Sports

Hanover, W. Wayne make 2A finals date

The Hawkeyes eliminate defending champion Elk Lake in the semifinals of D2 dual meet event.

By Tom Robinson
Go Lackawanna sports correspondent

LEHMAN TWP. – Both top seeds held up Friday night, setting up a District 2 Class 2A Dual Meet Championship match of division champions tonight at Pittston Area.

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John Elick of Hanover Area, back to camera, takes down Griffith Walters of Scranton Prep during their 125-pound match. Elick won by pin in 1:52.

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Wyoming Valley Conference Division II champion Hanover Area and Lackawanna League Division 2 champion Western Wayne each rolled to the finals with a pair of convincing victories.

Hanover Area overcame forfeits at the two heaviest weight classes to top Scranton Prep, 62-18, before knocking out defending champion Elk Lake, 48-29, in the semifinals.

Western Wayne stopped Wyoming Area, 51-24, and Dallas, 57-18.

The teams meet at 7 tonight, alongside the Class 3A championship match, at Pittston Area.

Paul Rakowski got the Hawkeyes off to a fast start in the semifinal.

Rakowski was losing, 5-1, in the 130-pound match when he pinned Dan Daly with 9.3 seconds left in the second period.

“That was a key,” Hanover Area coach Mike Ropietski said. “He’s been filling in here and there during the season. We finally got him down to his weight.”

Ropietski said Rakowski has wrestled about 10 bouts all season.

“Those were two key bouts for us tonight,” Ropietski said. “The second one was by far his biggest win of the season.”

Rakowski made sure Hanover Area never trailed.

After the two forfeits closed the gap to 30-23, Shane Elick and Justin Elick put together back-to-back pins at 103 and 112 to clinch the victory.

Hanover Area dominated Scranton Prep (7-8), building a 50-0 lead by winning the first nine bouts, including seven by pin and one by technical fall. John Elick (125) and Garrett Wynn (140) had first-period pins in the opening flurry and Justin Elick (112) added another after the outcome was decided.

“I expected a little closer match,” Ropietski said. “We were firing on all cylinders.”

Shane Elick (103), Justin Elick (112), John Elick (125), Rakowski (130) and Steve Radzwilla (171) had two pins each for Hanover Area.

Three straight pins by Bill Dress (145), Brian Shaffer (152) and Eric Carty (160) allowed Meyers (11-16) to cut an early 22-point deficit to 22-18 before falling short in the quarterfinals against defending champion Elk Lake (18-7).

Western Wayne advanced through the other half of the bracket.

Pins in the final 20 seconds by Tristen Vanderlick (130) and John Ratajczak (140) helped Wyoming Area (4-12) take an early lead on Western Wayne, but the Wildcats piled up 36 points in just 8:30 of mat time to clinch the win.

Connor Rosensweet (215) needed just 13 seconds and Josh Harrison (152) 22 seconds in that stretch to help the Wildcats take a 45-12 lead.

The Wildcats then recovered from losing the first bout to take the next eight against Dallas.

After Brian DeLuca’s pin for Dallas at 130, Western Wayne built a 42-6 lead.

Dallas opened a 17-point lead three times in the quarterfinals, but Valley View (11-6) picked up two straight close wins at 215 and 285, along with a forfeit at 103, to keep its hopes alive going into the last two bouts.

Aaron Perez beat Peter Santarelli, Valley View’s top wrestler, 5-1, at 112 to clinch the 38-24 win. Jordan Visneski then won by injury default.

Pins by DeLuca, Corey Monk (145) and Dominic Chopka (189) helped Dallas open its early lead.

Quarterfinals

Western Wayne 51, Wyoming Area 24

125 – Andy Omiston (WW) dec. Trevor Skene, 9-7, OT; 130 – Tristen Vanderlick (WA) pinned Raphael Ingaglio, 5:42; 135 – Lucas Karnick (WW) pinned Robert Whiting, 1:54; 140 – John Ratajczak (WA) pinned Beau Fuller, 1:44; 145 – Casey Fuller (WW) pinned Nick Mazzone, 2:44; 152 – Josh Harrison (WW) pinned Michael Wright, :22; 152 – Garrett Enslin (WW) pinned Timothy Somers, 3:50; 160 – Garrett Enslin (WW) pinned Timothy Somers, 3:50; 171 -- Michael Koch (WW) pinned Robert Ide, 1:21; 189 – Kadiem Wheatle (WW) by forfeit. 215 – Connor Rosensweet (WW) pinned Mitchell Payne, :13; 285 – Lucas Stemba (WA) pinned Joseph Ingaglio, 3:33; 103 – Nicholas Heck (WA) dec. Evan Decker, 8-2; 112 – Zach Clookey (WW) by forfeit; 119 – Andrew Schutz (WA) dec. Zach Jones, 6-2.

