Escape The Rock Semifinals Feature 6 Top Ranked Wrestlers

The Escape the Rock semifinals are set and many of Pennsylvania’s top wrestlers will be competing for a spot in the Championship finals. Below are Sunday’s semifinal match-ups. # beside a wrestler’s name is his current State Ranking and matches in bold are can’t miss bouts!

Full brackets can be found at the Flo Arena and information at the ETR website!

 

106 lbs.

#3 Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia Area) vs. #7 Jacob Dunlap (Belle Vernon Area)

#6 Brandon Kassis (Parkland) vs. Kurt McHenry (Saint Pauls, MD)

 

#3 Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia Area) had to get through #12 Tim McCall (Father Judge) in the first round (1-0) by holding the senior down the entire third period. In the quarterfinals Jaret picked up steam and downed Paulsboro, NJ senior Nick Duca (10-4). In the semifinals Lane will meet Belle Vernon Area junior #7 Jacob Dunlap who survived an ultimate tiebreaker match with rookie Shane Hanson-Ashworth in the quarterfinals (3-2 UTB). On the bottom half freshman #6 Brandon Kassis (Parkland) continued his winning streak defeating #13 Matt Wilde (Boyertown Area) in a tight (3-1) bout. He faces the second seed Kurt McHenry (St. Paul’s, MD) in the semifinals.

 

 

113 lbs.

#3 Matt Parker (Pennridge) vs. #5 Aiden Burke (Council Rock North)

#8 Julian Chlebove (Northampton Area) vs. Killian Cardinale (Patriot, VA)

 

The first semifinals that fans should not miss is at 113 lbs. when District 1 wrestlers #3 Matt Parker (Pennridge) takes on #5 Aiden Burke (Council Rock North). The last time these two faced off was at the GIANT Center last March in the consolation semifinals at 106 lbs. There Burke came away with a (1-0) decision over Parker. Burke recently made the drop to 113 lbs. and was impressive in the quarterfinals taking down and pinning #6 Luke Werner (Liberty). On the bottom half rookie #8 Julian Chlebove (Northampton Area) continued his aggressive performance from neutral picking up three falls en route to the semifinals. There he will face off with Virginia’s Killian Cardinale a State Champion from Patriot High School.

 

 

120 lbs.

Joey Prata (Saint Christopher’s, VA) vs. Anthony Duca (Paulsboro, NJ)

#2 Dan Moran (Northampton Area) vs. Daniel Planta (St. Paul’s, MD)

The lone Pennsylvania wrestler left at 120 lbs. is Northampton Area’s #2 Daniel Moran who will meet St. Paul’s Daniel Planta in the semifinals. Moran pinned fellow District 11 wrestler #11 Zach Ortman (Parkland) in the quarterfinals while Planta, a POWERade fourth place medalist, slipped by #10 Ben Radnor (Council Rock South) in the quarters (4-2).

 

 

126 lbs.

Nick Lattanze (Malvern Prep) vs. #14 Lucas Miller (Boyertown Area)

#7 Kordell Rush (Pennridge) vs. #5 KJ Fenstermacher (Liberty)

 

The second can’t miss semifinals features yet another Pennridge Ram with #7 Kordell Rush facing #5 KJ Fenstermacher (Liberty). Kordell Rush needed a come from behind win over rookie Devon Britton (Northampton Area). Britton jumped out picking up several takedowns on Rush but the senior came back strong pinning Britton in the third period. Liberty’s KJ Fenstermacher dominated in the quarterfinals racking up a (12-3) major decision over #19 Tyler Selga (Belle Vernon Area). Top seed Nick Lattanze (Malvern Prep) will face #14 Lucas Miller (Boyertown Area) who punched out two tough wins.

 

 

132 lbs.

