Joey Doyle, Zack Trampe headed to SUNY Binhamton wrestling

SOUTHAMPTON – Recent District 1-AAA Dual Champion Council Rock South has a bunch of seniors on the team this year. Any college program in the country would be pleased as punch to get any one of their signatures on a commitment letter.

Turns out the State University of New York at Binghamton has gotten a pair of Golden Hawk grapplers to wrestle next season for the Bearcats. What’s more, the two commits – 220-pounder Joey Doyle and 132-pounder Zack Trampe – are among South’s best.

Doyle placed fourth in the state last year and has over 110 wins to his name including an exciting pin in a hair-raising 30-29 victory over District 7 rival Cannon McMillan. With the Hawks trailing the win-or-go-home first round pairing with the Big Macs, 29-24, Big Joe pinned Zach Rohaley with just five ticks showing on the first-period clock to give his team the dramatic win.

Doyle was also looking at Rider and Duke, but he just liked the players and coaches more at SUNY Binghamton.

“I just like the coaching atmosphere, and the wrestlers, they are easy to get along with,” said Doyle “I love the campus; I just liked everything about it.”

His second year at Rock South, Joey took fifth at South East Region championships at 170 pounds then lost his first two bouts in states. Coming back last year with so much more resolve at 195 pounds, you could just see it in Big Joe’s eyes by the time he reached districts.

With only the top four getting out of regionals last year, Doyle knew he had to do better than the fifth-place showing he turned in the year before. Joey may have surprised everyone, winning eight straight bouts in the 2016 postseason including a 60-second pin of Upper Darby 195-pounder Brian Kennerly.

IN the PIAA tournament, Doyle went 3-2 including a pin of Upper St. Claire junior Eli Grape, a 2-time state medalist and a decision win over Mifflin County senior Trey Hartsock, also a 2-time state medalist.

“Placing last year in states had to be my biggest thrill,” said Doyle.

“It was a great accomplishment, knowing all my hard work paid off and all the people that helped me get there, it was awesome – just a great feeling.”

This year, Big Joe wants to pull out all the stops and reach the top of the PAA podium.

“I think I can win it,” said Doyle. There’s nothing that says I can’t. I just feel like I am determined enough to go out and win it and give it my all.

“I feel like if I keep working hard, I’m going to be able to accomplish my goal.”

Doyle feels a debt of gratitude to coaches Silimperi, McCormack and company.

“They don’t just help with wrestling, they help you become a better person, as well,” he said. “All the coaches, they all helped me get to where I am today.”

Trampe agreed.

“I couldn’t be in a better program,” said Zack. “Sil – I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without him.”

For his part, Trampe, a wrestler with over 150 varsity wins to his name, also had interest in Rutgers and Lehigh but liked the academics and coaches at Binghamton.

“It’s a great school, academically and they have a great coaching staff – great guys,” he said.

While Joey made up his mind before Zack, Trampe says it was a matter of days.

“I was already pretty sure I was going there,” said Trampe. “I was planning on committing that week – he committed on a Monday and I committed on Friday.”

Zack has medaled in states the past two years, earning runner-up honors as a sophomore and sixth last season. He also wants to be the top dog this year at 132 pounds. He thinks he can do it though he knows the competition is stiff.

“When you get to states, every weight (class) is tough,” said Trampe. “Every weight class has hammers in states.”

Trampe says grabbing that runner-up trophy his sophomore year was his biggest thrill, adding there are more postseason delights in his future.

“By the end of the year, it will be winning states,” he said.

Later that day, Zack, Joey, Palmer brothers Riley and Cary and the rest of the Golden Hawk team went out and dismantled three-time defending District One Duals champion Boyertown.

In a statement that now rings prophetic, Zack said, “Boyertown is always tough but I think we’re going to take it all, hopefully,” said Trampe, at the commitment ceremony “That’s the goal.”

In that bout, Zack majored two-time state medalist Jakob Campbell, a senior for the Bears

In PIAA Duals, Trampe majored both Canon McMillan senior Matt Oblock and Erie Cathedral Prep freshman Marques McClorin, helping the Hawks to a state semifinal matchup later tonight against Nazareth.

South toppled the Ramblers 31-25 and the South wrestling machine keep rolling along.

Now, a pair of Golden Hawks prepare to bring some of that magic to SUNY Binghamton.

PIAA Class AAA Duals
Council Rock South 30, Canon McMillan 29
(Feb. 9 at Giant Center)
285: Brendan Furman (CM) pinned Shane Anderson, :31
106: Maximo Mendez (CRS) maj. dec. Jacob Gardner, 10-1
113: Ken Hayman (CM) dec. Braden Ricchini, 1-0
120: Logan Macri (CM) tech. fall Collin Waterman, 21-6 (3:39)
126: Ben Radner (CRS) dec. Anthony Matrangelo, 6-0
132: Zack Trampe (CRS) maj. dec. Matt Oblock, 22-9
138: Tim Hritsko (CM) maj. dec. Mike McKinney, 12-1
145: Cary Palmer (CRS) maj. dec. Dimitri Pihiou, 10-2
152: Riley Palmer (CRS) pinned Zahqui McCelleis, :44
160: Gerrit Nijenhuis (CM) maj. dec. Cole Flanagan, 14-1
170: Blaze Kansco (CM) maj. dec. Robert Cooper, 9-1
182: Bryan Milligan (CM) dec. Nik Korbich, 7-5 (OT)
195: Tyler Gettman (CRS) dec. Alec Hendal, 3-2
220: Joe Doyle (CRS) pinned Zach Rohaley, 1:55;