All-Delco Wrestling: Haverford freshman McFarland made history at Super Regional

In addition to Wrestler of the Year Ryan Catka of Sun Valley, the All-Delco team includes:

Cole McFarland, Haverford: Became the first freshman in program history to reach the equivalent of the state tournament when he qualified for the East Super Regional. McFarland began his career with 10 straight wins, eight by major decision, tech fall or fall. Finished 14-6 overall, 13-5 at 106 pounds. He won the Central League 106-pound title, finished second in the District 1 Class 3A Section South tournament and fourth at the South East Regional.

Interboro’s Nate Shippey, right, and Quakertown’s Zach Borzio. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Matt Ricci, Garnet Valley: A staple in the lower weights for three years, the junior went 16-7 wrestling at 120 and 126 to help the Jaguars to their fourth straight Central League title. Ricci earned his second Central League title when he captured the 120-pound crown. He went on to take fourth at both the District 1 Class 3A South Section and South East Regional tournaments to earn a spot in the East Super Regional.

Nate Shippey, Interboro: One of only three wrestlers in program history to earn a medal at the PIAA championships when he finished eighth at 126 pounds last month at the Giant Center in Hershey. That capped a junior season in which Shippey went 14-7 overall and finished second at the District 1 South tournament and fourth at both the South East Regional and East Super Regional tournaments.

Griffin Hollingsworth, Garnet Valley: The senior closed out his career with a record of 104-44, which included 67 victories by major decision, tech fall or fall to earn All-Delco honors for the third time. A shoulder injury at the South East Regional cut his season short. Hollingsworth earned his third Central League title with a victory at 132 pounds. He took second at the District 1 South Section and sixth at the South East Regional to close out the season with a 16-4 record.

Kelton Brunner, Strath Haven: Versatility was one of Brunner’s strengths. He competed at 132, 138 and 145 for the Panthers while compiling a record of 14-6. He finished third at 138 pounds at the Central League championships to help Strath Haven to a second-place finish in the team competition. He went on to place third at the District 1 South tournament and fourth at the South East Regional to qualify for the Super Regional, where he had to pull out because of swelling in his knee.

Strath Haven’s Chase Barlow and Spring-Ford’s Zach Needles. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Kevin Rainey, Ridley: He went 18-5 as a senior to cap a solid career with a 92-39 record that included 69 victories by major decision, tech fall and fall. He won the Central League 138-pound title and then went on to place fourth at the District 1 South Section tournament and fifth at the South East Regional, just missing a trip to the East Super Regional.

C.J. Wood, Garnet Valley: A solid performer in the middle of the lineup for the Jaguars, Wood went 16-5 overall, 2-1 at 138 and 14-4 at 145 as a junior to earn All-Delco honors for the second time in his career. He finished second at 138 pounds at the Central League championships before moving up to 145 for the postseason, where he was second at the District 1 South Section and fifth at the South East Regional.

Dom D’Agostino, Interboro: Recorded the highest finish at the PIAA Class 3A championships in program history when he took sixth at 152 pounds to earn All-Delco honors for the second year in a row. D’Agostino earned that trip to Hersey by taking third at the District 1 South Section tournament, second at the South East Regional and fourth at the East Super Regional. He closed out his season with a 16-7 record.

READ: All-Delco Wrestling: Haverford freshman McFarland made history at Super Regional

Chase Barlow, Strath Haven: A three-time state qualifier and three-time All-Delco wrestler, Barlow earned his first state medal with a seventh-place finish at 152 pounds in the PIAA Class 3A championships. Just a junior, he went 22-4 overall, 19-4 at 152, to claim his three straight Central League and District 1 South championships. He would finish third at both the South East and East Super Regionals to punch his ticket to Hershey. He is 89-23 in three seasons with the Panthers.

Unionville’s Sam Elsen, left, and Garnet Valley’s Desmon Perry. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Desmon Perry, Garnet Valley: After taking second at the Central League championships at 172 pounds, the senior earned his third straight trip to the South East Regional with a second-place finish at the District 1 Class 3A South championships to earn All-Delco honors for the second time. He finished the season with a 14-5 record to help the Jags claim the Central League title for the fourth year in a row, three outright and one shared.

Sam DiTrolio, Garnet Valley: Teamed with Perry to form a solid 1-2 punch at 172 and 189 pounds for the Jaguars. DiTrolio began his season with 16 straight wins. He finished with 19-5 mark at 189, winning the Central League title, taking second at both the District 1 South and South East Regional tournaments and sixth at the East Super Regional.

Julien Laventure, Upper Darby: The Royals junior clearly was the top 285-pounder in Southeastern Pennsylvania. A two-time All-Delco, Laventure became the 19th Upper Darby wrestler to medal at the state meet with a sixth-place finish at the PIAA Class 3A championships. He won the Central League, District 1 South and South East Regional titles, and took fourth at the East Super Regional to get to Hershey for the second year in a row.

Daetrel Jerome, Radnor: The senior made the most of a second chance, being a last-minute replacement at the South East Regional when Strath Haven’s Ben Farabaugh had to withdraw due to COVID protocols. Jerome finished fourth to earn a berth in the East Super Regional, placing sixth before being forced to forfeit twice due to injury.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply