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State Police: Card-skimming devices found in Hazleton area

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Trump: “I’m smart and stable”

The high school wrestling season technically began a month ago, and all 13 Wyoming Valley Conference teams have been traveling all over the state to participate in individual or dual tournaments.Since only a handful of divisional duals have been held so far, the local teams all know the season doesn&#8217;t kick into high gear until the WVC Tournament is held, and a three-week sprint to the District Duals Championships follows.After being pushed back a few days due to inclement weather, the WVC Tournament finally gets underway on Sunday at Lake-Lehman High School as a one-day event rather than two days as in previous years. Wrestling will start at 9:30 a.m. with the preliminary round followed by consolations and the quarterfinals at 10:30. Semifinals are set to follow at noon, and the finals are slated for approximately 3 p.m.Full capacityThree teams &#8211; Coughlin, Tunkhannock and Lake-Lehman &#8211; enter a wrestler at all 14 weights, while all 13 teams will have at least 10 participants.Meanwhile, only two weights will be filled to capacity, 106 and 138, but the lightest weight is normally one that struggles to find athletes.The extra tough onesWhile every weight will have its own unique challenges, a few brackets are extraordinarily tough. The lineups at 126 pounds, 132 and 195 offer some of the best competition that will be seen in the WVC all season.At 126, Wyoming Valley West junior David Krokowski is aiming for history trying to become just the fifth wrestler in the history of the tournament to win three times. Lake-Lehman&#8217;s Bob Long is a returning state qualifier and is the top seed. The two have combined for three district championships. Meanwhile Coughlin&#8217;s Patrick Clarke, a senior, took third at districts as a freshman, and Crestwood&#8217;s Jordan Miale was district runner-up last year.The 132-pound bracket features six wrestlers who have finished fourth or higher at districts in the past. Tunkhannock&#8217;s Gavin D&#8217;Amato (first), Coughlin&#8217;s Jake Brown (second), Hazleton Area&#8217;s Charles Everdale (second), Lake-Lehman&#8217;s Garrett Kolb (second in 2015), Crestwood&#8217;s Garrett Swank (third) and Pittston Area&#8217;s Ryan Lombardo (fourth) are all seeded in this weight.Then there&#8217;s 195, where returning conference champion J.J. Hooper from Hanover Area is seeded third. That&#8217;s right, third. Hazleton Area&#8217;s Shane Noonan, a district champ and regional fifth-place medalist, is seeded second and Tunkhannock&#8217;s Sam Rice, a two-time district and conference runner-up is the top seed. Hooper and Wyoming Area&#8217;s Justin Joseph were also district runners-up last year, while Lake-Lehman&#8217;s T.J. Meehan was fourth at district in 2017.<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hanover Area&#8217;s J.J. Hooper returns as the tournament&#8217;s defending 195-pound champion. Hooper is seeded third on Sunday while Hazleton Area&#8217;s Shane Noonan, a district champ and regional fifth-place medalist, is seeded second and Tunkhannock&#8217;s Sam Rice, a two-time district and conference runner-up is the top seed. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_WVCwrestling_6CMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hanover Area&#8217;s J.J. Hooper returns as the tournament&#8217;s defending 195-pound champion. Hooper is seeded third on Sunday while Hazleton Area&#8217;s Shane Noonan, a district champ and regional fifth-place medalist, is seeded second and Tunkhannock&#8217;s Sam Rice, a two-time district and conference runner-up is the top seed. