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D2 wrestling: Dallas freshman Mead shines in Class 3A, upsets top seed

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Luzerne County overdoses spanned generations in 2017

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; DJ Erickson made it to Hershey last season. In terms of high school wrestling, grappling in Chocolate Town USA in March is considered a pretty good season.</p><p>The Hanover Area junior won&#8217;t deny that fact. Yet there&#8217;s still a fire burning in his belly because last year just didn&#8217;t finish out on his terms.</p><p>And he&#8217;s making sure it doesn&#8217;t repeat itself in 2018.</p><p>Erickson, the top seed at 145, ripped through Honesdale&#8217;s Hunter Parenti in the opening period to advance into Saturday morning&#8217;s District 2 Class 2A wrestling semifinals at the Kingston Armory.</p><p>He&#8217;s one of 22 Wyoming Valley Conference wrestlers still alive in the championship bracket.</p><p>&#8220;I know that if I just wrestle, I can get to where I want to be,&#8221; Erickson said. &#8220;You have to have that attitude that no one is going to stand in your way. Hershey was such a great feeling. No one wants to go to Hershey one year, and the next year, sit home. I have two years left, and I want to be there for both.&#8221;</p><p>Lehman, with eight in the semifinal round, is currently sitting in second with 79 points. Honesdale is in the top spot with 96 points, while Western Wayne (72), Montrose (55) and Wyoming Area (52) round out the top 5.</p><p>&#8220;We are getting some bonus points, but so is Honesdale,&#8221; Lehman head coach JJ Konigus said. &#8220;It will be interesting tomorrow. We have eight in the semifinals, so that&#8217;s not bad. We tell the guys that winning in the wrestlebacks is what wins tournaments. Everyone likes to be in the championship or the semifinals, but wrestleback guys win tournaments. That&#8217;s a fact.&#8221;</p><p>For Erickson, who has won 27 matches this season and 77 in his Hanover Area career, this is a chance for redemption.</p><p>He&#8217;s a year older, and a year wiser. He knows the importance of winning that first match. That&#8217;s why he didn&#8217;t waste any time Friday, pinning Parenti in just 2:32.</p><p>Williamsport was the learning experience for him. At regionals, he lost his opening match, and had to battle back through the consolation round. He eventually made it to the third-place bout but lost by injury default.</p><p>&#8220;I want to come back, and I want to get to the regional finals,&#8221; Erickson said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to drop that first bout and wrestle in the pigtail round. It sucks going back through them. No one wants to do that. Every match is so important. You have to set the pace, and you have to bring it.&#8221;</p><p>Nick Yule also understands the grind of the postseason.</p><p>He&#8217;s also a regional qualifier, and like Erickson, didn&#8217;t fare too well in his opening bout in Williamsport last season.</p><p>Yule, who won the district title at 106 as a freshman, is the top seed at 113 and appears on a collision course with Hanover&#8217;s Joe Rowley in Saturday&#8217;s final. The Berwick sophomore needed just 32 seconds to win his opening-round bout, and in the quarters, picked up a tech fall over Western Wayne&#8217;s Nathan Koch.</p><p>&#8220;After going to regionals last year, I learned that I needed to be more aggressive when I first step on the mat,&#8221; said Yule, who is joined in the semifinals by teammate Alec Talanca (152). &#8220;You can&#8217;t just sit back on your heels. I&#8217;ve been working on my shots, hoping it would prepare me for this point of the season.&#8221;</p><p>And if Lehman is going to catch up with Honesdale for that district title, it may need its fantastic freshmen to continue battling.</p><p>Four of them &#8211; Zach Stuart (120), Hunter Burke (138), Jake Trumbower (145) and Nick Zaboski (152) &#8211; are alive for district gold in their first trip to the Armory. Joining them in the semis are upperclassmen Bob Long (126), Garrett Kolb (132), TJ Meehan (195) and Kaleb Konigus (285).