Friday, Jan. 26
All three matches on Friday will have a decided favorite and decided underdog. Perennial power Easton has seen some down times in recent years, but looks to be emerging in the right direction under second-year head coach Jamarr Billman. Despite returning just one state qualifier in sophomore Jonathan Miers (132), the Red Rovers placed third at the season-opening Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic, fifth in the always tough Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic, and eighth at the Escape the Rock Tournament.
Miers won titles at both December tournaments before finishing runner-up at the Escape the Rock Tournament, losing 3-2 to nationally ranked Nick Raimo in the final. Junior Gaven Krazer (160) and senior Jonathan Pineda (285) have also placed in all three tournaments.
Even though St. Edward took No. 5 St. Paris Graham (Ohio) to the wire this past Saturday night, it would take many things going right for the Eagles if they were to upset the second-ranked Buccaneers on Friday. The lower-weight matches in this dual meet should be worth the watch.
120: No. 2 Michael Colaiocco (Blair Academy) vs. state placer Angelo Rini
126: No. 10 Chris Cannon (Blair Academy) vs. state runner-up Bryce Hepner
132: No. 16 Matt Kazimir (St. Edward) vs. No. 20 Travis Mastrogiovanni
138: No. 12 Bryce Andonian (St. Edward) vs. three-time National Prep placer Malcolm Robinson
Out of the other ten matches in the dual meet, Blair is strongly favored in six (106, 113, 160-182, 220). St. Edward favored in three (145, 152, 195), with a tossup at 285.
Saturday, Jan. 27
Action really intensifies on Saturday with four Fab 50 teams competing in a quad meet against one another. The lone exception is that Montini Catholic and St. Edward will not wrestle one another, as they met in the championship match at The Clash XVI National Duals in Rochester, Minn. last month. Montini Catholic blew out St. Edward, winning twelve matches in a 47-9 dual meet victory.
Below are the projected lineups for each of the four teams.
Bergen Catholic's Robert Howard gets his hand raised after winning the Doc Buchanan Invitational (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)No. 1 Bergen Catholic
106: No. 8 Nick Kayal
113: Enrique Sanchez (state medalist) or Richard Halal (state qualifier)
120: No. 3 Robert Howard
126: Dylan Weaver (freshman, pinned nationally ranked Chris Cannon to start the Blair Academy dual; consolation round of 12 at the Beast, fifth place at the Doc Buchanan)
132: Carmen Ferrante (three-time state medalist)
138: Joseph Zargo (state qualifier)
145: Wade Unger (upset Malcolm Robinson in the Blair dual)
152: Gerard Angelo (three-time state placer, 2015 state champion) or Tony Asatrian (Beast of the East fifth place, Doc Buchanan third place)
160: No. 2 Shane Griffith
170: No. 6 Chris Foca
182: No. 11 Jacob Cardenas
195: Josh McKenzie (2016 state medalist)
220: Sage Mosco (state qualifier)
285: John High (Beast of the East sixth place, Doc Buchanan fourth place)
No. 3 Wyoming Seminary
106: Tim Levine (California state qualifier)
113: Nic Botello (Powerade fifth place, Eastern States Classic champion) or Drew Munch (National Prep champion)
120: Zeke Escalera (Kentucky state champion, Cadet freestyle champion)
126: No. 2 Beau Bartlett
132: No. 5 Carson Manville -- went 138 last week, avenged Ironman loss to Ryan Anderson in dual meet
138: No. 14 Jack Davis -- went 132 the last two weeks
145: Connor Kievman (3-2 at Powerade, consolation round of 12 at Eastern States) or Mosha Schwartz (2017 National Prep runner-up at 113)
152: Benny Baker (two-time National Prep placer) or Cole Rees (top 25 overall freshman)
160: No. 18 Jake Hendricks
170: Jake Stefanowicz (Powerade seventh place, Eastern States Classic sixth place)
182: No. 17 Darrien Roberts
195: No. 17 Austin Cooley
220: Matthew Doggett (Powerade seventh place, Eastern States Classic third place)
285: Anthony Cutrie (New York state qualifier)
No. 4 Montini Catholic
106: Nain Vazquez (freshman, Walsh Ironman consolation round of 12, Cheesehead third place)
113: No. 4 Dylan Ragusin
120: No. 4 Joey Melendez
126: Dylan Burnowski (two-time state qualifier, 2016 state medalist)
132: No. 3 Real Woods
138: Fidel Mayora (state medalist, Cadet National freestyle champion)
145: No. 11 Jake Stiles
152: No. 5 Will Lewan
160: Matt Ortiz (state medalist)
170: Anthony Geraci (Cheesehead sixth place)
182: Trevor Swier (state qualifier)
195: Peter Christensen (state qualifier; Ironman placer, Cheesehead champion)
220: Colin Baker (freshman)
285: Mike McNicholas (Cheesehead fourth place)
No. 8 St. Edward
106: Richard Delsanter (Walsh Ironman 2-2)
113: Scott Richter (Walsh Ironman consolation round of 12 last two years)
120: Angelo Rini (state medalist)
126: Bryce Hepner (state runner-up)
132: No. 16 Matt Kazimir
138: No. 12 Bryce Andonian
145: No. 16 Sam Dover
152: Padraic Gallagher (top five overall freshman, All-American at UWW Cadet and Cadet Nationals in freestyle, Walsh Ironman consolation round of 12)
160: Hudson Hightower (top 25 overall freshman, Walsh Ironman consolation round of 12)
170: Michael Garcar (sophomore)
182: Jiryes Zakaib (senior)
195: No. 8 Cody Howard
220: Seamus O'Malley (Walsh Ironman seventh place)
285: Luca Santillo (senior)
It is abundantly clear looking at these four rosters the talent that will be colliding on the mats come Saturday. In addition, one can also see how No. 1 Bergen Catholic is susceptible to taking a loss. Of course, should the Crusaders come through these three duals with a sweep of wins, they would remain at the top of the rankings and do so with much aplomb.
On the other hand, should one of these three teams -- or for that matter more than one -- upend Bergen Catholic, then the national team rankings take a turn for the murky. Current No. 2 Blair Academy is in a very good position based on their dominant showings at the nation's best two tournaments in December, and could further their case with a decisive victory over St. Edward on Friday; if they earn said victory, they would now have four dual meet wins over top ten teams to counter-act the loss to Bergen Catholic.
On the other hand, if one of these teams was to beat Bergen Catholic, they would obviously have their own shout at the No. 1 ranking. Depending on the nature of the loss(es), Bergen Catholic might have a shout of their own based on beating Blair Academy decisively (9-5 in terms of matches), along with an excellent runner-up finish at the Beast of the East and then winning a very robust Doc Buchanan Invitational. Wyoming Seminary and Montini Catholic have their deficiency with the relative finish at the Ironman, also Wyoming Seminary losing 9-5 in terms of match count to Blair last week; however, the Blue Knights dominated their way through the Powerade, while the Broncos dominated their way through the Clash National Duals (four wins over Fab 50 teams) and the Cheesehead.
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