2023-24 Mercury Boys and Girls Wrestling Team-by-Team Previews

December 11, 2023

195

BOYS WRESTLING

Boyertown

Head coach: Tony Haley, fifth season.

Last year’s record: 4-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division), 16-9 overall. Wrestlers to watch: Ryder Gehris, Sr., 160; Gavin Sheridan, Sr., 133; Beck Babb, Jr., 139; Brody Coleman, Jr., 121; Owen Dykie, Jr., 152; Shane Stankina, Jr., 145.

Outlook: Sheridan (46-4) placed seventh at 133 in the 2023 PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships last winter. He went to states off a title showing in the Southeast AAA Regional and comes into the current campaign with a 94-17 career record. Other top returners include regional qualifiers Ryder Gehris and Shane Stankina… “We return several wrestlers that gained valuable experience and could make an impact as well as several freshmen that are coming in and will help make an impact,” Haley said. “The PAC is always a competitive league and I believe it will be the same again this year. Overall, we have a great deal of depth but are looking for several others to step up and compete for a spot at Hershey.”

Daniel Boone’s Tucker Hogan

Daniel Boone

Head coach: Jim Hogan, seventh season.

Last year’s record: 3-0 Berks Conference, 12-8 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Tucker Hogan, Sr., 189; Dean Houser, Sr., 133; Jordan Meyer, Sr., 285; Ryan Poore, Jr., 152; Jackson Drumheller, Soph., 127.

Outlook: The Blazers’ roster is bolstered by the presence of junior Jorge Pingarron and sophomores Kaden Casner, Ayden Elzalada and Bradley Floria. … Hogan is the defending PIAA Class AAA champion at 189, with a 44-0 record and District 3-AAA Section 1 and South Central AAA Regional titles his junior year. He brings a 106-5 record into his final scholastic campaign. … Houser (40-8) placed fifth in the state at 121 off sectional and regional championships last winter while Drumheller (18-12) and Meyer (13-15) went a respective third and fifth in the section at 114 and 285. … “We are looking to develop young talent and continue to build on the success of our seasoned wrestlers,” Coach Hogan said.

Hill School

Head coach: Dave Hoffman, sixth season.

Last year’s record: 3-1 Mid-Atlantic Prep League, 11-4 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Cole Albert, Jr., 144; Conlan Boyer, Jr., 150; Robert Pavlek, Jr., 138; Zak Zindle, Jr., 175-190; Dante Donaldson, Jr., 215; Wynn Pooler, Soph., 126; Brody Brunner, PG, Hwt.

Outlook: The Blues go into the season with a number of wrestlers who distinguished themselves last winter. Albert (33-12) was a runner-up at 138 in the Pa. Independent Schools Wrestling Tournament (PAISWT); and Pavlek (32-9) was third at PAISWTs. Donaldson was a National Prep Qualifier as a sophomore, and Pooler was a state champion in Maine his freshman season. … “The Hill School,” Hoffman said, “will be looking to their emerging Junior class to pick up where last year’s team left off, which graduated three wrestlers that are now wrestling Division 1 (Kade Davidheiser and Hunter Sloan (both Bucknell) and Colby Isabelle (Brown).” … A championship in the Pa. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s 2022-23 Duals also ranks among Hill’s credits. “Hill had a number of wrestlers that lost in the medal round at National Preps,” Hoffman said, “and the season’s success will depend on those individuals taking the next step in their progression and finding a way to get on the podium.”

Methacton

Head Coach: Mark Harner, fourth year

Last Year’s Record: 1-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division), 14-7 overall.

Wrestlers to Watch: Matty Shumaker, Jr., 160; Ryan Hayes, Jr., 133; Dylan Pachik, Jr., 215; Collin O’Neill, Sr., 189; Joey Simko, Sr., 127; Shane McQuaid, Sr., 139; Brayden Giovinco, Fr., 121.

Outlook: Hayes (28-10) placed third at 114 in the District 1 North Tournament last winter. Simko (25-14) and Shumaker (36-8) were fourth at 127 and 152, respectively, while Pachik (21-14) placed fifth at 189. … “The Warriors should be solid from 121 through 285 this season and look to be more competitive in the very tough Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division,” Harner said.

