Southeastern Pa. Wrestlers, Teams to watch
Southeastern Pa. Wrestlers, Teams to Watch
Southeastern Pa. Wrestlers, Teams to Watch
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Wrestlers to Watch
In alphabetical order
Matt Cimato, La Salle. The Drexel recruit is the early 145-pound favorite to win the PIAA title after taking bronze at 140 a season ago. With 124 career wins, he should surpass Joe Mazzi's school record of 148. Cimato went 52-4 as a junior. He's ranked No. 1 in the PA Power Rankings.
Josh DiSanto, Pennsbury. DiSanto has posted a remarkable 76-6 record through two years, losing to upperclassmen when the stakes were highest. Making the likely jump to 132 pounds, the junior will look to make serious runs at gold medals at major events.
Zach Fuentes, Norristown. Fuentes was 54-7 last season as a sophomore, surging to the bronze-medal match at states before suffering a major-decision loss. He'll jump to 113 this season.
Brett Harner, Norristown. Harner is one of just two wrestlers in the Class of 2013 in all of Pennsylvania to medal at states each of his first two years of high school. He led District 1 in wins as a sophomore (record of 56-8) and jumps from 152 to 160 as a junior. Chronic right knee problems are a concern.
Casey Kent, La Salle. Kent, who likely will wrestle at Penn in college, also looks to overtake Mazzi on the La Salle win list. He enters his senior season with a 126-26 career mark. Hampered by injury for much of his junior season (he still went 46-9), he has yet to show his best.
Corey McQuiston, West Chester Rustin. Hard-edged and workmanlike, McQuiston has one last shot at a state medal. He'll wrestle at 120 a year after winning the 112-pound Southeast Regional. He has lost just eight times in two years and touts a 114-18 career mark.
Scott Parker, Pennridge. Parker showed serious potential last season as a freshman, wrestling to a 36-4 record and a fifth place at the Southeast Regional. The next step is to qualify for the state tournament as a sophomore in the 106-pound division.
Billy Rappo, Council Rock South. As a junior last year, Rappo won the Class AAA state championship at 103 pounds. He went 43-2, also winning sectional, district, and regional championships. Preseason polls have Rappo ranked No. 1 in the state at 113 pounds, but it's more likely he'll wrestle at 120.
Shane Springer, Norristown. Springer has medaled each of the past two years at the state meet, taking silver at 152 as a sophomore and fifth place last year at 160. He has transferred from La Salle to Norristown, where he'll go at 170. He is ranked No. 1 in the PA Power Rankings.
Chris Yankowich, Germantown Academy. The senior, a Virginia signee, is a reigning National Preps champion, having won the 135-pound title. With realigned weight classes, he'll go at 138 or 145 for the defending Inter-Ac League champions. With a 94-37 career mark, he'll easily surpass 100 wins.
Teams to Watch
Norristown (16-3 overall, 6-0 Suburban One American). In Zach Fuentes (113), Mike Springer (138), Brett Harner (160), Shane Springer (170), and Larry Gordon (195), Norristown has enough firepower to make a claim as one of District 1's best. But coach Mark Harner worries that his roster has some holes.
Council Rock South (20-4, 7-0 Suburban One National). The Golden Hawks lost some serious pieces, but South's program is one of the best in the state. Coming off a fifth consecutive District 1 North title, South hopes depth will help replace what it lost. Billy Rappo will go for his second state championship, and Tim Riley (182) and P.J. Steinmetz (195) are other standouts.
La Salle (20-3, 8-0 Catholic League). Coach Richie Gebauer takes over for Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Famer Vic Stanley, who retired in March. Gebauer inherits a team that has won the last three Catholic League and District 12 titles. Explorers Matt Cimato and Casey Kent are Division I recruits.
West Chester Rustin (12-4, 7-0 Ches-Mont American). Corey McQuiston (120), Steve Quinn (138), and Tyler Wood (182) are ranked highly in the state. Evan Harkins, at 132, also will be among the area's best. Rustin has won the last two Ches-Mont American titles and is the favorite for a third.
Owen J. Roberts (17-3, 9-0 PAC-10). The Wildcats boast top District 1 talent in various weight classes, including Adam Moser (145), Andrew Kinney (152), and Michael Lenge (170). OJR also welcomes two widely regarded freshmen in Derrick Gulotta and Demetri D'Orsaneo. D'Orsaneo won the 132-pound Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state championship last year.
- Evan Burgos
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