Wrestling: Mahanoy Area program enjoys big weekend

The Mahanoy Area elementary wrestling team celebrates its Coal Cracker League championship Sunday at Jim Thorpe Area High School. The Golden Bears defeated Jim Thorpe 47-44 in the finals. (Submitted Photo)

JIM THORPE — Mahanoy Area wrestling is on the rise.

At the varsity level, Rory Dixon (160) and Kyler Quick (189) qualified for the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships to be held Thursday-Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

At the junior high level, Arturo Reyes placed third at 132 pounds at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Junior High State Championships at the 1st Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown. Reyes posted a 6-1 record at the event, reaching the semifinals, then wrestling back for third by topping Lake-Lehman’s Joseph Ganstella 10-3 in the bronze-medal bout.

In addition, North Schuylkill’s Bode Gates (140) took eighth, falling 2-0 to South Westerns Bryce Ault in the consolation finals. On the girls’ side, Aubrey Kokinda captured the 73-pound crown. She went 3-0 with three pins, including a 31-second fall over Archbishop Ryan’s Kyra Beall in the finals.

Then, on Sunday, the Mahanoy Area elementary wrestling team won the 2024-25 Coal Cracker League championship. Mahanoy Area, seeded No. 2, defeated Tamaqua 54-50 in the opening round, then avenged an earlier season loss by stopping Mount Carmel 55-41. In the championship match, Mahanoy Area avenged another earlier season loss by defeating No. 1 seed and host Jim Thorpe 47-44. This is Mahanoy Area’s first Coal Cracker League championship title.

The Mahanoy Area elementary team is comprised of students from both Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley School Districts, in grades K-6.  The Coal Cracker League is comprised of 11 other schools from Schuylkill, Monroe and Northumberland counties.

Local fire departments from Mahanoy City, Delano, Ryan Township and Shenandoah celebrated with the team by leading them through Mahanoy City in a parade Sunday afternoon.

The team is coached by John Cambra III, Matt Sullivan, Joe Yutko, Kyle Kerlavage, Eric Brassington and Ronnie Malafarina,

Team members include: Ryan Mertz, Liam Sullivan, Parker Brode, Jericho Caporusso, David Cushner, Evan Yutko, Casey Symons, Landon Wagner, Keegan Sullivan, Aiden Mertz, Josiah Erickson, John Cambra IV, Vinny Malafarina, Owen Yutko, Daxton Finneran, Brandon Loughlin, Max Holman, Oliver Kerlavage, Kiara Caporusso, Blake Brassington, Hunter Dabashinsky, Gorby Weeks, Asharia Weeks, Axel Hernandez, Thiere Kershetsky and Josh Stevens.