HERSHEY – As a team, Council Rock South may not have had the outcome it desired in the PIAA dual meet competition last weekend in Hershey. However, junior Riley Palmer is certainly showing his mettle on the mat at 138 pounds.
After spending his first two years wrestling at 106, Palmer washed out of the postseason last year when he failed to make weight at the Suburban One National Championships.
Returning to the mat this year mostly as a 138-pounder, Palmer is currently 31-3. That mark includes a 5-0 record in state duals.
On Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Giant Center, Palmer posted an 8-3 decision over Erie Cathedral Prep senior Ta’Naz Gregory that helped the Golden Hawks to a 34-28 second-round win over the Ramblers. Gregory registered 30 wins a season ago, earned a regional medal and went to states.
As a team, CR South fell 46-18 in its PIAA quarterfinal bout with Belle Vernon Feb. 12 back at the Giant Center. However, Palmer defeated his man, BV sophomore Brock Godzin, 9-4, in overtime.
Later that day, Palmer posted an impressive pin in the third period, facing off against Cumberland Valley junior Will Kaldes. A two-time regional medalist, Kaldes made it to states the past two years. Palmer’s pin helped South get past CV in PIAA Consolations, 29-24.
The Hawks were ahead of the Eagles 23-14 when South heavyweight John Anderson decisioned CV senior Jake Black, 3-2, but fell behind by a point when they lost three straight matchups from 106 to 120 pounds.
But the Hawks also have Riley’s twin brother Cary this season. After missing the previous two campaigns with injuries, Cary has 20 wins to his credit this season wrestling at 126 pounds including a 9-7 win in overtime over CV sophomore Connor Smith that put South back on top in the meet.
Junior Zack Trampe then sealed it with an 8-4 decision over junior Wyatt Long, a two-time regional medalist and state qualifier in 2015.
For his part, Trampe went 4-0 in state duals including a 2-1 decision win over Central Dauphin sophomore Andrew Wert, a district champion, regional runner-up and state medalist in 2015.
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At 160 pounds, junior Dylan Schwartz went 4-1 in state duals including a pin in his bout with Erie Cathedral Prep senior Alejandro Linan, a district medalist and regional qualifier in 2015. He also posted a decision win over CV sophomore Quentin Milliken, a regional medalist and state qualifier a year ago.
Junior Joe Doyle went 5-0 including four pins over his PIAA foes. Three of those pins were against Archbishop Wood’s Matt Murray, ECP’s Ian Malesiewski and Belle Vernon’s Hunter Ferrara, all of whom qualified for regionals last season.
Swinging back and forth between 145 and 152 pounds, senior Luke Martoccio went 3-2 at state duals including pins of CV freshman Cade Reichart and Wood sophomore Matthew Palage. He also registered a 4-2 win in overtime over ECP freshman Carter Starocci.
Senior Nick Verdi wrestled in three weight classes registering a pin over Wood 145-pounder George Frattara, a major over ECP 152-pounder Albert Taylor while suffering a tough 4-3 loss to Central Dauphin 138-pounder Austin Bentz.
At 120 pounds, sophomore Ben Radner posted an 8-2 decision win over ECP freshman Andrew Stark and did not see the mat after that due to an injury. Freshman Kyle Kutney got the nod in the next match with Belle Vernon where he pinned freshman Jake Fine in 3:05. For Kyle, it was just his second varsity win of the season.
A state qualifier as a freshman, Radner has 20 wins to his credit already this season.
CR South returns to the mat in the SOL National Championships Saturday, Feb. 20 at Pennsbury High School. With 99 varsity wins, Riley Palmer will be vying for win number 100.
Contact the author at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
