The Beast of the East at the Bob Carpenter Center on the Campus of the University of Delaware is one of the nation’s most difficult in-season high school wrestling tournaments. So difficult that it is common place for many of Maryland’s top guys to bail out of the tournament before reaching the placement rounds.
Six of the state’s top grapplers were able to navigate the field and earn themselves some early Christmas presents in the form of Beast of the East hardware last weekend. Despite their national standings and accolades, Bullis’ Salah Tsarni and Gilman’s Emmitt Sherlock were seeded surprisingly low with Tasrni sitting at No. 7 at 165 and Sherlock given the No. 6 position at 175.
Both exceeded those seeds with Tsarni’s star shining the brightest as the nations No. 13 165lber reached the finals where he came close to tripping up No. 9 Claudio Torres (Lake Highland Prep, FL). Torres, a former National Prep Champ, was pushed by Tasrni before holding on for a 4-3 win.
To reach the finals, Tsarni took out No. 17 Shane McFillin (Bethlehem Catholic, PA) with an 11-3 major decision in the semis. His quarter final foe was No. 30 Jake Robie (Christiansburg, VA), who he slaughtered with a 15-2 major. Robie had picked off No. 10 Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian Academy, PA) a match before. Two tech falls and a pin were tallied in Tsarni’s earlier matches. Tsarni failed to place here last year as a freshman.
Sherlock avenged a loss from last year’s Beast in the quarters when he won an overtime bout with No. 6 Jordan Chapman (Cranford, NJ), 3-0. Sherlock, who is ranked 7th nationally, fell to No. 2 William Henckel (Blair Academy, NJ) in the semis, 4-1. Henckel went on to upset No. 1 Jordan Burton (St. Joseph Regional, NJ) to win the crown.
Sherlock suffered an upset loss in the consolation finals to No. 16 Bode Marlow (Thomas Jefferson, PA), 2-1, to place fourth. The senior picked up wins over two ranked guys en route to his placement, 5-2, over No. 13 Nick Singer (Faith Christian Academy, PA) and 1-0 versus Elliott Humphries (Northfield Mount Hermon, MA), (No. 26 at 165). This was Sherlock’s third time placing here.
All of the Maryland Wrestlers that placed at the Beast are No. 1 in their respective weight classes in Maryland except for Loyola’s Tyler Verceles, who is No. 2 behind Mt. St. Joseph’s Corey Brown. Both Brown and Verceles earned spots on the podium here.
Brown is ranked 10th in the country and placed third after recovering from a quarter final loss to unranked Nico Emili (Bethlehem Catholic), 5-4, who reached the finals and took second. Brown beat Max Berman (Germantown Academy, PA), 4-0, in his third-place match. Brown also notched wins over No. 20 JoJo Burke (St. Joseph Regional, NJ), 1-0, and Honorable Mention Eddie George (Blair Academy), 11-0.
Verceles placed fifth after George forfeited their scheduled placement match. Prior to that, Verceles suffered two straight losses, 14-2 to Emili in the semis, and 12-6 to Berman in the consolation semis. The Don upset Burke, 14-4 in the quarters.
No. 29 Sepanta Ahanj-Elias of Bullis was unseeded but battled through to reach the quarters before falling to the eventual champion, No. 2 Adam Waters (Faith Christian Academy), by fall 1:00. A win over Nevin Mattesich (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) landed Ahanj-Elias in the placement rounds where he was pinned twice more to end in the eighth position.
In the placement match, Isael Perez (New York Military Academy, NY), (No. 17 at 175), ended the senior’s day 59 seconds into the middle frame, 1:59. No. 14 Tanner Hodgins (Howell, NJ) used a third period pin top defeat Ahanj-Elias, 4:55. The Bulldog won an encounter with St. Frances Academy’s Elijah Josey, who is ranked fifth in Maryland, 4-1, in the round of 32. Josey would come back through the consolations and fall two wins short of placing.
Archbishop Spalding’s Zane Leitzel is unranked nationally and unfortunately his only two encounters with someone in the rankings ended with an 11-2 major decision loss to No. 22 Gunner Andrick (Point Pleasant, WV) in the seventh-place match and by a 14-3 count to No. 29 Carson Walsh (Poe John XXIII, NJ) in the quarter finals.
Leitzel did dispose of three quality opponents on his run to the podium, handing out losses like Christmas presents to Blake Boyer (Kennett, PA), Richie Clementi (Brother Martin, LA), and Trey Wagner (Northampton, PA). The junior’s third loss was by 4-2 against Jason Torres (Malvern Prep, PA).
Joining Josey in being two wins from the awards stand were two guys ranked second at their weights in Maryland, Mt. St. Joe’s Brooklyn Pickett (144) and Gilman’s Gabriel Smith (190). Two other No. 2 ranked guys made it to the blood round before bowing out, Spalding’s Sean Garretson (132) and the Gael’s Jake Tamai (126).
