The individual postseason kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. with the District 2 Class 2A and 3A championships at Hazleton Area High School. Click here for the pairings. It should be a pretty fun tournament with a lot of great matchups. Here’s a few things to look for this weekend:

 

 

Lackawanna Trail’s Michael Bluhm secures the leg of Tunkhannock’s Matt Rosentel in the 132-pound match during the Class 2A dual championship final at Pittston Area High School in Yatesville Saturday, February 1, 2020. Sean McKeag / Staff Photographer

 

Trail put to test

Lackawanna Trail had a breakthrough season with a group of freshmen who helped the Lions dominate Lackawanna League Division II and finish second in District 2 at the team championships. We’ll see if that translates to the individual postseason.

Sophomore Michael Bluhm (132 pounds) is the only top seed for Lackawanna Trail. He is a defending district champ, winning last year at 113. The No. 2 seed at 132 is Scranton Prep’s Antonio D’Apollonio. If they meet in the final, he’ll be a tough out for Bluhm to capture a second straight crown. They did not go head-to-head during the season.

At 106, freshman Max Bluhm is the three seed in a tough weight class. Tunkhannock’s Owen Woods is the top seed. Max Bluhm lost to him by a 5-0 decision at the District 2 team championships. The No. 2 seed Wyoming Area’s Jaden Pepe beat Woods by a 2-0 decision earlier this season. Max Bluhm hasn’t faced Pepe this season.

 

 

Lackawanna Trail’s Deegan Ross pins Tunkhannock’s Jeb Stephens in the 113-pound match during the Class 2A dual championship final at Pittston Area High School in Yatesville Saturday, February 1, 2020. Sean McKeag / Staff Photographer

 

 

 

At 113, freshman Deegan Ross is the No. 2 seed and Hanover Area’s Cael Davis is the top seed. The two have not faced off this season, but they were both at the Coal Cracker Tournament in January. Ross placed fifth, while Davis placed fourth.

At 120, freshman Ethan Lee won a Lackawanna League championship and is the No. 2 seed. He may have to face No. 1 seed Hanover Area’s Joe Rowley (a state qualifier) in the final.

At 126, freshman Robbie Schneider is also a Lackawanna League champ and is ranked 24th in the state according to PA Power Wrestling. However, he is only the No. 2 seed as regional champ and state qualifier Dave Evans secured the top seed.

 

 

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Western Wayne’s Matt Leslie reacts after defeating Abington Heights’ James Brown in the 152-pound championship match at the Lackawanna League wrestling 
championships at Wallenpaupack Area High School on Saturday.

 

 

Western Wayne’s dynamic duo

Junior Matt Leslie (152) and senior Jack McAllister (285) stepped it up this season. Leslie has been almost untouchable with a 36-3 record, a Lackawanna League title and a Tunkhannock Holiday Tournament crown. He is ranked 15th in the state according to PA Power Wrestling and won a district championship as a freshman. I don’t see anything stopping him from capturing another.

McAllister bounced back from an 8-11 season last year and is 30-5 this season. He won a Lackawanna League title and placed second at the Tunkhannock Holiday Tournament. He’s pinned the No. 2 seed in 30 seconds earlier in the year. Because of only six wrestlers in the weight class, he won’t have to wrestle until Saturday’s semifinal.

 

 

 

West Scranton’s Austin Fashouer puts a hold on Dante Iuliano, of St. Joseph’s Prep, during the 113-pound title match at the Tunkhannock Holiday Tournament on Saturday, December 28, 2019. Sean McKeag / Staff Photographer

 

 

State-ranked foes

At 106 in Class 3A, No. 1 seed West Scranton’s Austin Fashouer (Ranked No. 16 in the state according to PA Power Wrestling) and No. 2 seed Delaware Valley’s Zachary Jacaruso (Ranked No. 8 in the state according to PA Power Wrestling) have had great seasons, but haven’t faced off. Fashouer has wrestled a lot of the season at 113. He is one win away from 100 career victories. He has a Lackawanna League title at 113 and a Tunkhannock Holiday Tournament crown. He also placed second at the Jarvis Memorial Tournament. Jacaruso placed second at Escape the Rock and the Bethlehem Holiday Classic. When the Invaders faced the Warriors during the regular season, Jacaruso earned the winning pin in the last match to give Delaware Valley the victory in a match that pretty much determined the Division I title.

