Pennsylvania Dominates Super 32 Challenge Qualifier
The Super 32 Challenge is no doubt the premier pre-season wrestling tournament in the Nation and Pennsylvania has always faired well in North Carolina. Like years past the Super 32 Challenge held a qualification tournament in PA, this year at Chambersburg Area High School, where many of the top Pennsylvania wrestlers competed. In total 10 of 14 Champions were Pennsylvania wrestlers.
At 106 lbs. freshman Sean Pierson (Nazareth Area) clawed his way to the Championship picking up four victories, two in overtime, and all by a margin of two points or less. Pierson won his first three matches against non-PA wrestlers and faced talented sophomore Trent Snader (Central Dauphin) in the finals. Snader, who spent his freshman season at Trinity, went (19-2) at 113 lbs. before an injury ended his season early. In the 106 lbs. finals Pierson proved he should be considered a Top Incoming Freshman for 2016 winning in sudden victory (4-2 SV) over Snader. It would appear that Snader will be moving down a weight-class his sophomore season and first year with the Central Dauphin Rams. Two wrestlers were a win away from placing in the top four as sophomore Cole Rhone (Benton Area) and Patrick Noonan (East Stroudsburg) both lost in the consolation semifinals.
At 113 lbs. senior Brandon Loperfido (Hempfield) had an impressive tournament after a busy summer of Freestyle competition. As a junior Brandon was a South Central Regional 106 lbs. sixth place medalist missing a trip to the PIAA State Tournament but the hard work Loperfido has put in is paying off. At the Super 32 Qualifier Brandon downed three straight non-PA wrestler to reach the finals including a (6-5) win over New Jersey’s Victor Lopez in the quarterfinals. In the finals Loperfido downed New Jersey’s Antonio Mininno in overtime (3-1 SV) winning the 113 lbs. bracket. Loperfido finished ahead of two 2015 PIAA State Medalists, junior Geo Barzona (Central Mountain) and Chris Wright (Central Dauphin), who finished 6th and 7th respectively in the State at 106 lbs. Barzona, who would finish in third, repeated his 2015 PIAA State Tournament victory over Wright this time winning (2-0) in the consolation round.
120 lbs. was an all Pennsylvania affair with four place winners being Keystone State wrestlers. The wrestler who stood on top was 2014 PIAA State Medalist Kordell Rush (Pennridge) who picked up an overtime win over Hunter Baxter (Pine-Richland) in the finals (4-2 SV). Baxter was a 2015 PIAA State Medalist at 113 lbs. finishing in eighth place while Rush was a 2014 PIAA State Medalist finishing in fourth place. Baxter himself needed sudden victory in the semifinals to defeat sophomore Caleb Morris (Waynesburg Central) a PIAA State Qualifier as a freshman at 106 lbs., to advance into the finals against Rush. Morris finished in third place defeating pinning machine David Campbell (Boyertown Area) in the consolation finals (8-2). After falling to Rush in his first match by a narrow (1-0) score Campbell won four straight matches, all by fall, in under three minuets.
At 126 lbs. Pennsylvania saw their fourth straight Champion with Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin) coming out on top of a talented weight. Wert, who was a PIAA State Medalist as a freshmen at Trinity (Camp Hill), made the move to Central Dauphin where he joins a talented Ram practice room. Wert opened the Super 32 Qualifier with three straight wins over Pennsylvania wrestlers downing sophomore Jacob Burgette (Scranton) score (6-2), sophomore Garrett Rigg (Bald Eagle Area) score (7-2), and most notably defeating junior Zurich Storm (New Oxford) in tiebreaker (2-1 TB). In the finals Wert outlasted New Jersey’s Matt McGowan to capture the title (2-0). The most impressive performance, possibly of the Tournament, was freshman Jeremiah Oakes (Scranton) who significantly raised his Top Incoming Freshmen stock by finishing in third place. Oakes fell in the quarterfinals to runner-up McGowan but came back to win four straight matches finishing in third place. Along the way Oakes knocked off a series of upperclassmen including Dylan Brown (Bethlehem Freedom), 2x PIAA State Qualifier Zurich Storm (New Oxford), and in the consolation finals defeating 2015 PIAA State Qualifier Austin Clabaugh (Bermudian Springs).
The lone PA medalist at 132 lbs. was junior Aaron Rump (Chambersburg Area) who finished in fourth place. In the consolation semifinals Rump downed Pleasant Valley senior Jason Jacobi (4-3).
