It was a phenomenal season for the Faith Christian wrestling team.
The Lions won the PIAA-2A Team Championships then had sophomore Gauge Botero and freshman Adam Waters earn the program’s first gold medals at the state individual championships – a tournament Faith finished with nine medalists and topped the team standings.
A host of successful campaigns earned eight Faith wrestlers – five freshman and three sophomore – a place on the 2022-2023 The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media All-Area First Team.
Quakertown put a pair on the first team, including All-Area Wrestler of the Year Collin Gaj, who won the state Class 3A 145-pound title to complete a perfect 49-0 sophomore season. Gaj and fellow first-teamer junior Calvin Lachman (215) helped the Panthers edged Pennridge for first place at the South East 3A Regional tournament.
Pennridge, which saw first-team pick sophomore Colby Martinelli placed third at 3A state in 107, won the District 1-3A Duals tournament and claimed the team title at the District 1-3A East Tournament.
FIRST TEAM
107: Colby Martinelli, So., Pennridge >> Sophomore finished his first trip to the PIAA-3A championships by placing third at 107 with a 12-1 major decision over Butler’s Santino Sloboda. Ended the season 38-6, taking first at the District 1-3A East and South East Regional tournaments. Took first at Suburban One League Colonial Division championships and helped the Rams win the division, District 1-3A Duals tournament and District 1-3A East team title along with placing second as a team at regionals.
114: Chris Dennis, Fr., Central Bucks West >> Completed his freshman season with three wins at PIAA-3A Championships as he earned a sixth-place at 114 in Hershey. Dennis, who went 34-6, claimed gold at both the District 1-3A East and South East 3A Regional tournaments. Also took first at Ralph Wetzel Classic and SOL Colonial Division Championships.
121: Gauge Botero, So., Faith Christian >> Botero gave Faith Christian its first-ever PIAA gold with a 5-1 decision over Montgomery’s Brandt Harer in the 121 final. It was the second state medal for the sophomore, who claimed state bronze last year at 113. Won his final 21 matches to end the year 43-2 and 88-9 for his career. District 1/12-2A and South East 2A Regional champ for a second straight season. Went 4-0 as the Lions won the PIAA-2A Duals championship. Took first in 121 at the Coal Cracker Invitational, second in 121 at Escape the Rock and third in 120 at Beast of the East.
127: Arment Waltenbaugh, Fr., Faith Christian >> Earned seventh place at states with a 7-2 decision over Marvin Armistead of Berks Catholics. Took first place at both District 1/12-2A and South East 2A Regional in his freshman campaign that ended 29-7. Also took first at the Coal Cracker Invitational in January and went 4-0 at PIAA-2A Team Championship as Lions won the state duals title.
133: Mason Wagner, Fr., Faith Christian >> Freshman reached the 40-win plateau with a 2-1 second-tiebreak win over Benton’s Dylan Granahan to earn fifth place at PIAA-2A Championships. Finished 40-10, taking first at District 1/12-2A and third at South East 3A Regional. Went 4-0 for Faith as the Lions won the PIAA-2A Team Championship and place fourth at Coal Cracker Invitational.
139: Chase Hontz, So., Faith Christian >> Hontz finished his second PIAA-2A appearance with his first state medal, posting his 70th career victory as he earned third place at 139 with a 2-0 decision over Clearfield’s Brady Collins. Went 39-10 as a sophomore, taking first at both District 1/12-2A and South East-2A Regional. Place fifth at both Beast of the East and Coal Cracker Invitational.
145: Collin Gaj, So., Quakertown >> Wrestling’s 2022-2023 Athlete of the Year capped a perfect 49-0 season with his first PIAA championship, besting two-time state champ Mac Church of Waynesburg Central 7-1 in the 145 final. The sophomore also claimed first place at X-Calibur, Bethlehem Holiday Classic and Escape the Rock during the regular season. Took gold for the second straight year at both the District 1-3A East and South East Regional tournaments, helping the Panthers place third at districts and first at regionals.
152: Cael Weidemoyer, Fr., Faith Christian >> Finished his freshman campaign 36-4, advancing to the PIAA-2A semifinals and claiming third with a 5-1 decision over Lackawanna Trail’s Max Bluhm in the consolation final. District 1/12-2A and South East 2A Regional champion.
160: Luke Sugalski, So., Faith Christian >> Sugalski posted a 29-9 mark in a sophomore year he finished by avenging a loss to Trinity’s Jagger Gray in the regional final by edging Gray 3-2 to earn fifth place at the PIAA-2A Championships. Took first place at District 1/11-2A and second at South East 2A Regional. Fifth place at Coal Cracker Invitational.
172: Adam Waters, Fr., Faith Christian >> Capped a phenomenal freshman campaign by being named Outstanding Wrestler of the PIAA-2A Championships as gave Faith its second state title of the tournament by pinning Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Holden Garcia – a PIAA champ at 160 in 2022 – in 1:43 in the 172 final. Won his last 37 matches to finish 44-1. District 1/12-2A and South East Regional 2A champ. Went 4-0 as Lions won the PIAA-2A Team Championship. First place at Escape the Rock and Coal Cracker Invitational, third place at Beast of the East.
