Postseason chaos brings new look to individual wrestling rankings

Notre Dame’s Keegan Ramsay defeated Northwestern Lehigh’s Luke Fugazzotto 8-2 at 172 pounds during the District 11 Class 2A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

Of all the weeks these lehighvalleylive individual wrestling rankings get done, this is the week when the most changes. The weight switches for Pennsylvania districts are one reason; better competition for the New Jersey wrestlers at regions is another; and a lot of head-to-heads a third.

There are six weight classes with new No. 1-ranked wrestlers. One school puts a wrestler in a top five for the first time this season.

Palisades’ Danny Haubert (left) and Notre Dame’s Dominic Sumpolec wrestle at 160 pounds during the District 11 Class 2A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

Curious about our methodology? Below the rankings, you can find some paragraphs that may answer questions you have about the process we use. If not, just email and we’ll do our best to help you out.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey use different weights, which is generally not an issue; they can be combined at most of the classes. But New Jersey uses one more weight, and that is an issue. So, 165 will continue to be a one-state weight, with 157/175 in NJ combining with 160/172 in Pennsylvania.

Phillipsburg’s Gavin Hawk.

All PIAA rankings are by PA Power Wrestling (PPW). All New Jersey rankings are by Wrestling Full Circle. All national rankings by MatScouts.

These rankings reflect action through Feb. 18.

106/107 pounds

1. So. Nicholas Salamone (29-6) Easton

2. Fr. Emilio Albanese (31-3) Emmaus

3. So. Wilmont Kai (33-4) Whitehall

Nazareth’s Cade Campbell (left) and Bethlehem Catholic’s Shane McFillin wrestle at 145 pounds during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

4. Fr. Carter Chunko (23-6) Saucon Valley

Nazareth’s Jack Campbell (keft) and Liberty’s Kam Abboud wrestle at 139 pounds during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

5. So. Augie Szamreta (29-6) Warren Hills

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): So. Isaiah Adams (26-11) Pen Argyl, So. Reid Buzby (25-7) North Hunterdon, So. Tristan Fawthrop (20-17) Delaware Valley, So. Derek Fulmer (19-11) Nazareth, So. Conor Hallowich (26-13) North Warren, Fr. Elijah Heimbach (17-13) Liberty, Fr. Logan Maher (6-5) Emmaus, Fr. Louden Hower (16-18) Bethlehem Catholic, Fr. Thomas Pasqueriello (19-10) Palmerton, Fr. Anthony Pettinelli (26-13) Phillipsburg, Fr. Joseph Rowinski (29-11) Hackettstown, Fr. Western Slingland (19-12) Wilson, Fr. Matthew Velez (21-9) Parkland, Fr. Stephen Vidal (10-2) Hackettstown, Fr. Jacob Volpe (11-9) Notre Dame

Bethlehem Catholic’s Keanu Dillard (yellow singlet) and Parkland’s Blake Dergham wrestle at 121 pounds during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Buzby, Hallowich, Szamreta

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Salamone, Albanese, Kai, Velez, Fulmer

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Chunko, Slingland

Northampton’s Gabe Ballard (center) and Bethlehem Catholic’s Reef Dillard wrestle at 114 pounds during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

Comments: Lots happening here. First, the season-long No. 1 at 107, Easton’s Noah Fenner got bumped up to 114 because of Salamone’s weight drop. Salamone, a returning state placewinner (seventh) at 107, won D-11 with a narrow 4-3 defeat of Albanese, so he slides in here at No. 1. Kai lost to Albanese in sudden victory in 3A semis, then majored Fulmer and pinned Velez for third. Chunko destroyed the 2A field (three falls and a technical fall) so he’ll get bumped up to No. 4. Ever since Buzby defeated Szamreta 4-3 in a December dual meet, he’s been a top-5 wrestler. But Buzby was fourth at Region 4 while Szamreta won Region 1. Head-to-head isn’t always the last word, especially when the bout was two months ago, and on a) body of work and b) recent achievements we’ll move the Blue Streak to No. 5.