At 152, No. 2 seed West Scranton’s Garrett Walsh (Ranked No. 12 in the state at 152 according to PA Power Wrestling) may face No. 1 seed Hazleton Area’s Charles Everdale (Ranked 13th in the state according to PA Power Wrestling at 160) in the final. Walsh surpassed 100 career wins this season.

 

 

Delaware Valley’s Machias Magill reacts after defeating West Scranton’s Garrett Walsh in the 160-pound championship match at the Lackawanna League wrestling championships at Wallenpaupack Area High School on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.
Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer

 

 

At 160, No. 1 seed Delaware Valley’s Machias Magill (Ranked 16th in the state at 160 according to PA Power Wrestling) has had a monster season. He is 35-6 with a Lackawanna League title, Cumberland Valley Kickoff crown, a fifth-place finish at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic and fourth-place finish at Escape the Rock. The No. 2 seed in the bracket is Hazleton Area’s Bryce Molinaro (Ranked 16th in the state at 170 according to PA Power Wrestling).

 

 

West Scranton’s Cameron Butka wrestles Delaware Valley’s Jason Henderson in a 220-pound match at West Scranton on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer

 

 

At 195, Henderson-Butka II may prove the matchup that determines the Most Outstanding Wrestler for Class 3A. Delaware Valley’s Jason Henderson (Ranked No. 12 in the state according to PA Power Wrestling) is the top seed and West Scranton’s Cameron Butka (Ranked No. 11 in the state according to PA Power Wrestling) is at No. 2.

The two faced off during the regular season and it was quite a battle. Henderson took an early lead with a takedown, but Butka rallied to tie it with a takedown of his own. They entered the third period tied, 3-3. Butka chose down and Henderson put them in neutral, giving Butka a 4-3 edge. Henderson took his shots, but he couldn’t get the takedown.

After a 24-15 season last year, Butka is 37-0 in 2019-20. He also has Lackawanna League, Tunkhannock Holiday Tournament and Jarvis Memorial Tournament titles and victories over state-ranked opponents.

Injuries plagued Henderson at the beginning of last season before he rallied to make states. This year he is 32-6. He has a Lackawanna League title and Bethlehem Holiday Classic crown, and placed fourth at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff and Escape the Rock.

 

 

Delaware Valley’s Preston Machado reacts after pinning Hazleton Area’s Oscar Zamudio in a 132-pound match at the District 2 Class 3A wrestling dual championships at Pittston Area High School on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.
Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer

 

 

Take 2?

Delaware Valley’s Preston Machado, the No. 1 seed at 132, has faced No. 2 seed Wilkes-Barre Area’s Nino Cinti in the semifinals of the District 2 Class 3A team championships. Machado topped him by an 8-2 decision.

At 145, Pittston Area’s Jimmy Spindler, the No. 1 seed, edged No. 2 seed Delaware Valley’s Jay Shauger by a 2-1 decision in the quarterfinals of the team championships.

 

 

Delaware Valley’s Gavin Brazanskas celebrates after beating Abington Heights’ 160-pounder Sam Northrup in the championship final. Bob Gaetano / Contributing photographer

 

 

Don’t doubt Gavin

At 170, Delaware Valley’s Gavin Brazanskas is the No. 2 seed. Two years ago, he went 5-18. The next year he won a district title at 160. It’ll be interesting to see what he can accomplish this postseason. He’s proven the sky’s the limit.