Pennslyvania returned to the top at 138 lbs. with Scranton senior Rue Evanitsky claiming the Championship. In the quarterfinals Evanitsky downed 2014 PIAA State Runner-up John Pipa (Bishop McDevitt) by a score of (6-4). In the semifinals he followed it up with a (7-2) decision over 2015 PIAA State Medalist Lucas Schaf (Emmaus). Evanitsky, who has yet to qualify for the PIAA State Tournament, finished the Tournament with a (7-3) win over New Jersey’s Mike Foca. Lucas Schaf bounced back to defeat Shaun Wilson (Waynesburg Central) in the consolation semifinals before downing Boyertown Area junior JT Cooley for third place by fall in (1:35).
145 lbs. saw another Pennsylvania Champion as 3x PIAA State Qualifier and senior Zack LeBarron (Warrior Run) claimed the top spot. LeBarron earned an impressive (5-0) win over fellow senior and 3x PIAA State Qualifier Dylan Chatterton (Central York) in the semifinals. In the finals LeBarron was victorious over New York’s Evan Barczak (9-5). Chatterton finished in fourth place.
The seventh Champion from Pennsylvania came at 152 lbs. with senior and 2015 PIAA State Qualifier Victor Kenderdine (Manheim Township). Kenderdine notched wins over fellow PA wrestlers sophomore Kyle Homet (Waynesburg Central) and Wyatt Jennings (Solanco) to advance into the finals. There he faced much improved senior Kiernan Kelly of Red Land. Kelly, who finished 2015 ranked #12 in the South Central Region at 145 lbs., had a solid Tournament at 152 lbs. advancing into the finals where he fell to Kenderdine (10-4).
At 160 lbs. senior Andre Burgette (Scranton), a 2015 North East Regional sixth place finisher, finished as the runner-up to Virginia State Champion Garrett Tingen falling (9-1) in the finals. Burgette opened up the Tournament with a first round win over sophomore Tyler Delorenzo (East Stroudsburg Area South) in overtime (4-2 SV). Also earning a spot in the top four at 152 lbs. was the third Central Dauphin wrestler with junior Skitch Light. After falling in the semifinals to eventual Champion Tingen (4-1) Light picked up an impressive win over Cumberland Valley senior Felix Belga by fall in (5:30). Light continued his roll winning in the consolation finals to finish in third place.
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Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park) Top
The most dominating wrestler of the Tournament was no doubt Bethel Park junior Nino Bonaccorsi who was a 2015 PIAA State Sixth Place Medalist at 152 lbs. Moving up to 170 lbs. Nino seems to be adjusting smoothy picking up two falls and a tech-fall en route to the Championship title. In the finals Bonaccorsi downed Central Dauphin senior Koltyn Eason by tech-fall (19-4).
A pair of talented Pennslyvania wrestlers met in the 182 lbs. finals with senior Garrett Hoffman (Montoursville Area) claiming the Championship title over junior Drew Peck (Chambersburg Area). Hoffman, a 2x PIAA State Medalist, earned a (2-0) win over 2015 PIAA State Qualifier Drew Peck. Cumberland Valley senior Trenton Cook, a 2x South Central Regional 5th Place Medalist, finished in fourth.
Cook’s teammate and fellow senior Dayne Ross (Cumberland Valley) placed third at 195 lbs. defeating Governor Mifflin senior Dylan Harr in the consolation finals (6-2).
At 220 lbs. Berlin Brothersvalley junior and 2015 PIAA State Qualifier Toby Cahill was the lone Pennsylvania medalist as he earned the Championship title.
The final weight-class saw two Pennsylvania wrestlers finish in the top four. In third place was Salisbury Township senior Alexander Nicholas and in fourth Central Mountain’s sophomore Richard Thompson.
