Only 18 months separate their birthdays, but the biggest distinction between Cole and Doug Zapf is about 10 inches and 65 pounds.
Cole, a three-sport junior for Downingtown West, has used that all-around athleticism to become the top 170-pounder in the Ches-Mont League. Doug, who hasn’t yet tipped the scale in the 106-pound class, excels as a sophomore in maybe the only sport he could at his size.
Though they did it in different ways at the Ches-Mont Championships, the Zapfs became the first pair of brothers to win league/sectional titles in the same year since Matt and Dan Kennett for West Chester Henderson in 1996.
They head into Saturday’s Class AAA District 1 Central tournament at Oxford High, hoping to finish in the top four of their weight classes to qualify for a trip to the Southeast Regional next Friday. District action starts at 9 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 6 p.m.
“It’s been awesome wrestling with (Doug),” said Cole, who at 5-foot-11, towers over his little brother. “It’s one of the reasons I kept wrestling. Hopefully we can keep it up and both find success. It’s been a great time.”
Doug reached regionals as a freshman, despite weighing in at 96 pounds. While most of his opponents had to cut weight to get to 108 pounds, Doug used his skill to make up for a 10-pound disadvantage.
Downingtown West’s Doug Zapf looks for an attack last week. (Nate Heckenberger – Digital First Media)
Doug, who won’t turn 16 until October, is used to playing against the bigger kids. While playing football as a youth for the Downingtown Young Whippets, his coach Tom Kucera called him “unblockable” at nose tackle, using his quickness to shoot the gaps. The strategy hasn’t really changed with wrestling.
“At 106, everything is really quick and you have to have perfect technique,” Doug said. “I enjoy wrestling at the lighter weight and really working on technique.”
This past weekend at the Ches-Mont Championships, Doug turned the tables on Downingtown East’s Lukas Richie, who won their first matchup in the regular season, by taking him down twice for a 5-2 win for his first postseason title.
Later in the night, Cole was able to get by West Chester East’s Caleb Subach to make West two-for-
Downingtown West’s Cole Zapf is the top 170-pounder in the Ches-Mont. (Nate Heckenberger – Digital First Media)
two on the night. West advanced 12 wrestlers, tied for a league-high, to districts and nine are underclassmen.
Cole, who missed most of his sophomore season due to shoulder surgery, and Doug are at the heart of West’s revival and there’s no telling how far they can go if Cole gets some of Doug’s technique and Doug gets some of Cole’s size.
“There sort of is (some competition), but we’re always rooting for each other,” Cole said. “I like watching him and cheering him on. Seeing him winning boosts my confidence. We both want to win and it’s fun, not just competing, but both finding success.”
In this day and age where “redshirting” as a middle schooler has become a trend, Doug is both young and small for his grade. Both could be legitimate excuses, but excuses aren’t part of Doug’s competitiveness.
“In the summer when I really wasn’t seeing much weight coming on it was disappointing,” Doug said. “I can’t really let it affect me because it’s nothing I can control. I’ve always been smaller, but it wasn’t as much of a difference when I was younger as it is now. I don’t let it affect me much.”
In the second leg of three on the way to the state tournament in Hershey, the top seven finishers from the Ches-Mont will meet up with the top four from the Suburban One American Division. Like last week, the pigtails are single-elimination, and from there the brackets become double-elimination with the top four advancing.
The American Division is the weakest of the three in the SOL, and the Ches-Mont has done well the past three seasons. There are, as always, some talented wrestlers that will make some noise, but expect a good handful of Ches-Mont rematches as well. Here’s a look at what to expect.
106
This is the American’s best weight, with champ Marco DiBattista (25-1) of Plymouth Whitemarsh and runner-up Justin Altrogge (30-2) of Norristown, the fourth and fifth-ranked wrestlers in District 1, respectively. Octorara’s Seth Hoopes will get a shot at Altrogge first in the quarterfinals, and Doug Zapf will likely be waiting for the winner in the semifinals. DiBattista is on the bottom half along with Downingtown East’s Lukas Richie. That would be a good go if it happens. The Ches-Mont will have to wrestle well to get at least one to the finals, but the semis should be must-see. There are also two girls in the bracket — Kennett’s Mary Nichols and Upper Moreland’s Amanda Walker — but they have some tough sledding to get out.
West Chester Henderson’s Jacob Reid and Downingtown East’s James Strommer could see each other for an 8th time, Saturday. (Nate Heckenberger – Digital First Media)
113
West Chester Henderson’s Jacob Reid and Downingtown East’s James Strommer could be looking at a finals rematch, which would be their eighth career meeting. Kennett’s Logan Reigel has a good shot to see Reid in the semis with Norristown’s Grant Rubin in quarters. Upper Moreland’s Jason Amy is the American champ and could present a challenge for Strommer.
