The First Rappo-less Season Since 2000

If you have attended a PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in the last decade then you have heard the Council Rock South faithful cheering “Let’s Go Rappo…Clap Clap..Clap Clap Clap” and love it or hate it, you had to respect it. The 2012-2013 Season will be the first year since the 2000-2001 season that a Rappo will not pull up the singlet for the Council Rock South Golden Hawk wrestling team. Technically however, eldest brother Rick Rappo was a freshman when Council Rock High School was not yet split into North and South, therefore it will be the first time in Council Rock South High School’s short history that a Rappo will not be on the mat. For the South East Regional and State’s top light-weight wrestlers, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

The Rappo brothers may very well be one of the Nation’s top wrestling siblings to ever compete, let alone the most accomplished brothers in Pennsylvania. There have been countless brothers of 3 and 4 to succeed on the State level, such as the four Nester brothers from Reynolds and the three Jones brothers from Greensburg-Salem, amongst several others, but the Rappo family’s hardware is unmatched. Combined the five brothers have amassed an amazing 703-130 career record, which is an 84% win percentage all-time; in addition to earning 13 PIAA State Medals, 6 of which were individual State Championships. Four out of the five Rappo’s earned at least one individual State Championships while Mike and Billy were both 2x State Champions.

Not only were the Rappo’s individually successful but throughout their careers at Council Rock South they also led the Golden Hawks to several Team accomplishments including a PIAA State Individual Tournament Team Championship in 2005. In that year they shared the Tournament’s Team title with Connellsville Area, which was an improvement from a fifth place finish in 2004. In 2010 they recorded a fourth place finish. At the PIAA State Team Dual Tournament Council Rock South finished in fourth place both in 2008 and 2011. During the Rappo’s tenure Council Rock South ruled the South East Region, earning seven Section I Team Championships, five District 1 South Team Championships and three South East Regional Team Championships.

Overall the Rappo family legacy will live on for decades to come. They are the only siblings to ever send four different brothers to compete at the prestigious Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. With three of five brothers still competing at the College level in 2012-2013, the family has the opportunity to further their mark on the National Wrestling scene. Council Rock South Wrestling will continue to be one of the top programs in the South East Region with an experienced coaching staff and talented wrestlers. Below is a closer look at each of the five Rappo brothers and their accomplishments.

 

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Rick Rappo

 

High School Career Record:   121-22

PIAA State Medals:  Champion in 2004 @ 103 lbs.; Runner-Up in 2005 @ 112 lbs.

South East Regional Medals:  Fifth Place in 2003 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2004 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2005 @ 112 lbs.

College:  University of Pennsylvania (2x NCAA Qualifier)

Overview:  In his first ever trip to Hershey for the PIAA State Championship Rick captured the Class AAA title at 103 lbs. finishing his junior year with a record of (43-2). In his senior season Rick moved up to the 112 lbs. weight class and won the Bethlehem Hurricane Holiday Classic and his second straight South East Regional Championship. For the second straight season Rick made the State finals, this year at 112 lbs, where he faced a familiar opponent in Upper Perkiomen’s Chris Sheetz. During the post-season Rick defeated Sheetz in both the DIstrict 1 North finals and the South East Regional finals, but when the two met in the State AAA finals Sheetz was able to reverse the last two meetings and upset Rick by a score of (3-2). For his accomplishments Rick was selected  to represent team PA at 112 lbs. at the prestigious Dapper Dan Classic. Not only did Rick succeed on the mat but also the classroom which allowed him to compete for Zeke Jones at the University of Pennsylvania. After bulking up at UPenn, Rick Rappo qualified for the NCAA Division I National Championships at 141 lbs. in his last two season of competition. He finished his career at UPenn with a record of (50-31).

 

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Mike Rappo 

 

High School Career Record:  148-21

PIAA State Medals:  State Champion in 2005 @ 119 lbs.; State Champion in 2006 @ 130 lbs.

South East Regional Medals:  Fifth Place in 2004 @ 112 lbs.; Champion in 2005 @ 119 lbs.; Champion in 2006 @ 130 lbs.

College: University of North Carolina (NCAA Qualifier)

Overview:  The second Rappo brother to compete for Council Rock South was Mike Rappo. Competing at 112 lbs. in his freshman season Mike qualified for his first District 1 North Championships, finishing the season with a record of (20-9). The following season Mike was just one win shy from qualifying for his first PIAA State Championship as he finished in 5th place at 112 lbs. at the South East Regional Tournament. As a junior Mike not only won the 119 lbs. South East Regional Championship, thus advancing to his first PIAA State Tournament, the Golden Hawk grappler helped Council Rock South to a share of  the State Tournament Team title. Mike Rappo advanced to the State finals where he faced returning State Champion senior and Penn State recruit Brad Pataky of Clearfield. After watching his older brother Rick fall to Chris Sheetz in the 112 lbs. State finals, Mike shocked PA Wrestling fans as he dominated Pataky by a score of (9-3) and finishing his junior season with a (44-2) record. In his senior season Mike continued his dominance by claiming Championships at the Bethlehem Hurricane Classic, the King of the Mountain Tournament. During the post-season Mike was now the clear favorite to repeat as a State Champion, this season at 130 lbs. Mike earned his second South East Regional title and closed out his career by claiming his second straight PIAA State Championship at 130 lbs. Like his brother before him, Mike was selected to represent Team Pennsylvania at 130 lbs. in the Dapper Dan Classic against the top wrestlers in the USA. Mike went on to compete for the North Carolina Tar Heels where he battled injuries throughout his career but did however qualify for the NCAA Division I National Tournament as a junior.

