2020 Escape the Rock

Escape The Rock Semifinals Preview

Escape The Rock Semifinals Preview

Take a weight by weight look at the loaded Escape The Rock semifinals.

Jan 19, 2020 by John Foster
Escape The Rock Semifinals Preview
It might be bone chilling cold outside Council Rock South, but it has been sizzling inside, with non-stop action that ripped straight through the quarterfinals on day one. Sunday morning brings us an incredible set of semifinals, with monster stars waiting in nearly every weight. With a few exceptions the brackets have gone as anticipated, but that just means we are about to actually get the matches that we have been salivating over all week. Here is a look at what to expect:

Unlock this article, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

It might be bone chilling cold outside Council Rock South, but it has been sizzling inside, with non-stop action that ripped straight through the quarterfinals on day one. Sunday morning brings us an incredible set of semifinals, with monster stars waiting in nearly every weight. With a few exceptions the brackets have gone as anticipated, but that just means we are about to actually get the matches that we have been salivating over all week. Here is a look at what to expect:

Watch Escape the Rock 2020 LIVE on Flo

January 18-19 | 10 AM Eastern


106 Sean Logue Philadelphia, PA (Father Judge) vs Tommy Link Malvern, PA (Malvern Prep)

There was a lot of talk in the arena about Logue potentially being ripe for an upset in his quarter against Cael McIntyre, but he showed that the seeding is correct and punctuated it with takedowns both early and late to stamp his ticket. Link has been fantastic, showing the form that earned him a spot on the podium at both Ironman and Beast. These two have been cruising but something is going to have to give.


106 Carson Wagner Northampton, PA (Northampton) vs Zachary Jacaruso Milford, PA (Delaware Valley) 

Wagner survived a nearfall and came back to get a takedown in the final minute to win his quarter against Logan Attisano 10-8. I had been excited to see Jacaruso and he has not disappointed, wrestling with an edge I enjoy in a lightweight.


113 Brett Ungar Easton, PA (Notre Dame Green Pond) vs Joe Manno Lodi, NJ (St. Joseph Regional)

Brett Ungar has been aching to win a major tournament this season, losing in the final at Ironman and Beast. Will he let Manno stand in his way? While Ungar looked like a man on a mission on Saturday, Manno looked like a man fighting for survival. Scratching out victories against Zeke Dubler and Mason Prinkey, he has been battle tested and will look to give Ungar a fight.


113 Erik Roggie Richmond, VA (St. Christopher’s School) vs Kelly Dunnigan Waldwick, NJ (Don Bosco Prep)

This will be their second meeting this season after Dunnigan defeated Roggie at Beast. Both guys have looked phenomenal, despite some decent competition, and you know I love Roggie’s rangy attack and unorthodox style for the weight. Dunnigan has had the answers to those questions before though, can Roggie throw something new at him?


120 Georgio Mazzeo Paulsboro, NJ (Paulsboro) vs Dayton Delviscio Malvern, PA (Malvern Prep)

Deliviscio really impressed me in his quarterfinal. I expected Killian Delaney to be an absolute handful and for these two to be crashing into one another for three periods. Instead, it was Deliviscio taking a very determined approach from top and controlling the proceedings to the tune of a 4-0 win. His opponent, George Mazzeo, is the beneficiary of a bizarre turn of events at the top of the bracket, as number one seed Dustin Norris left his round of 16 match while leading 5-1, using injury time as he ran out of the arena, and then never returned, defaulting to Dylan Knight, who the 8th seeded Mazzeo then defeated.


120 Alex Almeyda Bogota, NJ (St. Joseph Regional) vs Brandan Chletsos Easton, PA (Notre Dame Green Pond) 

When 2nd seeded and 18th ranked Kenny Hauserman was scratched due to illness, everyone was disappointed, but the silver lining was knowing that we would get this rematch without having to count on an upset or two to make it happen. Chletsos defeated Almeyda on the backside at Beast, but as I mentioned in the preview, Almeyda had just lost an absolute heartbreaking semi and he didn’t seem fully engaged in the match. Almeyda might be the 3rd seed here, but he is ranked 6th in the country and will be out for revenge. Chletsos will be looking to prove that the earlier result was no fluke. SPICY! We can’t get to this one fast enough!