120
West Chester Rustin’s Brett Kaliner is the No. 1 seed, but gets no breaks with Oxford’s Brandon Sheffield a likely semi opponent once again. Kaliner has beat Sheffield and Unionville’s Jake Taylor twice each this year and will likely have to beat both again to be district champ for the second straight year. Taylor is on the opposite side and could get Upper Moreland’s Matt Amy in semis if Kennett’s Gerhardt Reiter doesn’t get past him in quarters.
126
Downingtown East’s Wade Cummings is looking for his third district title and this weight could be swept by Ches-Monters. Kennett’s Drew Massetti is on Cummings’ side, while West Chester East’s Noah Hankin is opposite. Hankin has Plymouth Whitmarsh sophomore Zach Fisher on his side. Rustin’s Tyler Kaliner could get Fisher in quarters and already beat him by technical fall in the regular season.
132
As the top seed, Henderson’s Kyle Medrow has a good path to the finals. Coatesville’s Ryan Dellicompagni had a very good tournament last weekend and is on Medrow’s side. Unionville’s Mitch Camp has a tougher road to the finals, but could get a rematch with Medrow. He’ll have to get by Norristown’s Eric Fuentes. Downingtown West sophomore Nick Lilley is on his side, also.
138
If it all plays out as expected, this could be the best interleague final. Downingtown East’s Nik Zimmerman is coming off three technical falls at leagues and will likely see Upper Dublin’s Colin Devlin, a returning state qualifier, in the finals. Devlin is very long and rangy, so Coatesville’s Brent Windle will try to figure that out in semis. On Zimmerman’s side is Wissahickon sophomore Nick Senderling.
145
West Chester Rustin’s Dan Labus is looking for a return trip to regionals at 145. (Nate Heckenberger – Digital First Media)
As expected, this weight at leagues provided plenty of action. The American adds two more strong wrestlers to the mix, meaning there will be a deserving regional qualifier or two staying home. Avon Grove’s Kevin Edwards will wait for the winner of the quarter between Coatesville’s Colin McBride and PW’s Ben Billings. Edwards edged Billings, 5-1, in the first weekend of the season. On the bottom half, Rustin’s Dan Labus looks to stay hot, but Cheltenham’s August Gershwin looks improved since getting pinned by Labus last year at districts.
152
Coatesville’s Chase Stephens collected three pins last week to give him 74 for his career. He should add a few more here. West’s Gio Angelini is on his side. Below, Downingtown East’s Jude McDowell is the lone senior and a good pick to reach the finals again. Rustin’s Collin Hurley is out with an injury, leaving West Chester East’s Andrew DiBernardo and Upper Dublin’s Mason Novak to fight it out in the quarters.
Oxford’s David Cox is the top seed at 160. (Nate Heckenberger – Digital First Media)
160
There’s a good chance of a rematch between Oxford’s David Cox and Downingtown East’s Alec Horne. Cox will likely get Rustin’s Andrew Lamberjack, who looked strong after dropping from 170, in semis. Horne is on the bottom half with American’s champ, Rich Maggio, a sophomore from Norristown. Octorara’s Scott Burridge had a disappointing league tourney and looks to bounce back.
170
Zapf and West Chester East’s Caleb Subach are the picks to meet in the finals for a second straight week. Octorara’s Ryan Sharpless had a good league tourney and is on top with Zapf. Subach will have to get through PW’s Tommy DiSisto, but that is a winnable semi.
182
The American is young all over, but at this weight it sends three freshmen and a sophomore. This bodes well the locals. Rustin’s Costas Hatzipavlides is a favorite to win, and Avon Grove’s Brayden Peck is on his side. Coatesville’s Sean McBride is on the other half and will likely have to get through Downingtown East’s Brent Czajkowski. It could be another Ches-Mont sweep.
195
This could’ve been the American’s best shot to get two to the finals but Upper Dublin’s Henry Winebrake was a late scratch. West Chester East’s Erik Gassenmeyer and Avon Grove’s Josh Walls will look to take advantage of his absence on the top half. Upper Moreland’s Patrick Walker is a returning regional qualifier and a pin machine on the lower half. Unionville’s Mike Maguire is on his side.
220
West Chester Rustin’s Isaiah Spriggs won his 100th career match last week. (Nate Heckenberger – Digital First Media)
Downingtown East’s Owen Morris and Rustin’s Isaiah Spriggs have scored a total of 10 points in 17 minutes of against each other in two meetings this season. The rubber match might happen, with Morris winning last week, 3-2, in ultimate rideout. Coatesville’s Jordan Wise is on Morris’ side, while Upper Merion senior Noah Stribny is with Spriggs.
285
Avon Grove’s Vince Walls was dominant a week ago and could get his second meeting with PW’s Quincy Williams this season, in the finals. Walls pinned Williams in the first weekend. Behind them, West’s Chad Giles, Sun Valley’s Nick Garvey, Downingtown East’s Brendan McGinley and Unionville’s Jack Baccellieri will fight for the final two spots.
