On paper, it looks like an uphill battle for the Ches-Mont League in the District 1-3A Duals, this season.
Sixth-seeded West Chester Henderson is the highest of five qualifying schools from the league, but maybe history is on the Warriors’ side. The last time the top Ches-Mont team was seeded that low, No. 6 Downingtown West reached the PIAA Duals in 2017.
The first round of the duals will begin, Thursday, at either West Chester Rustin or Council Rock South.
At Rustin, the No. 16 Golden Knights will host top-seeded Quakertown at 5:30 p.m. Henderson will take on No. 11 Sun Valley, following the first pair of duals, tentatively slated for 7 p.m. Twelfth-seeded Downingtown West will take on No. 5 Owen J. Roberts at seven, as well.
Ninth-seeded Downingtown East travels to South to tangle with No. 8 Neshaminy, at 5:30.
First-round winners will advance to the double elimination portion of the tournament, which picks back up January 31, at Upper Dublin High, while Thursday’s losers are eliminated.
Here is a look at all eight matchups (all stats were prior to January 22’s results):
West Chester Rustin’s Alex Pratzner works on a pin against Sun Valley’s Paul Malatesta at 145 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
No. 1 Quakertown (14-0) v. No. 16 West Chester Rustin (6-3), at West Chester Rustin, 5:30 pm
Ranked wrestlers (on pa-wrestling.com) – Quakertown: Zach Borzio (No. 2/106 pounds); Kyle Miller (2/120); Vinny DeSpirito (honorable mention/126); Zack Lewis (5/132); Domenic DeFalco (2/138); Patrick McCoy (5/145); Kyle Goodwin (HM/160); Ralph Martin (HM/220); Jeremy McGuigan (HM/285)
Rustin: Jimmy King (3/120); Josh Viarengo (5/138)
Outlook: The Panthers’ rise in the ranks came as a surprise to most, especially when they knocked off reigning District 1 champ, Council Rock South, earlier in the month. What they lack in superstar power, they make up for in balance. Quakertown leads the district in winning percentage (.695) and has the most pins (144), while giving up the fewest (32). Rustin has pulled off some magic in its home gym for these duals, in the past, but it would need a ton to go right to give Quakertown a run, especially without Viarengo, who’s out with an injury.
Boyertown’s Julian Maldonado (Nate Heckenberger – for MediaNews Group)
No. 2 Council Rock South (5-1) v. No. 15 Boyertown (6-7) at Council Rock South, 5:30 p.m.
Ranked wrestlers – Council Rock South: Cavan Kinne (3/106); Kyle Waterman (1/126); Mo Savriddinov (HM/132); Matt Colajezzi (2/170); Gianni Gilch (3/182)
Boyertown: Julien Maldonado (1/113); Alan Alexander (HM/170)
Outlook: These old foes meet for the seventh straight district duals, with Boyertown winning the first three meetings and South owning the most recent trio. Neither team is as deep and powerful as in years past, but the experience on both sides should make for some tight bouts. South has more firepower, and its help always seems to be better than the opponent’s help after a rigorous early-season schedule.
Spring-Ford’s Joey Milano (Nate Heckenberger – for MediaNews Group)
No. 3 Spring-Ford (9-1) v. No. 14 Strath Haven (13-4), at West Chester Rustin, 5:30 p.m.
Ranked wrestlers – Spring-Ford: Cole Smith (HM/106); Quinn Tobin (3/132); Zach Needles (4/138); Alex Johns (HM/145); Jack McGill (3/152); Joey Milano (1/182); Sean Brogan (HM/285)
Strath Haven: Chase Barlow (5/138)
Outlook: The Panthers are making their first appearance at district duals and will be greeted by the Rams, who are no stranger to this tournament. Spring-Ford finished runner-up the past two seasons and doesn’t have many holes. The Rams lead District 1 in wins by decision and major decision, and are second in technical falls and pins allowed. The Rams have proven tough in the close bouts and can take advantage when bonus is available. A Barlow-Needles bout would make for one of the few first-round marquee matchups.
Council Rock North’s Cam Robinson (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
No. 4 Council Rock North ( 11-3) v. No. 13 Garnet Valley (14-4), at Council Rock South, 7 p.m.