Norristown

Head coach: William Evans, fourth season.

Last year’s record: 0-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division), 5-17 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Nikosh Marston, Sr., 133; Jared Noriega, Sr., 152; Santino Antonelli, Jr., 160; Jaden Rodriguez, Soph., 145.

Outlook: Marston (31-11) qualified for the 2022 South East AAA Regional tournament after finishing fourth at 133 in the District 1-AAA North competition. He placed fifth at the PAC Championships last January. … Other seniors on the Eagles’ roster are Dashawn Coleman (189), Jared (152) and Jarely Noriega and Matthew Pascucci (172).

Owen J. Roberts’ Dillon Bechtold battles with Nazareth’s Sonny Sasso in the 215-pound final at the PIAA Wrestling Championships on March 11 at Giant Center in Hershey. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)

Owen J. Roberts

Head coach: Stephen DeRafelo, 22nd season.

Last year’s record: 3-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division), 13 – 6 overall. Wrestlers to watch: Dillon Bechtold, Sr., 215; Daniel Birkbeck, Sr., 172; Logan Brower, Sr., 160; Andrew Calamaro, Sr., 275; Sam Gautreau, Sr., 160; Trent Long, Sr., 275; Dyson Neill, Sr., 189; Preston Nemeth, Sr., 189; Brady Quinn, Sr., 145.

Outlook: Dillon Bechtold (46-3) was a 215-pound runner-up in the PIAA Class AAA championships last winter. Gautreau (44-7) finished fourth at 152 while Bechtold’s brother, Dean, was sixth at 189 his freshman season. . … “We are excited by our seniors,” DeRafelo said. “We are looking forward to competing in the PAC, the league is full of great coaches and talented wrestlers. The goal is to improve every week.”

Perkiomen Valley

Head coach: Jared Dubbs, first season (seventh overall).

Last year’s record: 2-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division), 17-8 overall. Wrestlers to watch: Pat Lamirande, Sr., 133-139; Carter Euker, Jr., 189-215; Cole Euker, Jr., 285; Max Tancini So., 107-114; Luke Knox, Fr.,139-145.

Outlook: Dubbs is back as the Vikings’ head coach, having held that post over a six-year period ending in 2019. He takes over for Dave Thomas, who in turn took over for Dubbs the past three seasons. … Tancini (48-10) was a sixth-place finisher at 107 in the 2023 PIAA Class AAA Championships. Carter Euker (35-12) also qualified for states at 189, one of six PV grapplers to reach the Giant Center in Hershey. … “The Vikings are determined to keep pushing forward,” Dubbs said. “ We look to build off of last season’s success. We are excited about the incoming freshmen adding depth and strength to our lineup. We look to compete in the always strong Liberty Division of the Pioneer Athletic Conference. “

Phoenixville

Head coach: Rick Dracup, first season.

Last year’s record: 0-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division), 2-16 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Matteo Ferri, Sr.; J.T. Grohowski, Fr., 285; Mason Pacitto, Fr., 107; Ryan Rae, Sr., 172.

Outlook: Dracup takes over the Phantom program from Brad Clark, who stepped away after two years as head coach. A 2010 graduate of William Tennent High, he wrestled four years for the Panthers, compiling a 92-45 career record and twice qualifying for the South East AAA Regional tournament. … Grohowski, Pacitto and Rae opened the 2023 season with eight-place showings at the Pottstown Invitational: Grohoski at 285, Pacitto at 107 and Rae at 172. … Ferri and Rae are the lone seniors listed on the Phantoms’ roster. Ferri placed sixth at 152 in the 2022 District 1-AAA North competition.

Pope John Paul II

Head coach: Jeff Klenk, first season.

Last year’s record: 3-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division), 9-8 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Brady Pires, Sr.; Cole Dimitri, Jr.

Outlook: Pires (25-10), the team’s captain this season, placed second at 114 in the 2023 District 1-12 AA tournament. Dimitri went 19-4 his sophomore year. … Klenk elevated from being an assistant in the PJP program last winter. … “He’s coming off of a regional run last year and plans to make his run even stronger at Hershey in his final year with the Golden Panthers,” Klenk said of Pires. “While starting his first year on the team with a record of 5-15, (Dimitri) excelled in every aspect in and out of the season finishing his 2022-23 season with a record of 19-4. He did not compete in last year’s postseason due to illness, but plans to make his run this year and put his name on the map.”

