- Times Leader
First Posted:
BETHLEHEM – Brad Emerick keeps making it looking easy.
Once again the Coughlin star 285-pounder shined in winning a gold medal.
This time, he did it on a bigger stage against a familiar opponent. The junior knocked off Pittston Area’s Chris Wesolowski for the fifth time this season to claim the gold medal Saturday in the Class 3A Northeast Regional Tournament at Freedom High School.
Emerick pushed his record to 39-0 this season with a fall in 1:05 over the Patriot. During the tournament, Emerick won three times — all via fall — and spent a total of 6 minutes, 36 seconds on the mat.
“It took a lot of strength, but I just came out wrestling every match one match at a time,” Emerick said. “I came out a full head of steam and all I wanted to do was win this. This is another one on the list.
“I wanted to get everything done and over with quick and get off the mat, and try not to get injured.”
Emerick was the only champion from the Wyoming Valley Conference in the tournament. He and Wesolowski will be joined by Crestwood’s Kyle Hankinson (145) and Hazleton Area’s Chad Hoffman (195) in the PIAA Championships, which begin Thursday at Giant Center in Hershey.
Wesolowski may have lost to Emerick, but the senior is headed to states for the first time after not even earning a district medal his first three varsity seasons. He went 3-1 in regionals, winning twice by a 2-1 score. Then he earned a ticket to Hershey with a 5-1 win over Pleasant Valley’s Mike Benner in the semifinals.
“It’s awesome. The first three years I didn’t place in districts and now I’m going to regionals and now states,” Wesolowski said. “I was a little nervous (entering regionals) but then I won my first one and it was great.”
Like Wesolowski, Hankinson advanced to states with a runner-up showing in the region, falling to reigning state champion Mitchell Minotti from Easton 8-1 in the finals. But after four straight regional appearances, he’s finally heading to the big show.
“I worked so hard over the years to get to this point. I’m just happy I’m going,” said Hankinson, who enters the state tournament with 95 career wins. “I’d rather win a state medal than get 100 wins.”
Hoffman had a flare for the dramatics Saturday.
First, he lost his semifinal match late by just one point. Then after winning with a technical fall to get to the third-place match, he grabbed a takedown with just 1.7 seconds left in overtime to secure the spot at states. He was up 1-0 in the second period, but a third-period escape tied the match at 1. Hoffman’s opponent, Jovon Reyes from Dieruff, almost got a takedown in the third and in overtime, but Hoffman ultimately won.
“I feel like I wrestled like complete crap to be honest with you. I didn’t wrestle to my potential and it’s no one’s fault but myself,” said Hoffman, who is now a two-time state qualifier after taking eighth last year. “I know I work hard, it just has to show. So, next week I’m going to make something happen, that’s my goal. I feel like I could and I always know I could.”
Pittston Area senior Jamie Scarantino advanced to the state-qualifying match at 106 and dropped a 6-3 decision to Pleasant Valley’s Kenny Yanovich, who also sent Scarantino in the wrestlebacks with a win in the quarterfinals.
The WVC began Saturday with 10 semifinalists, but only three advanced to the finals. The other seven dropped into the consolation bracket. Hoffman was the only one to complete the wrestleback round.
Wyoming Valley West’s Kyle Krasavage (126) and Pittston Area’s Angelo Lussi (145) lost to reigning state champs in the semis.
Krasavage’s teammate Derrick Simms (138) and Crestwood’s Matt Hammerstone (152) both lost on last-second scores by their opponents and they couldn’t recover, getting dispatched in their next match.
“It’s 100 percent mental,” Hoffman said about a dramatic semifinal loss and preparing for the next bout. “Thoughts go through your head like ‘I don’t want to lose this match.’ It went through my head, but I was thinking backup plan is go for third and that’s what I did.”
Hazleton Area freshman Larry Romanchik (113) and Coughlin’s Frankie Mahmoud (138) also lost their two first-session matches and were eliminated.
A total of nine wrestlers from District 2 will participate in the Class 3A state tournament with Delaware Valley’s C.J. Palmer (126), Marc Wagner (170) and Martin Strenk (182) will represent the Lackawanna League and are joined by Abington Heights’ Michael Carr (152) and Scranton’s Mark Granahan (160).
Class 3A Northeast Regional
Saturday At Freedom H.S., Bethlehem
Team Scores:
Third place
First round consolations
Second round consolations
Consolation semifinals
