Strouse, Schaffer reach Regional semis

BETHLEHEM — Setting the tone in the postseason isn’t just important.

It’s essential.

Tamaqua’s Bronson Strouse and Northern Lehigh’s Joshua Schaffer asserted their dominance in the 285-pound bracket at last week’s District 11 Tournament.

The trend continued on the opening night of the Southeast Regional event.

Strouse delivered the type of instant impact he’s shown throughout the season with a quick strike in his only match Friday night to punch his ticket to the semifinals and guarantee his place at the state tournament for the third year in a row.

Schaffer punctuated another impressive performance with two victories to secure his place in Hershey and keep a potential rematch with Strouse in his sights.

In the often unpredictable world of postseason wrestling, everything went according to plan for the two dominant heavyweights.

“That’s all I was hoping for,” said Schaffer. “I just wanted to win my first two matches, punch my ticket to states, and just wrestle smart the rest of the tournament.”

After winning his second straight District 11 title a week ago, Strouse wasted little time in pinning Nate Dandridge of Eastern York in 0:29.

Strouse, who was third at regionals a year ago, will face Church Farm School’s Emmanuel Lawal in the semis.

Lawal edged Strouse 7-6 in last year’s regional semis. Lawal also topped Strouse 3-1 in sudden victory overtime in the third-place match at last year’s Coal Cracker Tournament.

Schaffer battled Octorara’s Paul Orner in the quarterfinals. The junior took a 4-3 lead with an escape before finishing the match with a pin in 7:51.

“It feels good,” said Schaffer. “I knew it was going to be a tough match going into it; I knew I had to fight. He put me on my back a few times but I was able to fight out of it ... I just wrestled through the match.

“There were a few times where I could have got a shot in but didn’t take it. I regret it, but I still came out with the win. I wasn’t nervous; I knew I was going to go in there and give it my all, and come out with the win.”

Schaffer, who fell to Strouse in the district final a week ago, dismantled Upper Dauphin’s Peyton Wentzel with a pin in 0:38.

“It feels really good after not placing at districts last year, and then finishing this season,” said Schaffer. “And now coming back to regionals and punching my ticket to states, it feels amazing.”

Northern Lehigh’s Trevor Amorim and Tamaqua’s Nate Wickersham both dropped their quarterfinal matches.

Middletown’s Joseph Spear pinned Amorim in their 145-pound quarterfinal match.

“I just have to keep my head high,” said Amorim. “Like my coach just said, I can’t dwell on a loss like that; I have to move on quick, and that’s what I plan to do tomorrow. I want to come back, win two, and hopefully get out to states.”

A district runner-up last week, Amorim led 3-0 in the second period.

Spear cut it to 3-2 with a reversal in the second period, and tied it at 3-3 with an escape in the third. Spear went ahead 5-3 in the third period, and was able to keep Amorim down during a series throughout the third period.

Amorim finally got out with 21.2 seconds remaining but quickly was put on his back with seven seconds remaining.

“I knew it was late in the match, I got out and went for a special, and obviously I didn’t get it,” said Amorim. “I got put on my back, but I gave it everything I had.”

Amorim punched his ticket to the quarters with a 7-6 decision over East Pennsboro’s Malachi Harvey.

The sophomore broke a 5-5 tie with a takedown in the final 40 seconds. Amorim cut Harvey to give up the escape and held on for the win.

“That first match, I didn’t feel good at all,” said Amorim. “My body just didn’t feel right. In the second match, I felt OK. I felt like my conditioning was there. I just couldn’t get it at the end.

“But it’s my first time at regionals, so I was definitely a little nervous there in my first match.”

Wickersham fell to Bishop McDevitt freshman and District 3 champion Riley Robell in 1:12 at 182 pounds.

Wickersham posted a 16-4 major decision over Camp Hill’s Ben Mullin in his preliminary round match.

Three area wrestlers kept their tournament hopes alive with first-round consolation wins.

Tamaqua’s Aaron Coccio topped Lancaster Catholic’s Caden Droege 3-2 at 138 pounds to move on.

“It’s great,” said Coccio. “It’s my second year here, and I went 0-2 a year ago. Lost my first match really close (7-3 to Hamburg’s Dalton Gimbor) to an eight-place state placer last year, and to be able to bounce back and get my first win, felt really great.

“I was down 2-0 at the end of the second period with 10 seconds left, and I knew I had him, and I put him in a quick two-point tilt to tie it going into the third period. I was down and I went neutral, escaped and that’s how I won the match.”

