Written by: Willie Saylor, Editor "TheOpenMat.com"

Separated by less than sixty miles, geographically, the top ranked teams in two of the most highly regarded high school wrestling states will be in even closer proximity on Saturday morning as NHSCA’s Final Four is staged in the Red Rovers made-for-wrestling Shawnee Middle School gym.

To be fair, the highest ranked teams in each state are prep schools; #3Blair Academy in New Jersey, and #11Wyoming Seminary in PA.
But don’t tell the loyal fans that. On high school message boards, they’ve been breaking down the match-ups all week in anticipation.
This dual, which will be competed in the 2nd session (11:45 AM) of the Final Four, will mean, at least for now, bragging rights, supremacy, and a higher national ranking.

Currently Easton is #12, while High Point checks in at #16. But the HP Wildcats began the year with a higher ranking (11th to Easton’s 15th) and owns a 48-14 thrashing of Easton last season at this same event.
High Point’s drop in ranking occurred after their first weekend of competition when they had a disappointing Runner-Up finish at the King of the Mountain to then-unranked Massillon-Perry.
Meanwhile Easton has remained unblemished, winning Reno over then-ranked Roseburg, Oregon, and the #1 team from Oklahoma, Tulsa Union.
So when Easton jumped High Point in the Clinch Gear National Team Rankings, New Jersey fans were quick to cite last year’s Final Four result, and the fact that the Wildcat line-up returns in its near entirety. High Point boasts a whopping five state placers, and three other state qualifiers.

But as we often see in duals, it all comes down to match-ups. This was readily apparent last year when, although High Point easily dispatched Easton, they were blown out by Bishop Lynch (TX), while Easton almost pulled off the upset against the Texas squad in a one-bout loss.

Here’s the match-ups and predictions (HP wrestler listed first, records according to NWCA Scorebook):

103: Jr. John Torppey (7-8) vs. Fr. Kyle Baker (14-4)
Torppey is a .500-ish wrestler. Baker, although a very ‘green’ freshman, has wrestled well lately, going 3-2 at the Super32 and winning Manheim. Look for Baker bonus here. Easton 4-0.

112: Sr. Justin Bellis (13-2) vs. Jr. Peter Stanley (12-5)
Bellis was a state qualifier last year. He went 1-2 at KOM, but they were his only two losses this season. He has since recorded 9 falls in his last 13 bouts. Stanley is a very fundamental wrestler. He reached Reno semi’s and ultimately settled for 6th. This is a most pivotal bout. Bellis in a close one. Easton 4-3.

119: Sr. Billy Hagany (12-1) vs. So. Evan DiSora (12-2)
Hagany is a transfer from Lenape Valley for whom he won a state medal for in his Sophomore season. He has just one loss on the year, but it was lopsided, as he was tech-falled in KOM quarters. DiSora, a state placer at 103 last year, has just two losses on the year. DiSora wins big. Easton 8-3.

125: Sr. Nick Francavilla (14-0) vs. So. Robbie Rizzolino (13-6)
The first of two Wildcat State Champions, Francavilla is a 2xer. He’s been struggling with injuries as he’s defaulted out of both KOM and the Mustang Classic. But he looks to be back on track after a decisive 7-3 win over state runner-up Kyle Casaletto last week.

Rizzolino is having a strong start to his Sophomore season. He reached the semi’s of Reno before ultimately taking 5th. Rizzolino is capable of wrestling with anyone, but Francavilla is one of the nation’s elite. An HP win, but no bonus. Easton 8-6.

130: Jr. Jason Snider (13-4) vs. Sr. Calvin Daly (14-5)
Snider comes in with a solid 11-4 record and an 8th place showing at the King of the Mountain. Daly is a two-year starter for the Rovers. He went 3-2 at Super32 and placed 5th at Reno last month. Daly should prevail here. 11-6 Easton.

135: Sr. Brennan Donahue (6-4) vs. Jr. Mark Misczenski (10-6)
An interesting match-up here as both guys are of the lesser-accomplished variety. But they have the potential to score team points that will be just as important as any their teammates can. Donahue was 0-2 at KOM. Misczenski was 0-2 at Reno. Complete toss-up here. 11-9 Easton.

140: Sr. Drew Wagonhoffer (14-2) or Jr. Alec Avino vs. Sr. Joey Rizzolino (19-3)
This is where things can get interesting, to say the least. The Wildcats have a lot of flexibility here as they can move Wagonhoffer, Avino, and/or Gaccione at various combinations of the next three weights. Avino would be an underdog vs. any of the three possible weights he could wrestle. Wagonhoffer and Rizzolino should be a toss-up, and one of the premier bouts of the dual. Who sends out first will be of ultimate interest, and might be dependent upon the team score at the time. I have to go with Wagenhoffer, a Runner-up at both KOM and the Mustang, who had a win over Rizzolino here last year. High Point 12-11.