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis file photo | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Dave RosengrantFor Times Leader</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>WVC TOURNAMENT PREVIEWHere&#8217;s a few predictions, along with the full list of returning champions and runners-up:Returning champs: David Krokowski, Wyoming Valley West (2), J.J. White, Wyoming Valley West; Tommy Traver, Tunkhannock; Steven Newell, Dallas; J.J. Hooper, Hanover Area; Shane O&#8217;Rourke, CrestwoodReturning runners-up: David Gavek (2), Sam Rice, (2), and David Evans, Tunkhannock; Bob Long and Kaleb Konigus, Lake-Lehman; D.J. Erickson, Hanover Area; Ron Grevera and Saige George, Crestwood; Jake Brown and Jake Cole, Coughlin; Shawn Henniger, Dallas.Team Championship2017 winner: Hazleton AreaTop 6 prediction: 1. Coughlin; 2. Tunkhannock; 3. Lake-Lehman; 4. Crestwood; 5. Dallas; 6. Hazleton AreaDark horse: Hanover Area/Wyoming Valley WestThe skinny: The top three predictions can be moved around to any position in what is expected to be a close team race among not only the top three, but perhaps a half a dozen squads. The Tigers are coming off a title at their home event, which included one champion and three second-place finishers. Lake-Lehman is gearing up for what could be a long, sustained run for years to come; the team needs a little more time to get rolling, but a team title for the first time at this event is certainly within reach. The Crusaders are getting healthy at the right time, and a healthy Coughlin team is a scary squad with tons of potential.1062017 winner: J.J. White, Wyoming Valley WestTop seed: David Evans, TunkhannockTop 4 prediction: 1. Evans; 2. Cadden Kucek, Wyoming Valley West; 3. Nino Cinti, Coughlin; 4. Cael Davis, Hanover AreaDark horse: Brandon Lopez, Pittston AreaThe skinny: Lopez entered this tournament last year as the top seed in the same bracket, but didn&#8217;t reach the finals. Now a senior, he certainly has the experience to pull off upsets in a much tougher bracket this year. Evans is ranked 11th in the state by PA Power Wrestling, while Kucek is No. 20 in the weight. This could be a fantastic final.1132017 winner: Jake Maurer, Hazleton AreaTop seed: J.J. White, Wyoming Valley WestTop 4 prediction: 1. White; 2. Beck Hutchison, Hazleton Area; 3. Matt Rosentel, Tunkhannock; 4. Tino Morrow, CoughlinDark horse: Trey Zabroski, CrestwoodThe skinny: Not seen in the predictions is Joe Rowley from Hanover Area. He&#8217;s the No. 2 seed, but would likely meet Hutchison, a freshman, in the quarters. With the new rules due to the consolidated schedule, semifinalists are guaranteed a top four finish. Lake-Lehman&#8217;s Brendon Boston is also unlucky due to the rules; he will meet White, ranked ninth in the state, in the preliminary round.1202017 winner: David Krokowski, Wyoming Valley WestTop seed: Nick Yule, BerwickTop 4 prediction: 1. Yule; 2. Darren Clarke, Coughlin; 3. David Gavek, Tunkhannock; 4. Justin Sterling, CrestwoodDark horse: Zach Stuart, Lake-LehmanThe skinny: A semifinal between Clarke and Gavek is one of a few important bouts between Coughlin and Tunkhannock, that could help decide the team championship. Yule is recognized in the state being ranked No. 21 at 113 by PA Power Wrestling.1262017 winner: Colin Pasone, MeyersTop seed: Bob Long, Lake-LehmanTop 4 prediction: 1. David Krokowski, Wyoming Valley West; 2. Long; 3. Jordan Miale, Crestwood; 4. Patrick Clarke, CoughlinDark horse: ClarkeThe skinny: One of the more competitive brackets in the event, Krokowski is aiming for history trying to become just the fifth wrestler in the history of the tournament to win three times. Long, a returning state qualifier, stands in the way. Long is ranked 18th in the state in 2A at 126, while Krokowski is not mentioned in the Class 3A rankings, but he always seems to step up when it counts most. Long and Krokowski have combined for three district champions. Clarke, a senior, took third at districts as a freshman, while Miale was district runner-up last year.1322017 winner: Tommy Traver, TunkhannockTop seed: Jake Brown, CoughlinTop 4 prediction: 1. Brown; 2. Charles Everdale, Hazleton Area; 3. Gavin D&#8217;Amato, Tunkhannock; 4. Garrett Kolb, Lake-LehmanDark horse: Ryan Lombardo, Pittston AreaThe skinny: Perhaps the toughest weight in the tournament with six wrestlers all finishing in the top five at districts last season. D&#8217;Amato (first), Brown (second), Everdale (second), Kolb (second in 2015), Lombardo (fourth) and Crestwood&#8217;s Garrett Swank (third) all medalled at districts. It wouldn&#8217;t be a shock at all to see any of these six finish anywhere in the top six.1382017 winner: Jimmy Hoffman, Hazleton AreaTop seed: Tommy Traver, TunkhannockTop 4 prediction: 1. Traver; 2. Josh Brown, Coughlin; 3. Hunter Burke, Lake-Lehman; 4. Stephen Martisofski, Hazleton AreaDark horse: Chris Maute, NanticokeThe skinny: Traver is the top-ranked WVC wrestler in the state being sixth at 138 in Class 3A according to PA Power Wrestling. Brown is ranked 20th in the