POTTSTOWN >> Following a sweep of the PAISAA Duals at Mercersburg Academy last weekend, Hill School’s wrestling team entered the Mid Atlantic Prep Duals tournament with confidence and the hammers in its lineup to back it.
Spearheaded by a trio of multiple-time National Prep All-Americans — Kade Davidheiser (126), Hunter Sloan (144) and Colby Isabelle (165) — the Blues were able to earn wins against Peddie (63-18), Mercersburg (42-34) and Lawrenceville (48-24).
But those victories came after first lining up against No. 1 nationally-ranked Blair Academy, in which Hill School was dealt a 54-11 loss to begin the championships. Blair Academy swept the MAPL Duals to secure the 2022-23 title.
“I think we saw one of the best who’s out there and how good these teams are,” Sloan said on Blair Academy, which defeated national superpower Wyoming Seminary, 32-26 on Jan. 20. “I think it’s a great opportunity to compete with them.”
Hill School’s Cole Allen works Peddie’s Gavin Mavoides in the bout of 138 at the Mid Atlantic Prep Duals at Gillison Gym on Saturday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Sloan’s lone loss of the day came to Blair Academy’s Logan Rozynski in a 3-0 decision. After that, Sloan bumped up to 150, pinning Peddie’s Teo Yang and Mercersburg’s Jon Nussdorfer before receiving a forfeit against Lawrenceville.
Having placed sixth at the National Preps last year and fourth the year prior, Sloan — a Bucknell commit — has typically wrestled at 144.
“But for the team today, they need me up at 150 and I’m willing to do anything for the team,” Sloan said. “It ended up working out for me today.”
150 — Hunter Sloan with his second pin of the day in 47 seconds.
Sloan is 2-0 since bumping up from 144.
Hill 18, Mercersburg 10 pic.twitter.com/yGDaswywPX
— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) February 4, 2023
The Blues made eight pins against Peddie, five pins against Mercersburg and seven against Lawrenceville. Hill wasted no time exploding out of the gate in their final match of the evening, flying out to a 36-0 lead with bonus-point wins.
Isabelle — who took fifth in the National Preps last year — pinned Peddie’s Connor Pawilczak, Mercersburg’s Matt Wang and Lawrenceville’s Aiden Mellon. Davidheiser, a Bucknell commit who took first in the National Preps in 2021-22, also made three pins on the day.
“Bonus points are certainly something we talk about and preach daily to our guys,” Hill coach David Hoffman said. “Bonus points in a tournament setting are really kinda what separates teams. If we can beat a guy by 10 points, we want to beat him by 10 points. If we can pin a guy, we’re gonna try to pin a guy.”
165 — Colby Isabelle follows up Sloan with a pin of his own for a 12-point swing in Hill’s favor.
Isabelle placed 5th at the National Preps last year. pic.twitter.com/bZQKplu19K
— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) February 4, 2023
Conlan Boyer is another natural 144-pounder who, like Sloan, bumped up to get matchups for Hill. Boyer entered the MAPL Duals already up at 150 against Blair Academy, but the sophomore dialed up to 157 and collected three falls.
Hoffman has been around the block and isn’t new to seeing the top talent in the nation. A Virginia Tech alum who holds Hill’s all-time wins record (195-17), won two state titles, two national prep championships and placed at the National Preps five times, the grizzled veteran saw Blair Academy’s trip to Gillison as a prime chance to test the mettle of his lineup.
“It’s just a good opportunity to see where we are individually and wrestle some of the best guys in the country,” Hoffman said. “We wrestled a pretty competitive schedule, so I think by the end of the year, our goal as a coaching staff is that we’re not surprised by anything and we’re prepared for the moment.
“I think we have a pretty seasoned team. Now we’re turning the corner for the postseason.”
Hill School’s Kade Davidheiser works his way to a pin of Lawrenceville’s Youti Wan in the bout of 126 at the Mid Atlantic Prep Duals at Gillison Gym on Saturday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Hill will circle back to Mercersburg Academy on Feb. 17 for the start of the prep state tournament.
The Blues intend on sending much of their squad to the National Preps the following weekend in a push for a top-five finish on the grand stage.
“We want to make the biggest splash we can,” Sloan said. “We have a lot of great guys and we’re excited for the opportunity to compete.”
