HS Wrestling: Bears, Cardinals, Dawgs to clash for Division II title
Mahanoy Area's Rory Dixon, right, battles Burrell's Ben Catullo in a Class AA 160-pound bout during the PIAA Wrestling Championships on March 6, 2025, at the Giant Center in Hershey. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
The Schuylkill League sent two Class AA wrestlers to states last season.
Both represented Mahanoy Area.
Both return this season.
Senior Kyler Quick and junior Rory Dixon (part of the co-op with Marian) lead a Golden Bears squad that includes 11 returning starters and some newcomers adding depth on a 21-wrestler roster.
Mahanoy Area went 13-6 last season but 2-2 in Schuylkill League Division II matches and did not qualify for the District 11 Team Wrestling Championships. The Bears look to be more of a factor in the division and make it to District Duals this time around.
“We are looking forward to competing and taking advantage of opportunities this year,” Mahanoy Area coach Nathan Fegley said.
Quick (34-15 season, 94-44 career) and Dixon (32-11 season, 60-18 career) lead the Bears, while senior Jah Bushati (28-13) and junior regional qualifier William Stoyer add quality through the middle and upper weights. What will determine Mahanoy Area’s success will be the contributions from the rest of the lineup, like seniors Matt Spino, Nick Manley and Sonny Seritti. Freshman Arturo Reyes, a 121/127-pounder, is one to watch.
While Mahanoy Area should be in the mix, Pine Grove and Tri-Valley will have plenty to say about who wins the Division II crown.
Pine Grove knocked off Tri-Valley 35-34 on criteria last season to win its first Schuylkill League divisional crown since 2001 and end the Dawgs’ four-year run atop Division II. PGA also had 11 placewinners in a third-place finish at the Schuylkill League Wrestling Championships.
With 11 letter winners returning among a roster of 22, the Cardinals are primed to improve last season’s 13-6 record and take a run at repeating as division champion.
Pine Grove is still young, with just two seniors, but the squad has 11 experienced juniors forming the core of the lineup. Juniors Aaron Osatchuck (26-13) and Zach Kurtz (20-13) qualified for regionals last season, and fellow junior Scout Frantz (24-15) earned a district fifth place. For Pine Grove to challenge for the division, others such as senior Austin Frantz, juniors Izzy Miller, James Hoy and Andrew Hikes and sophomores Trent Warner and Chase Nagle will have to step up to the next level. Freshman Liam Levan (114-121) is one to watch.
“Pine Grove looks to continue to build from previous seasons and continue to get better,” Pine Grove co-head coach Paul Frantz said. “Hopefully, we will defend our Schuylkill League Division II title, continue to add regional qualifiers and push a few wrestlers into the state tournament.”
Meanwhile, over in Hegins, Tri-Valley’s roster is loaded with experience, talent and even some depth with 21 on the roster. The Dawgs went 13-6 a year ago and have plans to break through to a higher level and reclaim their division title.
Start with Tri-Valley’s three Southeast Regional sixth-place finishers: senior Owen Wolfgang (32-12) and juniors Noah Hanlon (35-12) and Hunter Updegrave (31-19). The top five at regionals qualified for the PIAA Championships.
Continue with regional qualifier Jaxson Bruso (31-15), a senior, and junior Donovan Keeth (23-15). Add district sixth-place finishers Max Masser and Ethan Miller, and you have the makings of a tough lineup.
Seniors Kyle Bowman and Garrett Leitzel, juniors Brock Bossler and Sam Misstishin and sophomores Kian Gill, Parker Hatter and Liam Yourey return as well. Freshmen Jayce Hatter, Landon Horoschak (D-11 JH 3rd) and Easton Moore (D-11 JH 7th) could contribute, too.
“We return a very balanced lineup this season, with a lot of experience,” Tri-Valley coach Dave Boltz said.
Williams Valley puts some of the league’s best wrestlers on the mat, but the Vikings need to build their numbers to have more dual-meet success. Not only that, the Vikes will be catching up after yet another extended football season.
When coach Curt Woodford gets everybody in the practice room, he’ll look to senior Camron Green (35-9), junior Magnus Monger (30-13), junior Colin Crisswell (29-11) and senior Xzavion Tennis (27-14) to lead the way. Green placed sixth and Crisswell eighth at regionals last season, while Monger and Tennis were regional qualifiers. Senior Eli Weiss won 17 bouts last season and will look to climb above .500 and add team points more consistently.
The Vikings also have five freshmen on the roster, with Damian Ems, Levi Lucas and D.J. Dotson listed as wrestlers to watch.
“With a strong core of upperclassman wrestlers, we look to make the jump to a competitive dual team this year,” Woodford said.
Schuylkill Haven has a new head coach in Brandon Costenbader. The law enforcement professional brings years of coaching experience as an assistant and has worked with some of Haven’s wrestlers through the younger ranks.
To be sure, the Hurricanes are a rebuilding program, but they’ve added some football athletes to the roster to bolster the upper weights.
Most notably, senior Niko Carestia, who suffered a severe leg injury during football season, is on the mend and signed up to return to the wrestling team at 215 pounds. Carestia went 28-9 as a freshman and earned a District 11 runner-up finish and regional berth. He added a 6-1 mark as a sophomore but did not wrestle last season.
Sophomore Logan Goad and juniors Triston Davis and Colton Reber join the wrestling team this season, while sophomore Jack Krammes and junior Bryce Reber are football players who are returning wrestlers. Juniors Mckenzie Blevins and John Stone and sophomores Trayten Hasenauer and Dylan Benulis are back as well.
“We have our star athletes, we just need the supporting cast,” Costenbader said. “When you walk in that (practice) room, there’s a different energy. There’s a buzz in the air, and the kids are excited to be Hurricane wrestlers.”