Northwestern had a pair of seniors move on with consolation wins. Ryan Haverkamp pinned Isaac Buser (Eastern York) in 2:18 at 182 pounds, while Harrison Bernhard earned a 4-3 decision over Nick Bratspis (Lower Moreland) at 145.

“I was real sluggish my first match, I’m not sure if I didn’t have a good warmup or what happened,” said Haverkamp. “I really thought I should have won that match, but I knew I just had to wrestle back.

“I definitely have a lot more confidence now coming off a pin. And now it’s one more loss and you’re done. And this year especially more than other years. There is no more next year. I definitely have a lot more aggression and urgency knowing that if it isn’t me, it’s going to be someone else in that spot.”

LATE FLURRY … Though Lehighton’s Richard Fronheiser was pinned by Hamburg’s Brant Mason in his 170-pound prelim, the junior was in position to come away with a win into the third period. The match was tied at 7-7 with 1:00 to go before Mason got an escape with under :40 remaining and quickly built a 14-7 advantage with a reversal and four back points. Fronheiser’s tournament came to and end with a 7-6 loss in sudden victory overtime to Susquenita’s Michael Klinger in the consolation round. Teammate Lucas Sangiuliano was eliminated with a 5-1 loss to Isiah Vizcarrondo of Faith Christian in a 132-pound consolation match.

STILL ALIVE … Jim Thorpe’s William Schwartz will try to bounce back after getting pinned by Raif Barber of Boiling Springs in 4:30 in his 113-pound preliminary match. Schwartz will try to keep his season alive when he wrestles Newport’s Ganon Smith in a second round consi match. Tamaqua’s Caleb Sell will try to do the same after getting pinned by Bryce Enders of Halifax in 4:28 in his 152-pound prelim. Sell will wrestle Newport’s Will Davis in a second-round consolation bout.

BACK IN ACTION … Second round consolations will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by semifinals and third round consis at 11. The fourth round of consolations will be held at 1:30 p.m. The Parade of Champions is scheduled for 4:50, with consolation and championship finals set for 5. The top-six advance to states.

Southeast Regional Class 2A Wrestling Results

at Freedom High School

QUARTERFINALS

145 - Joseph Spear (Middletown) pinned Trevor Amorim (Northern Lehigh) in 5:53.

182 - Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt) pinned Nate Wickersham (Tamaqua) in 1:12.

285 - Bronson Strouse (Tamaqua) pinned Nate Dandridge (Eastern York) in 0:29; 285 Joshua Schaffer (Northern Lehigh) pinned Paul Orner (Octorara) in 7:51.

FIRST ROUND CONSOLATIONS

132 - Isiah Vizcarrondo (Faith Christian) dec. Lucas Sangiuliano (Lehighton), 5-1.

138 - Aaron Coccio (Tamaqua) dec. Caden Droege (Lancaster Catholic), 3-2.

145 - Harrison Bernhard (Northwestern) dec. Nick Bratspis (Lower Moreland), 4-3.

170 - Michael Klinger (Susquenita) dec. Richard Fronheiser (Lehighton), 7-6 (SV).

182 - Ryan Haverkamp (Northwestern) pinned Isaac Buser (Eastern York) in 2:18.

PRELIMINARIES

113 - Raif Barber (Boiling Springs) pinned William Schwartz (Jim Thorpe) in 4:30.

132 - Brandon Breidegan (Northern Lebanon) pinned Lucas Sangiuliano (Lehighton) in 1:12.

138 - Dalton Gimbor (Hamburg) dec. Aaron Coccio (Tamaqua), 7-3.

145 - Michael Duggan (Boiling Springs) maj. dec. Harrison Bernhard (Northwestern), 12-4; 145 Trevor Amorim (Northern Lehigh) dec. Malachi Harvey (East Pennsboro), 7-6.

152 - Bryce Enders (Halifax) pinned Caleb Sell (Tamaqua) in 4:28.

170 - Brant Mason (Hamburg) pinned Richard Fronheiser (Lehighton) in 5:59.

182 - Nate Wickersham (Tamaqua) maj. dec. Ben Mullin (Camp Hill), 16-4; 182 Brad Morrison (West Perry) pinned Ryan Haverkamp (Northwestern) in 3:47.

285 - Joshua Schaffer (Northern Lehigh) pinned Peyton Wentzel (Upper Dauphin) in 0:38.