Easton’s Nick Salamone and Emmaus’ Emilio Albanese hug after their 107 pound bout during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

113/114 pounds

1. Sr. Ayden Smith (42-2) Notre Dame

2. Fr. Gabriel Ballard (35-1) Northampton

3. Fr. Reef Dillard (30-11) Bethlehem Catholic

4. Fr. Noah Fenner (35-3) Easton

5. Fr. Aidan Yarussi (28-11) North Hunterdon

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Fr. Keith Barker (30-8) Southern Lehigh, Fr. Johnny D’Andrea (25-12) Voorhees, Fr. Bryan Dougherty (16-11) Hackettstown, So. Massimo Gonzalez (23-10) Phillipsburg, So. Noah Gosart (17-16) Northern Lehigh, So. Jackson Max (12-14) Emmaus, Sr. Jasiah Pagan (23-11) Liberty, So. Kade Pascoe (25-11) Whitehall, Jr. Eli Russ (18-12) Parkland, So. Brock Schneiderwind (19-10) Palisades, Sr. Jake Taylor (25-7) Delaware Valley Jr. Remy Trach (22-13) Nazareth, Fr. Braydon Uricchio (19-13) Northwestern Lehigh, Fr. Aidan Webb (24-6) Warren Hills

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Yarussi, Taylor

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Ballard, Dillard, Fenner, Trach, Pascoe

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Smith, Schneiderwind

Comments: No new No. 1 here as Smith rolled through 2A. Ballard beat Dillard 5-3 in a tiebreaker in 3A final; that could be a tasty regional final rematch. Fenner beat Trach 6-3 for third in 3A, so he’s No. 4 here. Yarussi lost just 3-2 to No. 7-ranked Anthony DiAndrea of Watchung Hills and finished third at Region 4; last week we said the Lion could be “sneaky-good” – make that just “good”. Keep an eye on him at states.

120/121 pounds

1. So. Keanu Dillard (34-5) Bethlehem Catholic

2. Sr. Blake Dergham (27-9) Parkland

Nazareth’s Sean Kinney (left) and Northampton’s Gavin Grell wrestle at 285 pounds during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

3. Fr. Owen Garriques (23-13) Phillipsburg

4. Fr. Teagan Caciolo (28-8) Emmaus

5. Sr. Charlie Piccione (29-8) Warren Hills

Catasauqua’s Chad Beller reacts after defeating Note Dame’s Connor Smalley at 215 pounds during the District 11 Class 2A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

Out: Sr. Gio DiBiagio (21-8) Wilson

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Sr. Davian Carrasquillo (18-12) Liberty, Fr. Cole Castles (23-10) North Warren, Jr. Joseph Celentano (18-16) North Hunterdon, Sr. Diego Dominguez (14-10) Palisades, Jr. Cooper Feltman (16-10) Notre Dame, Fr. Giovanni Gutierrez (26-10) Hackettstown, Sr. Mikhail Hartranft (25-12) Catasauqua, So. Griffin King (29-9) Southern Lehigh, Fr. Ethan Krazer (22-16) Easton, Jr. Jace LaBar (17-12) Bangor, Sr. Jovanny Lopez (12-10) Allen, Jr. Colin Marano (21-824-10) Northampton, Jr. Cody Mazzocca (26-10) Northern Lehigh, Sr. Damond Pascoe (21-12) Whitehall, Fr. Cooper Wenrich (23-11) Nazareth

Freedom’s Jared Karabinus and Easton’s Shae Linegar wrestle at 189 pounds during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Saturday.

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Garriques, Piccione

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Dillard, Dergham, Caciolo, Marano, Wenrich

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Feltman, Hartranft

Comments: Garriques took second in Region 2 and continues his red-hot wrestling, and he goes up to No, 3 from No. 5. It’s true Piccione has the head-to-head edge from a 4-2 decision in the dual meet in January, and that’s not something we go against lightly. But Piccione was fifth in Region 3 (though he made it to states when another wrestler had to withdraw) and Garriques is wrestling so well … maybe they will meet at states, right? Marano defeated Caciolo 3-1 in a D-11 3A quarterfinal, but then won by the same score in the rematch in the third-place match. We’re leaving Caciolo in the top five now, and Marano out of it, but that could well change at regionals. Dillard won D-11 3A in overwhelming fashion, tech-falling Dergham in the final, and maybe should have been OW, but Becahi kids don’t win such awards, it seems.

126/127 pounds

1. Jr. Jaden Perez (35-1) Delaware Valley

2. So. Trey Wagner (27-3) Northampton

3. Jr. Aiden Grogg (31-5) Saucon Valley

Nazareth’s Tahir Parkins and Easton’s Ben Fanelli wrestle at 133 pounds during the District 11 Class 3A individual wrestling finals on Feb. 24, 2024.

4. Jr. Christopher Kelly (31-8) Easton

5. Jr. Ryder Campbell (24-8) Bethlehem Catholic

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Jr. Tanner Berkenstock (19-14) Notre Dame, So. Christian Bollette (29-11) Voorhees, Fr. Rocco DeLucia (21-13) Whitehall, Jr. Leonardo Gonzalez (18-8) Executive Education, Sr. Jayden Figueroa (13-9) Executive Education, Fr. Kenny Kerekes (13-14) Northwestern Lehigh, Fr. Nick Lyden (21-8) Freedom, Sr. Dawson McWilliams (19-6) Phillipsburg, Jr. Josh Merkel (21-15) Palmerton, Sr. Santino Micci (15-6) Wilson, So. Jakob Peterson (15-11) Parkland, So. Evan Reed (20-18) Catasauqua, So. Davey Rhinehart (29-6) Warren Hills, Sr. Ben Riehl (12-16) Easton, Sr. Dominic Rizzotto (26-11) Nazareth, So. Carter Smith (26-10) Bangor

NJSIAA state qualifier: Perez

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Wagner, Kelly, Campbell, Rizzotto, Smith

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Grogg, Berkenstock

Comments: Whole new look here. Last week, we said: (Perez) is pushing for No. 1; next week, he may be No. 1.” Well, now he is, after rallying to top No. 3 NJ Dalton Weber of Pope John XXIII 10-9 and avenge an earlier loss. This is hard, because Wagner and Grogg didn’t do anything wrong, exactly. Wagner dropped here and won D-11 3A but needed sudden victory to hold off Kelly’s challenge 2-0 — both wrestlers traded rideouts in the 2P and 3P. Grogg topped Berkenstock 6-1 to win D-11 2A. It’s Perez’s ability to score a ton of points against quality opposition that makes him stand out here, and why he’s No. 1. Wagner’s drop shifts Berkenstock, No. 5 last week, to HMs.

132/133 pounds

1. Jr. Tahir ‘Tig’ Parkins (34-2) Nazareth

2. Sr. Ben Fanelli (35-4) Easton

3. Sr. Nick Balella (33-8) Hackettstown

4. So. Gavyn Kelton (23-11) Notre Dame

5. Sr. Matt Roche (32-4) Delaware Valley.

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Sr. Donovan Bonilla (13-11) Allen, Fr. Trent Croll (25-9) Northwestern Lehigh, Sr. Jack Evans (16-14) Liberty, Jr. Aamire Gaskins (11-9) Freedom, So. Gavin Geleta (28-10) Phillipsburg, So. Chase Grabfelder (23-11) Northampton, Jr. Trokon Kai (16-7) Whitehall, Jr. John Haubert (2-2) Palisades, Jr. Leo Kern (19-10) Parkland, Sr. Aiden Knorr (23-11) Pen Argyl, Sr. David M’Balla (23-10) Wilson, Jr. Tyler Redfield (27-5) Warren Hills, Fr. Mason Thomas (14-15) Bethlehem Catholic, Jr. Angelo Ziccardi (15-11) Palisades

