QUAKERTOWN >> It was a rough day for the Suburban One League American Division, but for a handful of area wrestlers, the ultimate goal is still alive.
At the District 1-AAA Central tournament at Quakertown High, Plymouth Whitemarsh led the area with four regional qualifiers, and junior Marco DiBattista booked a second trip to the Southeast Regional tournament.
DiBattista (113 pounds) and Wissahickon’s Nick Senderling (152) reached the finals, and were two of just 10 SOLA wrestlers to finish in the top four to set themselves up with a shot of Hershey.
“I’ve been dreaming of getting to states all my life,” DiBattista said. “I have to work hard this week and do a lot of conditioning and drilling.”
DiBattista survived his semifinal bout against West Chester Henderson’s Killian Delaney, 1-0, escaping just before the final buzzer in the third period. In the finals, DiBattista fell to Downingtown East’s Lukas Richie, 7-4, but after missing regionals last winter, it was all about getting back.
“Last year I lost in the semis and I wanted to get back at it and avenge last year,” DiBattista said.
Also advancing for the Colonials were Nick Sudell (third at 220), Tommy DiSisto (fourth, 170) and Scott Horry (fourth, 182).
Senderling used a pair of one-point decisions against Ches-Mont League foes to earn a trip to the finals. There, Coatesville’s returning seventh-place PIAA medalist, Chase Stephens, was waiting. Stephens hit a dump and pinned Senderling in the first period.
“I knew (Stephens) was tough,” Senderling said. “I knew how good he was and I knew I had to come out ready to battle.”
Like DiBattista, Senderling returns to regionals as a junior after missing out as sophomores.
“I wasn’t able to get to regionals last year, and I’m optimistic I’ll do well next weekend,” Senderling said.
Upper Dublin’s Mason Novak had high hopes of reaching his first district final, but those were thwarted in the quarterfinals when Unionville’s Tyler Mousaw spladled him for a pin. Novak rallied back, winning three in a row, including a rematch against Mousaw in the consolation final, to book his first trip to regionals.
“Even though it started out bad, I kept my head on straight,” Novak said. “I don’t wrestle that well when I’m not focused. I knew I had to get the job done and took it one match at a time.”
Cheltenham’s August Gerwshin led early against Avon Grove’s Nick Barnhart, but dropped the 145-pound semifinal, 13-6. Gershwin won his next bout to qualify for regionals for a second time and finished in fourth place.
Hatboro Horsham’s Nick Chapman earned his first trip to regionals with two pins in the consolation bracket after losing by fall to the eventual champ, Josh Walls of Avon Grove, in the semifinals. Chapman took third for the Hatters.
In the fifth year of the current setup at the District 1 Central, this was the first time the SOLA did not have a champion. The Ches-Mont League won all 14 weights, going 4-0 against the SOLA in the finals.
Team Standings
1. Downingtown West, 162.5; 2. West Chester Rustin, 131; 3. Coatesville, 116.5; 4. Avon Grove, 101; 5. Downingtown East, 93; 6. Unionville, 90; 7. Quakertown, 86; 8. Octorara, 75.5; 9. West Chester Henderson, 73.5; 10. West Chester East, 73; 11. Kennett, 62; 12. Plymouth Whitemarsh, 60; 13. Hatboro Horsham, 43; 14. Oxford, 41.5; 15. Great Valley, 39.5; 16. Wissahickon, 34; 17. Sun Valley, 19.5; 18. Cheltenham, 16.5; 19. Upper Dublin, 11; 20. Upper Moreland, 6.
Championship Finals
106- D. Zapf (Downingtown West) dec. Stahl (Quakertown), 5-1
113- Richie (Downingtown East) dec. DiBattista (Plymouth Whitemarsh), 7-4
120- Reid (Henderson) maj. dec. Babauta (Octorara), 10-0
126- B. Kaliner (Rustin) tech. fall Reiter (Kennett), 5:51
132- Lilley (Downingtown West) dec. Massetti (Kennett), 7-5
138- T. Kaliner (Rustin) tech. fall Murta (Downingtown West), 5:59
145- Windle (Coatesville) dec. Barnhart (Avon Grove), 10-3
152- Stephens (Coatesville) pinned Senderling (Wissahickon), :50
160- Hurley (Rustin) pinned Angelini (Downingtown West). 3:45
170- Cox (Oxford) tech. fall Sharpless (Octorara), 4:45
182- K. Edwards (Avon Grove) dec. McBride (Coatesville), 6-2
195- C. Zapf (Downingtown West) dec. Wood (Quakertown), 4-2
220- Maguire (Unionville) dec. Raimondo (Coatesville), 6-4
285- Walls (Avon Grove) medical forfeit over McGinley (Downingtown East)
Consolation Finals
106- Celenza (WC East) pinned Howard (Avon Grove), 4:37
113- Delaney (Henderson) dec. S. Hoopes (Octorara), 5-0
120- Reigel (Kennett) dec. Eadie (WC East), 3-0
126- Horne (Downingtown East) dec. Bosio (Avon Grove), 14-2
132- Taylor (Unionville) dec. Wilson (Great Valley), 10-4
138- Birzes (Downingtown East) dec. Dellicompagni (Coatesville), 6-2
145- G. Hale (Downingtown West) dec. Gershwin (Cheltenham), 5-1
152- Labus (Rustin) dec. Dalton (Octorara), 8-3
160- Novak (Upper Dublin) dec. Mousaw (Unionville), 4-1
170- DiBernardo (WC East) dec. DiSisto (Plymouth Whitemarsh), 4-2
182- Seeley (Great Valley) dec. Horry (Plymouth Whitemarsh), 5-0
195- Catka (Sun Valley) dec. Lamberjack (Rustin), 3-2
220- Sudell (Plymouth Whitemarsh) dec. Madanat (Downingtown West), 4-3
285- Chapman (Hatboro) pinned Cavanaugh (Great Valley), 2:43