Dallas 38, Valley View 24

125 – Billy Dixon (D) dec. Fred Mitchell, 12-0; 130 – Brian DeLuca (D) pinned Jerry Hosie, 2:49; 135 – Zach Mackosky (D) dec. John Munley, 17-4; 140 – Matt Wolfel (V) dec. Andy Murray, 11-6, OT: 145 – Corey Monk (D) pinned Nicco Cruciani, 1:59; 152 – Tyler Chesko (VV) dec. Anthony McDermott, 8-3; 160 – Garrett Artsma (D) dec. Nicholas Krehel, 4-1; 171 – Joe Klinko (VV) pinned Shawn Sekelsky, 2:33; 189 – Dominic Chopka (D) pinned Brandon Rotell, 5:00; 215 – Shane Venesky (VV) dec. Jake Hilstolsky, 7-3, OT; 285 – Mike Galantini (VV) dec. Jeremy Roberts, 5-2; 103 – John Joyce (VV) by forfeit. 112 – Aaron Perez (D) dec. Pete Santarelli, 5-1; 119 – Jordan Visreski (D) by injury default over Donald Joyce.

Elk Lake 50, Meyers 30

125 – Keaton Bennett (EL) dec. Jeff Nealon, 15-3; 130 – Dan Daly (EL) by forfeit; 135 – Devin Fiorentino (EL) pinned Dave Castellano, 1:16; 140 – Derrick Smith (EL) pinned Darren Stacker, 2:41; 145 – Bill Dress (Mey) pinned Dakota Green, 1:26; 152 – Brian Shaffer (Mey) pinned Fred Noldy, 1:10; 160 – Eric Carty (Mey) pinned James Trowbridge, 4:52; 171 – Tyler McCauley (EL) pinned Dijon Townes, 3:03; 189 – Brandon Cleveland (EL) by forfeit; 215 – Jacob Eastman (EL) pinned Jason Berman, 3:44; 285 – Anthony Gipson (Mey) pinned Josh Ralston, 3:48; 103 – Mason Moye (EL) dec. Sean Bergold, 17-9; 112 – Vito Pasone (Mey) pinned Frank Delesky, :27; 119 – Devon Moye (EL) by forfeit.

Hanover Area 62, Scranton Prep 18

125 – John Elick (HA) pinned Griffth Walters, 1:52; 130 – Paul Rakowski (HA) pinned Nathan Gelb-Dyller, 2:24; 135 – Matt Mullery (HA) tech. fall over Sean Cuff, 16-1, 4:57; 140 – Garrett Wynn (HA) pinned Chris Donnelly, 1:45; 145 – Kurt Pericci (HA) dec. Ken Sebastianelli, 6-0; 152 – Matt Lukachinsky (HA) pinned Ryan Rudalavage, 3:24; 160 – Dave Redman (HA) pinned Daniel Stuckart, 2:27; 171 – Steve Rodzwilla (HA) pinned Matt Stuckart, 2:25; 189 – Andrew Kaufer (HA) pinned Alex Krowiak, 5:08; 215 – Joseph Amendola (HA) by forfeit; 285 – Nick Stahl (SP) by forfeit; 103 – Shane Elick (HA) pinned Pat Creedon, 6:28; 112 – Justin Elick (HA) pinned Chris Schoen, :25; 119 – Nick D’Andrea (SP) pinned James Luckachinsky, 2:33.

Semifinals

Western Wayne 57, Dallas 18

130 – Brian DeLuca (D) pinned Raphael Ingaglio, 2:46; 135 – Lucas Karnick (WW) dec. Zach Mackosky, 5-1; 140 – Beau Fuller (WW) pinned Corey Monk, 3:48; 145 – Casey Fuller (WW) pinned Andy Murray, :49; 152 – Garrett Enslin (WW) dec. Anthony McDermott, 8-6; 160 – Josh Harrison (WW) pinned Garrett Artsma, 1:51; 171 – Kadiem Wheattle (WW) pinned Shawn Sekelsky, 4:55; 189 – Mike Koch (WW) pinned Dominic Chopka, 3:59; 215 – Connor Rosensweet (WW) pinned Jake Hilstosky, :33; 285 – Jeremy Roberts (D) pinned Matt Rosensweet, 3:09; 103 – Evan Decker (WW) by forfeit; 112 – Aaron Perez (D) by forfeit; 119 – Zach Clookey (WW) pinned Jordan Visneski, 3:59; 125 – Zach Jones (WW) dec. Billy Dixon (D), 6-5.

Hanover Area 48, Elk Lake 29

130 – Paul Rakowski (HA) pinned Dan Daly, 3:51; 135 – Devon Fiorentino (EL) pinned Matt Mullery, 5:48; 140 – Garrett Wynn (HA) dec. Derrick Smith, 12-0; 145 – Dakota Green (EL) pinned Kurt Pericci, :25; 152 – Matt Luckachinsky (HA) tech. fall over Fred Noldy, 18-3, 4:58; 160 – Tyler McCauley (EL) tech. fall over Dave Redman, 16-1; 171 – Steve Radzwilla (HA) pinned James Trowbridge, :25; 189 – Andrew Kaufer (HA) dec. Brandon Cleveland, 10-3; 215 – Jacob Eastman (EL) by forfeit; 285 – Josh Ralston (EL) by forfeit; 103 – Shane Elick (HA) pinned Mason Moye, 2:52; 112 – Justin Elick (HA) pinned Frank Delesky, 1:32; 119 – Devon Moye (EL) pinned James Lukachinsky, 1:05; 125 – John Elick (HA) pinned Keyton Bennett, 5:56.

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