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Here’s an up close look at the 53 Wyoming Valley Conference 2015 Regional Qualifiers
CLASS 2A
GAR
Zac Faust (195) – Grade: 12; Record: 32-3 First round: Allen Yancoskie (29-9), a junior from Mount Carmel who took fourth in District 4. Notes: Faust won his third district title last weekend and is now a four-time regional participant. He’s had some tough luck finishing this tournament and having to pull out early. Things seem to finally be going his way this time around.
Moe Toure (220) – Grade: 11 Record: 22-14 First round: Ben Cerney (33-6), a junior from Montoursville, who is the runner-up from D4 and took fourth at this tournament last season. Notes: Taking part in his first regional event, Toure finished third at districts last week.
Saul Wilkins (285) – Grade: 12 Record: 33-4 First round: Lewisburg senior Jonathan Ward (21-9), who is the No. 5 seed from District 4. Notes: Wilkins qualified for state last season by claiming the regional title in his first year wrestling. He’s now a two-time district champ. Among other things on his impressive resume this season, he finished second at the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament.
Hanover Area
Jeff Bennett (106) – Grade: 10; Record: 29-7; First round: Southern Columbia freshman Jaret Lane (34-3), the District 4 runner-up. Notes: Bennett reached regionals last year as the district’s fifth seed when he qualified due to other’s being injured. He improved on that showing this season finishing third.
Noah Rakowski (138) – Grade: 10 Record: 24-15 First round: Keith Batkowski (33-2), a junior from Montoursville, who is a returning state qualifier and took fourth at regionals the year before. Notes: He is in his first regional tournament and got here by taking third at districts.
Zach Roediger (285) – Grade: 11 Record: 5-4 First round: Jordan Troup (32-3), a senior from Bloomsburg and the No. 2 seed from District 4. Notes: Roediger, who replaced John Sheridan in the lineup midway through the season, lost his first match at districts then picked up three pins to take third and advance.
Lake-Lehman
Garrett Kolb (113) – Grade: 9 Record: 23-16 First round: A matchup with regional fourth-place finisher last year and state qualifier in 2013, Brian Friery (12-2), a junior from Lewisburg and the third-place finisher at the D4 tournament. Notes: Kolb qualified for regionals by grabbing the silver medal at last week’s district event.
RJ Driscoll (120) – Grade: 10 Record: 21-14 First round: Wyalusing sophomore Josh Haley (37-6), who finished third at the District 4 event. Notes: Now a two-time district runner-up, Driscoll is at regionals for the second straight season.
Josh Sayre (138) – Grade: 12 Record: 28-7 First round: Bloomsburg senior Sam Miller (33-5), who is the fourth seed out of D4, but was a state qualifier last season. Notes: The District 2 champion, Sayre missed all of last season with an injury to claim his first district title.
Jimmy Stuart (152) – Grade: 12 Record: 30-11 First round: Towanda senior Dayton Wickwire (36-3), the No. 3 seed from D4. Notes: Stuart enters as the district runner-up losing the championship bout in overtime to Valley View’s Matt Judge.
Derek Dragon (170) – Grade: 12 Record: 37-4 First round: Sullivan County junior Dylan Ammerman (27-7), who took fourth at the D4 event. Notes: A state qualifier from last season, Dragon picked up his third straight district gold last weekend and placed third at regionals last season.
Mike Slivinski (195) – Grade: 9 Record: 15-12 First round: He faces Gage Heller (30-9), a Milton junior and the No. 2 seed from District 4. Notes: Wrestling against heavier opponents nearly all season, Slivinski picked up three pins and a major decision at districts to grab third and move on.
Meyers
Colin Pasone (106) – Grade: 10 Record: 17-0 First round: Wyatt Lutz (35-8), a freshman from Montoursville and the No. 4 seed from D4. Notes: Pasone is now a two-time district champion, but will make his first appearance at regionals this weekend. He missed the event last season due to an injury.