Blair Academy 54, Hill School 11
113 – Ryan Meier (BA) won by forfeit (6-0)
120 – double forfeit (6-0)
126 – Leo DeLuca (BA) dec. Kade Davidheiser, 11-8 (9-0)
132 – Robert Pavlek (HS) won by tech. fall over Morgan Edwards, 16-1 (9-5)
138 – Billy Dekracker (BA) won by tech. fall over Cole Albert, 17-2 (14-5)
144 – Logan Rozynski (BA) dec. Hunter Sloan, 3-0 (17-5)
150 – William Henckle (BA) pinned Conlan Boyer (23-5)
157 – Paul Ognissanti (BA) won by forfeit (29-5)
165 – Peter Snyder (BA) dec. Colby Isabelle, 5-1 (32-5)
175 – Lorenzo Norman (BA) won by tech. fall over Alex Murray, 17-1 (37-5)
190 – Liam Kilrain (BA) pinned Kayden White (43-5)
215 – Josh Anthony (BA) pinned Dante Donaldson (49-5)
285 – Billy Antippas (HS) pinned Michael Baydien (49-11)
106 – Benjamin Koch (BA) won by forfeit (54-11)
Hill School 63, Peddie School 18
120 – Oliver Goodman (PS) won by forfeit (0-6)
126 – Kade Davidheiser (HS) pinned Jack Stewart (6-6)
132 – Robert Pavlek (HS) pinned Donovan Mavoides (12-6)
138 – Cole Albert (HS) pinned Gavin Mavoides (18-6)
144 – Henry Ritts (HS) dec. Luke Garcia, 12-10 (21-6)
150 – Hunter Sloan (HS) pinned Teo Yang (27-6)
157 – Conlan Boyer (HS) pinned Andy Poljevka (33-6)
165 – Colby Isabelle (HS) pinned Connor Pawilczak (39-6)
175 – Alex Murray (HS) pinned Max Baldeon (45-6)
190 – Ian Lacy (HS) pinned Becker Reiner (51-6)
215 – Dante McQueen (HS) won by forfeit (57-6)
285 – Aaron Meadows (HS) won by forfeit (63-6)
106 – Sentayeu Seubert (PS) won by forfeit (63-11)
113 – Shaurya Baruah won by forfeit (63-18)
Hill School 42, Mercersburg Academy 34
126 – Kade Davidheisr (HS) pinned Billy Quick (6-0)
132 – Griffin Hopper (HS) pinned Frederick Wu (12-0)
138 – Reed Warner (MA) pinned Isaac Ramon (12-6)
144 – Hayden Shirk (MA) dec. Cole Albert, 8-0 (12-10)
150 – Hunter Sloan (HS) pinned Jon Nussdorfer (18-10)
157 – Conlan Boyer (HS) pinned Brayden Pearson (24-10)
165 – Colby Isabelle (HS) pinned Matt Wang (30-10)
175 – Holden Walker (MA) pinned Alex Murray (30-16)
190 – Collin Mattis (HS) won by forfeit (36-16)
215 – Luke Hendricks (MA) pinned Dante McQueen (36-22)
285 – Billy Antippas (HS) won by forfeit (42-22)
106 – double forfeit (42-22)
113 – Ethan Shirk (MA) won by forfeit (42-28)
120 – Amon Yamamoto (MA) won by forfeit (42-34)
Hill School 48, Lawrenceville School 24
132 – Robert Pavlek (HS) pinned Lily Lanzetta (6-0)
138 – Henry Ritts (HS) pinned Jalen Gravesande (12-0)
144 – Cole Albert (HS) pinned Henry Melconian (18-0)
150 – Hunter Sloan (HS) won by forfeit (24-0)
157 – Conlan Boyer (HS) pinned Charlie Callen (30-0)
165 – Colby isabelle (HS) pinned Aiden Mellon (36-0)
175 – Patrick Brady (LS) pinned Alex Murray (36-6)
190 – Locke McMurray (LS) pinned Collin Mattis (36-12)
215 – Dante Donaldson (HS) pinned Louis Senyk (42-12)
285 – Jalen Lespinasse (LS) pinned Aaron Meadows (42-18)
106 – double forfeit (42-18)
113 – Eshan Tibrewal (LS) won by forfeit (42-24)
120 – double forfeit (42-24)
126 – Kade Davidheiser (HS) pinned Youti Wan (48-24)