same category. Burke has potential to pull off an upset of Brown in the semis, but it&#8217;s going to be a tough task.1452017 winner: Bob Lipski, Lake-LehmanTop seed: D.J. Erickson, Hanover AreaTop 4 prediction: 1. Erickson; 2. Kade Kravits, Dallas; 3. Landon Stanislow, Wyoming Valley West; 4. Jake Trumbower, Lake-LehmanDark horse: Charlie Banashefski, Wyoming AreaThe skinny: Erickson is a returning state qualifier and is currently ranked 13th in the state in the weight. Stanislow is the No. 2 seed in the bracket, but he&#8217;s going to be tested by Kravits in the semis.1522017 winner: Alec Sampson, DallasTop seed: Tashawn Qualls, CoughlinTop 4 prediction: 1. Alec Talanca, Berwick; 2. Qualls; 3. Nick Solinski, Dallas; 4. Collin Kudurko-Kashatus, NanticokeDark horse: Alex Pierce, Wyoming AreaThe skinny: Talanca placed third in the D2-2A Tournament last year, and he&#8217;s only wrestled in three bouts this season. But he&#8217;s the only one in the bracket that has a district medal on his resume.1602017 winner: Steven Newell, DallasTop seed: Ron Grevera, CrestwoodTop 4 prediction: 1. Grevera; 2. Jayson Brielmeier, Hazleton Area; 3. Nick Zaboski, Lake-Lehman; 4. Austin Dewald, BerwickDark horse: ZaboskiThe skinny: Grevera, a returning district runner-up, shouldn&#8217;t have much problems in a bracket that appears to be filled with upsets with Brielmeier the No. 7 seed, Dewald seeded fourth and Zaboski sixth. Dallas&#8217; John Betzko is the No. 2 seed, while Nanticoke&#8217;s Adam Eckhart is third.1702017 winner: Xavier Barber, DallasTop seed: Steven Newell, DallasTop 4 prediction: 1. Newell; 2. Corey Mruk, Wyoming Area; 3. Jake Marnell, Hazleton Area; 4. Colin Browne, MeyersDark horse: Mike Lenahan, Hanover AreaThe skinny: Newell (Class 3A) and Mruk (2A) have similar resumes. Both were district titlists last season and then took sixth in their regional tournament. Browne, a senior, has finishes of sixth, fourth and third at districts.1822017 winner: J.J. Hooper, Hanover AreaTop seed: Connor Munley, TunkhannockTop 4 prediction: 1. Jake Cole, Coughlin; 2. Munley; 3. Ryan Black, Crestwood; 4. J.J. Snyder, BerwickDark horse: Sean Mikovitch, Wyoming Valley WestThe skinny: Cole and Munley have similar paths with both being hampered with injuries throughout their careers. The difference is experience for Cole as he was runner-up at this event last year. Cole, the third seed, has just a 1-0 record this season, but it&#8217;s over Black, the No. 2 seed, in a dual last month.1952017 winner: Carson Kinney, Hazleton AreaTop seed: Sam Rice, TunkhannockTop 4 prediction: 1. Rice; 2. Shane Noonan, Hazleton Area; 3. J.J. Hooper, Hanover Area; 4. Justin Joseph, Wyoming AreaDark horse: T.J. Meehan, Lake-LehmanThe skinny: Another stacked weight consisting of Noonan, a district champ and regional fifth-place medalist last year; Hooper and Joseph who were both district runners-up last year, Rice, who is a two-time district runner-up and two-time conference tournament second-place finisher; and Meehan who was fourth at district last year.2202017 winner: Shane O&#8217;Rourke, CrestwoodTop seed: Shane O&#8217;Rourke, CrestwoodTop 4 prediction: 1. O&#8217;Rourke; 2. Nathan Lombardo, Pittston Area; 3. Tom Mercadante, Hanover Area; 4. Jake Stephens, TunkhannockDark horse: LombardoThe skinny: O&#8217;Rourke is looking for his second straight title in the same weight. Lombardo is the No. 6 seed here and could see second-seeded Mercadante in the semis. O&#8217;Rourke and Lombardo each have a sixth-place finish at districts in Class 3A. Lombardo the last two years, while O&#8217;Rourke was sixth in 2016.2852017 winner: Nick Hannon, Hanover AreaTop seed: Damon Barhight, Wyoming AreaTop 4 prediction: 1. Shawn Henniger, Dallas; 2. Barhight; 3. Kaleb Konigus, Lake-Lehman; 4. Corey Harrison, CoughlinDark horse: Michael Fuchick, Hazleton AreaThe skinny: Henniger and Konigus were both runners-up at this tournament last year, while Barhight has a second-place finish at districts under his belt. Harrison and Henniger were both third in the District 2 Class 3A Tournament last year. This is one of those very competitive brackets that could play out numerous ways due to close matches.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach DJ Eberle at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @TLsports</shirttailMeta></div>

WVC Wrestling Tournament Preview: Tourney kicks off a sprint to the finish