Ranked wrestlers – Council Rock North: Anthony Burke (HM/106); Kyle Hauserman (1/120); Luke Lucerne (1/132); Sammy Hayes (3/145); Cam Robinson (1/152); Dillon Sheehy (1/160); Max Harar (4/285)
Garnet Valley: Kevin Puliti (HM/120); Griffin Hollingsworth (HM/126)
Outlook: The Jaguars are the only team in the tournament without a top-five ranked wrestler. North, meanwhile, has four top-ranked wrestlers and overwhelms opponents with its star power. The Indians have some holes, but 157 of their 209 wins this season have resulted in bonus points. Garnet is a very solid team, but it will be a major challenge for the Jags to keep pace with North, who averages 50 points per dual. Puliti is currently at 99 career wins.
Downingtown West’s Chase Mielnik (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
No. 5 Owen J. Roberts (12-1) v. No. 12 Downingtown West (4-2), at West Chester Rustin, 7 p.m.
Ranked wrestlers – Owen J. Roberts: Matt Englehardt (HM/120); Antonio Petrucelli (1/145); Connor Quinn (3/160); Austin Boaman (5/170)
Downingtown West: Dom Findora (3/113); Max Hale (2/182); Chase Mielnik (1/195); Matt Micale (HM/285)
Outlook: Health may play a little factor in this one, with some Wildcats banged up, but it appears OJR has more depth than the top-heavy Whippets. The Wildcats are third in the district in pins (125), which is bad news for West, who’s been pinned in 80 of its 135 losses. The Whippets can put up points with their fab four, but they desperately need a few others to get their hands raised if they want a shot at the upset. Take out Findora, Hale, Mielnik and Micale’s records and West’s winning percentage is 33 percent.
Sun Valley’s Hunter Catka. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
No. 6 West Chester Henderson (11-1) v. No. 11 Sun Valley (13-0), at West Chester Rustin, 7 p.m.
Ranked wrestlers – West Chester Henderson: Killian Delaney (2/126); Sammy McMonagle (2/132); Koh Bauman (HM/160)
Sun Valley: Ryan Catka (5/195); Hunter Catka (1/285)
Outlook: The Vanguards are looking to stay gold after a hot start, but Henderson will be their toughest test. After a disappointing showing in last season’s tournament, the Warriors are out to prove something, and have a solid mix of star power and balance. Henderson’s weakness is at the heavier weights, where Sun Valley excels, but the Warriors will be tough to score on in the first half of their lineup. Henderson is second in the district in pins (129), which could be trouble for Sun Valley, who’s been pinned in 71 of its 99 losses.
Interboro’s Dylan Lajudice (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)
No. 7 Central Bucks East (7-1) v. No. 10 Interboro (7-4), at Council Rock South, 7 p.m.
Ranked wrestlers – Central Bucks East: Ethan Bean (HM/106); Quinn Collins (HM/195); Danny Eckley (4/220)
Interboro: Victor Quintiliana (5/106); Nate Shippey (HM/113); Dom D’Agostino (4/152)
Outlook: The Patriots snuck up on District 1 and cracked the top 10 with a 17-point win over Downingtown East earlier in the month. CB East only graduated one wrestler, last spring, and Collins transferring in from Archbishop Wood has been a nice boost. The Pats do anything spectacular, but their talent is spread out, preventing any major runs, and they’ve stayed off their backs, giving up just 48 pins in 292 bouts. Interboro is built similarly, and this could come down to the final bout or two.
Downingtown East’s Keanu Manuel, right. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
No. 8 Neshaminy (11-6) v. No. 9 Downingtown East (9-7), at Council Rock South 5:30 p.m.
Ranked wrestlers – Neshaminy: Calvin Lederer (HM/120); Zac Martin (1/138); Gunner Spain (4/170); Jason Pascucci (4/182)
Downingtown East: Ryan Loraw (HM/106); Keanu Manuel (1/113); Bo Horvath (4/152); Matt Romanelli (3/170); Spencer Uggla (4/182)
Outlook: East has seven wrestlers with winning records, and that group wins over 80 percent of its matches. The problem for the Cougars is, the other half of the starting lineup has a winning percentage of 23 percent. With Kyle Mittelstadt out, East is thin with options and will need its horses to score big. Neshaminy, meanwhile, has 12 of its 14 wrestlers over .500, and Spain and Pascucci will be tough potential matchups for Romanelli and Uggla, which could limits bonus the Cougars will desperately need.
