INDIANA, Pa. — Trekking more than 200 miles across the state in early January is a calculated risk that produced plenty of rewards if no gold medals for six Lehigh Valley-area teams.
No one from the region left Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Kovalchick Complex with a gold medal, but all six coaches left with a good feeling about what their respective teams got out of the two-day Mid-Winter Mayhem tournament.
“It was great competition,” Northwestern Lehigh coach Joe Killar said. “I’m happy how the kids wrestled. It was a good trip overall.”
Northampton’s Brayden Wenrich and Gabe Ballard plus Emmaus’ Emilio Albanese and Northwestern Lehigh’s Luke Fugazzotto all came up short in their respective finals.
Wenrich gave up a seven-point move late in the third period of what was a tie bout at 121 with Hatboro-Horsham’s Dominick Morrison, a 2024 PIAA Class 3A champion.
The Konkrete Kid is in the midst of a descent to 114, but was close to beating a 2024 PIAA Class 3A champion who just came down from 127.
“He’s got to finish those takedowns,” head coach Joe Provini said. “He got in deep a couple times but wasn’t able to get the takedowns, then losing that scramble late. Small technical adjustments.”
Ballard lost 19-11 to national No. 2 Melvin Miller of Bishop McCort in the 160-pound final. The Konkrete Kid took down Miller twice, the only two times of the tournament and first time since Miller’s only loss of the season, 8-5 to national No. 1 Jayden James of Delbarton (N.J.) in the Ironman final in mid-December. Miller has only gone the distance twice this year: James and Ballard.
“[Ballard] wrestled fantastic this weekend,” Provini said. “There was a little bit of a difference in horsepower and size, but he didn’t back down. He went after him. He took him down twice. He got steamrolled a little bit early on, but once he got his bearings it was a good match.”
Ballard is contemplating a drop to 152. He’s part way there. This tournament again showed that there are stellar opponents who have a noticeable size advantage against him at 160.
The Lehigh commit struggled in his semifinal before securing a decision over West Scranton freshman standout Tommy Schechterly, who recently descended from 172.
Ballard was in big trouble early against Miller, who produced a quick seven points and seemed primed to crank up a first-minute fall. But Ballard fought off the mat and went after the two-time PIAA 2A champion.
In the end, Miller was too strong, quick and powerful.
“It was the same thing at Ironman,” Provini added. “Gabe is so good, so strong, so powerful. He’s matching a lot of the guys, but …”
Albanese gave up a first-period takedown and that was the difference in a 3-1 loss to Chestnut Ridge’s Dominic Deputy, a returning PIAA 2A champion. Albanese nearly got a takedown at the buzzer. He got behind Deputy, but Deputy’s hand did not go on the mat.
Fugazzotto gave up a first-period takedown to Strath Haven’s Michael Spielman and then another in the final 15 seconds when he was in desperation mode in the 189 final.
The Tigers senior had four pins and a decision to reach the championship match, but came up empty offensively.
“He needs to open up and look to score,” Killar said. “Zero shots, zero offense that last match.”
But Killar was pleased with the team’s performance in its first trip to the event, and will see if it pays dividends Wednesday when Northwestern Lehigh hosts defending District 11 2A champion Saucon Valley.
Other medal matches
Northampton had two other medalists in addition to Wenrich and Ballard and was third in the team race behind Bishop McCort and Chestnut Ridge.
Trey Wagner was third at 145 after losing in an ultimate tie-breaker in the semifinals. The senior beat United’s Jo Garshnick 4-0 in the third-place match thanks to a takedown with 13 seconds left in the third period.
Carter Chlebove was eighth at 172 after getting decked by Northwestern Lehigh’s Vinnie Fugazzotto.
Parkland had five medalists and was 13th in the team race a year after having only an eighth-place finisher and finishing in 30th place in the team race.
“Long tournaments like this help you overcome adversity,” Trojans coach Eddie Keichel said. “Some of our guys wrestled six or seven matches in two days. You don’t even do that at the state tournament over three days. It’s a grind, but helps prepare you.”
The Trojans’ five medalists are their most in the four years they’ve been coming to this tournament.
Luis Moya (Parkland) lost 4-3 to Trinity’s Leo Murillo in the 107-pound third-place match. Moya beat Murillo in sudden victory in the quarterfinals.
