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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Noah Rakowski paced back and forth for the good part of an hour on Wednesday behind the Hanover Area bench.</p><p>The Hawkeyes junior knew he was going to be walking on the mat in the last bout of the District 2 Class 2A Duals semifinals with the chance to send his team to the finals for the first time in six years.</p><p>It took more than 5 minutes into the 152-pound match, but Rakowski pulled out a dramatic victory over Meyers&#8217; Jeremy Bergold lifting Hanover Area to a 33-31 victory against the defending district champ.</p><p>&#8220;I knew that this match was going to come down to the 152 bout between Bergold and I so I knew I had to come out on top,&#8221; Rakowski said. &#8220;So I was just filling my brain with positive reinforcement.&#8221;</p><p>Trailing 1-0 entering the third period and being on bottom, Rakowski knew he had to do something big or the Hawkeyes would be sent to the consolation bracket. With time winding down, after trying for a reversal for about a minute, Rakowski settled for an escape point to tie the match at 1-1 with about 30 seconds left. Fighting in neutral, both wrestlers attempted a takedown. Then finally with 10 seconds left in the third period, Rakowski fended off a shot and got a whizzer in deep then circled behind Bergold and was awarded the two points to nab the 3-1 victory.</p><p>&#8220;I just pushed through. I knew my team was behind me 100 percent,&#8221; Rakowski said. &#8220;I knew we had a good chance to go to states so I knew I had to get out. It&#8217;s the greatest feeling I&#8217;ve ever felt before.&#8221;</p><p>With the win, the Hawkeyes are in the district final for the first time since 2010 and will face Lake-Lehman in Saturday&#8217;s final at 1:30 p.m. at Pittston Area. The Black Knights defeated Western Wayne, 35-27 in the other semi on Wednesday. The winner of Saturday&#8217;s final advances to the double-elimination PIAA Team Championships on Feb. 11 at the Giant Center in Hershey.</p><p>It wasn&#8217;t just Rakowski who was a key match for the Hawkeyes, who lost to the Mohawks just four days prior by 14 points. Everything seemed to go right for Hanover Area on Wednesday night. The Hawkeyes got different matchups that paid dividends. Then, in matches that were the same on Saturday night, Hanover Area came out on top by either giving up fewer bonus points or turning a loss into a win.</p><p>&#8220;Those things just worked in our favor tonight,&#8221; Hanover coach Anthony Mercadante said. &#8220;To be honest, I got all the matches I wanted today.&#8221;</p><p>After Meyers took a 9-0 lead to start on a decision by Fahbian Biggs at 160 and a pin from Gino Setta at 170, Hanover Area&#8217;s J.J. Hooper won at 182 by decision to get his team on the board. But what came next might have been one of the biggest nonwins for the Hawkeyes.</p><p>Last week, Meyers&#8217; Namir Murphy pinned Isaiah Stebbins. On Wednesday night, Murphy was held to a 6-2 decision. That put the Mohawks up 12-3, but Hanover Area had its pinners coming up. And that&#8217;s what happened as Nick Hannon (220) and John Sheridan (285) each notched falls giving the Hawkeyes their first lead at 15-12.</p><p>&#8220;I told Stebbins &#8216;listen, if you&#8217;re not gonna win you can&#8217;t give up six this time,&#8217; and he didn&#8217;t,&#8221; Mercadante said. &#8220;He did his job.&#8221;</p><p>Meyers went back in front 27-15 thanks to a pair of Hanover Area forfeits, and a decision from Colin Pasone at 120.</p><p>After Pasone&#8217;s win, perhaps the biggest win of the dual occurred for the Hawkeyes when D.J. Erickson won by decision over Kevin Huertero at 126 after getting pinned by Huertero last week. That was a huge nine-point swing for Hanover Area.</p><p>Zakee Nettles followed Erickson&#8217;s win with a fall at 132, and Owen Davis put the Hawkeyes in front 30-27 with another pin and just two bouts remaining.</p><p>Meyers&#8217; Jamell Ballard won an action-packed match at 145 over Jake Finn as the Mohawks went back in front by one, 31-30 right before the final bout.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the hard work that these kids put in in the room,&#8221; Mercadante said. &#8220;They listen to me yell at them and get on them about every little thing. But they respond well.</p><p>&#8220;Meyers is a great team, but for whatever reason it went our way this time. We could wrestle this match 10 times and have five their way and five our way.&#8221;</p><p>Meyers drops into the consolation bracket and will face the winner of the consolation semifinal on Saturday morning at 10:30 at Pittston Area.