District 11’s top teams will clash in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC) Championship tonight at 7 PM. It just so happens to be a meeting between the PIAA’s top two ranked teams in Class AAA when #1 Bethlehem Catholic takes on #2 Nazareth Area at Easton Area Middle School.

Both programs are highly regarded in the State and Nation, especially this season, with many Division 1 recruits littered throughout the two line-ups. BECA enters with a (9-3) record having faced the Nation’s toughest of tests taking defeats to Lake Highland Prep, FL and Malvern Prep, PA at Flo’s Who’s #1? Duals and to National Prep power Wyoming Seminary earlier this week. According to Intermat’s latest National High School Team Rankings Lake Highland Prep comes in at #4, Malvern Prep at #6, and Wyoming Seminary at #9. The Golden Hawks, led by coach Jeff Karam, are ranked #8 in the Nation.

Nazareth Area, which holds an undefeated (13-0) season record, is ranked #14 in the Nation and have one of the State’s most legendary coaches at the helm in Dave Crowell. The showdown will be a chess match of talent with a combined 16 Pennsylvania State ranked wrestlers between the two squads. Each program competed in the Walsh Ironman and the Beast of the East. BECA finished 5th at the Ironman and second at the Beast while Nazareth was 9th at Ironman and 7th at the Beast. 

Jeff Karam has had to deal with several injuries throughout the season including some top talent including #1 Ryan Anderson at 120 lbs. and touted freshman Cole Handlovic at 126 lbs. Anderson has only competed twice since December 18th and Handlovic has been out since the end of December. It is unknown if either will be on hand tonight but I would expect Anderson to lace-up.

Both coaches will look to get their big guns an opportunity to get bonus points. PIAA State Runner-up Brock Wilson (Nazareth Area) is at 152 lbs. but has wrestled in all of Nazareth’s dual meets up at 160 lbs. The same is true of Travis Stefanik who is #2 in the State at 182 lbs. but has been up at 195 lbs. for all dual meets. Guys like Sammy Sasso (Nazareth), Mikey Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic), and Niko Camacho (Bethlehem Catholic), all ranked #1 in the State, will need to get bonus points for their respective teams.

Swing matches will occur at many weights including 106, 113, 138, 145, and 220. Neither opponent is strongly favored in those bouts and 113 lbs. will be a #9 vs. #10 in the State. Check-out the potential match-ups and my predictions below!

 

106 lbs.

Nazareth Area – Andrew Smith (Freshman) – (14-9)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #20 Dillon Murphy (Sophomore) – (15-7)

Common Opponent:

Aaron Howell (James W. Robinson) over Andrew Smith (4-2)

Aaron Howell (James W. Robinson) over Dillon Murphy (7-3)

 

113 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #9 Sean Pierson (Sophomore) – (9-1)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #10 Kenny Herrmann (Freshman) – (19-6)

Common Opponent:

Sean Pierson over Logan Ninos (Northampton Area) (7-3)

Kenny Herrmann over Logan Ninos (Northampton Area) (9-0)

 

120 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #5 Ryan O’Grady (Junior) – (26-6)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #1 Ryan Anderson (Sophomore) – (11-2)

Bethlehem Catholic – Matt Lackman (Freshman) – (6-2)

Head-to-Head Match-ups:

Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic) over Ryan O’Grady (Nazareth Area) (Dec 5-0)

Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic) over Ryan O’Grady (Nazareth Area) (Dec 4-0)

 

126 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #14 Trevor Tarsi (Senior) – (17-8)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #4 Zach Glenn (Junior) – (12-2)

Bethlehem Catholic – Cole Handlovic (Freshman) – (10-5)

 

132 lbs.

Nazareth Area – Ian Pulli (Junior) – (14-10)

Nazareth Area – Blaine Wilson (Freshman) – (1-4)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #17 Jarred Papcsy (Junior) – (18-8)

Bethlehem Catholic – Colin Redington (Senior) – (2-4)

Common Opponent:

Mason Wohltman (Lake Highland Prep) over Ian Pulli (Nazareth Area) (Dec 3-0)

Mason Wohltman (Lake Highland Prep) over Jarred Papcsy (Bethlehem Catholic) (Fall 1:34)

 

138 lbs.