Thomas Jefferson’s Zach Rehak beat Braden Todora for a second time this weekend, this time 5-3 in the 114 third-place bout. He also won in the quarterfinals.
Matt Velez posted a solid 11-1 major in the seventh-place match at 133 for the Trojans. He scored all 11 points in the third period.
Jorge Moya, Luis’ older brother, was eighth again at 160 after losing 11-1 to Zac Turberville of Slippery Rock in the seventh-place match.
Myles Lysek was seventh at 285 after missing out on a medal at the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic late last month.
“There were a couple guys who medaled at the holiday tournament who he beat earlier in the season,” Keichel said. “I think it was bracket placement. But he got a lot of confidence knowing he can compete with these guys. He’s great at following the game plan.”
Emmaus had two other medalists in addition to Albanese and was 12th in the team race, 1.5 points ahead of Parkland, who it wrestles on Jan. 22. Jackson Max was seventh at 139 after a 13-4 major decision over Penn Manor’s Lincoln Yackanech.
Xayden Sallit rallied from an early hole to deck Johnsonburg’s Rocco Allegretto (Johnsonburg) in 3:30 at 172 to take fifth.
Northwestern Lehigh was 16th in the team race and had two other medalists besides Fugazzotto.
Weston Killar was eighth at 127 and Vinnie Fugazzotto, Luke’s younger brother, was seventh at 172 after pinning Chlebove.
“He’s moving a little more on his feet,” Killar said of Vinnie Fugazzotto’s improvement from last year. “He’s good on top, goes for the pin a little more. Last year, he was statuesque on his feet, but he’s gotten a lot better.”
Mahanoy Area was 22nd and had three medalists, including Rory Dixon, a Marian Catholic football standout part of the cooperative agreement for wrestling. He was fourth at 152. Arturo Reyes was sixth at 127 and Kyler Quick was third at 215.
Quakertown did not have a medalist and was 27th among 57 teams.
Girls
Quakertown had one champion among four finalists.
Mackenzie Gappa registered a 17-1 technical fall in 5:26 over Corry’s Makenna Williams to win the 118-pound title.
Ashley Stank finished second to Corry’s Finley Fourspring in the 106-pound final, losing 11-1.
Mya Pallone lost 9-6 in the 112-pound final to Iris Reitz of Redbank Valley.
Caroline Hattala was winning 7-6 in the 190-pound bracket, but was pinned by Charli Rea of Northwestern in 4:58.
The Panthers were seventh in the team standings.
Pocono Mountain East had a fifth-place finisher in Koralyz Feliciano at 112, three in sixth and one in seventh to end up 11th in the team race.
Mid-Winter Mayhem
Saturday at IUP’s Kovalchick Center
Finals
121: Dominick Morrison (Hatboro-Horsham) dec. Brayden Wenrich, 8-1.
127: Dominic Deputy (Chestnut Ridge) dec. Emilio Albanese (Em), 3-1
160: Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort) maj. dec. Gabe Ballard (Nor), 19-11
189: Michael Spielman (Strath Haven) dec. Luke Fugazzotto (NWL), 7-1.