Mike Dempsey (113) – Grade: 11 Record: 20-9 First round: Muncy junior Angelo Barberio (18-5), who was a state qualifier last season. Notes: He’s now a two-time third-place medalist at districts and a two-time regional qualifier. Last year at regionals, he finished 1-2 grabbing a win when GAR’s AJ Luton bowed out with an injury.
Anthony Kasper (120) – Grade: So. Record: 11-7 First round: State qualifier from last season, Jordan Gessner (30-5), a junior from Lewisburg and the D4 runner-up. Notes: Kasper is in his first regional tournament after grabbing third at districts.
Kevin Huertero (126) – Grade: 10 Record: 20-20 First round: He faces Eric Hunt (26-5), who placed fourth at regionals last season and was a state qualifier in 2013. The Warrior Run senior took third at the D4 tournament. Notes: Huertero finished second at districts. His signature win this season came at district duals when the Mohawks needed a pin in the last match against Western Wayne and he did just that as Meyers won the duals title.
Tyler Patronick (138) – Grade: 12 Record: 10-4 First round: South Williamsport senior Nathan Jones (32-3), who placed fourth at this event last season. Notes: He took second at districts last weekend for the second straight season to qualify for regionals.
Jeremy Bergold (145) – Grade: 10 Record: 25-16 First round: A match with two-time state qualifier Zach Fry (31-4) from Hughesville and placed second in the D4 tournament. Notes: Bergold took third at districts to qualify for his first appearance at regionals.
Gino Setta (152) – Grade: 11 Record: 32-5 First round: He will face Benton senior Dominic Vitale (29-10), who was a state qualifier last season. Notes: Setta placed third last week at districts dropping an ultimate tiebreaker in semifinals before rebounding to advance. A two-time regional qualifier, he was a district winner in 2014 and finished 1-2 at regionals last year.
Quince Hutchings (160) – Grade: 12 Record: 29-12 First round: Hutchings will see Williamson senior Kirah Thompson (29-8) and the No. 4 seed from D4. Notes: Silver medalist at district twice now, Hutchings is a two-time regional qualifier.
TJ Cistrunk (182) – Grade: 12 Record: 28-3 First round: Towanda senior Dakota Manning (28-8), the fourth seed from District 4. Notes: Now a two-time district champion, Cistrunk had two pins and a tech fall to grab district glory. He’s making his second appearance at regionals. In his last showing in 2013, he went 1-2.
Nanticoke
Derek Fisher (170) – Grade: 12 Record: 24-9 First round: Regional fourth-place finisher from last season, Milton junior Brandon Stokes (30-9), the No. 3 seed from District 4. Notes: Fisher has finished second at districts the last two seasons and is a two-time regional qualifier.
Wyoming Area
Charlie Johnson (126) – Grade: 11 Record: 31-0 First round: The fourth seed from D4, Dalton Revels (25-2), a senior from Troy. Notes: A returning state qualifier, Johnson is coming off his second straight district title. He finished third at last year’s regional.
Pat Heck (132) – Grade: 11 Record: 30-8 First round: Heck faces Benton sophomore Anthony Vitale (31-12), the three seed from District 4. Notes: Heck lost his first career match in districts last weekend, dropping the championship match after two previous titles. He has won a total of two matches at regionals in his two previous appearances. With two this weekend, he will qualify for states.
Jude Polit-Moran (170) – Grade: 12 Record: 31-8 First round: A match with Montoursville freshman Gavin Hoffman (36-2), the District 4 runner-up. Notes: Polit-Moran advanced to his second regional event by taking third at districts for the second straight season.
Justin Joseph (182) – Grade: 9 Record: 14-21 First round: The No. 2 seed from District 4, Logan Aikey (30-5), a senior from Lewisburg. Notes: Joseph pulled off one of the biggest upsets at districts as he lost his first match then won three in a row to grab third place and advance.
