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Berwick leads the way, but four other teams still in title hunt in a topsy-turvy division.
Pittston Area’s Robbie Robinson (bottom) grimaces in pain as Nick Venditti of Berwick puts the pressure on during their 160-pound bout earlier this month.
Times leader file photo/Don Carey
The top spot in Division I of the Wyoming Valley Conference is a hot potato these days and several teams are still trying to get a handle on it.
For now, Berwick sits atop the standings with a perfect record of 3-0. Last week at this time, Crestwood was the team to beat after starting out 2-0. Hazleton Area started as one of the top contenders for the championship.
But things have changed drastically. And realistically, five teams can end with the same record and a share of the championship once the division schedule ends since there is no tiebreaker in place.
Hazleton Area (3-1 division) Crestwood (2-2), Lake-Lehman (2-2) and Pittston Area (1-2) all have a legitimate chance to come away with the title.
“If there is a tie between four or five teams, there will be four or five trophies distributed,” WVC wrestling commissioner and District 2 wrestling chairman Bill Hilburt said.
Thus far, the season has gone like this:
• Crestwood beat Hazleton and Wyoming Valley West but then lost to Pittston and Lake-Lehman.
• Berwick has wins against Pittston, Valley West and Coughlin, but still has to face Lake-Lehman, Hazleton and Crestwood.
• Hazleton lost to Crestwood, then rebounded to beat Coughlin, Lehman and Valley West.
• Lake-Lehman lost to Coughlin and Hazleton but beat Pittston and Crestwood.
• Pittston Area lost to Berwick and Lake-Lehman, but beat Crestwood.
“The parity is great. I haven’t seen this in a long time,” Hilburt added. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years and finally, you are reading about it in the papers. We are eating it up, we are enjoying it.”
It’s no secret that more and more people are heading out to gyms at a record pace to see wrestling matches because of the closeness of the teams in Division I. This is the third season of the WVC’s current divisional alignment, in which stronger programs are placed in Division I.
“I have been coaching at Berwick for 19 years and this is by far the most parity there has been in our division,” Berwick coach Ernie Yates said. “It’s very good for our league and it makes every match exciting. The number of people attending is greater and the interest is greater. It’s a lot more fun now that it is competitive. I think it’s great for wrestling in the area and the wrestlers are enjoying it.”
Weighing-in
The new Optimal Performance Calculator, which was implemented by the PIAA for this season to help wrestlers maintain a healthy weight, started out problematic for some coaches, but few problems have been found.
“Other than the fact that I have kids wrestling at weights that they are too small for, it’s a good thing,” Tunkhannock coach Andy Doster said. “I have kids wrestling where at a regional or state level, they are too small. But that goes back to the beginning of the year. I think kids need to start dieting in September. But overall, it’s been a good program. There is no more guessing, because the program tells you where you can be.”
This week’s key matchups
Today: Pittston Area at Hazleton Area; Dallas at Tunkhannock. Friday: Pittston Area at Wyoming Valley West; Hazleton Area at Berwick.
District Duals Set
A new format has been put in place for the District 2 Duals Tournament, which will be held next weekend.
The sites for the first day remain the same with Class 2A at Lake-Lehman and Class 3A at Pittston Area. But the times have changed. On Friday, first round matches will be held at 5 and 6:30 p.m., with semis then taking place at 8 p.m. Both finals on Saturday will be at Pittston at 7 p.m.
The Times Leader Top Individuals
The Times Leader Team Rankings
103: 1. Hunter McGraw, Crestwood; 2. Chris Bujno, Berwick; 3. Kyle Johnson, Wyoming Seminary
112: 1. Dom Yantorn, Berwick; 2. Mark Uliano, Hazleton Area; 3. Chris Gugliotti, Pittston Area
119: 1. Nicky Gordon, Wyoming Seminary; 2. Cody Roccograndi, Pittston Area; 3. tie Brandon Jimmerson, Nanticoke; Chris Barbacci, Lake-Lehman
125: 1. Jake O’Hara, Crestwood; 2. Keith Walsh, Coughlin; 3. Josh Pollins, Wyoming Valley West
130: 1. Matt Evangelisti, Crestwood; 2. Stan Boris, Hazleton Area; 3. Niko Ardo, Pittston Area
135: 1. Josh Roosa, Crestwood; 2. Lou Ney, Berwick; 3. Mark Bellas, Coughlin
140: 1. Tyler Perry, Berwick; 2. Gino Ardo, Pittston Area; 3. Sam Wiernusz, Tunkhannock
145: 1. Justin Accordino, Coughlin; 2. Scott Davis, Lake-Lehman; 3. Bryce Caiazzo, Wyoming Seminary
152: 1. Craig Kittrick, Coughlin; 2. Joe Baranoski, Meyers; 3. Bill Bidwell, Pittston Area
160: 1. Nick Venditti, Berwick; 2. Robbie Robinson, Pittston Area; 3. Ben Eachus, Hazleton Area.
171: 1. Mike Reilly, Crestwood; 2. Matt Kline, Hazleton Area; 3. Dave Bartuska, Pittston Area
189: 1. Nate Eachus, Hazleton Area; 2. Aaron Karns, Berwick; 3. Josh Mitkowski, Nanticoke
215: 1. Clint Staniorski, Crestwood; 2. Ryan Sitler, Berwick; 3. Craig Nillson, Dallas
285: 1. (tie) Steve Stoss, Pittston Area, Tyler Cowman, Wyoming Valley West; 3. Ted Lasher, Wyoming Area
1. Berwick (3-0 Division I, 13-5 overall); 2. Hazleton Area (3-1 D-I, 13-3); 3. Lake-Lehman (2-2 D-I, 12-7); 4. Pittston Area (1-2 D-I, 9-3); 5. Crestwood (2-2 D-I, 5-2); 6. Tunkhannock (4-0 D-II, 12-5); 7. Coughlin (1-2 D-I, 9-3); 8. Wyoming Valley West (0-3 D-I, 11-7); 9. GAR (2-1 D-II, 9-6); 10. Dallas (2-1 D-II, 3-9); 11. Wyoming Area (2-2 D-II, 8-14); 12. Meyers (1-2 D-II, 3-11); 13. Nanticoke (1-3 D-II, 1-18); 14. Hanover Area (0-3 D-II, 1-17)
• For more in-depth team and individual rankings, visit www.timesleader.com
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