PROSPECT PARK >> Interboro’s Eric Thomas takes a little extra pleasure in beating a wrestler from one of the power leagues in District One such as the Pioneer, Central, Ches-Mont and Suburban One.
As a Del Val League guy, there’s something about knocking off one of the “big boys.”
The league doesn’t receive a lot of respect in the District One wrestling community so anytime Thomas wins a match against a wrestler from a league with a higher reputation, he walks off the mat with a little more spring in his step.
“It makes me want to do my best,” Thomas said. “If I go out and whip up on them it shows that we do have good wrestlers in the Del Val and you can’t just discount us.”
Few can disregard what Thomas has accomplished in his career. He is 127-20 and ranks fourth in program history in career wins, with a chance to finish in the top three. Thomas has won four straight Del Val League titles and he has more than held his own outside of the league tournament
Thomas is gunning for his second straight District One Class AAA East title Saturday at Quakertown High School. Thomas won the 138-pound crown last season. He went on to finish third at the South East Regional tournament to earn his first trip to the PIAA Championships, which caught the eye of college recruiters.
Thomas has received recruiting interest from the Coast Guard Academy, Kutztown, Bloomsburg, Shippensburg and Williamson. He’s also looking at Temple, which has a club wrestling program. He’s keeping his options open.
“A lot depends on what I do the rest of the season,” Thomas said.
The post-season kicks into high gear Saturday and this time around Thomas is one of the top seeds in a tough 145-pound bracket that features four of the six wrestlers who are listed in the latest District One rankings on PA-Wrestling.com.
Thomas is ranked second in the district at 145 pounds. Also in his bracket is top-ranked Louis Martoccio of Council Rock South, No. 3 Dustin Stone of Harry S. Truman and North Penn’s Mikey O’Brien, who received honorable mention in the latest rankings.
Stone defeated Martoccio in the third-place match at 145 at districts last year, and placed fifth in the Southeast Regional to qualify for the PIAA Championships. O’Brien was third at 138 pounds at districts last year.
“It’s a tough bracket,” Thomas said, “but it makes me want to work that much harder to beat every one of those guys and get another district title.”
If he does win another crown, he would be the first Del Val League wrestler to do so since the district went to this format in 2013.
“I have a little pressure on me, but that’s OK,” Thomas said. “I want to win it again, get a regional title and hopefully place at states.”
Thomas is one of 13 Interboro wrestlers headed to Quakertown. Chichester has 11 in the district tournament and Academy Park has nine.
The Central League schools are in the Class AAA West tournament at Spring-Ford. Garnet Valley had 13 wrestlers qualify, followed by league champ Upper Darby (11), Ridley (nine), Haverford, Penncrest and Strath Haven (eight each).
The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to the South East Regional next weekend at Souderton High School.
Here are some other Delco wrestlers to watch:
Matt Marino, Garnet Valley (27-4) >> The junior is ranked No. 1 at 120 pounds and is seeded second in the District One Class AAA West tournament. Marino finished second in this district tournament last year and third in the Southeast Regional. Boyertown’s David Campbell, who is ranked third in Southeastern Pa., also is in this bracket.
Colin Cronin, Upper Darby (31-0) >> The junior is ranked No. 1 at 138. He won both the district and Southeast Regional titles at 132 pounds last year. Third-ranked J.T. Cooley of Boyertown and Matt Krieble of Spring-Ford are also in this bracket.
Max Livingston, Upper Darby (25-9) >> The junior moved into the District One rankings as an honorable mention pick after winning the Central League title at 152 pounds last week. He was fifth at 145 in the districts last year. Boyertown’s Hunter Vogels (No. 3) and Pottstown’s Mason Pennypacker (No. 5) are also in this bracket.
Chris Schiarrino, Springfield (28-3) >> Like Livingston, Schiarrino is an honorable mention pick in the latest district rankings at 152 pounds. He has a bye and will face Vogels in the quarterfinals.
Liam Frank, Penncrest (26-1) >> The senior received one first-place vote and is second at 170 in the latest district rankings. Spring-Ford’s Steve Rice (No. 3), Boyertown’s Elijah Jones (No. 4) and Pottstown’s Isaiah Mayes (HM) are in this bracket.
Brian Kennerly, Upper Darby (32-3) >> He’s No. 2 at 195. State qualifier Xavier Ferrizzi of Owen J. Roberts (No. 3) and Boyertown’s Brody O’Connell (No. 5) are in this bracket.
Dan Mea, Interboro (16-4) >> The senior remains fifth at 220 pounds. This bracket includes state qualifier Gavin Caroff of Quakertown (No. 2) and Bensalem’s Jasin Speer (HM).
Peter Augustin, Upper Darby (32-1) >> The senior dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 at 285 despite winning the Central League title. Boyertown’s Tommy Killoran, who moved into the No. 1 slot, and Willam Scherfel of Owen J. Roberts (HM) are in this bracket.
