Express Times

Individual wrestling rankings

 

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

103 pounds

 

1. So. Jamie Welsh (28-6) Pen Argyl

 

2. So. Anthony Cabrera (28-4) Liberty

 

3. Fr. Randy Cruz (33-4) Bethlehem Catholic

 

4. So. Ryan Nicotra (32-3) Hackettstown

 

5. So. Mike Fake (23-8) Parkland

 

Honorable mention: So. Cody Barbiche (25-9) Delaware Valley; Jr. Anthony Bilotta (34-5) Pius X; Fr. Pat Boyle (21-13) North Hunterdon; So. Josh Fritz (24-7) Emmaus; So. Brandon Hartrum (23-12) Wilson; Jr. Dylan Long (24-11) Northwestern; Fr. Cole Sheptock (16-13) Northampton.

 

Comments: New No. 1. Welsh, who competed at 112 for most of season, decisioned third-ranked rival Cruz 6-2 in District 11 Class AA final and takes over top spot. Cabrera drops to second after 9-6 defeat to Blue Mountain's Corey Keener in Class AAA final. Nicotra won NJSIAA District 1 title in dominant fashion and moves into No. 4 slot. Fake was third in Class AAA and stays fifth in rankings. Strong class.

 

112 pounds

 

1. So. Zach Horan (28-3) Nazareth

 

2. Jr. Anthony Marino (30-1) Liberty

 

3. Fr. Alex Shaffer (32-0) Hunterdon Central

 

4. Jr. Justin Mazza (29-2) Pius X

 

5. Jr. Brandon Davis (14-2) Parkland

 

Honorable mention: Jr. Eddie Faust (19-10) Northwestern; So. Mike Fleck (21-10) Easton; Fr. Zane Heller (24-9) Northern Lehigh; So. Jaydon Rice (27-10) Bethlehem Catholic; Jr. Greg Rinker (15-9) Northampton; Fr. Dylan Thorsen (33-3) Belvidere; Sr. Eric Waldron (23-12) North Hunterdon; So. Rylan Watson (23-10) Phillipsburg.

 

Comments: Easily our most talented weight class, especially with arrival of previously unbeaten Marino. Horan beat Marino 6-4 in district's Class AAA final and retains No. 1 while rival takes No. 2. Undefeated Shaffer rolled to NJSIAA District 17 title. Mazza captured Class AA crown while Davis placed fourth in AAA.

 

119 pounds

 

1. Jr. Corey Kozimor (22-2) Hackettstown

 

2. Fr. Mitch Minotti (28-7) Easton

 

3. So. Franco Ferraina (23-8) Nazareth

 

4. Jr. Adam Phillippi (30-5) Saucon Valley

 

5. Jr. Pat Levandowski (28-7) North Hunterdon

 

Honorable mention: Sr. Derek Beckage (23-13) Pen Argyl; Jr. Doug Cowley (22-3) Belvidere; Sr. Korey Inglin (24-9) Delaware Valley; So. Josh LaBar (28-11) Pius X; Fr. Vinny Pellechia (20-10) Catasauqua; Fr. Jason Stephen (26-14) Northampton.

 

Comments: New No. 1. Kozimor takes top spot after capturing District 1 crown and benefiting from defection of Liberty's Anthony Marino to 112. Minotti was second in Class AAA, Ferraina was third, Phillippi won Class AA title and Levandowski was best at District 17. One of our weaker classes.

 

125 pounds

 

1. Sr. Evan Yenolevich (31-1) Northwestern

 

2. Jr. John Horak (28-7) Phillipsburg

 

3. Jr. Jordan Glykas (26-9) Northampton

 

4. So. Joey Rizzolino (25-9) Easton

 

5. Sr. D.J. Hartrum (28-5) Wilson

 

Honorable mention: Jr. Brian Bistis (30-4) Hunterdon Central; Sr. Bob Detweiler (23-9) Freedom; Jr. Mike Dorn (22-9) North Warren; So. Justin Heller (24-12) Parkland; So. Rex Lutz (23-13) Pen Argyl; So. Greg Noll (19-15) Nazareth; So. Matt Schuebel (26-5) Warren Hills; Jr. Bobby Stevely (28-5) Delaware Valley; So. Nikko Stevens (26-7) Northern Lehigh.

