SOUDERTON – Council Rock South finished fifth in the South East Regional Tournament last season and took five wrestlers to states. This year however, the Golden Hawks were missing sophomore Ben Radner (injured), a 2015 District 1 and regional medalist who qualified for the PIAA tourney last year as a freshman.
What’s more, 2015 PIAA qualifier Ben Kenis graduated and the rules changed this year, making it so wrestlers had to make top four to go to states (top five went to states in 2015). So it stands to reason that South would have less guys heading to Hershey this weekend, right?
Wrong!
The Golden Hawks are sending a half dozen grapplers to Chocolate Town March 10-12, four of whom are going as SE Region champions. Juniors Zack Trampe (132 pounds), Riley Palmer (138) and Joe Doyle (195) along with senior Dylan Schwartz (152) claimed regional title belts March 5 at Souderton while junior Cary Palmer (4th, 126) and senior Lucas Martoccio (3rd, 145) pushed their way into states through regional wrestle-backs.
For his part, Doyle earned a berth in states with a first-period pin of Boyertown senior Brody O’Connell and Upper Darby junior Brian Kennerly. Perhaps his most impressive win at regionals was a 3-0 decision win he posted vs. Owen J. Roberts senior and defending 195-pound region champion Xavier Ferrizzi.
“I just wrestle hard, do my best and hopefully come out on top,” said Doyle.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Palmer factor when comparing this CR South team to last year’s. Neither Riley nor Cary wrestled in the postseason last year with Riley missing all the playoff tournaments after missing weight at 2015 SOLs and Cary banged up with a shoulder injury.
With just five varsity wins to his credit entering his junior campaign, Cary has 27 so far this year, a Suburban One League (SOL) title, a District 1 runner-up trophy and a fourth-place regional medal.
“He’s been working his (butt) off for the past three years,” said Doyle, of Cary Palmer. “Now, it’s paying off for him.
“He definitely has a chance to go far in states.”
Palmer has been impressive of late. At SOL finals, he decisioned Pennsbury senior Connor Joyce, whom he lost to earlier in the season. In districts, he majored North Penn senior Sofian Bensmail and Chichester junior Craig Baldwin before taking Pennridge senior Kordell Rush to overtime in the final. Bensmail was a state qualifier both this year and last and Rush is a three-time state qualifier.
At regionals, Cary decisioned OJR freshman Dan Mancini, a first-year with 29 wins, and West Chester East senior Noah Hankin, a 3-time regional qualifier.
“Once he realized that he could beat anybody, he started beating good kids,” said Doyle, of Palmer.
Cary came closer to beating Rush at regionals than he did at districts by one point, though the Rams wrestler still outpaced him 4-3 to take third.
Meanwhile, twin brother Riley Palmer continues to roll. At 39-3, he is poised to eclipse the 40-win season he posted as a freshman when he took seventh in states. Jumping from 106 pounds to 138 this year, there may have been a question mark about Riley before the season started.
With 27 straight wins however heading into states including a 1-0 decision in the regional final over Upper Darby junior Colin Cronin, who took a SE Region trophy at 132 pounds last year, those doubts have vanished.
“He lifted a lot in the offseason,” said Doyle, of Riley Palmer. “He was determined that he needed to get back up on the podium at states and I believe that he will finish pretty high up when he gets there.”
Trampe is also on a tear; he’s currently 45-1 on the season, his only loss coming at District 1 Duals, a 4-3 decision to Downintown East senior Wade Cummings, a state medalist in 2015 and this year’s SE Region champ at 126 pounds.
“He’s pretty much unbeatable,” said Doyle, of Trampe. “I don’t think he’s going to lose any more matches so he should come out on top.”
Schwartz rounds out the Hawks’ string of wrestlers who have claimed league, district and regional title belts in 2016. Dylan is 41-5 including decision wins over North Penn junior Colin Shannon and Coatesville junior Chase Stephens. Both qualified for states both this year and last.
After going 1-2 in the PIAA tournament last season, Schwartz is trying to medal his last time around in states.
“He’s determined,” said Doyle of Schwartz. “He wants to get on that podium this year and I believe he will get high up on that podium.”
South senior Lucas Martoccio, a four-time district medalist, takes his first trip to states, thanks to his 3-1 performance at regionals. His only loss in the SE Region tourney a 1-point decision to eventual 145-pound champ Bryce Reddington, Lucas wrestled his way back with a win over Avon Grove junior Kevin Edwards and Truman senior Dustin Stone. Both were regional medalists in 2015.
CR North senior Josh Shalinsky (1st, 170) and junior Aidan Burke (3rd, 113) are heading to states for the Indians while Neshaminy senior Bruce Graeber (2nd, 285) is the only Redskin heading to states.
Stone (4th) and Truman freshman Gunnar Fuss (3rd, 120) are representing the Tigers.
SOUTH EAST CLASS AAA REGIONALS
(March 4-5 at Souderton HS)
THIRD PLACE
126 — Kordell Rush (Pennridge) dec. Cary Palmer (CRS), 4-3
145 — Lucas Martoccio (CRS) dec. Dustin Stone (Harry S. Truman), 1-0
120 — Gunnar Fuss (HST) dec. David Campbell (Bo), 4-0
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
132 — Zack Trampe (CRS) dec. Ryan Vulakh (North Penn), 9-3
138 — Riley Palmer (CRS) dec. Colin Cronin (Upper Darby), 1-0
152 — Dylan Schwartz (CRS) dec. Chase Stephens (Coatesville), 4-3
195 — Joe Doyle (CRS) pinned Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby), 1:00
285 — Tommy Killoran (Boy.) pinned Bruce Graeber (Nesh.), 4:33