Pottsgrove

Head coach: Jeff Madden, 16th season.

Last year’s record: 4-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division), 7-13 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Nathan Gillin, Sr., 145; Anthony Testa, Sr., 107; Gabe Costanzo, Jr., 144; Jacob Frederick, Jr., 285; Christobal Garcia, Jr., 160; Jake Palladino, Jr., 189; Michael Harkins, Soph., 127.

Outlook: Palladino (21-12) placed sixth at 189 in the 2023 District 1-AAA North Tournament, fifth at PAC Championships. Gillin (22-10) was sixth at 133 in the PAC Championships, and Frederick was fourth at 285 in the conference tourney. … The Falcons went 2-1 in Saturday’s Chuck Springer Duals at Norristown. Mohamed

Bouzenbila went 3-0 at 114 while Palladino (189), Gillin (145) and Testa (107) each had 2-1 outings.

Pottstown

Head coach: Mike Hewitt, second season.

Last year’s record: 1-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division), 5-13 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Phoenix Rhoads, Sr.; Evan Smith, Jr.; Nahzier Booker, Sr.

Outlook: Rhoads compiled a 14-17 record his junior season, wrestling at 139 and 145. … Smith saw action his sophomore year at 172. … The Trojans list a 24-man roster, with other seniors Steven Jiminez, Lucious Long, Jonathan Moser, Jayden Pray and Tate Risor.

Spring-Ford

Head coach: Tim Seislove, 25th season.

Last year’s record: 5-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division), 19-6 overall

Wrestlers to watch: Danny Borzillo, Sr., 215; Drew Dotterer, Sr., 152; Dom Ferrizzi, Sr., 145; Brennan McGrann, Sr., 139; Jamie Silva, Sr., 152; Connor Hudak, Jr., 285; James McGill, Jr., 160; Gus Smith, Jr., 114; Mason Richards, Soph., 189.

Outlook: Smith (27-14) and Richards (27-13) qualified for the PIAA Class AAA Championships in 2023 after finishing fourth at 107 and 172, respectively, in the Southeast AAA Regional Tournament. McGrann (28-14) and Hudak (24-21) were regional qualifiers at 133 and 285, respectively. … “We have a good turnout with over 50 kids out for the team,” Seislove said. “We are working hard to put together a line-up that can be competitive in the always tough PAC.”

Upper Merion

Head coach: Chris Falcone, fifth season.

Last year’s record: 2-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division), 12-12 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Jowell Jones, Soph., 160-172; Kieran Lamey, Soph., 127.

Outlook: Jones (27-10) and Lamey (20-13) both medalled at last year’s District 1-AAA North tournament. Jones was fifth at 145, and Lamey sixth at 127. … Jones helped the Vikings go 2-1 in their Franny Lutz Holiday Duals Saturday. He scored a pair of pins in the course of his 2-1 outing at 160 and 172. … Sophomores Hayden Hall and Nikito Hansell each went 3-0 for UM at the Lutz Duals. Hall, a sophomore working at 152, scored two falls and a forfeit at 152 while Hansell (6-2) had a pin and decision at 121.

Upper Perkiomen

Head Coach: Steve Adam, seventh season.

Last year’s record: 5-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division), 13-4 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Brandon Godshall, Sr., 133; Brandon Rozanski, Sr., 139; Gabe Sanfelice, Sr., 145; Gabe Tulone, Sr., 114; Dave Bennett, Soph., 189; Ben Godshall, Soph., 121; Zane Saeger, Soph., 152; Joe Schmittinger, Soph., 133.

Outlook: Rozanski (36-7), a state qualifier at 121 last winter, goes into his senior season with a career record of 80-18, ,,, Tulone (32-11), Godshall (30-10) and Sanfelice (25-16) were all regional qualifiers in 2023. … The Indians’ roster is bolstered by the presence of sophomores Dylan Bieber and Dominic Wade; and freshmen Aaron Coates, Kia Finger, Sean Murray, Dylan Marshall, Aiden Pena, Brennan Rooney and Brandon Quinton, Another newcomer is Estrella Kubola.