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Balella, Geleta

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Parkins, Fanelli, Kern, Grabfelder, Kai

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Kelton, M’Balla, Knorr

Comments: Nothing surprised us more over the last weekend that neither Redfield or Roche qualified for states. Balella beat Roche 9-3 in Region 3 semifinal, which wasn’t too surprising; the Tiger had been Roche 5-2 in a Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex bout. But we didn’t have Roche, a returning state medalist, being pinned in the consolation semis by Ethan Kerlin of West Essex, either. Redfield lost a pair of heart-breakers, 3-1 in OT to Seton Hall Prep’s Andre Morero in the semis and 8-6 to Ramapo’s Joey Fulco in the consy semis. Balella lost 12-2 in the Region 3 final to No. 2 state ranked Carson Walsh of Pope John XXIII. He’ll move to No. 3; Roche to No.5 and Redfield to HMs. The No. 5 spot could be taken by Geleta (3rd at R-2) with a good state showing or an y one of a bunch of Pennsylvania athletes at regionals. Parkins held off Fanelli 4-2 in D-11 3A final and that should be a dandy regional final. Kelton, who’s a bit of a showman (which is fine) won D-11 2A by defeating Knorr (3-0) in the semis and M’Balla (14-3) in the finals. He moves back into the top 5 at No. 4.

138/139 pounds

1. Sr. Josh Lee (27-3) Warren Hills

2. So. Jack Campbell (30-6) Nazareth

3. Sr. Kam Abboud (25-8) Liberty

4. Jr. Marco Frinzi (28-12) Bethlehem Catholic

5. Jr. Jackson Bush (29-6) Delaware Valley

Out: So. Collin Ramsay (30-7) Pen Argyl

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Jr. Steven Bialek (3-4) Notre Dame, Sr. Joey Bodnar (19-11) Freedom, Jr. Jonathan Cordon-Pinto (23-15) Catasauqua, Sr. Derek Cruz (4-4) Liberty, Fr. Jaxon Garner (18-16) Voorhees, So. Jared Gonzalez (11-9) Notre Dame, So. Kiovanny Hamlin (15-13) Dieruff, Sr. Ryder Heckman (12-11) Wilson, So. Ryan Hisko (9-6) Warren Hills, Fr. Cole Magditch (18-12) Palisades, Jr. Ryan Marano (18-13) Northampton, Jr. Hector Mateo (19-12) Saucon Valley, Jr. Aidan McNulty (28-7) Bangor, Jr. Nolan Schmeckenbecher (22-10) Whitehall, Fr. Michael Segata (16-15) Salisbury, Sr. Jaron Trimmer (21-18) Easton, So. Colby Townley (4-0) Salisbury

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Bush, Lee

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Campbell, Abboud, Frinzi, McNulty, Bodnar

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Gonzalez, Mateo

Comments: This might have been the most entertaining weight class at D-11 3A. Some of the old Liberty-Becahi feud made a comeback in a contentious and physical semifinal won by Abboud 6-2 as he frustrated Frinzi with his nimbleness, and the fans loved it. The final saw only a stalling point the difference in a 2-1 Campbell win as the Hurricane, frustrated, just couldn’t get though the Blue Eagle’s defense. If either bout occurs again, don’t miss it. Lee won Region 1, beating No. 6-ranked in NJ Ryan Langenmayr of Lakeland 7-4 in the final; that had been 3-0 Langenmayr in last week’s District 2 final, so a fine turnaround for the Blue Streak, and he’s rewarded with a No. 1 ranking for it. Bush also reversed a district defeat; he has been pinned by Kearny’s Joshua Baeza in the final. At R-3, Bush majored Baeza 13-4; quite a reversal. It gets Bush back in the top 5.