High School – 106
1st Place – Sean Pierson (Nazareth Area)
2nd Place – Trent Snader (Central Dauphin)
3rd Place – Dante Mininno of GATEWAY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
4th Place – Joseph Manginelli of RedNose Wrestling School
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Sean Pierson (Nazareth) won in sudden victory – 1 over Trent Snader (PA Rampage) (SV-1 4-2)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Dante Mininno (GATEWAY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL) won by decision over Joseph Manginelli (RedNose Wrestling School) (Dec 5-0)
High School – 113
1st Place – Brandon Loperfido (Hempfield)
2nd Place – Antonio Mininno of GATEWAY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
3rd Place – Geo Barzona (Central Mountain)
4th Place – Victor Lopez of Scorpions
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Brandon Loperfido (LAW) won in sudden victory – 1 over Antonio Mininno (GATEWAY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL) (SV-1 3-1)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Geo Barzona (Central Mountain HS Wildcats) won by decision over Victor Lopez (Scorpions) (Dec 5-1)
High School – 120
1st Place – Kordell Rush (Pennridge)
2nd Place – Hunter Baxter (Pine-Richland)
3rd Place – Caleb Morris (Waynesburg Central)
4th Place – David Campbell (Boyertown Area)
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Kordell Rush (Pennsylvania) won in sudden victory – 1 over Hunter Baxter (Young Guns) (SV-1 4-2)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Caleb Morris (Waynesburg) won by decision over David Campbell (Boyertown) (Dec 8-2)
High School – 126
1st Place – Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin)
2nd Place – Matthew McGowan of Elite
3rd Place – Jeremiah Oakes (Scranton)
4th Place – Austin Clabaugh (Bermudian Springs)
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin High School) won by decision over Matthew McGowan (Elite) (Dec 2-0)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Jeremiah Oakes (Mat Assassins) won by decision over Austin Clabaugh (Gladiators/Haines Trained) (Dec 4-0)
High School – 132
1st Place – Garrett Lambert of Brunswick
2nd Place – Hunter Dusold of locust valley
3rd Place – Christopher Foca of REDNOSE WRESTLING
4th Place – Aaron Rump (Chambersburg Area)
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Garrett Lambert (Brunswick) won by decision over Hunter Dusold (locust valley) (Dec 4-0)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Christopher Foca (REDNOSE WRESTLING) won by decision over Aaron Rump (LHWC) (Dec 3-0)
High School – 138
1st Place – Rui Evanitsky (Scranton)
2nd Place – Michael Foca of REDNOSE WRESTLING
3rd Place – Lucas Schaf (Emmaus)
4th Place – JT Cooley (Boyertown Area)
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Rui Evanitsky (Mat Assassins) won by decision over Michael Foca (REDNOSE WRESTLING) (Dec 7-3)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Lucas Schaf (keystone jokers) won by fall over Jt Cooley (Boyertown) (Fall 1:35)
High School – 145
1st Place – Zackery Lebarron (Warrior Run)
2nd Place – Evan Barczak of Apex/CTC
3rd Place – Sam Martino of VA TEAM PREDATOR
4th Place – Dylan Chatterton (Central York)
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Zackery Lebarron (Warrior Run) won by decision over Evan Barczak (APex / CTC) (Dec 9-5)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Sam Martino (VA TEAM PREDATOR) won by decision over Dylan Chatterton (Central York) (Dec 3-2)
High School – 152
1st Place – Victor Kenderdine (Manheim Township)
2nd Place – Kiernan Kelly (Red Land)
3rd Place – Grant Cuomo of New York
4th Place – David Sniffen of Osbourn Park High School
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Victor Kenderdine (LAW) won by decision over Kiernan Kelly (Red Land) (Dec 10-4)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Grant Cuomo (New York) won by decision over David Sniffen (Osbourn Park High School) (Dec 7-0)
High School – 160
1st Place – Garrett Tingen of Birds of Prey
2nd Place – Andrew Burgette (Scranton)
3rd Place – Skitch Light of Central Dauphin)
4th Place – Jack Scalio of Ashburn Wrestling Team
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Garrett Tingen (Birds of Prey) won by major decision over Andrew Burgette (Mat Assassins) (Maj 9-1)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Skitch Light (Central Dauphin High School) won by decision over Jack Scalio (Ashburn Wrestling Team) (Dec 5-2)
High School – 170
1st Place – Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park)
2nd Place – Koltyn Eason (Central Dauphin)
