HS Wrestling Notebook: Spartans take step forward at league tournament
North Schuylkill's Sander Stokes, top, battles Williams Valley's Camron Green during the 285-pound final at the Schuylkill League Wrestling Championships on Jan. 18 at Blue Mountain High School. (Photo by Eli Doyle)
ORWIGSBURG — Cleaning out the notebook after an enjoyable Saturday at the Schuylkill League Wrestling Championships at Blue Mountain High School:
Surging Spartans
North Schuylkill’s young wrestling team took a step forward at the league meet.
Trailing Blue Mountain in a nip-and-tuck team battle all day, the Spartans needed to deliver in the finals to pull out their first team title since 2005.
They stepped up in a big way, capturing five individual championships among their 11 placewinners. Alex Deritis (114), Easton Edwards (121), Nate Sterner (145), Cadyn McGraw (215) and Sander Stokes (285) captured double gold when the Spartans clinched the team crown 212-198 over Blue Mountain. Stanley Padakowski (127) took a second, while Gaige Mentusky (107), Bryce Kile (139), Kaden Tavares (152) and Jaden Meyer (172) captured bronze. Ben Carr (160) added a fifth for North Schuylkill.
In all, the Spartans had three seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen in their starting lineup for the league meet.
For the season, North Schuylkill has wrestled 18 different athletes: three seniors, five juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen. There’s a huge crop of junior high wrestlers ready to join the varsity next year and beyond.
Milestones
Congratulations to Blue Mountain’s Owen Woll for earning his 100th career victory in the finals as he won his second straight league gold. A junior with another six weeks of the season to go, reaching the century mark is a remarkable achievement.
Woll has a chance to pile up some more wins and put himself within reach of 150 for his senior season.
With his three victories to take the 189-pound crown, Blue Mountain senior Bradley Renninger improved to 31-4, the most wins in the league this season. He also reached 110 career victories at the league meet.
Several other local wrestlers are on pace to reach the 100-win milestone.
Tamaqua senior Aiden Schlier could be next as he’s 24-4 this season and 99-37 in his career.
Pine Grove’ Austin Martin (22-3 season, 95-43 career) and Sterner (21-5 season, 92-46 career) — a pair of seniors — are possibilities as well.
Tamaqua senior Jacob Hehn (22-9 season, 88-57 career) and Pottsville junior Terrell McFarland (27-2 season, 88-10 career) probably would need a long postseason run to make it this season.
Gold rush
With another dominating performance, McFarland (172) earned his third straight league gold medal. That kept him on track to try to become a member of the four-timers club next season. Since 1985, 16 wrestlers have become four-time league champions. The most recent is Upper Dauphin’s Bronson Garber (2016-19). Pottsville has one wrestler on that list: Brian Burns (1998-2001).
Tri-Valley’s Owen Wolfgang (107) and Woll (152), a pair of juniors, won their second league titles with a opportunity for a third next season.
Keep an eye on North Schuylkill’s Easton Edwards (121) and Blue Mountain’s Brian Brobst (133). The freshmen started their careers with Schuylkill League gold. Who knows what’s ahead for them?
Building depth
The Schuylkill League Junior Varsity Wrestling Championships took place at the same time and place as the varsity. Thirty-seven athletes participated, getting needed mat time to develop their skills.
The top two in each weight (some weights were combined):
107 — 1. Evan Miernicki, North Schuylkill; 2. Gavin Stewart, Blue Mountain
121-127 — 1. Kian Gill, Tri-Valley; 2. Quintyn Wolak, Pine Grove
133 — 1. Caleb Rusk, North Schuylkill; 2. Kendrick Wolfgram, Pine Grove
139 — 1. Jacob Blankenhorn, Blue Mountain; 2. Conan DeBruyn, Pine Grove
145 — 1. Gavin Ballay, Tri-Valley; 2. Shawn Kurtz, Pine Grove
152-160 — 1. Wesley Mansell, Blue Mountain; 2. Cooper Felty, Pottsville
172 — 1. Cayne Schadel, Tri-Valley; 2. Lenny Zack, Mahanoy Area
189 — 1. Brody Souchak, North Schuylkill; 2. Christian Martinez, Mahanoy Area
215 — 1. Donovan Herman, Mahanoy Area; 2. Eli Accardi, Pottsville
285 — 1. Ben Lagaza, Mahanoy Area; 2. William Wysoski, North Schuylkill
Lookahead
With the league tournament in the books, it’s time to turn our attention back to the dual-meet races.
The final night of league duals is Wednesday, with two big ones among the four boys’ and two girls’ meets on tap.
In Division I, North Schuylkill (10-2, 3-0 D-I) took command of the division with a 30-27 win at Blue Mountain on Jan. 8. On Wednesday, the Spartans will welcome Pottsville (6-10, 1-2) to the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium with a chance to wrap up an undefeated league season.
North Schuylkill’s last division championship came in 2022. At the league tournament, the Spartans won their first team title since 2005.
It’s been even longer since they swept the division and tournament titles — 2002 to be exact. The division and tournament are two of the goals North Schuylkill posts on its practice room wall every year.
The Spartans have pulled off the double seven times: 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1995 and 2002.
The other big meet Wednesday will decide the Division II crown when Tri-Valley (11-4, 3-0 D-II) visits Pine Grove (8-4, 3-0). On paper, this dual has at least 4-5 toss-up bouts that will go a long way toward deciding a winner. The Bulldogs are looking for their fifth straight division D-II title and eighth overall since 1996. Pine Grove hasn’t won a division since the Cards earned the Division I crown in 2001.
Pine Grove’s girls are scheduled to host Palmerton at 6 p.m.
Expect a packed house for that full night of wrestling.
Meanwhile, Panther Valley will host Tamaqua for a girls’/boys’ doubleheader, and Schuylkill Haven visits Mahanoy Area.
Two big tournaments are on tap for this weekend, too.
At Lehighton, the Coal Cracker Boys’ Wrestling Tournament will welcome 49 teams for two days of competition. Locally, Blue Mountain, Mahanoy Area, Panther Valley, Tamaqua and Williams Valley are scheduled to compete. Other notable entrants: Boiling Springs, Central Dauphin, Faith Christian, Malvern Prep and Wallenpaupack.
Meanwhile, North Schuylkill and Tri-Valley will make their annual trip west for the two-day Thomas Automotive Wrestling Tournament at Bedford High School. Heavy hitters from Districts 5, 6, 7 and 9 usually attend. This year, 26 teams will compete, including Burrell, Chestnut Ridge, Clearfield, Line Mountain and Greenville.
Saturday, Pine Grove’s boys head to the Hershey Duals. In addition to the hosts, Dover, Governor Mifflin, Kennard-Dale, Littlestown, Milton Hershey, Oley Valley and Radnor are expected to attend.
Sunday, Panther Valley’s and Pine Grove’s girls are set to compete at the 24-team Battle for the Buck at Central Bucks West High School.
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