144/145 pounds

1. Jr. Luke Geleta (34-2) Phillipsburg

2. Jr. Shane McFillin (33-6) Bethlehem Catholic

3. So. Cade Campbell (22-6) Nazareth

4. Jr. Jackson Albert (34-6) Saucon Valley.

5. Sr. Austin Noe (27-10) Northampton

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): So. Luca Albanese (28-12) Pen Argyl, So. Adriaan DeLeon (13-6) Liberty, Jr. Ethan Drazek (5-7) Warren Hills, Fr. Brock Frable (26-7) Southern Lehigh, So. Michael Hasson (14-8) Delaware Valley, Jr. Derek King (29-9) Palmerton, Jr. Nino Morici (18-14) Notre Dame, Jr. Antonio Nikolopoulos (18-14) Belvidere, Sr. Seth Pascoe (28-7) Whitehall, Sr. David Sipley (25-11) Bangor, Jr. Keenan Ray (21-11) Freedom, Fr. Mason Rothrock (20-10) Northern Lehigh

NJSIAA state qualifier: Geleta

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: McFillin, Campbell, Noe, Frable, Ray

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Albert, Morici

Comments: McFillin was seeded No. 2, Campbell No. 1 in D-11 3A, which never made much sense. The Golden Hawk’s decisive 5-2 win in the final confirmed that and his No. 2 spot here, with the dropping Campbell No. 3. Geleta fell in the Region 2 final 7-2 to August Hibler of Leonia/Palisades Park, ranked No. 3 in the state; no penalty for that as well expect the Stateliner to bounce back at states. Albert won D-11 2A; his 100th career win coming in the final. Noe dropped here and finished third in 3A – he really pushed McFillin In a semifinal before losing 2-0 on a reversal with 15 seconds left in regulation.

150/152 pounds

1. Jr. Kollin Rath (38-1) Bethlehem Catholic

2. Jr. Gavin Hawk (34-2) Phillipsburg

3. Jr. Cole Hubert (32-6) Saucon Valley

4. Sr. Ben Levy (29-6) Delaware Valley

5. Jr. Quentin Hammerstone (27-15) Easton

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Fr. Dillon Anthony (15-10) Palmerton, Jr. Devlin Chevere (11-10) Northampton, Fr. Jaxson Kreider (18-14) Bangor, Jr. Dillon Lombardi (23-9) Palmerton, Sr. Josh Ludlow (8-4) Notre Dame, Sr. Alex Moser (17-13) Pen Argyl, Jr. Tyler O’Neill (18-15) Warren Hills, So. Xayden Sallit (26-12) Emmaus, So. Sean Steckert (31-10) Southern Lehigh, Sr. Nathan Thomas (18-18) Notre Dame; So. Dominick Tunison (14-13) Nazareth

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Hawk, Levy

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Rath, Hammerstone, Sallit

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Hubert, Lombardi, Thomas

Comments: There were drops down from this class, but nobody seemed to drop down, which, in the case of D-11 3A, makes perfect sense; who voluntarily wants to be in the same class as Rath, even if Pocono Mountain East senior Keegan Demarest made Rath work a bit in the district final in a 5-0 Rath win. Hawk lost in double-OT, 3-1, to St. Joseph’s-Montvale’s No. 3 state-ranked Zach Ballante (Hawk is ranked No. 4); he’s easily still No. 2. Hubert topped Lombardi 5-0 in the 2A final; Lombardi had a fine tournament. But we can’t put him in the top 5 ahead of Levy (third at R-3) and Hammerstone (fourth at 3A). We’ll be playing attention, though.