#1 Zack Trampe (Council Rock South) vs. #11 Zack Hartmann (Belle Vernon Area)

#6 Wyatt Long (Cumberland Valley) vs. Caden Darber (New Kent, VA)

 

The State’s top ranked wrestler at 132 lbs. #1 Zack Trampe (Council Rock South) was frustrated during his last two bouts due to his offense being slowed down. Regardless Trampe was no less impressive defeating a tough sophomore, P.J. Crane (Malvern Prep) in the quarterfinals (7-4), and will meet Zack Hartman (Belle Vernon Area) in the semifinals. Hartman defeated #9 Collin Glorioso (Huntingdon Area) in he quarters (2-0) setting up a quality meeting with Trampe. On the bottom half #6 Wyatt Long (Cumberland Valley) outlasted fellow junior #7 John Pipa (Bishop McDevitt) in a marathon match. Long held down Pipa in ultimate tiebreaker to win (4-4) over the 2x PIAA State Medalist. The CV star will face tenth seed Caden Darber (New Kent, VA) in the semifinals.

 

 

138 lbs.

#14 Riley Palmer (Council Rock South) vs. JT Cooley (Boyertown Area)

#16 Jacob Lizak (Parkland) vs. #9 William Kaldes (Cumberland Valley)

 

Hometown wrestler Riley Palmer has been excelling on the mat for the Golden Hawks and is in the semifinals against fellow District 1 grappler JT Cooley (Boyertown Area). Cooley had a tremendous day 1 at the ETR knocking off two talented and ranked wrestlers en route to the semifinals. Cooley first defeated #13 Ryan Resnick (Owen J. Roberts) in the round of 16 (4-3). In the quarterfinals Cooley upended #5 Garrett Kyner (Chambersburg Area) withstanding a late headlock and earning a reversal to win (5-4). On the bottom half of 138 lbs. two talented wrestlers will go at it with #9 William Kaldes (Cumberland Valley) and #16 Jacob Lizak (Parkland). Lizak avenged a defeat from the POWERade by downing #21 Brock Godzin (Belle Vernon Area) score (5-2).

 

 

145 lbs.

#2 Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area) vs. #6 Luke Martoccio (Council Rock South)

Eric Hong The Kiski School vs. #21 Cal Reichart (Cumberland Valley)

 

Junior #2 Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area) grabbed a techfall, fall, and major decision en route to the semifinals where he will meet #6 Lucas Martoccio (Council Rock South). Martoccio himself picked up two falls and a major decision finding himself in the semifinals. This should be a close bout between two technically sound wrestlers. On the bottom half National Prep star Eric Hong (Kiski Prep) cruised into the semis with three falls where he meets #21 Cal Reichart (Cumberland Valley). The junior was able to hold off the third seed #13 Seth Baney (Huntingdon Area) in the last seconds to win (4-3).

 

 

152 lbs.

Dominic Mandarino (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) vs. #3 Felix Belga (Cumberland Valley) 

#6 Dylan Schwartz (Council Rock South) vs. #18 Hunter Vogels (Boyertown Area)

 

Three of the top 152 lbs. wrestlers in the State are alive in the semifinals with #3 Felix Belga (Cumberland Valley) leading the way. Belga had an interesting quarterfinals match with #8 Derek Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area) that went into ultimate tiebreaker. Leading by a point in the third period Belga attempted  lateral drop near the edge of the mat but Verkleeren slipped it and picked up a takedown to go up one. Belga escaped and the pair went into a scoreless sudden victory. Belga was able to escape in UTB and earn the victory. He faces the top seed Dom Mandarino of Don Bosco Prep, NJ in the semifinals. Another pair of District 1 wrestlers will do battle with #6 Dylan Schwartz (Council Rock South) and #18 Hunter Vogels (Boyertown Area). Schwartz needed tiebreaker over seventh seed Garrett Beam (Queen of Peace) in the quarters (2-1). Vogels upset second seed Jon Wagner (Huntingdon Area) in the quarters (10-8).

 

 

160 lbs.

Kyle Bierdumpfel (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) vs. Dale Tiongson (Saint Paul’s, MD)  

#7 Bailey Shutt (Lower Dauphin) vs. #10 Mitchell Hartmann (Belle Vernon Area)

 

#7 Bailey Shutt (Lower Dauphin) advanced into the semifinals where he meets #10 Mitch Hartman (Belle Vernon Area). Hartman outlasted #5 Josh Stillings (Pennridge) with each wrestler riding tough on top. In sudden victory Hartman scored the only points of the bout picking up a takedown to win (2-0 SV). On the top half Don Bosco Prep’s #1 seed Kyle Bierdumpfel will wrestle five seed Dale Tiongson (St. Pauls, MD).

 

 

170 lbs.

