#1 Bethlehem Catholic vs. #2 Belle Vernon Area Blockbuster Match Preview

The match everyone has been waiting for and talking about since last season will take place tonight at 8:00 in the GIANT Center! #1 Bethlehem Catholic will meet #2 Belle Vernon Area in the semifinals of tonight’s PIAA Class AAA Dual Team Championships.

Let me paint this picture for you: Between the two teams twenty-one wrestlers are currently ranked in the Top 25 of the State in Class AAA. Sixteen of those twenty-one ranked wrestlers are in the Top 10. This is going to be a good one!

Bonus, bonus, and bonus. That will be the key for #1 Bethlehem Catholic winning this semifinal match between the State’s two top teams.

Some keys to victory include winning the very few toss-up matches and getting bonus points where they are needed. BECA will need, and should get, bonus points at 113 lbs., 120 lbs., and 126 lbs. They get them there and the road gets easier to victory. Toss up matches will be 132 lbs., 152 lbs., and 182 lbs. #1 Austin Bell (BV) will need to pick up six if he faces anyone other than #2 Mikey Labriola (BC) who is weighed in at 160 lbs. I think Labriola gets a decision at 160 lbs. over #5 Mitch Hartman (BV). At 152 lbs. I think #3 Cole Karam (BC) and #8 Derek Verkleeren (BV) match up very well and it is anybody’s match.

Two critical bouts will be 195 lbs. and 220 lbs. BECA’s only chink in their armor is at 220 lbs. with freshman Jase Crouse. #11 Mike Fine (BV) will have to pick up bonus points on him. Likewise Jody Crouse will need to win the toss-up match with Hunter Ferrera (BV) at 195 lbs.

106 lbs. wrestler #3 Zach Glenn (BV) looked sharp throughout the Tournament and should get a decision over #7 Jacob Dunlop (BV). At heavyweight #2 Niko Camacho (BC) could rack up points on #22 Billy Korber (BV) but I see a major decision here.

Check out the possible match-ups and my picks for winners and confidence in those picks below!

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#1 Bethlehem Catholic vs. #2 Belle Vernon Area

106 lbs.:  #3 Zach Glenn (BC) vs. #7 Jacob Dunlop (BV) – Decision for BECA (3-0)

113 lbs.:  #7 Ryan Anderson (BC) vs. Logan Seliga (BV) – T-Fall for BECA (8-0)

120 lbs.:  #8 Luke Carty (BC) vs. Jake Fine (BV) – Major for BECA (12-0)

126 lbs.: #1 Luke Karem (BC) vs. Tyler Seliga (BV) – Major for BECA (16-0)

132 lbs.:  #5 Joey Gould (BC) vs. #12 Zach Hartman (BV) – Decision for BECA (19-0)

138 lbs.:  #25 Jared Papcsy (BC) vs. #17 Brock Godzin (BV) – Decision for BVA (19-3)

145 lbs.:   #6 Stephen Maloney (BC) vs. #2 Jarod Verkleeren (BV) – Decision for BVA (19-6)

152 lbs.:  #3 Cole Karem (BC) vs. #8 Derek Verkleeren (BV) – Decision for BECA (22-6)

160 lbs.:  #2 Mikey Labriola (BC) / Ryan Zeiner (BC) vs. #5 Mitch Hartman (BV) – Decision for BECA (25-6)

170 lbs.:  Luc Mauro (BC) vs. #1 Austin Bell (BV) – Fall for BVA (25-12)

182 lbs.:  #10 Adam Soldridge (BV) vs. #7 Milton Kobaly (BV) – Decision for BVA (25-15)

195 lbs.:  Jody Crouse (BC) vs. Hunter Ferrara (BV) – Decision for BECA (28-15)

220 lbs.:  Jase Crouse (BC) vs. #11 Mike Fine (BV) – Major for BVA (28-19)

285 lbs.:  #2 Niko Camacho (BC) vs. #22 Billy Korber (BV) – Major for BECA (32-19)

 

Confidence Picks:

1.  170 lbs.:  #1 Austin Bell (BV) over Luc Mauro (BC)
2.  126 lbs.:  #1 Luke Karam (BC) over Tyler Seliga (BV)
3.  113 lbs.:  #7 Ryan Anderson (BC) over Logan Seliga (BV)
4.  120 lbs.:  #8 Luke Carty (BC) over Jake Fine (BV)
5.  145 lbs.:  #2 Jarod Verkleeren (BV) over #6 Stephen Maloney
6.  285 lbs.:  #2 Niko Camacho (BC) over #22 Billy Korber (BV)
7.  160 lbs.:  #2 Mikey Labriola (BC) over #5 Mitch Hartman (BV)
8.  220 lbs.:  #11 Mike Fine (BV) over Jase Crouse (BC)
9.  106 lbs.:  #3 Zach Glenn (BC) over #7 Jacob Dunlop (BV)
10.  138 lbs.:  #17 Brock Godzin (BV) over #25 Jared Papcy (BC)
11.  152 lbs.:  #3 Cole Karam (BC) over #8 Derek Verkleeren (BV)
12.  182 lbs.:  #7 Milton Kobaly (BV) over #10 Adam Soldridge (BC)
13.  132 lbs.:  #5 Joey Gould (BC) over #12 Zach Hartman (BV)
14.  195 lbs.:  Jody Crouse (BC) over Hunter Ferrara (BV)

 

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