157/160 pounds

1. So. Dominic Sumpolec (36-10) Notre Dame

2. Jr. Charlie Scanlan (30-8) Bethlehem Catholic

3. Sr. James Dacunto (34-1) North Warren

4. Sr. James Geiger (26-7) Easton

5. Sr. Logan Wiecoreck (37-4) Voorhees

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Jr. Ivan Bonilla (12-11) Freedom, Sr. Patrick “Patch” Day (19-10) Phillipsburg, Sr. Danny Haubert (33-6) Palisades, Jr. Josh Joubert (21-14) North Hunterdon, So. Jorge Moya (15-13) Parkland, Jr. Preston Saylor (14-12) Whitehall, Jr. Jesse Scott (27-11) Emmaus, So. Elijah Simak (25-11) Nazareth, Sr. Mitchell Sutter (31-8) Delaware Valley, Jr. Nathaniel Tone (17-12) Salisbury, So. Riyell Wann (18-11) Dieruff

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Dacunto, Sutter, Wiecoreck

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Scanlan, Geiger, Simak, Scott

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Sumpolec, Haubert

Comments: Dacunto won Region 1 easily with a technical fall and two pins to become the Patriots’ third regional champion ever and first in 15 years. It’s hard to describe to people who aren’t familiar with North Warren’s program – which is a lot of people, to be sure – just how remarkable Dacunto’s achievements are. He avenged his only loss (Kittatinny’s Ethan Dalling) and if there was ever a Patriot wrestler since the great Kevin Brown (Class of 2010) to rank No. 1 in these rankings, it’s Dacunto. But we just can’t pull the trigger. Sumpolec posted three pins before topping Haubert 5-0 in the 2A final. Scanlan looked the best we’ve seen him lately untol he ran into Pottsville’s Nick Kunstek in the 3A and lost 6-0; Geiger, who was pinned by Kunstek in the semis, said the Crimson Tide senior, ranked No. 2 in the state, was at “another level.” So Dacunto will have to earn his way upwards, and he surely can do so. Speaking of Geiger, the Red Rover avenged a Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic loss to Simak with a pin in the 3A third-place match, so he’s No. 4 now. Wiecoreck looked awfully good in winning Region 4, beating state-ranked 36-2 Tyler Whitford of St. Joseph-Metuchen 7-0 in a semifinal. The Viking can surely earn a promotion in Atlantic City as well.

165 pounds

1. Sr. Brian Wilson (22-10) North Hunterdon

2. Jr. Luke Sinkewicz (24-10) Delaware Valley

3. Sr. Johnathon Roth (26-13) Phillipsburg

4. Sr. Jose Alvarenga Giron (26-9) Hackettstown

5. So. Cyles Oyarce-Santiago (13-16) Warren Hills

Honorable Mention: Jr. Liam George (17-17) Belvidere; So. Josh Hufford (3-2) Voorhees

NJSIAA state qualifier: Wilson

Comments: Wilson’s fourth in Region 4 was the best showing of anybody. Sinkewicz pinned Alvarenga Giron at R-3, so there’s a shuffle below No. 1. This ranking will stand, no matter what Wilson does at states.

172/175 pounds

1. Jr. Keegan Ramsay (27-10) Notre Dame

2. So. Luke Fugazzotto (33-4) Northwestern Lehigh

3. Sr. Liam Packer (33-4) Phillipsburg

4. So. Brayden Zuercher (29-8) Nazareth

5. Fr. Justin Cosover (27-10) Easton

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Sr. Landon Beckowski (23-12) Saucon Valley, Jr. Zach Calhoun (19-14) Hackettstown, Sr. Juelz Veras Cosme (10-9) Executive Education, Sr. Dario Cruz (18-17) Bethlehem Catholic, Jr. Pedro Dos Santos (25-10) Belvidere, Jr. Logan Garriques (26-9) North Warren, Sr. Noah Hillis (8-4) Bangor, Jr. Evan Kinney (21-16) North Hunterdon, Sr. Jack Kocher (20-9) Whitehall, Sr. Joseph Lapenna (9-3) Notre Dame, Jr. Noah MacIlroy (24-6) Freedom, Sr. Chase Moffit (22-11) Northern Lehigh, Sr. Kevin Roman (29-6) Delaware Valley

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Packer, Kinney, Roman

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Zuercher, Cosover, McIlroy, Cruz

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Ramsay, Fugazzotto, Beckowski