#1 Austin Bell (Belle Vernon Area) vs. #13 Trent Cook (Cumberland Valley)

#1 Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon Area) vs. Cade Moisey (Northampton Area)

 

#1 State Ranked wrestler Austin Bell (Belle Vernon Area) and Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon Area) appear to be on a collision course at 170 lbs. Both grapplers advanced into the semis with ease with Bell meeting #13 Trent Cook (Cumberland Valley) and Oliver facing Northampton Area’s Cade Moisey. Trent Cook had a solid (10-4) win over #16 Frank Guida (Parkland) in the quarterfinals. Cade Moisey took at #25 Chance Rayhart (Big Spring) in the round of 16 and followed that up with an upset win over the third seed Michael Battista (Broad Run) in the quarters (5-1).

 

 

182 lbs.

#2 Kyle Gentile (Pennridge) vs. Antonio Agee (Hayfield, VA)

Mike Beard Malvern Prep) vs. #4 Greg Harvey (Boyertown Area)

 

The brutal 182 lbs. bracket isn’t getting any easier for the remaining wrestlers with top seed #2 Kyle Gentile (Pennridge) who grabbed two falls into the semifinals. He faces fourth seed Antonio Agee (Hayfield, VA) who outlasted #6 Drew Peck (Chambersburg Area) in the quarterfinals in overtime (3-1 SV). On the bottom half PIAA State Medalist #4 Gregg Harvey (Boyertown Area) did not fall victim to #7 Milton Kobaly (Belle Vernon Area) outlasting the senior (5-3). In the semis Harvey will do battle with National Prep Medalist and Beast of the East Runner-up Michael Beard (Malvern Prep). The tough sophomore earned a convincing fall and tech-fall into the semis.

 

 

195 lbs.

#1 John Jakobsen (Stroudsburg) vs. #6 Joey Doyle (Council Rock South)

Rashon Lusane (Malvern Prep) vs. Zane Black (The Phelps School)

 

PA’s top Class AAA wrestler at 195 lbs. #1 John Jakobson (Stroudsburg) was only on the mat for (2:38) on Saturday winning by fall in his two lone matches. In the semifinals he will face surging Council Rock South wrestler #6 Joe Doyle. The junior downed Parkland’s Nathan Frayer in the round of 16 and followed it up with a narrow (1-0) decision over #8 Bake Barrick (Big Spring) in the quarterfinals. On the bottom half two Pennsylvania wrestlers and National Prep Medalists face off with second seed Rashon Lusane (Malvern Prep) and third seed Zane Black (The Phelps School). Both wrestlers were 2015 National Prep Medalists and should put on a good show on Sunday morning.

 

 

220 lbs.

#1 Jordan Wood (Boyertown Area) vs. #2 Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt)

Seth Janney (Malvern Prep) vs. Robert Winters (Colonial Forge, VA)

 

#2 Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt) needed a healthy win on Saturday and that is exactly what he got. Nye met #4 Toby Cahill (Berlin Brothersvalley) in the quarters and secured the win in overtime (3-1 SV). Nye was in on several shots but was unable to finish until sudden victory. He has a tall task on Sunday meeting #1 Jordan Wood (Boyertown Area) in the semifinals. Wood had no issues in his two matches picking up falls in under (2:50). PIAA State Runner-up Seth Janney (Malvern Prep) fell to Wood in the State Finals last season when he was with South Western. Now at Malvern Prep the junior only spent a total of (1:23) in two matches earning two first period falls to advance into the semifinals. There he meets Colonial Forge senior and third seed Robert Winters.

 

 

285 lbs.

#1 Andrew Gunning (Liberty) vs. #7 Anthony Collins (Berlin Brothersvalley)

#7 Tommy Killoran (Boyertown Area) vs. Eric Chakonis (Don Bosco Prep, NJ)

 

#1 Andrew Gunning (Liberty) used his power to advance into the semifinals picking up two falls and setting up a match with #7 Anthony Collins (Berlin Brothersvalley). Collins survived a overtime win in the quarterfinals over senior Ryan Harper (Collingswood, NJ) score (3-2 UTB). PIAA State Medalist #7 Tommy Killoran (Boyertown Area) grabbed two first period pins, both in under (1:00), and meets third seed Eric Chakonis (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) in the semifinals.