CLASS 3A
Berwick
Dakota Conner (113) – Grade: 12 Record: 25-12 First round: Mike Metzger (28-16), a junior from Father Judge and the District 12 No. 3 seed. Notes: For the second straight season Conner reached the regional tournament by taking third at districts.
Nate Maczuga (170) – Grade: 12 Record: 20-17 First round: District 11 No. 3 seed Jake Young (30-2) from Freedom. Young finished fifth at states last year. Notes: Maczuga advanced to his first regional event by taking third at districts.
Coughlin
Pat Clarke (106) – Grade: 9 Record: 34-8 First round: Archbishop Wood freshman Stephen Veneziale (30-14), the No. 3 seed from District 12. Notes: Clark took third at districts to qualify for this round of the postseason.
Nick Yankoski (120) – Grade: 12 Record: 21-12 First round: A bout with defending Class 2A state champion Jake Reigel (31-4) of Bethlehem Catholic and the No. 3 seed from District 11. Notes: Yankoski is making his second appearance at regionals, but his first since 2013 as he placed third at districts last weekend.
Josh Brown (126) – Grade: 9 Record: 27-14 First round: Father Judge sophomore Trevor Elfvin (32-6), the District 12 champ. Notes: Brown placed fourth at districts to reach this stage of the postseason.
Bobby Hawkins (132) – Grade: 12 Record: 36-6 First round: He faces Emmaus’ Lucas Schaf (28-7), the No. 4 seed from District 11. Notes: Hawkins took fourth at regionals last season in his third appearance at the event. He was runner-up at districts and claimed a district title in 2014.
Jake Cole (152) – Grade: 9 Record: 27-15 First round: Central senior Vincent Roscioli (25-9), the No. 3 seed from District 12. Notes: Cole entered districts as the No. 2 seed and pulled out a 9-8 win over Abington Heights’ Nick Carr to take third.
Brandon Butry (160) – Grade: 12 Record: 23-16 First round: Senior Isa Dalipaj (29-12) from George Washington and the No. 2 seed from District 12. Notes: Butry has been an upset specialist all season and he continued that at districts claiming fourth place to advance to his first regional tournament.
Crestwood
Danny Ritz (138) – Grade: 12 Record: 34-1 First round: bye; he awaits the winner of the preliminary match between Central’s Larry Lewis (26-13) and Nazareth’s Travis Stefanik (27-8). Notes: Ritz claimed his first district title last weekend and is wrestling at regionals for the fourth straight season. In his last two regional appearances, he’s picked up five wins.
Dallas
Xavier Barber (145) – Grade: 10 Record: 20-3 First round: District 12 champion Adam White (29-15), a junior from Father Judge. Notes: He’s in the event for the first time thanks to a fourth-place showing at the District 2 Tournament.
Cole Dixon (170) – Grade: 11 Record: 24-12 First round: Martin Luther King sophomore Craig Duren (35-11), the D12 No. 4 seed. Notes: Dixon won two matches down in Bethlehem last season. Coming off a second-place finish at districts and improving on that showing from last year, he could be ready for a longer run.
James Geiger (195) – Grade: 11 Record: 28-10 First round: He faces Father Judge freshman Sean Armstrong (14-17), who is the District 12 No. 4 seed. Notes: Geiger is appearing at regionals for the first time thanks to a third-place finish at districts.
Ryan Monk (285) – Grade: 12 Record: 33-3 First round: bye; he will take on the winner of the preliminary match between Freedom’s Cordell Cotto (15-4) and Archbishop Wood’s Jason Barish (15-1) in the quarters. Notes: Coming off his second straight D2 title, Monk was regional champ last season and took sixth in the state. He’s now a four-time regional qualifier and his 134 career wins are the most in school history.
Hazleton Area
Jake Maurer (106) – Grade: 10 Record: 25-12 First round: Father Judge junior Tim McCall (38-2), who grabbed the D12 title. Notes: Maurer is in regionals for the first time after taking fourth at districts.