Third-place matches
107: Leo Murillo (Trinity) dec. Luis Moya (Park), 4-3
114: Zach Rehak (Thomas Jefferson) dec. Braden Todora (Park), 5-3
145: Trey Wagner (Nor) dec. Jo Garshnick (United), 4-0
152: Caden Judice (Bald Eagle Area) dec. Rory Dixon (Mahanoy Area), 4-1
215: Kyler Quick (Mahanoy Area) maj. dec. Omar Arrington (Cathedral Prep), 10-1
Fifth-place matches
127: Jordan Manyette (Trinity) dec. Arturo Reyes (Mahanoy Area), 4-0
172: Xayden Sallit (Em) pinned Rocco Allegretto (Johnsonburg), 3:30
Seventh-place matches
127: Lukas Smith (Berlin) dec. Weston Killar (NWL), 2-1
133: Matt Velez (Park) maj. dec. Griffin Tinsman (Marion Center), 11-1
139: Jackson Max (Em) maj. dec. Lincoln Yackanech (Penn Manor), 13-4
160: Jorge Moya (Park) maj. dec. Zac Turberville (Slippery Rock), 11-0
172: Vinnie Fugazzotto (NWL) pinned Carter Chlebove (Nor), 1:24
285: Myles Lysek (Park) dec. Brooks Hendershot (Curwensville), 4-0
Semifinals
107: No. 2 Michael Johnson (West Allegheny) maj. dec. No. 3 Luis Moya (Park), 10-0
121: No. 3 Brayden Wenrich (Nor) maj. dec. No. 2 Brock Rothermel (Line Mountain), 14-3
127: No. 3 Emilio Albanese (Em) dec. No. 2 Santino Slaboda (Butler), 3-1
145: No. 3 Jackson Butler (Bishop McCort) dec. No. 2 Trey Wagner (Nor), 2-1 UTB
160: No. 2 Gabe Ballard (Nor) dec. No. 6 Tommy Schecterly (West Scranton), 8-4
172: No. 1 A.J. Corp (West Chester Rustin) tech. fall No. 4 Xayden Sallit (Em), 16-0, 3:22
189: No. 1 Luke Fugazzotto (NWL) dec. No. 4 Zach Labryer (Thomas Jefferson), 10-3
215: No. 3 Logan Latimore (North East) dec. No. 2 Kyler Quick (Mahanoy Area), 7-4 SV
Consolation semifinals
107: Luis Moya (Park) dec. Korben Collae (Benton), 8-1
114: Braden Todora (Park) vs. Cam Smith (Trinity), 5-2
127: Deklan Barr (Altoona) dec. Arturo Reyes (Mahanoy Area), 3-1
145: Trey Wagner (Nor) dec. Kamdyn Borrero (Cathedral Prep), 5-2
152: Rory Dixon (Mahanoy Area) dec. Josh Weaver (Cedar Cliff), 7-3
172: Emory Gunby (Bishop McCort) dec. Xayden Sallit (Em), 8-3
215: Kyler Quick (Mahanoy Area) maj. dec. Jacob Schwalm (Line Mountain), 10-1
Consolation quarterfinals
114: Braden Todora (Park) dec. Dakota Sandy (Abington Heights), 6-2
127: Arturo Reyes (Mahanoy Area) tech. fall Weston Killar (NWL), 18-2, 3:48
133: Austin Carfley (Bishop McCort) dec. Matt Velez (Park), 1-0
139: Owen McMullen (Bishop McCort) dec. Jackson Max (Em), 4-1
152: Rory Dixon (Mahanoy Area) dec. Kaysom Mataria (Greenville), 3-1
160: Lucas Boyer (Elizabeth Forward) dec. Jorge Moya (Park), 8-6
172: Emory Gunby (Bishop McCort) tech. fall Vinnie Fugazzotto (NWL), 18-3, 3:57; Rocco Allegretto (Johnsonburg) pinned Carter Chlebove (Nor), 0:38
285: Jon Winnings (Brockway) dec. Myles Lysek (Park), 3-2 TB-2
Blood round
114: Lucas Carson (West Allegheny) pinned Cole Borzio (Q), 3:36; Braden Todora (Park) dec. Landon Krupka (Hollidaysburg), 12-10
127: Weston Killar (NWL) dec. Rocky Kowle (North East), 4-1; Arturo Reyes (Mahanoy Area) dec. Jacob Labryer (Thomas Jefferson), 9-2
133: Austin Carfley (Bishop McCort) dec. Davi Glykas (Nor), 5-1; Matt Velez (Park) dec. Brady Kostick (Richland), 10-8
139: Jackson Max (Em) dec. Josh Perrino (Greenville), 4-1
145: Kyler See (North East) dec. Trent Croll (NWL), 9-2
152: Rory Dixon (Mahanoy Area) dec. Chase Grabfelder (Nor), 9-3
160: Jordan Thompson (Bradford) tech. fall Nolan Koehler (NWL), 17-2, 3:58; Jorge Moya (Park) dec. Dalton Schadel (Line Mountain), 7-3
172: Vinnie Fugazzotto (NWL) dec. Blake Schepis (West Allegheny), 8-3; Carter Chlebove (Nor) tech. fall Donato Ciampittiello (Parkland), 20-4, 4:37
189: Josh Spontak (Bishop McCort) dec. David Clayton (Q), 11-9
285: Myles Lysek (Park) dec. Scott Payne (Hollidaysburg), 4-2; Brooks Hendershot (Curwensville) pinned Brandon McEntire (Nor), 2:44
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
