Bethlehem Catholic at Notre Dame wrestling: What you need to know

Bethlehem Catholic’s Ashton Campbell and Notre Dame’s Gayvn Kelton wrestle at 127-pounds on Jan 7, 2023.

Bethlehem Catholic at Notre Dame

When: 7 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Notre Dame High School.

Records: Bethlehem Catholic 6-1, Notre Dame 7-0.

Regional rankings by lehighvalleylive: Bethlehem Catholic No. 3, Notre Dame No. 4.

State PIAA rankings by PaPowerWrestling: Bethlehem Catholic No. 4 in 3A, Notre Dame No. 3 in 2A.

Last meeting: Bethlehem Catholic 29, Notre Dame 23, Jan. 7, 2023.

Live updates: @CorkyBlake.

Projected lineups (Bethlehem Catholic wrestler listed first, records through Jan. 25, LVL rankings of Jan. 23 used, HM-Honorable Mention)

107 pounds: Fr. Louden Hower (8-10) v. Fr. HM Jacob Volpe (8-4)

114: Fr. No. 4 Reef Dillard (18-9) v. Sr. No. 1 Ayden Smith (28-2)

121: So. No. 1 Keanu Dillard (20-5) v. Jr. No. 4 Cooper Feltman (7-4)

127: Jr. No. 4 Ryder Campbell (11-6) v. Jr. No. 3 Tanner Berkenstock (9-9)

133: Fr. HM Mason Thomas (7-6) v. So. HM Gavyn Kelton (11-8)

139: Jr. No. 3 Marco Frinzi (18-7) v. So. HM Jared Gonzalez (5-7)

145: Jr. No. 3 Shane McFillin (20-6) v. Jr. HM Nino Morici (10-7)

152: Jr. No. 1 Kollin Rath (25-1) v. Sr. Nathan Thomas (10-10)

160: Jr. No. 2 Charlie Scanlan (19-6) v. So. No. 1 Dominic Sumpolec (24-8)

172: Jr. HM Dario Cruz (11-9) v. Jr. No. 2 Keegan Ramsay (14-8) or Sr. Joseph Lapenna (5-0)

189: Jr. HM James Deluise (10-3) or Fr. James Bozzi (2-4) v. So. No. 2 Connor Smalley (18-9) or Lapenna or Ramsay

215: Sr. Jacob Lance (9-10) v. Smalley or TBD

285: So. Grant Mulhern (1-7) or So. Solomon Sutton (0-4) v. Sr. HM Gino Guerrisi (11-8)

Referees: Tony Phillips and Brandon Mihalko

Brad Wilson’s analysis: During Bethlehem Catholic’s long reign as the No. 1 wrestling team in the lehighvalleylive region – over a decade long, interrupted only by Nazareth in 2017 – the Golden Hawks were rarely seriously challenged, let alone suffered defeat.

Notre Dame’s rise over the last few years seemed to pose the greatest threat to Becahi’s dominance, but then Easton stepped in and became the first regional team to defeat the Golden Hawks since Nazareth in that memorable state final.

Now the Crusaders get their chance, in their own gym, against a Golden Hawk team with some serious issues.

From 107 to 160 pounds, Becahi is, more or less, the power it was in the past. But from 172 up, the Golden Hawks look pretty much like a lot of EPC teams. It leaves Becahi vulnerable.

Notre Dame is well-poised to take advantage of that vulnerability. 160 should be a classic dogfight; then, it’s easy to see the Crusaders winning the last four bouts, perhaps with bonus.

That, combined with Smith, the Escape the Rock champion wrestling at the top of his game, and Notre Dame’s overall depth, puts Notre Dame in a very strong position.

It’s true the Crusaders can’t beat Rath, McFillin and both Dillards, though whichever one Smith wrestles (if he bumps up) he can (should) defeat.

But Notre Dame doesn’t have to beat Becahi’s best wrestlers to win the dual. They, just like Easton’s wrestlers in the same spots, just need to lose the right way, while winning bouts they are supposed to win elsewhere.

Becahi needs a clean sweep, with bonus, from its top wrestlers and even still might be a decision short.

Which task sounds easier?

Brad Wilson’s prediction: Notre Dame, 30-23.

Brad’s 2023-24 prediction record: 3-2

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Brad Wilson may be reached at [email protected].

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