</p><p><strong>Semifinals</strong></p><p><strong>Hanover Area 33, Meyers 31</strong></p><p><strong>106: </strong>Steven Hernandez (Mey won by forfeit); <strong>113</strong>: Bryce Waters (Mey) won by foreit; <strong>120</strong>: Colin Pasone (Mey) dec Jeff Bennett 10-4; <strong>126</strong>: D.J. Erickson (Han) dec Kevin Huertero 12-6; <strong>132</strong>: Zakee Nettles (Han) pinned Anthony Kasper 3:07; <strong>138</strong>: Owen Davis (Han) pinned Reese Patronick 3:09; <strong>145</strong>: Jamell Ballard (Mey) maj dec Jake Finn 15-6; <strong>152</strong>: Noah Rakowski (Han) dec Jeremy Bergold 3-1; <strong>160</strong>: Fahbian Biggs (Mey) dec Mike Lenahan 7-6; <strong>170</strong>: Gino Setta (Mey) pinned Tom Mercadante :31; <strong>182</strong>: J.J. Hooper (Han) dec Isaac Mensah 4-2; <strong>195</strong>: Namir Murphy (Mey) dec Isaiah Stebbins 6-2; <strong>220</strong>: Nick Hannon (Han) pinned Lucas Borum 4:35; <strong>285</strong>: John Sheridan (Han) pinned Preston Perkins 1:07</p><p><strong>Note: </strong>Match started at 160 pounds</p><p><strong>Quarterfinals</strong></p><p><strong>Hanover Area 51, Scranton Prep 27</strong></p><p><strong>106</strong>: Sammy Segers (SP) won by forfeit; <strong>113</strong>: Zach Kornfield (SP) won by forfeit; <strong>120</strong>: Jeff Bennett (Han) pinned Connor Chernesky :41; <strong>126</strong>: Mike Gronkowski (Han) won by forfeit; <strong>132</strong>: D.J. Erickson (Han) pinned Mikey Welsh :48; <strong>138</strong>: Zakee Nettles (Han) won by forfeit; <strong>145</strong>: Owen Davis (Han) dec Biagio D&#8217;Apolonio 2-0; <strong>152</strong>: Noah Rakowski (Han) pinned Jake Grady 1:11; <strong>160</strong>: Tommy Carroll (SP) pinned Tom Mercadante 2:52; <strong>170</strong>: Bruce Parola (SP) dec J.J. Hooper 5-4, 3OT; <strong>182</strong>: Ivan Balavage (SP) pinned Donny Lott-Kemp 3:00; <strong>195</strong>: Isaiah Stebbins (Han) pinned Chris Bender 3:29; <strong>220</strong>: Nick Hannon (Han) won by forfeit; <strong>285</strong>: John Sheridan (Han) pinned Will McGregor 1:00</p><p><strong>Note</strong>: Match started at 152 pounds</p><p><strong>Meyers 56, Montrose 21</strong></p><p><strong>106</strong>: Joseph Hester (Mon) pinnd Steven Hernandez 3:18; <strong>113</strong>: Bryce Waters (Mey) won by forfeit; <strong>120</strong>: Colin Pasone (Mey) pinned Charles Rohan 1:18; <strong>126</strong>: Kevin Huertero (Mey) dec Jacob O&#8217;Brien 8-6; <strong>132</strong>: Anthony Kasper (Mey) tech fall Thomas Rosevar 16-1; <strong>138</strong>: Mikyle Fabrizio (Mon) decReese Patronick 16-12; <strong>145</strong>: Mikeela Fabrizio pinned Jamell Ballard 1:35; <strong>152</strong>: Jeremy Bergold (Mey) pinned Marc Avila 2:52; <strong>160</strong>: Fahbian Biggs (Mey) pinned Austin Arnett 3:52; <strong>170</strong>: Gino Setta (Mey) won by forfeit; <strong>182</strong>: Joseph Igo (Mon) pinned Isaac Mensah 4:48; <strong>195</strong>: Namir Murphy (Mey) pinned Justin Kelley 1:01; <strong>220</strong>: Lucas Borum (Mey) pinned Colin Mondi 2:53; <strong>285</strong>: Preston Perkins (Mey) pinned Robert Gregory :43</p><p><strong>Note</strong>: Match started at 152 pounds</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Meyers&#8217; Jeremy Bergold, top, grapples with Montrose&#8217;s Marc Avila in the 152-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Meyers&#8217; Jeremy Bergold, top, grapples with Montrose&#8217;s Marc Avila in the 152-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Meyers&#8217; Fahbian Biggs, left, studies his opponent Austin Arnett of Montrose in the 160-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Meyers&#8217; Fahbian Biggs, left, studies his opponent Austin Arnett of Montrose in the 160-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Hanover Area&#8217;s John Sheridan, top, pins Scranton Prep&#8217;s Will McGregor in the heavyweight bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Hanover Area&#8217;s John Sheridan, top, pins Scranton Prep&#8217;s Will McGregor in the heavyweight bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Meyers&#8217; Colin Pasone, top, grapples with Montrose&#8217;s Charles Rohan Jr. in the 120-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Meyers&#8217; Colin Pasone, top, grapples with Montrose&#8217;s Charles Rohan Jr. in the 120-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Meyers&#8217; Kevin Huertero, top, wrestles Montrose&#8217;s Jacob O&#8217;Brien in the 126-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_5.jpg</photo4><caption4>Meyers&#8217; Kevin Huertero, top, wrestles Montrose&#8217;s Jacob O&#8217;Brien in the 126-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Hanover Area&#8217;s John Hooper grapples with Scranton Prep&#8217;s Bruce Parola in the 170-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL020416WrestlingMeyers_spt_6.jpg</photo5><caption5>Hanover Area&#8217;s John Hooper grapples with Scranton Prep&#8217;s Bruce Parola in the 170-pound bout at the District 2 Class 2A team duals in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. </caption5><photoCredit5>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Hanover Area avenges loss to Meyers a few days ago to reach D2-2A final</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dave Rosengrant</p><p>drosengrant@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dave Rosengrant at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @tldrosengrant</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Noah Rakowski leads Hanover Area wrestling to District 2 finals