Council Rock South wrestling a runner-up in Bethlehem Holiday Classic

BETHLEHEM – Council Rock South captured the runner-up trophy in the Bethlehem Holiday Classic Monday, Dec. 28 and Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Bethlehem Liberty High School.

The Golden Hawks had three tournament champions in junior Zack Trampe (132 pounds) along with seniors Lucas Martoccio (145) and Dylan Schwartz (152).

Sophomore Ben Radner grabbed a runner-up medal when he dropped a close 5-4 decision to Northampton 120-pounder Julian Chlebove in the final.

Junior Cary Palmer (126 pounds) and senior John Anderson (285) took sixth-place medals when they each dropped close decisions in their fifth-place bouts. Anderson lost 3-2 in overtime on an ultimate tiebreaker.

As a team, CR South finished with 192 points, second to tournament champion Nazareth, which recorded 234.5 points in taking the top prize.

Martoccio took his first two foes by fall, pinning both Craig Choynowski (Pleasant Valley) and James Klinger (Pen Argyl) in the first period. He then majored Northern Lehigh’s Matt Schmall (11-0) before wrapping up the title with a first period pin of North Penn’s Mikey O’Brien (1:56) and a 2-1 decision of Nazareth junior Brock Wilson, a regional medalist in 2015.

Schwartz defeated Hazleton Area’s Shane Noonan (pin, 1:22), Bethlehem Freedom’s Thomas Bonilla (10-9 dec.), and Tri-Valley’s Chase Schaeffer (major) before registering a 4-2 decision win over North Penn junior Colin Shannon – a regional qualifier in 2015 – in the final.

Trampe pinned Ian Pulli (Nazareth) in 3:33, tech-falled his next two foes Jonah Zych (Saucon Valley) and Sofiane Bensmail (North Penn) before posting a major decision win over Central Dauphin sophomore Andrew Wert, a state medalist in 2015. Zack remains unbeaten on the season at 14-0.

Radner decisioned Phillipsburg’s Tom Kosar, 6-3, before pinning Josh Jones (Saucon Valley) and Jake Cherry (Central Dauphin) to get to the final.

The Hawks host Suburban One National League rival Abington Wednesday, Jan. 6 before heading to Parkland High School for the Parkland Duals on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Bethlehem Holiday Classic

(Dec. 28-29 at Bethlehem Liberty)

GOLDEN HAWKS IN FINALS

120 — Julian Chlebove (Northampton) dec. Ben Radner (CRS), 5-4.

132 — Zack Trampe (CRS) maj. dec. Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin), 17-8.

145 — Lucas Martoccio (CRS) dec. Brock Wilson (Nazareth), 2-1.

152 — Dylan Schwartz (CRS) dec. Colin Shannon (North Penn), 4-2.