 

Comments: Only change is at No. 2 spot. Yenolevich ripped through Class AA field to fourth district title, registering 160th career win and 100th pin en route. Horak, who won District 1 crown, is second in place of Lane after P'burg standouts made their postseason choices. Glykas was second in Class AAA, Rizzolino third and Hartrum second at AA tourney. Great balance and depth.

 

130 pounds

 

1. Sr. Austin Williams (33-2) Pen Argyl

 

2. Sr. Josh Yurasits (28-5) Northampton

 

3. Sr. Bryan Smith (34-2) Bethlehem Catholic

 

4. So. Matt Lane (33-4) Phillipsburg

 

5. Jr. Vinny Peoni (27-8) Voorhees

 

Honorable mention: Jr. Owen Boyle (23-12) North Hunterdon; Jr. A.J. Chernaskey (22-8) Saucon Valley; Sr. Patrick Corpora (19-14) Easton; Jr. Erik Mitchell (23-11) Hackettstown; Sr. Kevin Ritchie (22-9) North Warren.

 

Comments: Not a lot of change. Williams proved to be No. 1 with Class AA title and 9-2 final win over Smith. Yurasits and Smith flip flop despite Smith's 10-8 head-to-head win based on Yurasits' 5-3 decision in Class AAA final over defending state champ Cort Choate of Blue Mountain. Lane assumes No. 4 after claiming District 1 title. Peoni takes over at fifth position. Outstanding one through four.

 

135 pounds

 

1. Jr. Austin Sommer (34-5) Northampton

 

2. So. Ryan Krecker (27-7) Nazareth

 

3. Sr. Andrew Duckworth (18-3) Bethlehem Catholic

 

4. Jr. Anthony Gaito (22-7) Warren Hills

 

5. Sr. Ricky Williams (16-6) Northwestern

 

Honorable mention: Sr. Victor Alpizar (25-7) Whitehall; Sr. Evan Brewer (26-8) Hunterdon Central; Jr. Kyle Cyphers (17-13) North Hunterdon; Sr. Richie Drey (18-16) Easton; Jr. Kyle Mecse (24-10) Delaware Valley; Jr. Andrew Moore (24-9) Parkland; Sr. Bob Moyer (25-11) Phillipsburg; Jr. Tanner Simmons (23-11) Catasauqua.

 

Comments: Lots of change. Only holdover from last week is our No. 1, Sommer who put up strong fight in 10-6 Class AAA final loss to Blue Mountain's Josh Kindig. Krecker dropped to 135 for postseason and finished third in AAA. Duckworth defeated Williams 6-1 for Class AA title. Gaito replaces Moyer in fourth spot after 5-3 head-to-head victory for District 1 crown. Not our most dynamic group.

 

140 pounds

 

1. Sr. Kris Krawchuk (30-0) Northern Lehigh

 

2. Sr. Phil Marano (15-3) Northampton

 

3. Jr. Mark Hartenstine (32-2) Easton

 

4. Jr. Oliver Brukardt (30-7) Phillipsburg

 

5. Sr. Bill Loftus (22-1) North Hunterdon

 

Honorable mention: Sr. Mike Calantoni (25-8) Wilson; So. Chris Carey (19-11) Hunterdon Central; So. Kyle Dehaut (25-8) Bethlehem Catholic; Jr. Jake Giovannini (33-5) Pius X; Jr. Garret Henning (21-13) Liberty; Jr. Thomas Higgins (18-11) Freedom; Sr. Mike LaPorta (20-11) Saucon Valley; So. Mike Ottinger (29-8) Parkland; Jr. Phil Racciato (25-7) Pen Argyl.