Comments: 10 wrestlers moving on, only 5 top-five spots. Start at the top, where Ramsay dropped from 189 and thumped Fugazzotto 8-2 in the 2A final. Beat the No. 1, as the Tiger was ranked last week, and you get to be No. 1, as Ramsay now is. Packer was a solid third at R-2; maybe his 3-1 semifinal loss to Hasbrouck Heights senior Connor Scullia was maybe a tad disappointing, but it’s not a bad loss, and he’s No. 3. Zuercher held off Cosover 5-4 in the 3A final. That bout, where the Rover was close to scoring a takedown at the end, was certainly one of the better 3A finals. Be fun to see it again. McIlroy, No. 5 last week, drops to HM after coming on fourth at D-11 3A. Roman lost his R-3 quarterfinal and then posted three straight first-period pins to clinch his state spot. That’s taking care of postseason business the right way.

189/190 pounds

1. Sr. Jared Karabinus (29-2) Freedom

2. Sr. Anderson Olcott (32-3) Delaware Valley

3. Jr. James DeLuise (20-7) Bethlehem Catholic

4. Jr. Shae Linegar (33-8) Easton

5. Jr. Kyle Blew (36-6) Belvidere

Out: Sr. Caleb Rivera, Phillipsburg; Jr. Jared Rohn (23-6) Saucon Valley

Honorable Mention: Sr. Travis Cryan (27-11) Voorhees, Sr. Arberi Duka (13-9) Saucon Valley, So. James Hopkins (31-6) Whitehall, Jr. Nuallan King (14-7) Pen Argyl, Sr. Levi Levy (6-5) Liberty, So. Grady Newhard (21-12) Northern Lehigh, Sr. Julius Reyes (12-10) Parkland, Jr. Derek Stone (26-12) Phillipsburg, Jr. Massimo Tranguch (18-10) Emmaus, Sr. Sam Woolverton (13-8) Bangor

NJSIAA state qualifiers: Olcott, Blew

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Karabinus, Linegar, DeLuise, Hopkins, Reyes

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifier: Duka

Comments: Karabinus pinned Linegar in the D-11 3A final but had a much tougher time in the semifinal with DeLuise, with the Patriot winning just 5-2. That, and two head-to-heads, keep DeLuise above Linegar. They both pinned Hopkins at D-11 3A. Olcott was third at R-3, pinned in a semifinal by state-ranked Pantaleo Varga of Bergen Catholic; he’ll stay No. 2 for now, but it’s close with the rapidly-improving DeLuise. Olcott pinned Blew for third at R-3, but the Counyty Seater has done enough to earn the No. 5 spot and become Belvidere’s first top-5 wrestler of the season. Reyes did well to finish fifth at D-11 3A, too.

215 pounds

1. Sr. Chad Beller (31-5) Catasauqua

2. So. Connor Smalley (30-11) Notre Dame

3. So. Kurtis Crossman (33-9) Easton

4. Sr. Nathan Smith (26-14) Phillipsburg

5. Jr. Dante Morrison (23-8) Liberty

Out: Sr. Jakub Gloc (18-5) Salisbury

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Jr. Elliot Black (13-11) Freedom, So. Silas Day (19-15) Palisades, Sr. Ryan King (16-9) Southern Lehigh, Sr. Jacob Lance (16-16) Bethlehem Catholic, Sr. Evan Newman (14-10) Delaware Valley, Sr. Jeremy Rodriguez (12-5) Allen, Sr. Noah Schlofer (23-11) Northwestern Lehigh, Sr. Landon Roland (11-11) Northampton, Sr. William Thomas (26-15) Belvidere, Sr. Jack Tosh (21-13) Northern Lehigh; Sr. Trevor Zabroski (36-6) Voorhees