126 Ryan Crookham Easton, PA (Notre Dame Green Pond) vs Luke Lucerne Newtown, PA (Council Rock North) 

Pretty much everyone had already pencilled in 2nd ranked Ryan Crookham into the final, but that was before he looked less than stellar in pushing a first period takedown into a very tight 2-1 quarterfinal victory over McKenzie Bell. Lucerne really opened up his quarterfinal match against Camron Lacure after Lacure had a gash in his eyebrow. Will he play tough and aggressive with Crookham as well?


126 Cole Skinner Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati LaSalle) vs Eddie Ventresca Sparta Township, NJ (Pope John XXIII) 

Cole Skinner made his way to the semi via riding out Kyle Waterman in UTB in a tight and brutal quarter, so he will be thankful for a good night’s rest and a chance to regroup before tackling 7th ranked Eddie Ventresca. Ventresca has been racking up the points with his active style, can Skinner draw him into another slow slugfest? Or are we destined for the Ventresca versus Crookham rivalry to make its way to another final?



132 Patrick Noonan Stroudsburg, PA (Stroudsburg) vs Evan Buchanan Mechanicsville, VA (Atlee High School) 

Patrick Noonan has yet to be tested here, showing that he is ranked 10th with good reason. Mixing agility and power, with a wonderful mat awareness, he has dispatched foe after foe. Evan Buchanan will be looking to give him a big test and then some. Buchanan has shown gutsy performances this season, finding himself on the podium at both Ironman and Beast, and he has been active and in control throughout his matches here. This one could be a lot more interesting than some might expect. 


132 Justin Bierdumpfel Mahwah, NJ (St. Joseph Regional) vs Joey Olivieri East Hanover, NJ (Hanover Park) 

In the preview I wrote about my being pulled into rooting for Joey Olivieri, and he has more than earned that attention so far this weekend. But it is hard to watch Justin Bierdumpfel taking out Brock McMillen in the quarter and not get behind him as well. Bierdumpfel kept shooting and seemed to get the win out of sheer will, being awarded the takedown literally as the last second was ticking away. Can we weather the storm of Olivieri, and more importantly, can he also win those exchanges on the mat like he did on Saturday? Olivieri is hungry for a title. Which wrestler will want to move on to the final more?


138 Kenny Herrmann Bethlehem, PA (Bethlehem Catholic) vs Jake Niffenegger Lebanon, OH (Cincinnati LaSalle) 

Kenny Herrmann spent the early matches doing Kenny Herrmann things, by staying in control and tying folks up in knots. Jake Niffenegger had his day filled with explosive periods in each of his matches, racking up strings of takedowns when the opportunities presented themselves. Can he unleash that kind of barrage on Herrmann, who has a full sack of tricks to put an end to those very thoughts? It will be very interesting to see how this one plays out.


138 Gavin Brown Lebanon, OH (Legacy Christian Academy) vs Jacob Perez-eli Paulsboro, NJ (Paulsboro) 

We spent at least thirty minutes after the quarters trying to figure out the deciding call in the Gavin Brown and Cade Balestrini match. In tiebreakers, a stall call came that everyone (including our own Brock Hite on the mic, assumed was on Brown) that would have made it 5-4 Balestrini, but it was clarified as being against him for blocking the hips, so they continued on and Brown won the next TB period to advance. Jacob Perez-Eli had a wild back and forth quarterfinal of his own, prevailing over Michael Cetta 7-5. Both guys have needed a little luck to keep going, and one of them will have that luck run out on Saturday morning.


145 Cole Handlovic Bethlehem, PA (Bethlehem Catholic) vs Kaya Sement Sparta Township, NJ (Pope John XXIII)

The big talk coming in was Handlovic moving to 145. Well, he looks like he is enjoying this weight class, more or less moving through Saturday as planned. Handlovic is ranked 10th at 152 and will be looking to better that at 145 in the next set when they come out. Standing in his way is Kaya Sement. Sement has been pretty workmanlike here but he can really get after it. I won’t forget how he had Joey Zargo on the run at Beast and he will be looking forward to giving Handlovic the same treatment.


145 Jared Keslar Indian Head, PA (Connellsville) vs Jagger Condomitti Northampton, PA (Northampton) 

5th ranked Jagger Condomitti has been on fire all season, but that nearly came apart in a flash in his quarterfinal as Jesse Alvarado had him on his back briefly after a reversal. That seemed to snap something in Condomitti as he recovered and then eventually executed a reversal of his own, before then turning it into a fall with one second left on the clock in the second period. Jared Keslar on the other hand, executed his pin in the first period, sticking the 3 seed Antonio Petrucelli. Does Condomitti attack with a renewed determination, or is he careful and wary to start this semi?


