Wrestling notes: Regular season wrapup and rankings

The wait is almost over.

With most teams wrapping up their regular season schedule this week, the prospect of postseason glory looms large for area wrestlers.

The road to Hershey begins in earnest next Friday with the start of the 70th Annual District 11 Class 2A and 3A individual tournaments, which will be held at Freedom High School and Liberty High School. Five wrestlers from the 3A bracket will advance to regionals, while four from the 2A tournament will move on to the regional tournament.

Six wrestlers will medal in the 3A tournament. The top-five wrestlers will earn medals in the 2A event.

Look for more information, such as seeding, schedules and predictions in next week’s column.

For now, we wait and wonder what might be.

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WHAT TO WATCH FOR … While the varsity event is still a week away, the Ray Nunamaker District 11 JV Wrestling Tournament will be held this weekend at East Stroudsburg South High School. Look for results and a brief recap for area wrestlers in next week’s column.

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OFF THE MAT … Northwestern’s Caleb Clymer remains third at 160 pounds this week in the seventh issue of Off the Mat’s Class 2A state rankings. The Tigers’ Jackson Bernhard is still ranked seventh at 152, while teammate Colin Rex remains No. 16 at 138. Panther Valley’s Hunter Kennedy is still ranked 10th at 170 pounds, while Tamaqua’s Bronson Strouse held steady at No. 14 at 220. Palmerton’s Lucas Christman maintains the No. 16 spot at 145 pounds. Saucon Valley is ranked ninth in the Class 2A team rankings, down one spot from last week. Wilson remains 19th, while Northwestern Lehigh stays in the 21st spot.

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ICYMI … District 11 champion Bethlehem Catholic defeated Kiski 38-22 on Saturday to win the PIAA Class 3A team tournament title. It was the Golden Hawks’ sixth state championship; four have come in the Class 2A tournament. The victory also gave head coach Jeff Karam his 300th career win.

Through Feb. 14

(bout minimum: 10)

106 – 1. Jake Dellicker, Northwestern, So. (24-8), 2. William Schwartz, Jim Thorpe, So. (16-14).

113 – 1. John Newhall, Jim Thorpe, Sr. (26-1), 2. Daniel Valdner, Pleasant Valley, Sr. (11-11), 3. Jagur Lynn, Lehighton, Jr. (6-6).

120 – 1. Preston Bauer, Northern Lehigh, So. (19-8), 2. Colby Newton, Panther Valley, Jr. (17-10), 3. Aaron Coccio, Tamaqua, Fr. (22-15).

126 – 1. Nate Kemmerer, Lehighton, Sr. (27-6), 2. Harrison Bernhard, Northwestern, So. (19-9). 3. Pierce Demetriades, Tamaqua, So. (19-19).

Honorable Mention - Shawn Gardner, Palmerton, So. (14-13).

132 – 1. Matt Peters, Northwesterm, Sr. (29-6), 2. Seth Fronheiser, Northern Lehigh, Sr. (23-8), 3. Lucas Sangiuliano, Lehighton, So. (19-14).

Honorable Mention – James Gehr, Pleasant Valley, Sr. (16-7), Donovan White, Northwestern, Jr. (10-7).

138 – 1. Colin Rex, Northwestern, Sr. (25-7), 2. Logan Pagotto, Lehighton, Jr. (19-9), 3. Matt Lalik, Palmerton, So. (20-10).

Honorable Mention - Brandon Mader, Tamaqua, Sr. (22-11).

145 – 1. Lucas Christman, Palmerton, Jr. (26-3), 2. Chris Whiteman, Lehighton, Jr. (25-10).

152 – 1. Jackson Bernhard, Northwestern, Sr. (30-5), 2. Tyler Shock, Lehighton, Sr. (18-9), 3. Nate Sterner, Palmerton, Sr. (12-12).

Honorable Mention - Xander Kern, Panther Valley, Sr. (8-7).

160 – 1. Caleb Clymer, Northwestern, Sr. (32-1), 2. Tanner Kennedy, Panther Valley, Sr. (27-8), 3. Richard Fronheiser, Lehighton, Fr. (17-17).