 

Comments: New No. 1. Unbeaten Krawchuk formerly held top spot at 145 and takes over here after claiming Class AA crown. Marano earned 4-3 decision over Hartenstine in AAA final. Brukardt retains fourth position with District 1 title. Loftus claims fifth slot after winning District 17. Easily one of best overall classes.

 

145 pounds

 

1. Sr. Shane Fenningham (20-6) Northampton

 

2. Jr. Craemer Hedash (27-4) Northern Lehigh

 

3. Sr. Austin Warman (33-3) Wilson

 

4. Sr. Nick Pare (27-9) Phillipsburg

 

5. Sr. Ian Heist (23-4) Parkland

 

Honorable mention: Jr. Ryan Gellner (22-9) Delaware Valley; Sr. Rick Graff (25-6) Warren Hills; Jr. Ryan Kisslinger (28-7) Liberty; So. Mason McIntyre (21-11) Freedom; So. Anthony Minotti (17-14) Easton.

 

Comments: New No. 1. Fenningham is back to form -- and top spot -- after knee injury and claims top ranking after capturing Class AAA crown with 4-3 victory over Heist. Hedash knocked off Warman 2-1 in Class AA final. Pare, who recorded 100th win in District 1 semis, defeated Graff 3-2 in final to reverse recent result and retain fourth position. Good, but not deep, group.

 

152 pounds

 

1. Jr. Kevin Brown (29-3) North Warren

 

2. Sr. Alex Depew (33-3) Wilson

 

3. Jr. Wade Rivera (32-5) Parkland

 

4. Jr. Jerry Somma (28-4) Hunterdon Central

 

5. Sr. Tylor Mutton (25-14) Pen Argyl

 

Honorable mention: Jr. Nick Boyd (22-12) Northwestern; So. Chris Cancelliere (24-9) North Hunterdon; Jr. Greg Chrin (25-5) Notre Dame; Sr. Tyler Cozzubbo (33-5) Pius X; Jr. Seth Guth (23-10) Whitehall; So. John Lambert (21-15) Northampton; Jr. Dallas Overko (24-14) Belvidere; Jr. Tyler Torcivia (9-8) Nazareth.

 

Comments: Changes galore. Only constant is at No. 1 as Brown captured District 1 title by beating previously undefeated Mike Amada of Mount Olive, 1-0. Depew dropped to 152 and took Class AA title; Rivera also dropped and won Class AAA crown. Somma jumps spot to fourth after ruling District 17. Mutton debuts at fifth with third-place finish in AA. Average class.

 

160 pounds

 

1. Sr. Jimmy Sheptock (37-2) Northampton

 

2. Jr. Mike Hafke (19-1) Voorhees

 

3. Sr. Aaron Ross (28-5) Bethlehem Catholic

 

4. So. Colin Hedash (23-4) Northern Lehigh

 

5. Jr. Matt Artigliere (26-5) Warren Hills

 

Honorable mention: Fr. Dylan Evans (21-8) Pen Argyl; Sr. Jeff Griffith (19-14) Easton; Sr. Mike Simon (22-12) Phillipsburg; Sr. Justin Quaye (24-8) Allen; Sr. Matt Hunter (21-9) Wilson.

 

Comments: Major movement from two through five. One of state's best, Sheptock dominated Class AAA competition to capture title. Hafke jumps up to second after winning District 17. Ross decisioned Hedash 10-7 in controversial AA final. Artigliere won District 1 and returns to top five. Strong at top.

 

171 pounds

 

1. Sr. Seth Csaszar (27-7) Northampton

 

2. Jr. Tate Klidonas (28-3) Emmaus

 

3. So. Ian Gimbar (27-5) Saucon Valley

 

4. Jr. Cody Lewis (25-8) Hunterdon Central

 

5. Sr. Dan Shust (29-5) North Hunterdon

 

Honorable mention: Sr. Eric Bohem (22-14) Phillipsburg; Sr. Ryder Clemmo (21-6) North Warren; Jr. Luke DeLuise (32-7) Pius X; So. Tyler Horn (22-13) Pen Argyl; Sr. Kevin Keim (28-10) Bethlehem Catholic; Jr. Cameron Kroemelbein (26-9) Belvidere; Jr. Kyle O'Donnell (12-5) Warren Hills; Sr. Brandon Olewine (19-7) Northern Lehigh; Jr. Chris Pintado (24-9) Liberty.

