FI: PA's Sophomore Class is Deep

Sep 18, 2013 by Willie Saylor

Pennsylvania Sophomore Prospects: Class of 2016

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Pennsylvania Sophomore Prospects: Class of 2016
By: Corey Haddad, Pennsylvania Insider

1. Jordan Wood: Boyertown (220)
- 3A State 2nd, Cadet Freestyle Nationals 3rd, Cadet Greco Nationals 2nd, Super 32 Challenge 4th
2. Luke Pletcher: Greater Latrobe (120)
- 3A State Champion, Flonationals Champion, Super 32 Challenge 3rd, POWERade Christmas Tournament Champion
3. Nick Reenan: Wyoming Seminary (152)
- Texas Class 4A State Champion, Cadet Freestyle Nationals Champion
4. Chris Weiler: Wyoming Seminary (160)
- Junior Freestyle Nationals 6th, National Preps 5th, Walsh Ironman 8th
5. George Phillippi: Derry Area (120)
- 2A State Champion, Flonationals 6th
6. Josh Colello: Cedar Cliff (195)
- 3A State Qualifier, POWERade Christmas Tournament 3rd
7. Drew Phipps: Norwin (195)
- 3A State Qualifier, Cadet Freestyle Nationals 6th, Freshman National Champion
8. Hayden Hidlay: Mifflin County (126)
- 3A State Qualifier, Cadet Freestyle Nationals 2nd, Cadet Greco Nationals 2nd
9. Trent Olson: Wyoming Seminary (113)
- Wyoming Class 4A State Champion, Freshman Nationals 2nd
10. Luke Karam: Bethlehem Catholic (106)
- 2A State 2nd, Junior Freestyle Nationals 3rd
11. Gage Curry: North Hills (106)
- 3A State 4th, Flonationals 3rd
12. Ethan McCoy: The Kiski School (106)
- National Preps 2nd, Flonationals 7th
13. Jonathan Ross: Northern York (132)
- 3A State Qualifier, Cadet Freestyle Nationals 2nd
14. Austin Bell: Belle Vernon (160)
- Cadet Freestyle Nationals 5th, Freshman Nationals 3rd
15. Kaleb Young: Punxsatawney (138)
- 3A State Qualifier, 10-3 record at Cadet National Duals in Freestyle & Greco
16. Collin Glorioso: Huntington Area (113)
- 2A State 3rd
17. Matt Lattanze: Malvern Prep (126)
- National Preps 4th
18. Blake Marks: Southern Coulmbia (160)
- 2A State 8th
19. Jake Shaffer: Greater Latrobe (160)
- 3A State Qualifier
20. Cole Franklin: Emmaus (145)
- 3A State Qualifier
21. Rashon Lusane: Norristown (152)
- 3A State Qualifier
22. Wade Cummings: Downingtown East (120)
23. Dylan Chatterton: Central York (113)
- 3A State 5th
24. Lucas Ortiz: Conestoga Valley (132)
- Cadet Greco Nationals 5th
25. Felix Belga: Cumberland Valley (145)
26. Jimmy Saylor: Easton (138)
- Manehim Holiday Tournament Champion, Freshman Nationals 2nd
27. Jake Beistel: Southmoreland (285)
- 2A State Qualifier, Freshman National Champion
28. Will Verallis: Wyoming Seminary (126)
- National Preps 4th
29. Jake Wentzel: South Park (138)
- 2A State 8th
30. Nick Monico: Saegertown (132)
- 2A State 8th
31. Lee Todora: Bethlehem Catholic (132)
- 2A State Qualifier, District 11 2A Champion
32. Evan Fidelibus: Easton (120)
- Manehim Holiday Tournament 3rd, Reno Tournament of Champions 6th
33. Jacob Lizak: Parkland (106)
- 3A State Qualifier, Cadet Freestyle Nationals 4th
34. John Busiello: Wyoming Seminary (106)
- New York Division I State 3rd
35. Gene Ringer: Reynolds (285)
- Walsh Ironman 8th

Commentary:
In the first two installments of Flo's Pennsylvania Prospects, the junior high and freshman were only listed by school. With the sophomores, they have major accomplishment's from last season included. PA is nationally recognized as the state with the most depth, but why stop at there? It is also the most talented and this group defines that! Luke Pletcher and George Phillippi won state gold in 3A and 2A, respectively. Jordan Wood was a rare freshman to be a 3A finalist at an upper-weight (220) and his biggest foe Thomas Haines moving up to 285, there is no reason Wood should not be the favorite to win 220 in 3A. His offseason speaks for itself. He was a finalist a Flonationals and Cadet Greco Nationals. In Cadet Freestyle, he finished third losing to FLO's #1 nationally ranked 195 pounder, Lane Benick (MN), also downing him in the Greco final. For those accolades, the Boyertown wrestler is the #1 prospect in Pennsylvania for the class of 2016. He has the skill, quickness, and power that have college coaches drooling over his potential as a future heavyweight star at the next level.

For traditionalists, some may wonder why prep school wrestler's are also listed. It's time to embrace that they compete at a school located in PA and even better, they are making serious noise on the national scene. Sorry to burst your bubble thinking it will not last, but they here to stay and will only bring in more talent in the future. Wyoming Seminary is a top nationally ranked team that has a wonderful group of sophomores. State champ Nick Reenan comes from Texas where he won Fargo freestyle, where he finished fifth as an eight-grader. Chris Weiler had an outstanding freshman campaign placing at the nation's toughest tournament, Ironman, where he beat two-time state champion Garrett Hammond, and capped off his summer earning sixth at Fargo Junior freestyle. The third Seminary wrestler in the top 10 is Wyoming state transplant, Trent Olson. He not only went undefeated to win his state championship, but built his national resume as a runner-up at NHSCA Freshman Nationals.

It's uncommon to have so many talented upper-weight's as some of the state's best prospects, but this class has more than just Jordan Wood in that range. Josh Colello and Drew Phipps both had an amazing first year. They were state qualifiers in 3A and Colello beat Phipps in the third-place match at POWERade, one of the nation's premier events. Not to be outdone, 2A state qualifier, Jake Beistel won an NHSCA Freshman National Championship at 285 in Virginia Beach. Hayden Hidlay may not be a household name yet, but this kid is one to watch after a fairytale Fargo. He was a double-finalist in freestyle and greco losing only to Zahid Valencia (CA) in each style. Jonathan Ross, another relatively unknown, did damage at Fargo taking home a second-place finish in Cadet Freestyle. The York County native will be one to watch at the 3A state tournament in a star-studded weight class at 132 pounds. Luke Karam burst on the scene last year making the 2A, 106 final losing in overtime to Cadet World Team member Devin Brown, who transferred to 3A state favorite Franklin Regional. Karam is listed at 106 for the Super 32 Challenge and will look to bring a gold medal back to the Lehigh Valley in March. Karam impressed with a quality Fargo tournament in the Junior division placing third at 106 after taking second in 2011 at Cadet Freestyle Nationals. Last Fall, Karam had a great victory over another super-sophomore in Gage Curry at the Ironhorse Invitational, which is another premier preseason tournament in New Jersey.

The hype is real with this class and they will have a slew of state and national prep gold medallists this season and even more in the future. And for those who think Pennsylvania's Fargo accomplishments have dwindled, think again. Not only will these youngsters grow into multiple-time state champions, but also Fargo national champions. That is just another reason to believe that the state of wrestling in our commonwealth is in good hands for years to come.

Please contact Corey with feedback and comments via email at corey.haddad@flowrestling.com