Two wins for C.R. South, and North

They call the event "Best of Bucks," and though it wasn't a true round-robin event, Wednesday's double-dual meet that pitted Council Rock South and North against both Neshaminy and Bensalem revealed what many already knew:

South would be one of the preeminent wrestling squads in all of District 1, and North might contend.

South, hosting the inaugural "Best of Bucks," opened its season by dominating Bensalem, 46-26, and then Neshaminy, 42-24.

North (3-4 overall, 2-0 league) dispatched Neshaminy, 37-24, before overtaking Bensalem, 49-12.

The Owls are considered a developing squad and appeared tired after their match against South. North was coming off a rough weekend in which it went 1-4 at Boyertown's Brian Bealer Memorial Bear Duals.

South (2-0, 2-0) and North did not meet. South was led by its two impressive seniors, Matt Rappo and Matt Martoccio, who combined for four wins for the Golden Hawks.

Rappo, ranked sixth in the state in the 135-pound weight class and the defending Southeastern Region champ in the division, posted two wins by fall Wednesday night, including a decisive pin on Bensalem's David Nightlinger just 1 minute, 20 seconds into his first match of the evening.

Martoccio, ranked No. 2 in the state at 145 pounds, was also 2-0, recording a win by pinfall against Bensalem's Pauray Patel and another by technical fall when he defeated Neshaminy's Joe Simcox, 25-10.

"Those guys, they're big-time, blue-chip kids," South coach Brad Silimperi said of Rappo and Martoccio. "They just went out and did what they were supposed to do."

North was efficient in its first win, getting out to an early lead over Neshaminy behind several sound victories, most notably pins by 130-pounder John Dutrow and 112-pounder Micah Hayes.

North's Shane Longstreth, ranked 11th in the state at 125 pounds, was impressive for the Indians in recording an 8-0 shutout of Neshaminy's Ryan O'Connor and pinning Bensalem's Jason Mulvey.

Tyler Stabilito of Neshaminy (2-5, 0-2) was impressive in the 285-pound division, posting two wins, including a pin.

A bright spot for Bensalem (0-2, 0-2) was Tommy Stokes, a 103-pounder, who recorded two wins by decision. He didn't have to face South's Billy Rappo, who is No. 2 in the state in the weight class but was sidelined because of a thumb injury.

After South's first meet of the year, and coming off a 2009-10 campaign in which the Hawks finished fourth in state, Silimperi didn't mince words about what his team has in mind this season.

"Our goals are very lofty; I'm not going to lie," the coach said. "These kids have set high expectations."