</p><p>&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t nervous. I just wanted to do what I always do, and go after it,&#8221; said Burke, who pinned Berwick&#8217;s Oscar Perla in 1:34. &#8220;Every time I step on the mat, I tell myself that I&#8217;m going to win.&#8221;</p><p>For Wyoming Area, Robin Wrobleski (138), Corey Mruk (160), Justin Joseph (182), Jaryn Polit-Moran (195) and Damon Barhight (285) are all in medal contention.</p><p>Rowley (113), Mike Lenahan (170) and JJ Hooper (182) join Erickson in the semifinals for Hanover, while Jason Carver (106) and Colin Browne (170) are still in the championship round for Meyers. Nanticoke&#8217;s Shane Repasky (220) is the lone Trojan still alive for gold.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Area&#8217;s Alex Pierce sets up Mountain View&#8217;s Christian Kuhar for a pin in a 152-pound match, winning in 1:06. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_d2_aawrestling2_faa-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Area&#8217;s Alex Pierce sets up Mountain View&#8217;s Christian Kuhar for a pin in a 152-pound match, winning in 1:06. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_d2_aawrestling1_faa-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jared Banesh of Hanover Area (top) begins to turn over Sydni Johnson of Wyoming Area for a pin in their 132-pound match. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_d2_aawrestling1_faa-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Jared Banesh of Hanover Area (top) begins to turn over Sydni Johnson of Wyoming Area for a pin in their 132-pound match. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_d2_aawrestling3_faa-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Meyers&#8217; Susu Burroughs grabs the leg of Hanover Area&#8217;s Adam Eckhart in a 152-pound District 2 Class 2A bout Friday. Eckhart won a 4-3 decision. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_d2_aawrestling3_faa-1-.jpg</photo2><caption2>Meyers&#8217; Susu Burroughs grabs the leg of Hanover Area&#8217;s Adam Eckhart in a 152-pound District 2 Class 2A bout Friday. Eckhart won a 4-3 decision. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Fox</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>District 2 Class 2A Wrestling</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Team Scores</strong></p><p>1. Honesdale (HON), 96; 2. Lake-Lehman (LL), 79; 3. Western Wayne (WW), 72; 4. Montrose (MON), 55; 5. Wyoming Area (WA), 52; 6. Scranton Prep (SP), 51; 7. Hanover Area (HA), 48; 8. Valley View (VV), 44; 9. Berwick (BER), 42; 10. Lackawanna Trail (LT), 38; 11. Blue Ridge (BR), 32; 12. Meyers (MEY), 25; 13. Nanticoke Area (NAN), 19; 14. Mountain View (MV), 4; 15. Elk Lake (EL), 0.</p><p><strong>Championship First Round</strong></p><p>113: Nick Yule (BER) pinned Brendon Boston (LL), 0:32; Pete West (HON) pinned Adam Sigman (WA), 1:09; Joe Rowley (HAN) pinned Brando Abreu (MEY), 0:33</p><p>120: George Lee (WW) pinned Dailynn Eisenbarth (MON), 1:25; Josh Maskowski (MEY) pinned Fidel Mince (BER), 1:37</p><p>126: Dillon Dante (WW) dec. Cole Soden (BR), 5-4; Joe Monahan (SP) pined Sam Pryor (EL), 0:25</p><p>132: Garrett Kolb (LL) pinned Tommy Rosevear (MON), 2:40; Maurice Smith (BER) pinned Alec Martin (BR), 1:07; Mitchell Herzog (WW) maj dec. Christopher Maute (NAN), 16-5; Dalton Klinges (LT) pinned Keyontay Suydam (MEY), 0:44; Jared Banesh (HAN) pinned Sydni Johnson (WA), 2:58; Matt Davis (HON) pinned Cody Sherwood (MV), 2:30.</p><p>138: Robin Wrobleski (WA) pined Nick Giallorenzi (SP), 4:44; Nate Barton (BR) maj dec. Jared Fulginiti (HAN), 11-2; Makeela Fabrizio (MON) pinned Thaddeus Woodhead (EL), 0:43; Kyle Novajosky (VV) pinned Emmanuel Gutierrez (MEY), 1:21; Oscar Perla (BER) pinned Keeghan Kester (NAN), 2:02.