Four local wrestlers advance to state tournament

For four local high school wrestlers, dreams of a state gold medal are still alive. Schuylkill Valley’s Josh Giorgio and Ryan Ramich, as well as Hamburg’s Cody Miller and Sean Stanish competed in this past weekend’s Class AA Southeast Regional Tournament at Wilson High School, and qualified for this coming weekend’s state championship tournament in Hershey.

Ramich and Miller each came away with third place finishes, while Stanish, despite an injured knee, qualified for the states with a fifth place finish. Giorgio also qualified with a fifth place finish.

Ramich, wrestling in the 152 pound weight class, began his tournament with a 21-5 technical fall over Tanner Pyles of Annville-Cleona in the quarterfinals. But in his semifinal bout, Ramich was pinned in 3:00 by Richie Cerebe of Phil-Mont Christian School, the eventual weight class champion.

That sent Ramich to the consolation semifinals where he earned an 8-0 victory over Kyle Wanner of Pequea Valley. Then with a spot in the state tournament secured, Ramich defeated Anthony Snyder of Tri-Valley in the third place bout.

At 182, Miller began with a 38 second pin of Chris Moretti of New Hope-Solebury. In the quarterfinals, Miller dropped a 7-4 decision to Jose Ortiz of Bethlehem Catholic.

Miller fought back through the consolation bracket with a 5-4 victory over Daniel D’Agostini of Allentown Central Catholic, and a tight 11-10 win over Pine Grove’s Guy Zimmerman. That sent him to the third place bout where he decisioned Connor Fry of Lehighton, 7-3.

At 126, Giorgio had a first round bye before losing a 5-0 decision to Colin Mashack of Tamaqua in the quarterfinals.

In the consolation bracket, Giorgio earned a technical fall over Tyler Medina of Bishop McDevitt, then lost an 8-2 decision to Grant Bond. In the fifth place bout, Giorgio earned himself a spot in the state tournament with a 5-1 victory over Nate Newberry of Biglerville.

At 120 pounds, Stanish defeated Danny Diaz-Walton of Pine Grove in the first round, 13-1. In the quarterfinals, a knee injury cause Stanish to forfeit his match and head to the consolation round.

There he pinned Josh Velez-Arce of Philadelphia Bishop McDevitt in 2:36, then sat out his next bout to rest his knee for the fifth place bout and a spot in the state tournament.

Stanish accomplished his goal with a 5-0 victory over Mason Shuman of Schuylkill Valley.

Shuman was among several local wrestlers who competed, but did not qualify for states.

Hamburg’s Kerry Mega lost his first two bouts at 126 pounds, as did teammate Andrew Kochel at 145.

At 132, Hamburg’s Chris Kummerer opened his tournament defeated Lorenzo Liuveres of Bristol in the first round, 16-1. He followed that with a pair of losses to end his season.

Schuylkill Valley’s Colby Geisinger lost his first two bouts in the 182 pound weight class.

Hamburg Austin Bashore (195 pounds) won his first round battle with Luke Genetti of Pope John Paul II, when he pinned him in 4:33. After losing a 1-0 decision to Rhaine Szly of Catasauqua in the quarterfinals, Bashore recovered with a 3-2 decision over Justin Blobe of Saucon Valley. Then he ended his season with when he was pinned in the consolation semifinals, and lost a 2-1 overtime decision in the fifth place bout.

At 285 pounds, Hamburg’s Blake Roberts was pinned by Nathan Gadinski of North Schuylkill in the first round, then earned a 3-2 decision over Paul Aaroe of Bethlehem Catholic in the first consolation bracket bout. Roberts’ season ended with a 1-0 loss to Andrew Munoz of Columbia.