For every wrestler who signs up for the team when they are in elementary or middle school, their ultimate goal is to be standing atop the podium at the Giant Center in Hershey on Saturday during the month of March. Wrestling in the Keystone state has perhaps the deepest talent pool in the nation. With a population over twelve and a half million, the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) has only two classifications for wrestling. The small schools are in class 2A and the big schools are 3A. With its history-rich tradition, it is hard to set new records in PA.
This season one wrestler will be looking to make history as Derry senior Jimmy Gulibon is aiming for his fourth individual state championship, becoming the 10th wrestling in the history of the state to win a gold medal in all four years competing in the PIAA individual state tournament. Gulibon would become the first wrestler in this millennium to win four championships. The last one to become a four-timer was McGuffey's Jeremy Hunter, who was first from 1993 through 1996. Hunter, now an assistant at Illinois, became an NCAA champion at Penn State in 2000 at 125 pounds. Gulibon, a Penn State commit, plans to compete at 125 pounds for the Nittany Lions when he becomes eligible.
The question may be a coincidence, but will the next four-time state champion from Pennsylvania go on to become an NCAA champion for The Pennsylvania State University? The answer will result over the next four to five years. The following seniors are considered the 10 best in the Class of 2012. In all, they have accounted for 10 state championships, one Prep National title, and a total of 13 final appearances and two Prep National finals.
Editor's note: "Words from the Corner"' come from the wrestler's coach.
Jimmy GulibonProjected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Words from the Corner: "Jimmy is a one in a million kind of kid both on and off the mat. The thing that makes Jimmy special is that he is never satisfied. No matter what the outcome or score is he wants to improve and get better. He wrestles to dominate and score points from the first second until the last. One of the things that makes Jimmy so rare is that he enjoys training as much as he does competing." -- Jody Strittmatter, Young Guns Wrestling Club Director/Coach
Career Highlights:
2. Mitchell Minotti (Easton)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 152/160
Projected College Weight Class: 157
Words from the Corner: "Mitchell Minotti is a classic example of what Pennsylvania wrestling is all about. At a young age he had great success in a variety of sports such as football and baseball, though always doing the PA wrestling circuit of state and national tournaments. Mitchell is very talented as an athlete, but in PA talent will only take you so far. Mitchell has a great work ethic, his goals are clear athletically and academically. He has faced great competition in the Easton wrestling room as well as our year-round schedule. With the lessons he has learned in the sport of wrestling on and off the mat, with the support he has given our youth wrestlers at Easton Gold Medal Wrestling Club, Mitchell has done us proud by becoming Easton's 35th state champion as a junior. No doubt Mitch will carry these experiences from Pennsylvania wrestling through his career at Lehigh University, as well as his lifetime, and continue to give back to the sport that has given him so much." -- Steve Powell, Easton Head Wrestling Coach
Mitch Minotti3. Jason Luster (Pittsburgh Central Catholic)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 157/165
Words from the Corner: "He is perhaps the most physically-gifted athlete in the state of Pennsylvania, if not the entire country. His speed and quickness combined with his strength gives him the ability to score at any given time from any position on the mat. Off the mat, Jason is one of the kindest individuals to be around as he carries a very humble attitude. Jason has matured in the classroom as well achieving honor roll status last year as a junior. With major nationally-ranked tournament championships under his belt last year, including the Ironman and Beast of the East, he will be chasing the coveted PIAA AAA state championship this upcoming season." -- John Cortese, Central Catholic Assistant Wrestling Coach
Career Highlights:
As a freshman, Luster emerged as an immediate star when he placed third at Walsh Ironman while attending Woodberry Forest School, Va. He will wrestle collegiately for either West Virginia or Pitt.
4. Dominick Malone (Wyoming Seminary)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126
Projected College Weight Class: 125/133
Words from the Corner: "Dom Malone is an exciting combination of physical talent, tireless work ethic, a high wrestling IQ, and passion for the sport. Plenty of wrestlers have one or two of these qualities, but Dom's the whole package which makes him a tough match up for anyone. As a freshman, he had a good repertoire, but his success was as much a product of his relentless attack and physical style as it was execution of effective technique. He set a fast and physical pace that sooner or later broke his opponents. That approach hasn't changed, but through hours of hard work, year-round, Dom has become a more complete wrestler. Now, in addition to being a special athlete, his setups, attacks and finishes on his feet are more complex and well executed. He has become very effective, in fact I would say dominant, on top ... whether riding or turning, and he wastes little time coming out of the bottom position. In my opinion, Dom's style and mentality are well suited for collegiate wrestling. I am confident that his best wrestling days still lie ahead of him. If you're curious about how he has progressed so impressively, stop by the wrestling room some weekday morning before school, or some Sunday afternoon or some hot July day and you will get your answer. Dom will be in the room training. In order to succeed in anything at a high level you need to be willing to do the hard things -- most people are not willing to -- Dom Malone is. He is good and he deserves to be good. He consistently does the hard things. Many don't realize that in addition to his wrestling talents, Dom is an honor roll student at Wyoming Seminary, a very rigorous college prep school. The faculty selected him to be a Levi Sprague Scholar in this his senior year. That is the highest student distinction that the school offers. He is a team captain and a leader on and off the mat. Dom is the whole package who approaches his academic pursuits and life off the mat -- with the same tenacity that he competes on it." -- John Gordon, Wyoming Seminary Former Head Wrestling Coach/Dean of Upper School
Career Highlights:
Malone is a three-time Beast of the East and Walsh Ironman placewinner. He has numerous college choices including: Northwestern, Missouri, Virginia, Illinois, Virginia Tech, and Indiana.
