore, Okla.) 4-1 in the championship match. Finishing as runners-up were Dayton Garrett (160) and Tanner Johnson (170), Tanner Litterell (132) finished third losing by fall to van der Merwe in the semifinal. The squad was absent two-time state champion Beau Guffey (152).
Rounding out the weight class champions were Montorie Bridges (126) of Altus (Okla.), Joseph Messer (152) and Gage Johnson (285) of Norman North (Okla.), and Isaiah Page (182) of Broken Arrow, Okla.
Quick hits
No. 8 St. Edward (Ohio) and No. 9 Oak Park River Forest (Ill.) each went 4-0 and dominated their opposition in the Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.) Super Duals on Saturday. Both squads beat the host Shamrocks and Portage (Ind.), who are top ten overall squads in their states. St. Edward also beat St. Johns and Hudson, who are top ten overall squads in Michigan; while Oak Park River Forest added victories against Davison (Mich.), top ten overall in their state, and No. 35 Brecksville (Ohio).
No. 35 Brecksville lost to Wadsworth in a most excellent 28-22 dual meet on Thursday evening. The dual meet was split at seven weight classes apiece, as bonus points amassed by the Grizzlies made the difference. As a result, Wadsworth now has 68 consecutive dual meet wins in the Suburban League going back to December 2006; Brecksville is in their debut season in the conference.
No. 36 Brownsburg (Ind.) won the title at the Mat Mayhem Duals this weekend in Fort Wayne, Ind. They beat Mechanicsburg (Ohio) 50-18 in the final, after the Indians upset No. 24 Lowell (Mich.) 42-22 in preliminary pool action.
Returning to the mat this week were a pair of elite lower weights in Jason Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) at 120 pounds and Ty Agaisse (Delbarton, N.J.) at 126. Look for both wrestlers to return to the weight class rankings on Wednesday.
On the individual side of things, it was a classic finals bout in the 120 pound weight class at the Peoria (Ariz.) Tournament of Champions between a pair of top 15 wrestlers on Saturday night. No. 5 Roman Bravo-Young (Sunnyside) came through the 8-5 decision over No. 14 Brandon Courtney (Desert Edge) in the tiebreaker.
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