It’s no secret that when District 2 wrestlers participate at the regional wrestling tournaments this weekend, it will be against the toughest competition they’ve seen all season.
There are a combined 10 total wrestlers from both Class 2A and Class 3A who’ve reached the state finals taking part in regionals this year, including four past champions.
In Class 2A, Athens’ Brian Courtney (132) and Montoursville’s Gavin Hoffman (195) were state champs last year, while Southern Columbia’s Jaret Lane (113) and Todd Lane (145) have second-place state medals.
In Class 3A, Northampton’s Julian Chlebove (120) and Bethlehem Catholic’s Michael Labriola (285) are returning state champions.
Hazleton Area’s Jimmy Hoffman (132), Nazareth’s Sammy Sasso (138) and Brock Wilson (145), and Northampton’s Dan Moran (138) are all returning state runner-ups.
Been there, done that
Of the 54 Wyoming Valley Conference regional qualifiers, three wrestlers — Hazleton’s Hoffman, Meyers’ Colin Pasone and Lake-Lehman’s RJ Driscoll — advanced to the state tournament last year.
The trio will need to finish in the top four of their respective brackets to book another trip to Hershey.
Taking the next step
Nine WVC wrestlers return to regionals this year after placing last year, but finishing one or two wins short of reaching the state tournament.
In Class 3A, Hazleton Area’s Carson Kinney took fifth last year, while Valley West’s David Krokoski, Tunkhannock’s Tommy Traver, and Coughlin’s Josh Brown all took sixth.
In 2A, Lake-Lehman’s Bob Long and Bob Lipski, Meyers’ Jeremy Bergold and Hanover Area’s Noah Rakowski were all fifth a year ago, while Wyoming Area’s Adam Buczynski was sixth.
Hanover Area senior Jeff Bennett, one of just two four-time regional qualifiers from the WVC along with Pasone. Bennett is a two-time district champ, but has struggled in previous appearances at regionals.
Dallas’ Xavier Barber is a three-time regional qualifiers and has won two matches in the 3A tournament in each of the last two years.
The Youngsters
There’s nearly two dozen WVC underclassmen taking part in this weekend’s regional events. Of those wrestlers, seven are fresh off a district title.
Krokowski, a sophomore at 113, Dallas sophomore Steven Newell (160) and Valley West freshman J.J. White (106) are ranked in the state. But there’s also numerous others looking to make the leap including district champs Gavin D’Amato (freshman, Tunkhannock), Shane Noonan (sophomore, Hazleton Area), Nick Yule (freshman, Berwick), Corey Mruk (freshman, Wyoming Area).
Four chances for Lehman
Lake-Lehman missed out on the state tournament last year for the first time in eight years. But there’s a good omen for the Black Knights this year. It’s been more than 50 years since the school did not qualify a wrestler for states in two straight years. That stretch occurred from 1965-71. The team has four regional qualifiers this year, including a pair of district champs in Bob Lipski and Jake Tomolonis, and 2015 state qualifier RJ Driscoll.
Dawgs looking for their day
In Class 2A, Berwick is looking to break the second-longest streak in the WVC for state qualifiers. The Dawgs have not had a state qualifier since Nick Venditti and Aaron Karns both advanced in 2008. The only stretch that’s longer in the conference is Nanticoke, which hasn’t had a state qualifier since Jason Mitkowski won a state gold in 2003. In addition to Yule, junior Alec Talanca is wrestling for Berwick at 138.
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