Two wrestlers who grew up in Maryland reached the podium wearing singlets representing teams from other parts of the country. Blair Academy’s Peter Synder (No. 18 at 190) was up at 215lbs and placed second, falling in the finals to HM Cash Colbert (Paul VI, VA). New York Military Academy’s Ben Smith (No. 25 at 165) placed sixth at 175lbs.
Team Scores (Top15):
1-Faith Christian Academy, PA 276.5
2-Lake Highland Prep, FL 25.5
3-Malvern Prep, PA 236.5
4-Blair Academy, NJ 165.5
5-Brecksville, OH 150
6-St. Joseph’s Regional, NJ 144
7-Bethlehem Catholic, PA 134.5
8-Bergen Catholic, NJ 129
9-Northfield Mount Hermon, MA 118
10-St. Peter’s Prep, NJ 118
11-St. John Vianney, NJ 98
12-Thomas Jefferson, PA 88
13-St. Christopher’s, VA 84
14-Nazareth, PA 83.5
15-New York Military Academy, NY 82.5
106
1st Place Match
Justin Farnsworth (Malvern Prep) 6-0, So. over Nico Emili (Bethlehem Catholic) 14-3, Fr. (MD 12-1)
3rd Place Match
Corey Brown (Mount St Joes) 12-1, Fr. over Max Berman (Germantown Academy) 19-2, Fr. (Dec 4-0)
5th Place Match
Tyler Verceles (Loyola Blakefield) 16-2, Fr. over Edward George (Blair Academy) 10-5, Fr. (M. For.)
7th Place Match
JoJo Burke (St Joseph Regional) 5-2, Fr. over Royce Wetzler (Benedictine College Prep) 12-5, So. (Dec 4-1)
113
1st Place Match
Fred Bachmann (Faith Christian Academy) 11-0, Fr. over Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville) 57-12, Jr. (Dec 1-0)
3rd Place Match
Julian Rios (Phillips Academy) 11-1, Jr. over Malachi Stratton (Sussex Central) 15-6, Sr. (MD 14-4)
5th Place Match
Dunia Sibomana (Long Beach) 16-2, Jr. over Carter Chunko (Saucon Valley) 12-4, So. (TB-1 2-1)
7th Place Match
Charles Esposito (St Joseph Regional) 5-2, Jr. over Michael Daly (Cranford) 6-3, Jr. (MD 11-1)
120
1st Place Match
Landon Sidun (Norwin) 13-0, So. over Joe Bachmann (Faith Christian Academy) 12-1, So. (TB-1 3-2)
3rd Place Match
Lukas Littleton Mascaro (Malvern Prep) 6-1, Jr. over Mason Jakob (Dobyns Bennett) 14-2, Jr. (UTB 1-1)
5th Place Match
Alex Rozas (Teurlings Catholic) 12-2, Jr. over Oumar Tounkara (NY Military Academy) 11-4, Sr. (Dec 5-3)
7th Place Match
Nicholas Salamone (Easton Area Hs) 40-11, Jr. over John Mcginty (St Joseph Regional) 4-3, Jr. (Dec 1-0)
126
1st Place Match
Anthony Knox (St John Vianney) 42-0, Sr. over Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic) 79-7, Jr. (MD 13-3)
3rd Place Match
Matthew O`Neill (Malvern Prep) 8-1, Fr. over Vincenzo Anello (Blair Academy) 11-4, So. (Dec 7-0)
5th Place Match
Gabriel Ballard (Northampton) 53-9, So. over Harrison Haffner (Brecksville) 35-15, Sr. (MD 11-0)
7th Place Match
Gauge Botero (Faith Christian Academy) 11-5, Sr. over Colton Hagerty (Washington Township) 4-3, Jr. (Dec 3-1)
132
1st Place Match
Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) 9-0, Sr. over Tyler Dekraker (Chantilly) 14-1, Jr. (Dec 4-0)
3rd Place Match
Patrick O`Keefe (St John Vianney) 40-11, Sr. over Tyler Conroy (Malvern Prep) 7-2, Jr. (TB-1 4-2)
5th Place Match
Musa Tamaradze (NY Military Academy) 15-2, Sr. over Nathan Braun (Bergen Catholic) 5-3, Jr. (Dec 4-1)
7th Place Match
Luke Satriano (Valley Central) 12-4, Sr. over Vincent Paino (St Joseph Regional) 4-1, Jr. (M. For.)