 

Comments: Depth but no dominant wrestler in this class. Csaszar finished second in Class AAA; Klidonas was third. Gimbar won AA title with 8-5 decision over Olewine. Lewis defeated Shust 5-2 for District 17 crown. One of region's weaker weights.

 

189 pounds

 

1. Sr. Joe Piro (34-4) Northampton

 

2. Sr. Danny Boyle (29-2) Northern Lehigh

 

3. Sr. Jared Crouse (28-8) Phillipsburg

 

4. Jr. Taray Carey (28-5) Whitehall

 

5. Sr. Devin Malarchik (12-3) Catasauqua

 

Honorable mention: Sr. Kevin Booth (27-7) Palmerton; Sr. Evan Brown (14-5) Bangor; Sr. Rich Maguire (17-10) Warren Hills; Jr. Andrew Scudder (24-11) Hackettstown; Sr. Kyle Steckert (17-9) Saucon Valley.

 

Comments: Status quo in rare class that holds form. Piro pinned each of his four victims en route to District 11's Class AAA crown. Boyle was equally impressive in decking all four of his foes en route to AA title. Crouse won District 1. Caray was third in AAA and Malarchik third in AA. Very good class, especially at top.

 

215 pounds

 

1. Sr. Brandon Palik (31-1) Saucon Valley

 

2. Sr. Chris Wilson (27-6) Easton

 

3. Sr. Matt Santini (29-7) Phillipsburg

 

4. Sr. Tim Murphy (21-10) Nazareth

 

5. Sr. Aaron Chamberlain (29-9) Northampton

 

Honorable mention: Sr. Andrew Bausback (17-12) Hunterdon Central; Sr. Carl Kreidler (27-6) Whitehall; Sr. Chad Little (20-15) Wilson; Sr. Troy Silfies (20-9) Northern Lehigh; Sr. Brandon Strohl (27-6) Catasauqua; Jr. Khalid Zubaydi (26-7) Hackettstown.

 

Comments: No changes yet again. Palik registered two pins and two tech falls in picking up Class AA title. Wilson won Class AAA and defeated Murphy 5-2 in final. Santini decisioned Zubaydi 5-1 for District 1 title. Chamberlain secured third in AAA with 5-3 victory over Kreidler. Talented class.

 

285 pounds

 

1. Sr. Justin Grant (27-5) Easton

 

2. Sr. Will Fletcher (13-1) Palisades

 

3. Sr. Erik Schaffer (33-6) Northampton

 

4. Jr. Jon Slack (25-7) Warren Hills

 

5. Jr. Brad Bormann (28-5) Hunterdon Central

 

Honorable mention: Jr. Anthony Bourizk (10-2) Whitehall; So. Jack Delia (29-6) North Hunterdon; Jr. Curtis Garner (24-4) Catasauqua; Sr. Kevin Hird (19-4) Salisbury; Jr. D.J. King (17-14) Nazareth; Jr. Greg Ritter (28-9) Belvidere; Sr. Jim Tersigni (22-14) Phillipsburg.

 

Comments: Heavies continue to beat up on each other. This week, it's Grant who earns No. 1 based on District 11 Class AAA title and 5-1 win over Schaffer in final. Fletcher drops to No. 2 but retains high ranking despite last-second 9-8 loss to Garner in AA semifinals and third-place finish. Slack lost to unbeaten Kyle Hopler of Mount Olive in District 1 final. Bormann, the District 17 champion, is No. 5 in place of Tersigni, who lost 7-4 to Slack in semis and 7-5 to Ritter in third-place bout. Good class, but tough to figure.