170 – 1. Hunter Kennedy, Panther Valley, Sr. (27-8), 2. Carson Krell, Tamaqua, Fr. (17-12), 3. Damion Rodriguez, Northern Lehigh, Jr. (16-14).

Honorable Mention – Christian Rodriguez, Lehighton, Jr. (14-12), Christopher Frable, Pleasant Valley, Fr. (11-10), Ryan Havercamp, Northwestern, So. (9-7).

182 – 1. Derrick Beckham, Panther Valley, Jr. (28-9), 2. Austin Williams, Jim Thorpe, Sr. (16-8), 3. Jack Zimmerman, Lehighton, Sr. (15-14).

Honorable Mention - Tyler Watson, Northwestern, So. (9-6).

195 – 1. Ethan Mordaunt, Jim Thorpe, Jr. (27-3), 2. Kyle Kralik, Palmerton, Sr. (10-5).

220 – 1. Bronson Strouse, Tamaqua, So. (35-3), 2. Brett Gasker, Lehighton, So. (20-13), 3. Quin Moyer, Northwestern, Sr. (23-11).

285 – 1. Aaron Eidem, Panther Valley, Jr. (23-10).

NOTES ... Mordaunt had a first-period pin over Blue Mountain’s Tyler Noecker last week. Mordaunt also had a first-period fall Wednesday over North Schuylkill’s Will Armstead. … Newhall won by tech fall against Blue Mountain’s Anthony Zeplin a week ago, and had a pin over North Schuylkill’s Kurdt Coffin on Wednesday. … Williams had a first period fall against Blue Mountain’s Bobby Barr last week, and won by tech fall against North Schuylkill’s Robert McDowell on Wednesday. … Schwartz was pinned in the first period by Blue Mountain’s Owen Oakley last week, and lost by major decision to North Schuylkill’s Danny Grigas on Wednesday. … Harrison Bernhard returned to the lineup and dropped a 6-4 decision to Liberty’s Travis Brown on Tuesday. … Rex picked up a 10-4 decision over Liberty’s Jason Rezac on Tuesday. … Jackson Bernhard won a 7-0 decision over Liberty’s Daniel Santiago earlier this week. … Clymer continued his stellar form, pinning Liberty’s Eli Santiago in 2:44 on Tuesday. … Moyer was pinned in 3:10 by Liberty’s Jake Ahmad on Tuesday. … Lalik won by tech fall against Whitehall’s Aiden Toussaint last week. … Christman rolled over Whitehall’s Sean Cunningham last week, winning by tech fall. … Krell pinned Pocono Mountain East’s Anthony Maimone last Friday, and picked up a 10-4 decision over Pen Argyl’s Sawyer Beltz on Tuesday. … Strouse went up to heavyweight and pinned Pocono Mountain East’s Brandon Prados in 22 seconds last Friday. The sophomore was at 285 again on Tuesday, and earned a 5-1 decision over Pen Argyl’s Blake Fox. … Demetriades lost by tech fall to Pocono Mountain East’s Elijah Hernandez last week, and by decision to Pen Argyl’s Antonio Reto on Tuesday. … Coccio lost by major decision to Pen Argyl’s Nick Reto, ranked No. 15 at 132 pounds by Off the Mat, on Tuesday. … Mader won by tech fall over Pen Argyl’s Adam Knecht on Tuesday. … Kemmerer returned to the lineup on Wednesday against Pottsville, and pinned Zach Haslam in 46 seconds. … Pagotto was pinned by Pottsville’s Bryce Gonzalez on Wednesday. … Whiteman won by tech fall Wednesday against Pottsville’s Dylan Bohorad. … Schock earned a 4-0 decision against Pottsville’s Mike Zawaski on Wednesday. … Gasker pinned Pottsville’s R.J. Quinn on Wednesday. … Beckham won by fall on Wednesday against Schuylkill Haven.

(Compiled by Patrick Matsinko)