Nazareth Area – Ian Pulli (Junior) – (14-10)

Nazareth Area – Nathan Stefanik (Freshman) – (13-7)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #17 Jared Papcsy (Junior) – (18-8)

Bethlehem Catholic – Mikey Lewis (Junior) – (16-7)

Common Opponent:

Michael Kistler (Northampton Area) over Nathan Stefanik (Nazareth Area) (MD 11-3)

Michael Lewis (Bethlehem Catholic) over Michael Kistler (Northampton Area) (Dec 9-3)

 

145 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #1 Sammy Sasso (Junior) – (19-0)

Nazareth Area – Joseph Ferrania (Sophomore) – (3-1)

Nazareth Area – Jake Dressler (Freshman) – (6-2)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – Luca Frinzi (Sophomore) – (10-10)

Bethlehem Catholic – Mikey Lewis (Junior) – (16-7)

Common Opponent:

Devon Britton (Northampton Area) over Luca Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic) (Dec 9-4)

Sammy Sasso (Nazareth Area) over Devon Britton (Northampton Area) (TF 20-5)

 

152 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #1 Sammy Sasso (Junior) – (19-0)

Nazareth Area – Jake Dressler (Freshman) – (6-2)

Nazareth Area – #2 Brock Wilson (Senior) – (21-6)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #19 Ryan Zeiner (Senior) – (17-6)

Bethlehem Catholic – Luca Frinzi (Sophomore) – (10-10)

Head-to-Head Match-up:

Brock Wilson (Nazareth Area) over Luca Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic) (Dec 2-1)

 

160 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #2 Brock Wilson (Senior) – (21-6)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – Tavion Banks (Freshman) – (10-5)

Bethlehem Catholic – #19 Ryan Zeiner (Senior) – (17-6)

Common Opponent:

Hunter Bolen (Christiansburg) over Ryan Zeiner (Bethlehem Catholic) (Fall 1:30)

Hunter Bolen (Christiansburg) over Brock Wilson (Nazareth Area) (Dec 6-1)

 

170 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #12 Cade Wilson (Junior) – (17-8)

Nazareth Area – Zac Keifer (Junior) – (7-5)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #1 Mikey Labriola (Senior) – (23-0)

Bethlehem Catholic – Luc Mauro – (Junior) – (3-5)

Head-to-Head Match-Up:

Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic) over Cade Wilson (Nazareth Area) (TF 18-1)

 

182 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #12 Cade Wilson (Junior) – (17-8)

Nazareth Area – #2 Travis Stefanik (Senior) – (17-2)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #1 Mikey Labriola (Senior) – (23-0)

Bethlehem Catholic – Luc Mauro – (Junior) – (3-5)

 

195 lbs.

Nazareth Area – #2 Travis Stefanik (Senior) – (17-2)

Nazareth Area – Tucker Klump (Sophomore) – (11-9)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #16 Jody Crouse (Senior) – (19-6)

 

220 lbs.

Nazareth Area – Tucker Klump (Sophomore) – (11-9)

Nazareth Area – Mohamed Tounkara (Senior) – (12-10)

Nazareth Area – Justyce Searock (Sophomore) – (3-4)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – Andrew Balakus (Sophomore) – (11-6)

Common Opponent:

Tucker Klump (Nazareth Area) over Edward Confer (Northampton Area) (Dec 6-2)

Andrew Balukas (Bethlehem Catholic) over Edward Confer (Northampton Area) (Dec 7-2)

 

285 lbs.

Nazareth Area – Mohamed Tounkara (Senior) – (12-10)

Nazareth Area – Justyce Searock (Sophomore) – (3-4)

VS.

Bethlehem Catholic – #1 Niko Camacho (Senior) – (22-3)

Common Opponent:

Mohamed Tounkara (Nazareth Area) over Alex Darabaris (Northampton Area) (Dec 6-2)

Niko Camacho (Bethlehem Catholic) over Alex Darabaris (Northampton Area) (Fall 2:37)

 

Projected Match-Ups:

 

#1 Bethlehem Catholic vs. #2 Nazareth Area

 

106:  #20 Dillon Murphy (BC) dec. Andrew Smith (NA) – (3-0)

113:  #9 Sean Pierson (NA) dec. #10 Kenny Herrmann (BC) – (3-3)

120:  #1 Ryan Anderson (BC) dec. #5 Ryan O’Grady (NA) – (6-3)

126:  #14 Trevor Tarsi (NA) dec. #5 Zach Glenn (BC) – (6-6)

132:  #17 Jarred Papcsy (BC) dec. Ian Puli (NA) – (9-6)

138:  Mikey Lewis (BC) dec. Nathan Stefanik (NA) – (12-6)

145:  Luca Frinzi (BC) dec. Jake Dressler (NA) – (15-6)

152:  #1 Sammy Sasso (NA) tech-fall #19 Ryan Zeiner (BC) – (15-11)

160:  #2 Brock Wilson (NA) dec. Tavion Banks (BC) – (15-14)

170:  #1 Mikey Labriola (BC) tech-fall Zac Keifer (NA) – (20-14)

182:  #12 Cade Wilson (NA) major dec. Luc Mauro (BC) – (20-18)

195:  #2 Travis Stefanik (NA) major dec. #16 Jody Crouse (BC) – (20-22)

220:  Andrew Balukas (BC) dec. Tucker Klump (NA) – (23-22)

285:  #1 Niko Camacho (BC) fall Mohamed Tounkara (NA) – (29-22)