189: Jason Singer, Fr., Faith Christian >> Claimed seventh place at PIAA-2A Championships with a pin over Tri-Valley’s Jacob Sheib, avenging a loss in the third-place match at regionals as the Faith freshman finished the year 36-12. Singer took first place at District 1/12-2A and fourth at South East 2A Regional.
215: Calvin Lachman, Jr., Quakertown >> Junior posted a 41-7 record – pushing his career mark to 93-27 – as he qualified for states for a second consecutive season. Took first at District 1-3A East tournament then placed second at South East Regional. SOL Liberty Division 215 champ also advanced to PIAA quarterfinals with 12-5 first-round decision over Chambersburg’s Zach Evans.
285: Joe Collins, Jr., Central Bucks East >> Junior earned his first PIAA-3A appearance by taking first place at South East Regional with 1-0 ultimate tiebreak win over Strath Haven’s Ben Farabaugh in 285 final. District 1-3A East champ, Collins – who finished the season 35-4 – also took first at Ralph Wetzel Classic and SOL Colonial Division Championships.
2022-2023 The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media All-Area Wrestling Teams
FIRST TEAM
107: Colby Martinelli, So., Pennridge
114: Chris Dennis, Fr., Central Bucks West
121: Gauge Botero, So., Faith Christian
127: Arment Waltenbaugh, Fr., Faith Christian
133: Mason Wagner, Fr., Faith Christian
139: Chase Hontz, So., Faith Christian
152: Cael Weidemoyer, Fr., Faith Christian
160: Luke Sugalski, So., Faith Christian
172: Adam Waters, Fr., Faith Christian
189: Jason Singer, Fr., Faith Christian
215: Calvin Lachman, Jr., Quakertown
285: Joe Collins, Jr., Central Bucks East
SECOND TEAM
107: Kole Davidheiser, Fr., Faith Christian
114: Cole Coffin, Jr., Pennridge
121: Mason Ziegler, Jr., Quakertown
127: Patrick Kelly, So., Central Bucks West
133: Ashton Wittenberg, Sr., Plymouth Whitemarsh
139: Jake Neill, Jr., Central Bucks South
145: Max Stein, So., Faith Christian
152: Zach Borzio, Sr., Quakertown
160: Ryan Gallagher, Jr., Pennridge
172: Talan Hogan, So., Pennridge
189: Kole Lester, Jr., Souderton
215: Max Effendian, Fr., Faith Christian
285: Andrew Brennan, Jr., La Salle
HONORABLE MENTION
Abington: John Wright (So., 285).
Academy New Church: Trent Layton (Sr., 157), Aharon Bloshuk (So., 165), Brady Carver (Jr., 175).
Central Bucks East: Reagan McCullough (Jr., 215).
Central Bucks South: Zach Thomas (Jr., 107), Gabe Whittington (Sr., 133), Skyler Speak (Sr., 189), Collin Goetter (Jr., 285).
Cheltenham: Connor Stegeman (Jr., 107), Rah’Miere Sanders (Jr., 121), Maxim Borisov (So., 127), Arthur Gordon (So., 160), Coey Bradley (Jr., 172).
Germantown Academy: Jhais Williams (So., 106), Jack Baron (Fr., 113), Robert Leeds (So., 120), Jacob Sasson (Sr., 150).
Hatboro-Horsham: Ryan Allgeier (So., 114), Christopher Staub (Jr., 139), Andy Alameda-Guzman (So., 215).
La Salle: Jackson Hersh (So., 107), Dominic Parenti (So., 114), Cormac Morrissey (Jr., 152), Nick Colucci (Jr., 172), Dylan Clair (So., 189).
Methacton: Ryan Hayes (So., 114), Joey Simko (Jr., 127), Matty Shumaker (So., 152), Damian Moser (Sr., 285).
Norristown: Nikosh Marston (Jr., Norristown).
Pennridge: Quinn McBride (Fr., 121), Sam Kuhns (Jr., 139), Gio Iadonisi (Jr., 160), Ryan Rowe (Fr., 189), Riley Cullen (Jr., 215), Chase Washington (Jr., 285).
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Sean Odom (So., 127), Mohammed Charabi (Sr., 145), Ty Borkowski (Jr., 152), Justin Bainbridge (Sr. 172), Donald Kunf (Jr., 285).
Pope John Paul II: Brady Pires (Jr., 114).
Quakertown: Isaac Williams (Jr., 114); Gavin Carroll (So., 139).
Souderton: Charlie Arobone (Jr., 121), AJ Stayton (Sr., 133), Andrew Hallman (So. 145), Ben Beckett (Sr., 172).
Springfield (Montco): Will Horn (Sr., 160).
Upper Dublin: Jake Evans (So., 107), Zach Gallagher (Sr., 114), Caden Cerminaro (Sr., 121), Dan Gorman (Sr., 139), Elias Abebe (Sr., 145), Austin Pendleton (Sr., 152).
Upper Moreland: Collin Evanson, (Sr, 127), Charles Hogan (Sr., 133).
Wissahickon: Nathanael Chez, Sr., 172), Evan Prestipino (Sr., 189), Tyler Prince (So., 215).