</p><p>145: Mikyle Fabrizio (MON) pinned Noah Atkins (EL), 1:37; Adam Roe (BR) pinned Jason Millan (MEY), 1:48</p><p>152: Cody Moyle (LT) pinned Dakota Barber (EL), 4:41; Adam Eckhart (NAN) dec. Susu Burroughs (MEY), 4-3; Brandon Lawson (HON) pinned Brendan Kanna (MON), 2:24; Alex Pierce (WA) pinned Christian Kuhar (MV), 1:06</p><p>160: Corey Mruk (WA) pinned Ethan Canfield (MON), 2:59; AJ Steffens (HON) pinned Noah Clifford (VV), 2:38; Kasen Taylor (WW) pinned Greg Amberes (MEY), 4:24; David Klinges (LT) pinned Izaak Cook (MV), 1:04</p><p>170: Brandon Spezialetti (BER) pinned Zeb Gregory (MV), 1:29; Riley Newman (LL) pinned Skylar Santacroce (WA), 2:15</p><p>182: Bryan Ryan (MON) pinned Luke Johnson (SP), 2:15; JJ Hooper (HAN) pinned Michael Gavin (MEY), 2:34</p><p>195: Ivan Balavage (SP) pinned Jason Salmini (EL), 1:25; Jayden Piatt (HAN) pinned Seth Pelton (NAN), 4:23</p><p>220: Tom Mercadante (HAN) pinned Aidan Dollak (WA), 1:33; Chuck Harry (LL) dec. Cam Welsh (EL), 3-1.</p><p><strong>Championship Quarterfinals</strong></p><p>106: Antonio D&#8217;Apollonio (SP) pinned Gavin Ruger (LL), 0:14; Jason Carver (MEY) pinned Zach Capie (NAN), 1:14; Tristyn Bodie (HON) pinned Cobi Combs (VV), 3:15; Dimitri Reggie (WW) pinned Kyle Emsley (WA), 1:21.</p><p>113: Nick Yule (BER) tech fall over Nathan Koch (WW), 15-0, 4:16; Pete West (HON) pinned Joseph Sauers (NAN), 4:50; Andrew Rosevear (MON) dec. Connor Chuerneski (SP), 6-1; Joe Rowley (HAN) pinned Jaydyn Rupe (VV), 1:44</p><p>120: Nathaniel McArthur (BR) pinned George Lee (WW), 1:31; Zach Stuart (LL) pinned Barry Spriggs (MV), 1:47; Jordan Young (HON) pinned George Brown (NAN), 5:45; Sammy Segers (SP) pinned Josh Maskowski (MEY), 1:26</p><p>126: Bob Long (LL) pinned Caleb Burns (MEY), 0:46; Cullen Ratchford (LT) pinned Dillon Dante (WW), 1:01; Joe Hester (MON) maj dec. Ethan Chokshi (HON), 11-0; Brandon Judge (VV) pinned Joe Monahan (SP), 1:40.</p><p>132: Garrett Kolb (LL) pinned Maurice Smith (BER), 1:56; Mitchell Herzog (WW) pinned Tony Mellado (VV), 1:45; Oliver Egan (SP) dec. Dalton Klinges (LT), 7-3; Matt Davis (HON) maj dec. Jared Banesh (HAN), 18-5.</p><p>138: Robin Wrobleski (WA) dec. Nate Barton (BR), 2-0; Matthew Leslie (WW) dec. Makeela Fabrizio (MON), 3-1; Joe Rutledge (HON) maj dec. Kyle Novajosky (VV), 10-2; Hunter Burke (LL) pinned Oscar Perla (BER), 1:34</p><p>145: DJ Erickson (HAN) pinned Hunter Parenti (HON), 2:32; Jake Trumbower (LL) maj dec. Charlie Banashefski (WA), 10-0; Mikyle Fabrizio (MON) dec. Collin Kudrako-Kashatu (NAN), 12-5; Adam Roe (BR) maj dec. Bradley Carey (WW), 9-1.</p><p>152: Braden McIntosh (WW) pinned Cody Moyle (LT), 1:21; Nick Zaboski (LL) dec. Adam Eckhart (NAN), 3-2; Brandon Lawson (HON) pinned Mike Welsh (SP), 2:58; Alec Talanca (BER) pinned Alex Pierce (WA), 3:26.</p><p>160: Corey Mruk (WA) pinned Chase Button (LL), 1:56; Tommy Gudykunst (BR) dec. AJ Steffens (HON), 4-2; Kasen Taylor (WW) pinned Kellen Wescott (EL) 0:21; Alec Buttner (SP) pinned David Klinges (LT), 5:57</p><p>170: Owen Hivner (LT) pinned Brandon Spezialetti (BER), 1:01; Michael Lenahan (HAN) dec. Mike O&#8217;Day (HON), 9-2; Cole Aukema (MON) pinned Zack Pelton (NAN), 1:19; Colin Browne (MEY) dec. Riley Newman (LL), 7-2.</p><p>182: Justin Joseph (WA) tech fall over Thomas Nalbone (LL), 18-3, 4:55; Bryan Ryan pinned Tyler Bongiorno (EL), 0:50; Jake Kabonick (HON) pinned JJ Snyder (BER), 3:29; JJ Hooper (HAN) dec. Isaiah Johnson (NAN), 7-2.</p><p>195: Ivan Balavage (SP) pinned Janaasah Boone (VV), 1:50; Jaryn Polit-Moran (WA) pinned Marc Avila (MON), 3:12; Alex Hollister (WW) pinned Mike Ehrlich (HON), 0:51; TJ Meehan (LL) pinned Jayden Piatt (HAN), 3:13</p><p>220: Cole Fuller (WW) pinned Luke Dougherty (SP), 3:04; Shane Repasky (NAN) dec. Tom Mercadante (HAN), 5-2; John Kuhns-Miller (HON) pinned Justin Kelley (MON), 1:45; Connor Judge (VV) pinned Chuck Harry (LL), 1:39.</p><p>285: Kaleb Konigus (LL) pinned Eli Aldrich (BR), 1:07; Ken Huber (HON) pinned Jack McAllister (WW), 3:22; Damon Barhight (WA) dec. Will McGregor (SP), 1-0; John Shnipes (VV) pinned Josh Skinner (EL), 1:59.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @TLsports</p></shirttailMeta></div>

D2 wrestling: WVC still has 22 alive for second day of Class 2A competition