NJSIAA state qualifier: Smith

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Crossman, King, Morrison

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Beller, Smalley, Schlofer

Comments: Every season, there’s a wacko class in these rankings and this year, 215 is it. Smalley seemed like a secure No. 1 until Beller, ranked No. 5 last week, beat the Crusader 5-4 in the ultimate tiebreaker for Catty’s first district champ in a decade. So, as in at 172, beat No. 1 and you are No. 1, especially in a very close class like this one. Crossman was runner-up at D-11 3A and is a solid No. 3. Morrison, who was No. 2 last week, is a shaky No. 5 and holds off King by a tiny margin. King, third in 3A, won four straight bouts without giving up a point (4-0, 1-0, 8-0, 2-0) to come in third; he can easily enter top 5 with a strong regional effort. Smith pinned Brandon Veneziano of Passaic Valley, a high-quality win, to clinch third place at R-2 and earn a top-5 place; Zabroski, No. 3 last week, finished sixth at Region 4.

285 pounds

1. Sr. Sean Kinney (32-1) Nazareth

2. Sr. John Wargo (31-4) Phillipsburg

3. Jr. Gavin Grell (27-7) Northampton

4. Sr. Michael Gavrilesku (29-8) Parkland

5. Sr. Gino Guerrisi (25-10) Notre Dame

Out: Sr. Cameron Baumann (20-4) Voorhees

Honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Sr. L.D. Conyers (10-11) Easton, Sr. Kyle Cooke (19-11) Delaware Valley, Sr. Sam Frame (26-7) Northern LehighSr. Paul Hamas (23-9) Warren Hills, Sr. Seth Kolb (19-8) Liberty, So. Sam Krauss (29-12) Salisbury, Sr. Nathan Pizzaro (10-8) Executive Education, So. Dan Schiffert (25-8) Freedom

NJSIAA state qualifier: Wargo

PIAA 3A Northeast Regional qualifiers: Kinney, Grell, Gavrilesku, Kolb, Schiffert

PIAA 2A Southeast Regional qualifiers: Guerrisi, Frame

Comments: Wargo defeated NJ No. 3 Daniel Elyash of Paramus 2-1 in a Region 2 semifinal. Normally that’s the kind of win that earns a promotion in these rankings. But when Kinney is ahead of you … well. Kinney was OW at D-11 3A, though Grell’s 5-0 losing effort in the final was more than respectable. Gavrilesku edged Kolb 3-2 for third. Guerrisi, who edged Frame 3-2 in tiebreaker-2 for third at D-11 2A, is No. 5 for now but Frame, Kolb and Schiffert could move up with strong regional showings.

Here are some points to remember about the ranking process.

First, wrestlers from schools in Northampton, Lehigh and Warren counties (excluding Blair Academy), as well as Palisades in Bucks County, Palmerton in Carbon County, and North Hunterdon, Voorhees and Delaware Valley in Hunterdon County are eligible for the rankings.

Second, the rankings are compiled by Brad Wilson from available results. If results are not reported to lehighvalleylive and are not readily available elsewhere, they may not be considered for rankings purposes. Coaches are encouraged to email up-to-date records of their wrestlers each week to [email protected].

Third, in an undertaking such as this, mistakes, typos and omissions are impossible to avoid though every effort to be accurate is made. Please email corrections. We welcome corrections as we value accuracy.

Fourth, Brad Wilson is responsible for the rankings in each class. Questions and concerns are welcome. Unsigned or anonymous emails will be ignored, as will emails using vulgar or offensive language.

Fifth, the rankings reflect results through the Monday before the rankings unless otherwise noted.

Sixth, wrestlers will generally be ranked at the lowest weight they have wrestled, except when that is clearly a one-off or just for a limited time. Injured wrestlers will be “Taking Injury Time” until their return.

Seventh, the principles used in these rankings include direct personal observation, head-to-head results, results against common opponents, strength of schedule, consistency, and past performances. More recent results will generally count more than older ones. Head-to-head is an enormous, but not completely decisive, factor. And on-mat demeanor and sportsmanship are most assuredly taken into consideration; they are as much a part of the sport as takedowns and headgear.

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Brad Wilson may be reached at [email protected].

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