Chris Lasecki (113) – Grade: 10 Record: 27-8 First round: Alex Shaffer (34-11), a sophomore from Archbishop Wood and the runner-up from District 12. Notes: Lasecki picked up his first district title last weekend to reach regionals for the second straight season and improving on last year’s fourth-place showing at districts.
Anthony Martoccio (120) – Grade: 10 Record: 27-16 First round: He takes on Central senior Jonathan Guevara (29-11), the runner-up from District 12. Notes: Martoccio is making his first regional appearance thanks to a fourth-place finish at districts.
Jimmy Hoffman (126) – Grade: 10 Record: 33-5 First round: bye; he awaits the winner of the preliminary match between St. Joseph’s John Pires (19-11) and Freedom’s Jonah Zych (30-4). Notes: Hoffman reached the state tournament last season by finishing third at this event. He’s now a two-time district champion.
Derek Spachman (182) – Grade: 12 Record: 28-7 First round: Dishon Springer (18-7), a senior from Pocono Mountain West and the No. 5 seed from District 11. Notes: Spachman took second at districts to qualify for regionals for the first time.
Pittston Area
Jake Vaxmonsky (220) – Grade: 12 Record: 31-3 First round: bye; he gets the winner of the first round match between Northampton senior Jason Kocher (21-7) and Abraham Lincoln senior Michael Rodriguez (18-10). Notes: Vaxmonsky is fresh off his first district championship and is appearing at districts for the second time after a third-place showing at districts last season. He picked up three wins at last year’s regional, with two this weekend in the championship rounds, he will be heading to the PIAA Championships.
Brandon Goodlavage (285) – Grade: 11 Record: 10-6 First round: George Washington senior Stephane Eugene (38-0), the District 12 champion. Notes: Goodlavage needed a good district tournament to reach this stage, and he did. After losing in the first round, he won three consolation matches in a row to advance.
Tunkhannock
Dakota Quick (126) – Grade: 11 Record: 33-11 First round: Alexandra DeSouza (29-9), a senior from Northeast. Notes: Quick placed third at districts to reach this event for the first time. Awaiting the winner of this preliminary bout is Bethlehem Catholic’s Luke Karam, a defending state champion and state runner-up in Class 2A.
Bill Manley (138) – Grade: 11 Record: 31-9 First round: LaSalle senior Andrew McLaren (17-7), the No. 3 seed from District 12. Notes: Making his first showing at regionals, Manley finished third at districts.
Mike Manley (145) – Grade: 11 Record: 25-6 First round: The District 11 No. 5 seed, Christopher Martinez (14-13) from Pocono Mountain West. Notes: Manley ran into red-hot Chase Gallik in last week’s district final and settled for second to reach this stage of the postseason for the first time.
Dalton Ray (160) – Grade: 11 Record: 37-1 First round: Father Judge senior Nick Reidy (24-18), the fourth seed from District 12. Notes: Ray missed all of last season with an injury after qualifying for regionals as a freshman. He rebounded after his first loss of the season in the district semis to finish third.
Wyoming Valley West
Wayne Smith (113) – Grade: 11 Record: 19-15 First round: Liberty sophomore KJ Fenstenmacher (31-4), the runner-up from District 11. Notes: Smith get past districts for the first time in his career by placing fourth.
Jimmy Wright (120) – Grade: 12 Record: 28-10 First round: Bye; he will face either Pottsville’s Luke Gardner (29-4) or Archbishop Ryan’s Charles Wallace (36-9) in the quarterfinals. Notes: Wright picked up his first district title to qualify for the regional event for the third straight season. He’s had some success at this level previously winning five matches in the last two seasons at this event.
Cody Cordes (160) – Grade: 12 Record: 31-3 First round: bye; in the quarters, he faces the winner of the preliminary match between Southern Lehigh’s Richard Frable (24-2) and LaSalle’s Luke Ratchford (34-10). Notes: The bracket’s top seed, Cordes accomplished the feat of being a four-time regional qualifier with his second straight district title. He was a state qualifier last season after finishing second at this event. His 139 career wins are the most in school history.