Council Rock South falls short in state title run

HERSHEY — Council Rock South (14-4, overall) won its first two meets at the PIAA Class AAA state championship duals, outpacing Father Judge, 58-9, Feb. 2 at home then escaping with a 31-27 win over General McLane Feb. 5 at the Giant Center in Hershey.

The Hawks won all but two bouts in the state opener Feb. 2 at home against the Crusaders. Junior Lucas Martoccio (152 pounds), sophomore Joe Doyle (182) along with seniors Scott Mackin (195), Ben Kenis (220) and Thaison Nguyen (285) all pinned for CR South.

Sophomore Zack Trampe (126) and junior Shane Flanagan (145) took decision wins, sophomore Riley Palmer (106), senior Robbie Fasciocco (132) and junior Dylan Schwartz (160) came through with majors and Ben Radner (113) and Troy Nation (120) each won by tech fall.

That sent South to a second-round state pairing with General McLane Feb. 5 at the Giant Center. There, Mackin (195) and Palmer (106) were the only two pins for the Hawks.

South came through with a win at states, thanks to a major by Kenis at 182 pounds, along with decision wins by Nguyen (220), Radner (113), Fasciocco (126), Trampe (132) and Schwartz at 152.

With four bouts to go, the Hawks were ahead 28-16 and had to hang on as the opponent took three of the last four matchups including a tech-fall by Keller Watkins, who outpaced CR South 160-pounder Robert Cooper in 4:27.

Unfortunately, the Hawks’ run for a state championship sustained a big blow when they succumbed to eventual state champ Franklin Regional, 45-13, Feb. 6 at the Giant Center. Kenis (major), Nguyen (decision) and Palmer (pin) were the only winners for South in that one.

The Hawks were eliminated from the PIAA competition when they fell 33-30 to North Allegheny in a state consolation matchup. Palmer, Martoccio and Doyle all majored in the dual meet while junior Joe Little (132) and Schwartz each took decision wins. Radner and Trampe also earned six points for South with Radner winning by pin and Trampe, by forfeit.

The Hawks went unbeaten this season in Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference action, beating all seven league foes to take first place. Sister school CR North finished second with a 6-1 record.

South also finished fourth in the Cumberland Valley Kickoff, fourth in the Bethlehem Hurricane Holiday Classic and second in the District 1-AAA Championship Duals.

Now, the Hawks prepare for the upcoming SOL National Championships Feb. 14 at Neshaminy. Last year, South earned title belts in four weight classes and grabbed a total of 11 district spots while taking home the team championship.

Palmer (106), Trampe (120) and Martoccio (145) captured league crowns while Schwartz was a runner-up at 138 pounds.

Fasciocco (113), Flanagan (152), Kenis (195) and Nguyen (220) grabbed third-place medals at SOLs.

Of the group, only Palmer, Trampe, Kenis and Nguyen qualified for regionals.

Palmer was the only Hawk still on the team to go to states, where he finished seventh.

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RESULTS

PIAA Class AAA Duals (Championship Round 1)

Council Rock South 58

Father Judge 9

138 — Kyle Mallon (FJ) dec. Joe Little, 5-0 (0-3)

145 — Shane Flanagan (CR) dec. Anthony Armstrong, 10-6 (3-3)

152 — Lucas Martoccio (CR) pinned Alex Chokas, 1:29 (9-3)

160 — Dylan Schwartz (CR) maj. dec. Nick Reidy, 14-4 (13-3)

170 — Idris White (FJ) pinned Joe Altomare, 1:10 (13-9)

182 — Joe Doyle (CR) pinned William Burger, 5:43 (19-9)

195 — Scott Mackin (CR) pinned Sean Armstrong, 0:28 (25-9)

220 — Ben Kenis pinned Albert McGrath, 0:48 (31-9)

285 — Thaison Nguyen (CR) pinned Dean Jakeman, 0:37 (37-9)

106 — Riley Palmer (CR) maj. dec. Tim McCall, 14-4 (41-9)

113 — Ben Radner (CR) won by tech. fall over Mike Metzger, 16-1; 3:00 (46-9)

120 — Troy Nation (CR) won by tech. fall over Dan Dugan, 15-0; 2:20 (51-9)

126 — Zack Trampe (CR) dec. Trevor Elfvin, 15-11 (54-9)

132 — Robbie Fasciocco (CR) maj. dec. Stephen Pons, 10-0 (58-9)

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PIAA Class AAA Duals (Championship Round 2)

Council Rock South 31

General McLane 27

170 — Ethan Laird (GM) maj. dec. Joe Doyle, 13-5 (0-4)

182 — Ben Kenis (CR) maj. dec. Riley Vaughn, 10-2 (4-4)

195 — Scott Mackin (CR) pinned Kyle Sult, 3:42 (10-4)

220 — Thaison Nguyen (CR) dec. Kendrick Storm-Bailey, 4-2 (13-4)

285 — Ian Mallory (GM) pinned Brandon Kohn, 5:30 (13-10)

106 — Riley Palmer (CR) pinned Tony Damore, 0:23 (19-10)

113 — Ben Radner (CR) dec. Leno Ciotti, 9-2 (22-10)

120 — Carmine Ciotti (GM) pinned Troy Nation, 1:07 (22-16)

126 — Robbie Fasciocco (CR) dec. Luke Soboleski, 2-1 (25-16)

132 — Zack Trampe (CR) dec. Hunter Hendricks, 12-6 (28-16)

138 — Giovianni Ciotti (GM) dec. Joe Little, 5-0 (28-19)

145 — Owen Watkins (GM) dec. Lucas Martoccio, 9-2 (28-22)

152 — Dylan Schwartz (CR) dec. Briggs Twitchell, 6-4 (31-22)

160 — Keller Watkins (GM) won by tech. fall over Robert Cooper, 4:27 (31-27)