152 Dalton Harkins Malvern, PA (Malvern Prep) vs Aj Tamburrino Horsham, PA (Hatboro Horsham)

This one is going to be incredible. I can feel it. 5th ranked Dalton Harkins is clearly having an amazing season, winning both Ironman and Beast, and he showcased some veteran moves in winning his quarter over Matt Lackman 2-1. An intense battle, everyone agreed that Lackman was a low seed given his resume, and the arena could smell a trap match. Harkins responded by relentlessly winning the same battles from top time and time again, adding a slick reversal to cap the scoring. The AJ Tamburrinno vs Kolby Allred quarter was the polar opposite, but required the same amount of poise. Allred was fast and loose but 18th ranked Tamburrinno wasn’t biting, staying the course to a 12-6 win. Do they meet in the middle and we see a tight action-packed semi?


152 Nick Vafiadis New Kent, VA (New Kent) vs Cameron Robinson Newtown, PA (Council Rock North)

15th ranked Cam Robinson was taking care of business with ease and likely expecting to see Dylan Weaver come Sunday morning. But Weaver was upset by Dominick DeIntinis, who then lost the quarter to Nick Vafiadis. Vafiadis is scrappy and always brings it. He had a bruising round of 16 battle with Wesley Barnes (who then lost to Weaver on the back as the two nearly moved on to the “extra-curriculars” at the close of their match) and Nick never backs down. Robinson will be looking to use his athleticism to open things up, but Vafiadis won’t let it be easy for him.



160 Andrew Cerniglia Easton, PA (Notre Dame Green Pond) vs Dillon Sheehy UPR MAKEFIELD, PA (Council Rock North) 

Andrew Cerniglia has been wowing the crowd as the 5th ranked wrestler made quick work of everyone he faced. Dillon Sheehy is built like he would like nothing better than to put a stop to that. It is going to be a tough order to fill though. Can he slow Cerniglia down and find a way to get inside and work upper body, or is the Cerniglia juggernaut headed straight to the finals at full speed?


160 Andrew Clark Collingswood, NJ (Collingswood) vs Luke Nichter Chambersburg, PA (Chambersburg)

Luke Nichter is the returning champion and plans to have a say in who tops the podium at the close of Sunday. Andrew Clark put the lockdown on Matt Colajezzi in his home gym (cruel stuff there) but he won’t be able to do the same with Nichter and will have to open up.


170 Angel Garcia Philadelphia, PA (Mariana Bracetti) vs Jaden Bullock Chesapeake, VA (Oscar Smith) 

This will be a rematch from their meeting earlier in the season at Beast. Garcia won that bout using a sly array of trips and drags and basically didn’t let Bullock get into the match until it was too late. It will be fascinating to watch the adjustments they both make for this edition. Garcia is ranked 14th but Bullock has already been in and out of the top 20 with his mercurial season. Both of these guys have looked incredibly dangerous here and this could be one of the best matches between rangy tacticians that we have Sunday morning. I AM HERE FOR THIS!


170 Leonard Pinto Stroudsburg, PA (Stroudsburg) vs Brandon Green Paulsboro, NJ (Paulsboro) 

Pintomania running wild once again! Lenny looks focused and like a mountain of trouble for anyone standing across from him. Bless Caden Rogers for not backing down and giving the 7th ranked Pinto a fight from every position in their quarter, but all it did was earn him a rough pin with the score already 15-5. Brandon Green knows his way around a pin. In fact, that is all he did on Saturday. Green has yet to spend a full minute on the mat so far. Both of these guys have looked incredibly dangerous here and this could be one of the best matches between absolute powerhouses that we have Sunday morning. I AM HERE FOR THIS!


182 Samuel Fisher Marshall, VA (Fauquier) vs Dillon Walker Mason, OH (Cincinnati LaSalle) 

Slammin’ Sammie Fisher is looking to make 182 his kingdom and take his 19th ranking back into the upper stratosphere. He seems more than ready after blitzing his opponents to get here. Dillon Walker had to take a different path, holding on for a 7-6 quarter victory over Isaiah Reinert that got real tight in the final minute. He won’t be able to risk losing a hold on a match like that with Fisher, if Fisher even gives him the option.


182 Maximus Hale Downingtown, PA (Downingtown West) vs Joey Milano Royersford, PA (Spring-Ford) 

On the bottom side Hale and Milano have been rocketing towards one another. Both are very talented and also very dangerous (Fisher will be taking notes on the winner for sure) and their earlier meeting this year was a tight 3-2 battle won by Milano. Despite the heavy points they have been displaying in the build up, I think we can expect another cagey affair.