3rd Place – Mitch Fenton of Whitman HS
4th Place – Ted Flaherty of VHW
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel park high school) won by tech fall over Koltyn Eason (Central Dauphin High School) (TF 19-4)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Mitch Fenton (Whitman HS) won by major decision over Ted Flaherty (VHW) (Maj 12-2)
High School – 182
1st Place – Garrett Hoffman (Montoursville Area)
2nd Place – Drew Peck (Chambersburg Area)
3rd Place – Peter Acciardi of Don bosco
4th Place – Trenton Cook (Cumberland Valley)
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Garrett Hoffman (Bison Legend) won by decision over Drew Peck (LHWC) (Dec 2-0)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Peter Acciardi (Don bosco) won in sudden victory – 1 over Trenton Cook (Prowess wrestling) (SV-1 3-1)
High School – 195
1st Place – Patrick Daly of olympic
2nd Place – Kyle Inlander of Apex
3rd Place – Dayne Ross (Cumberland Valley)
4th Place – Dylan Harr (Governor Mifflin)
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Patrick Daly (olympic) won by forfeit over Kyle Inlander (Apex) (FF)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Dayne Ross (Prowess) won by decision over Dylan Harr (Team Powerhouse) (Dec 6-2)
High School – 220
1st Place – Toby Cahill of Berlin Brothersvalley)
2nd Place – Jacob Maile of Osbourn Park High School
3rd Place – Khaled Dassan of Iowa Style Wrestling
4th Place – Frank Weyhmiller of GATEWAY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Toby Cahill (Berlin) won by decision over Jacob Maile (Osbourn Park High School) (Dec 3-0)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Khaled Dassan (Iowa Style Wrestling) won by decision over Frank Weyhmiller (GATEWAY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL) (Dec 6-4)
High School – 285
1st Place – Mike Larm of Iowa Style Wrestling
2nd Place – Alex Nicholas (Salisbury Township)
3rd Place – Richard Thompson (Central Mountain)
Round 1
Round 1 – Mike Larm (Iowa Style Wrestling) won by fall over Richard Thompson (Central Mountain HS Wildcats) (Fall 1:04)
Round 2
Round 2 – Mike Larm (Iowa Style Wrestling) won in sudden victory – 2 over Alex Nicholas (Peak Wrestling) (SV-2 1-1)
Round 3
Round 3 – Alex Nicholas (Peak Wrestling) won by fall over Richard Thompson (Central Mountain HS Wildcats) (Fall 0:22)
Middle School – 75-80
1st Place – Cole Homet of QUEST
2nd Place – Tyler Smith of LHWC
3rd Place – Jeffrey Russell of Renegade Force
4th Place – Ethan Fernandez of RedNose Wrestling School
1st Place Match
1st Place Match – Cole Homet (QUEST) won by fall over Tyler Smith (LHWC) (Fall 2:19)
3rd Place Match
3rd Place Match – Jeffrey Russell (Renegade Force) won by fall over Ethan Fernandez (RedNose Wrestling School) (Fall 1:34)
Middle School – 90-95
1st Place – Luke Sainato of Haines Trained
2nd Place – John Carayiannis of Virginia Patriots
3rd Place – Blake Showers of Haines Trained
4th Place – Ryder Davenport of LHWC
Round 1
Round 1 – Blake Showers (Haines Trained) won by fall over Ryder Davenport (LHWC) (Fall 1:48)
Round 1 – Luke Sainato (Haines Trained) won by decision over John Carayiannis (Virginia Patriots) (Dec 4-0)
Round 2
Round 2 – Luke Sainato (Haines Trained) won by fall over Ryder Davenport (LHWC) (Fall 0:53)
Round 2 – John Carayiannis (Virginia Patriots) won by fall over Blake Showers (Haines Trained) (Fall 2:42)
Round 3
Round 3 – John Carayiannis (Virginia Patriots) won by tech fall over Ryder Davenport (LHWC) (TF 17-2)
Round 3 – Luke Sainato (Haines Trained) won by major decision over Blake Showers (Haines Trained) (Maj 17-5)
Middle School – 100-110
1st Place – Patrick Noonan of Dark Knights wrestling club
2nd Place – Bryce Gonzalez of Tide Mat Club
3rd Place – Joseph Sheppard of Pocono mountain west
Round 1
Round 1 – Bryce Gonzalez (Tide Mat Club) won by tech fall over Joseph Sheppard (Pocono mountain west) (TF 16-0)
Round 2
Round 2 – Patrick Noonan (Dark Knights wrestling club) won by fall over Bryce Gonzalez (Tide Mat Club) (Fall 1:17)
Round 3
Round 3 – Patrick Noonan (Dark Knights wrestling club) won by fall over Joseph Sheppard (Pocono mountain west) (Fall 1:40)
Middle School – 115-122-130
1st Place – Tate Nichter of LHWC
2nd Place – Mika Walters of Southwestern Trojans
3rd Place – Ian Ferguson of Unattached
Round 1
Round 1 – Tate Nichter (LHWC) won by fall over Ian Ferguson (Unattached) (Fall 1:28)
Round 2
Round 2 – Tate Nichter (LHWC) won by fall over Mika Walters (Southwestern Trojans) (Fall 1:58)
Round 3
Round 3 – Mika Walters (Southwestern Trojans) won by forfeit over Ian Ferguson (Unattached) (FF)
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