Council Rock South senior Riley Palmer, left, earned SOL, District 1 East and SE Region titles while qualifying for the PIAA Class AAA Tournament in 2016. (John Gleeson – 21st-Century Media)
SOUTHAMPTON – Before the start of last year’s wrestling campaign, 138-pounder Riley Palmer said his twin brother Cary was poised for a breakout season on the mat. The words of the 2014 state medalist were deemed prophetic when Cary captured a Suburban One League (SOL) title, a District 1-East runner-up trophy and a fourth-place South East Region medal competing his first full year on the varsity mat at 126 pounds.
The same question was posed recently to senior Joe Doyle, who captured league, district and regional medals last year at 195 pounds while finishing fourth at states.
“I wouldn’t say that anyone on our team is poised for a breakout season,” explained Doyle. “I think this whole team is poised for a breakout season.”
With five returning state qualifiers a pair of 2016 PIAA medalists – Doyle and senior Zack Trampe – facing their final year on the mat, some of these Golden Hawks are looking to have a fantastic final season.
“We have a lot of incoming freshmen like Giani Gilch, Kyle Waterman, Cole Flanagan – they’re all poised for a breakout season.
“We have plenty of sophomores, juniors – we call them next man up – they’re capable of wrestling varsity, they’re there when we need them and they have been working really hard in the offseason.
“We think we’re capable of going further than we did last year and I’m just looking forward to having a good season.”
What Rock South accomplished last year was remarkable. As always, the Hawks won both the regular season SOL National Conference title and the postseason tournament. They won their second District 1-AAA East title in three years and were runner-up to Boyertown in the District 1 Duals. At state duals, they went 2-2 with wins over Erie Cathedral Prep and Cumberland Valley.
Trampe and Doyle each earned SOL, District 1 East and SE Region titles while medaling in the PIAA Class AAA Tournament. At states, Trampe finished sixth at 132 pounds while Doyle took fourth at 195. Riley Palmer (145) also captured SOL, District 1 East and SE Region titles while earning a berth in states.
The bar is set just as high this season, if not, higher.
“All of us have high goals and high expectations, not only for ourselves but also for the team,” added Doyle.
“As a team, we plan on going far, we expect nothing less than getting high up on the podium.”
All but state qualifiers Dylan Schwartz (152) and Luke Martoccio (145) along with regional qualifier John Anderson (285) are back. That includes regional champ Riley Palmer, who captured SOL, District 1 East and SE Region medals at 138 pounds.
Also returning is junior Ben Radner, who did not compete in the individual postseason tournaments last year due to concussion issues. Two years ago as a freshman at 113 pounds, Radner posted 27 wins on his way to SOL, District 1 East and SE Region medals along with a berth in states.
Last year, however, he suffered a concussion in the opening round of PIAA duals with Erie Cathedral Prep. That kept Ben from competing for any postseason glory at 120 pounds. He’s looking forward to competing this year at 126.
“The lineup is looking tough,” said Radner. “A few up-and-coming guys are looking good. A lot of guys are getting better and filling in the spots so it will be interesting to see what happens this year.”
“A lot of our good guys got even better, and a lot of our OK guys got good.
“We’re seeing where we’re at right now but everyone on this team is due for a breakout season.”
Also returning for his final season is senior Tyler Gettman (195). After a year off the mat in 2014-15, he came back last season and captured an SOL title at 182 pounds, while finishing third in districts. While he did not place in regionals, Gettman still managed a pair of decision wins in District 1 Duals, topping Downingtown West senior Kevin Clements, 5-2 and Downingtown East senior Brent Czajkowski, a D-1 medalist and 2016 regional qualifier, 9-5.
Juniors Mike McKinney (132) and Collin Waterman have also returned to the Golden Hawks. McKinney is a 2016 regional qualifier who finished fourth in the district last year at 120 pounds and Waterman earned league and district medals last season at 113.
Sophomore Max Mendez is back for his second season, a year after getting a ton of experience (47 bouts) in his inaugural year on the mat. Wrestling at 106 pounds, Max recorded 26 wins while grabbing medals in both SOLs (3rd) and districts (5th).
Senior Robert Cooper could also contribute in the middle of the lineup. While the Hawks linebacker went 3-7 at 170 pounds in an abbreviated campaign last year, one of his triumphs was against Dalton Fullerton, of Parkersburg South, in the King of the Mountain Tournament and another was facing Hayfield’s Salam Alqaraghuly in the Parkland Duals.
Sophomore Eric Woloshyn (132) is back a year after posting an 8-2 record wrestling at 126 and 132 pounds.