195 Gaige Garcia Catawissa, PA (Southern Columbia) vs Azeem Bell DE (A.I. Dupont)

We sat at the head table just marveling at Gaige Garcia and his fluid movement. Rarely do you see a big man just glide so smoothly into his attacks and positions. We had to look quick as well, as Garcia was happy to pin his opponents and get ready for a potential showdown with a young bulldog barking his name in the finals. Azeem Bell would like to have a word with the 3rd ranked Garcia beforehand, thank you very much. Bell had a quick fall followed by a major decision over Jason Henderson in his quarter. Can he hope to test Garcia as well?


195 Chase Mielnik Downingtown, PA (Downingtown West) vs Nicholas Feldman Malvern, PA (Malvern Prep) 

That bulldog is 7th ranked Nick Feldman, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite wrestlers. The Beast champ and Ironman and Powerade finalist got warmed up with a pin of his own and a quick and rough tech fall. Standing in his way will be Chase Mielnik. Mielnik was at 220 at Beast so they did not meet, and on day two it will be interesting if there looks to be a size difference. Mielnik has two first period falls on his resume this weekend, not to be outdone. Can he spoil the party?



220 Kyonte Hamilton District Heights, MD (Georgetown Prep) vs Adam Young Sunbury, PA (Shikellamy) 

Kyonte Hamilton has risen all the way to 3rd in the country following his Beast championship, and as soon as I write nice things about him every chance that I can find, he goes and frustrates me again, and then turns around and knocks my socks off! Starting things off in a looser fashion than I would like, he closed out the second period of his match with Max Tillett briefly on his back and saved by being out of bounds. Kyonte then took over to close it out, but I worried when his quarter with Logan Flynn started out tight as well. I need not have been so concerned as Hamilton deployed his new (not so secret now I suppose) weapon - knowing that his long legs are too big of a target to resist, once he gives it up now he finds a shockingly quick ankle pick that he rolls into a cradle for the fall. It is brilliant in it’s formulation, and in it’s execution. If people start to avoid his legs, that’s a win. If they dare snatch one, they might just get pinned. I love it. Adam Young took tie-breakers to win his quarter over Jamar Christian, and it will be interesting to see if he got the memo.


220 Michael Toranzo Montvale, NJ (St. Joseph Regional) vs Cory Johnston Irvona, PA (Glendale) 

Michael Toranzo was in a slugfest for his quarter, with Cole Zydel literally close handing him in the side of the head away from the view of the official. He stayed composed and made the most of his opportunities. Cory Johnston won’t likely be as chippy as he is a smoother operator, keeping control for his 3-0 quarter win over Matthew Cruise. It will be interesting to see what direction Toranzo looks to pull this in.



285 Cole Deery Malvern, PA (Malvern Prep) vs Ben Blevins Maineville, OH (Cincinnati LaSalle) 

Cole Deery spent Saturday doing Cole Deery things, which is pinning people and looking pretty darn tough as he does so. The Ironman and Powerade champ wasted little time in sticking his prey, including freshman Alex Birchmeier, whose big brother was the heavyweight champ here last year. Maybe that will bring Deery some added luck, though the 10th ranked big man hardly needs it. Or maybe he does? Ben Blevins has been doing nothing but beating all of the seeded guys. Starting with a 3-1 win over the 4th seed Blake Lambert, which he followed by pinning 5th seeded Jeremy McGuigan. Can he keep going all the way through the top seed? Deery will want to be cautious. 


285 Jim Mullen Kearny, NJ (St. Joseph Regional) vs Lear Quinton Catawissa, PA (Southern Columbia) 

I am way more excited about this match than I have any right to be. Jim Mullen is very much a freshman, which makes heavyweight an especially tough go of it your first year of high school, but he also might be the future of the weight class. The kid looks his age, so you can see a lot of physical development is still to come, but he sure can go, and his technique is fantastic. Opposite him will be Lear Quinton who will be the perfect gauge as to where he is currently in his development. Quinton is not a power heavy and he likes to wrestle through positions, usually having to lure bigger guys into his spots where he can fish out the back or execute a trip. The main danger is that once he is on top Quinton is quick to get the boots in, so I would be curious if he can flatten Mullen out and ride him as well. This is a very winnable match for Mullen, but a great test as well.