 

 

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Mark Rappo

 

High School Career Record:  152-10

PIAA State Medals:  Sixth Place in 2006 @ 103 lbs.; Second Place in 2007 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2008 @ 103 lbs.

South East Regional Medals:  Third Place in 2006 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2007 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2008 @ 103 lbs.

College:  University of Pennsylvania (NCAA Qualifier – Current Senior)

Overview:  As an undersized freshman Mark only competed in four bouts in which he went (3-1). Competing at 103 lbs. as a sophomore Mark was third at the South East Regional Tournament and earned his first State medal when finished in sixth place. In his junior season Mark dominated the State at 103 lbs. on the way to his first PIAA State finals with an undefeated season record of (52-0). In the finals however Rappo fell to Penn Trafford’s Shane Young by a score of (3-2) and falling short of a State Championship. In his final season at Council Rock South Mark would not be denied a family tradition of earning a PIAA State Championship. Mark had to defeat future 3x State Champion Nico Megaludis by a score of (1-0) to make his second straight finals appearance. In the finals Mark defeated future State Champion Zach Horan by a score of (6-1) to earn his third PIAA State Medal and first State Championship. Like both his older brothers before him Mark was selected to represent Team Pennsylvania at 112 lbs. against Team USA at the prestigious Dapper Dan Classic. After compiling over 150 career wins at Council Rock South, Mark followed older brother Rick and attended University of Pennsylvania. At UPenn Mark will be competing in his senior season in 2012-2013 and is currently ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA at 125 lbs. by Intermat.  As a junior in 2011 Mark qualified for the NCAA Division I National Tournament after finishing second at the EIWA. Mark will have a strong possibility to gain All-American status this season.

 

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Matt Rappo

 

High School Career Record:  151-36

PIAA State Medals:  Seventh Place in 2010 @ 125 lbs.; Fourth Place in 2011 @ 135 lbs.

South East Regional Medals:  Fifth Place in 2008 @ 112 lbs.; Champion in 2009 @ 125 lbs.; Champion in 2010 @ 125 lbs.; Champion in 2011 @ 135 lbs.

College:  Bloomsburg University (Current Redshirt Freshman)

Overview:  The only Rappo brother who did not win a PIAA State Championship was second youngest sibling Matt. Despite not claiming a PIAA State title, Matt was the only Rappo brother to capture three straight South East Regional Championships and medal at the Tournament all four years. As a freshman Matt finished in fifth place, falling one win shy of heading to Hershey, PA. Matt was also only the second of the Rappo brothers to compile over 150 career wins with 151. Despite being the only brother to not capture a State title Matt earned two PIAA State medals including a fourth place finish his senior season at 135 lbs. (which is the highest weight-class that a Rappo competed at in the post-season). Currently Matt is a redshirt freshman at Bloomsburg where he recently won the starting spot at 141 lbs. for the Huskies Wrestling team.

 

 

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Billy Rappo

 

High School Career Record:  137-37

PIAA State Medals:  Eighth Place in 2010 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2011 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2012 @ 113 lbs.

South East Regional Medals:  Second Place in 2010 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2011 @ 103 lbs.; Champion in 2012 @ 113 lbs.

College:  University of Maryland (Current True Freshman)

Overview:  The youngest of the Rappo brothers ended the tradition on a high note. Billy Rappo was the second of his brothers to earn two straight PIAA State Championships as he captured the 103 lbs. title as a junior and the 113 lbs. title as a senior. In his freshman season at Council Rock South Billy was an undersized 103 lbs. wrestler going 16-16. In his sophomore season Billy was able to not only qualify for his first PIAA Championship but earn an eighth place medal at 103 lbs. In the next two seasons Billy only lost four matches and won Championships at the King of the Mountain Tournament, Escape the Rock Tournament and the Bethlehem Hurricane Holiday Classic; in addition to his back-to-back South East Regional and PIAA State Championships. Like three of his brothers prior to him, Billy was selected to compete at the Dapper Dan Classic for Team Pennsylvania at 113 lbs. Following his outstanding career at Council Rock South, Billy is now attending Maryland where he is a true freshman for Kerry McCoy and the Terrapin Wrestling team.

 

 

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