138
1st Place Match
Caedyn Ricciardi (St Peter Prepatory) 10-0, Sr. over Carson Walsh (Pope John XXIII) 9-1, . (Fall 3:31)
3rd Place Match
Jayce Paridon (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 6-1, Sr. over Anthony Lucchiani (Sherando) 17-2, Sr. (Dec 5-3)
5th Place Match
Camryn Howard (Bellport ) 7-2, . over Jason Torres (Malvern Prep) 6-3, Sr. (MD 11-2)
7th Place Match
Gunner Andrick (Point Pleasant) 5-2, Sr. over Zane Leitzel (Archbishop Spalding) 10-4, Jr. (MD 11-2)
144
1st Place Match
Tahir Parkins (Nazareth) 13-0, Sr. over Eren Sement (Council Rock North) 11-1, Sr. (SV-1 4-1)
3rd Place Match
Tyler Traves (Mountain View) 53-3, Jr. over Charlie Desena (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 5-2, Jr. (Dec 8-2)
5th Place Match
Mason Wagner (Faith Christian Academy) 12-5, Jr. over Walker Turley (St Christopher) 8-5, Jr. (Dec 4-2)
7th Place Match
Jake Zaltsman (St John Vianney) 33-9, Sr. over Anthony Depaul (St Augustine) 8-3, Jr. (TB-2 2-1)
150
1st Place Match
Zeno Moore (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 7-0, Jr. over Sonny Amato (Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) 46-4, So. (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match
Max Stein (Faith Christian Academy) 11-4, Sr. over Tyler Hood (St Christopher) 9-4, Sr. (Dec 5-0)
5th Place Match
Rhett Washleski (Hunterdon Central Reg) 8-2, Jr. over Luke Scholz (Cranford) 5-3, Jr. (Inj. 1:19)
7th Place Match
Jackson Albert (Saucon Valley) 12-3, Jr. over Raymond Fitzgerald (Malvern Prep) 7-1, So. (M. For.)
157
1st Place Match
Chase Van Hoven (Brooke Point) 11-3, Sr. over Chase Hontz (Faith Christian Academy) 9-3, Sr. (MD 11-1)
3rd Place Match
Lucas Boe (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 7-1, So. over Joseph Canova (Bergen Catholic) 6-2, Jr. (TB-1 2-1)
5th Place Match
Charlie Scanlan (Bethlehem Catholic) 100-32, Sr. over Maddox Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) 10-1, Sr. (M. For.)
7th Place Match
Billy Tyler (Brentsville) 17-2, Jr. over Kross Cassidy (Fairfax) 17-4, Jr. (Dec 9-7)
165
1st Place Match
Claudio Torres (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 5-0, Sr. over Salah Tsarni (Bullis Prep) 11-2, So. (Dec 4-3)
3rd Place Match
Bradlee Farrer (Pleasant Grove) 72-15, Sr. over Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian Academy) 12-4, Jr. (Dec 8-1)
5th Place Match
jake robie (Christiansburg) 8-2, Jr. over Shane McFillin (Bethlehem Catholic) 86-27, Sr. (Dec 3-2)
7th Place Match
Chase Hetrick (Malvern Prep) 5-2, Fr. over Josh Piparo (St Peter Prepatory) 11-2, . (M. For.)
175
1st Place Match
William Henckel (Blair Academy) 15-0, Sr. over Ryan Burton (St Joseph Regional) 5-1, Sr. (Dec 5-3)
3rd Place Match
Bode Marlow (Thomas Jefferson) 12-1, Sr. over Emmitt Sherlock (Gilman School) 15-3, Sr. (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match
Nick Singer (Faith Christian Academy) 12-4, So. over Benjamin Smith (NY Military Academy) 12-4, Sr. (Dec 4-0)
7th Place Match
Elliott Humphries (Northfield Mt Hermon) 10-3, . over Jordan Chapman (Cranford) 4-2, Sr. (M. For.)
190
1st Place Match
Adam Waters (Faith Christian Academy) 12-0, Jr. over Lane Foard (Benedictine College Prep) 9-2, Sr. (Dec 5-4)
3rd Place Match
Robert Kucharczk (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 7-1, Sr. over Vincenzo LaValle (Hanover Park) 7-2, Sr. (MD 8-0)
5th Place Match
devin downes (Plainedge) 8-2, . over Tanner Hodgins (Howell) 5-3, So. (Dec 4-0)
7th Place Match
Isael Perez (NY Military Academy) 12-2, Sr. over Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (Bullis Prep) 7-3, Sr. (Fall 1:59)
215
1st Place Match
Cash Colbert (St Paul VI Catholic) 19-0, Jr. over Peter Snyder (Blair Academy) 12-4, Jr. (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match
Conor Delaney (Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) 85-26, Sr. over Dylan Greenstein (Northfield Mt Hermon) 8-2, Sr. (Dec 1-0)
5th Place Match
Riley McPherson (Brecksville) 35-11, Sr. over Jason Singer (Faith Christian Academy) 7-5, Jr. (Dec 7-6)
7th Place Match
Alex Smith (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 4-2, Sr. over Stosh Zalota (Malvern Prep) 3-3, Sr. (MD 11-1)
285
1st Place Match
Jacob Levy (Lake Highland Preparatory School) 5-0, Sr. over Cristian Alvarez (St Joseph Regional) 5-1, Jr. (MD 10-2)
3rd Place Match
Mark Effendian (Faith Christian Academy) 10-2, Jr. over James Bechter (Northfield Mt Hermon) 8-1, Jr. (M. For.)
5th Place Match
Lukas Zalota (Malvern Prep) 5-2, So. over Benjamin Shue (Bergen Catholic) 4-3, Sr. (Dec 5-0)
7th Place Match
Mateo Vinciguerra (Woodstown) 6-2, Jr. over Dante Donaldson (The Hill School) 16-4, Sr. (Fall 2:21)
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