Brian BrillProjected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 152/160
Projected College Weight Class: 157
Words from the Corner: "Brian Brill is a complete wrestler. He is very tough on his feet, but when he gets on the mat he is as good as I have ever coached. Brian has a natural feel for the sport and his body awareness makes him dangerous from any position on the mat. It has been great having him in our practice room. It is pretty obvious by looking at his success that Brian works hard, but the one thing that separates Brian is his ability and willingness to help his teammates. I sometimes think he gets as much pleasure in seeing his teammates improving as he does with his own achievements." -- Doug Buckwalter, Central Mountain Head Wrestling Coach
Career Highlights:
Brian Brill is deciding between Penn State, Lehigh, and Cornell as his college of choice.
Nick RobertsProjected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 113
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Words from the Corner: "Nick is a great competitor who wrestles his best when it matters the most. He has won at every age level that he has been at and he continues to improve as he gets older. He is also a great Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestler. He has won multiple national titles and has gained international experience representing the U.S. at the past two FILA Junior World Championships." -- Jody Strittmatter, Young Guns Wrestling Club Director/Coach
Career Highlights:
Roberts is your prototypical career 125 pounder in college. The Ohio State University and University of Michigan are his final college choices.
7. Steve Spearman (Erie McDowell)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 138
Projected College Weight Class: 141
Words from the Corner: "Steve is a quick, powerful wrestler who stays low and attacks when someone comes out of their stance. His strongest position is neutral, but he has been doing a lot of spring and summer wrestling to improve his riding and tilting. Steve has been blessed with much natural ability and is a great scrambler." -- Shane McChesney, Erie McDowell Head Wrestling Coach
Career Highlights:
Spearman is undecided on where he wants to attend school.
John RizzoProjected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 285
Projected College Weight Class: 285
Words from the Corner: "Johnny is one of the most disciplined and dedicated heavyweights that I have ever been around. He is a very athletic heavyweight who uses his quickness and athleticism along with his strength and technique. He is extremely focused and driven to be the best he can be in all aspects of his life, whether it's on the mat, on the football field, in the weight room or in the class room." -- Jody Strittmatter, Young Guns Wrestling Club Director/Coach
Career Highlights:
He became the first Pennsylvania wrestler to capture heavyweight titles as a sophomore and as junior. Rizzo entered the state tournament with only one loss the past two seasons -- in both cases to Beth-Center's Jeff Tarley in the Southwest Regionals. He is multi-sport star on the mat and on the field for Richland's football team. John is undecided on which sport he will compete in college.
9. Corey Keener (Blue Mountain)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126/132
Projected College Weight Class: 125/133
Corey KeenerCareer Highlights:
Keener is a three-time Schuylkill League Tournament champion, four-time Fargo placewinner, three-time Walsh Ironman placewinner, three-time District Eleven champion, and three-time Northeast Regional champion.
10a. Randy Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126
Projected College Weight Class:133
Words from the Corner: "The best description of Randy is that he has tremendous natural ability, but also is mature and dedicated enough to always strive for improvement. I really believe in all my years of coaching he has been the most well-rounded student athlete that I have ever coached. Very goal-oriented beyond just wrestling. He strives to be the best in all aspects of his life. Very good in all positions on the mat (feet, top, bottom) and has shown tremendous growth from one season to the next. He has all of the skills to be very successful in Division I wrestling at the college level with some good mental toughness! He will graduate from Bethlehem Catholic with the most wins in school history and has an opportunity to be the only four-time regional champion/four-time state medalist." -- Jeff Karam, Head Coach Bethlehem Catholic
Career Highlights:
College choices: Penn, Virginia, Columbia, and Lehigh. He is also a three-time Beast of the East placewinner.
10b. Matt Cimato (La Salle)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 141/149
Words from the Corner: "Matt has grown into a true team leader on and off the mat in his four years at La Salle. His work ethic is second to none. We have had some very successful wrestlers who wrestled for La Salle and Matt has the ability to be the best one ever. Matt has always sought out the best competition across the country. I look forward to his senior year and what lies ahead for Matt Cimato." -- Anthony Panzarella, La Salle Assistant Wrestling Coach
Career Highlights:
Cimato is an accomplished folkstyle and freestyle wrestler who travels
nationwide to seek out the best competition during the offseason of scholastic wrestling. He is choosing from Drexel, Rider, and Old Dominion for college.
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