145: Sr. Joe Gaccione (16-1) or Wagonhoffer or Avino vs. Anthony Minotti (13-4) or Jr. Mitch Minotti
Gaccione is one of the better wrestlers you (outside of NJ) you haven’t heard of. He was a runner-up at KOM and state qualifier last year. If it’s Mitchell Minotti that comes out, it will be the best bout of the dual. Minotti won Reno this year and is a two-time state placewinner. Easton 15-11.

152: Gaccione or Avino (9-4) vs. Anthony or Mitchell Minotti (19-0)
Avino has been the utility man for the Wildcats this year. In duals he can wrestle as low as 140, but in tournaments he gets bumped here. He has an 8-4 record, without wrestling at KOM, and going 0-1 in a quarter-carry format at the Mustang. Against Anthony he probably gives up bonus. Against Mitchell, it’s nearly inevitable. Easton 19-11

160: Sr. John Guzzo (10-1) vs. Sr. Mason McIntyre (6-1)
Guzzo is a bit of an enigma. Early in his career he was a barnstormer, placing at everything he entered including Fargo. As late as last fall, he was a Super32 runner-up with a semi’s win over 3x PA state finalist Eric Hess. He had a tough draw at last year’s New Jersey state tournament and placed 3rd. But Guzzo essentially disappeared this off-season and lost to an unheralded Ty Buckwalter in the KOM finals to begin the year, before missing time, including the Mustang, reportedly due to injury. So the question is: which John Guzzo do we get? McIntyre keeps improving. Last week he had a good go with 3x state placewinner Ryan Krecker in a 5-2 loss. I’ll take Guzzo in by regular decision. Easton 19-14.

171: Sr. Ethan Orr (16-0) vs. Sr. Zach Bambary (5-3)
It might be odd to say that I think Orr really turned the corner this summer considering he won one of the toughest state tournaments in the country last year. But he really does look dramatically improved this year. His motor is non-stop and he’s rarely out of position. Bambary is a standout multi-sport athlete for the Rovers. He was a 4-3 bout away from placing at Reno. I have no doubt he’s good enough to wrestle with Orr for a while. But can he for 6:00? Easton 19-18.

189: Sr. John Mallon (13-3) vs. So. Jose Rotger (8-6)
Mallon had a good KOM showing going 4-1 before defaulting his last two bouts to finish 8th. Although he then went just 1-2 at the Mustang Classic to dnp. Rotger is a young, but capable wrestler who, like a typical upperweight, is most comfortable handfighting and less on leg attacks. He went 3-2 in Reno, losing 9-0 to National HM-Hudson Buck. It should be a good bout. High Point needs this one. High Point 21-19.

215: Sr. Jon Hagan (3-7) or Drew Bye (2-5) vs. So. Tyler Greene (18-3)
The Wildcats have been struggling at this weight with both their wrestlers posting losing records, and often, giving up bonus. They combined to win just 1 match at KOM and Mustang. Greene is an up-and-comer, but still at a relatively raw stage. He placed 7th at Reno. Half of his wins have been falls. And he should be able to get one here as 7 of their combined 12 losses have been by fall. Easton 25-21.

HWT: Sr. Billy Smith (17-0) vs. Sr. Jalil Paige (18-3)
Billy Smith is one of the preeminent big guys in the country. He placed 3rd at 215 in NJ last year and is a Rutgers signee. There is no question how good he is. Rather, how good is Page? He’s really been coming on, but his shining moments are overshadowed by periods of inconsistency. He placed at Super32. And at Reno he lost in the second round before rattling off 8 consecutive wins (half by fall) to take 3rd. Last week he wrestled another nationally ranked NJ heavy, Jack Delia, to a 5-3 score. You have to favor Smith here, but I don’t see bonus. Paige has lost three bouts this season by just a 5 combined points. Easton 25-24.

The dual is really too close to call. Pre-match, the dual looks to hinge on a few key bouts. 112 will be a big one, as will the 135 and 140, all of which could certainly go the opposite way I handicapped. What will almost undoubtedly prove pivotal will be the combination of guys we see paired up from 40 through 52, and ultimately the starting weight and who wins the coin flip to send out first. It’s that close, folks.

Of course, we’re headlining this dual based on the anticipated competitiveness and its ramifications for nation rankings. That’s not to say there won’t be a litany of high-level wrestling being competed on every mat, in every session. Even the winner of this dual will have a tough time getting into the finals (most likely against Blair). They’ll also have to get passed a very balanced Collins Hill (GA) squad.

There are eight other teams at the Final Four, many of which are state and/or nationally ranked or recognized.
Perennial powerhouse Walsh Jesuit is there. And, check their schedule out this week: @ Northampton (who beat #13Bethlehem Catholic on criteria last night) and vs. Parkland (ranked Top10 in PA) on Thursday, @ Nazareth (who wrestled Easton and Bethlehem Catholic close) on Friday, then the Final Four on Saturday.
Walsh will be in Pool B, guaranteeing them duals with #12Easton, #16High Point, HM-Collins Hill, who won the Kansas City Classic this year, and Pen Argyl, who is a top contender in PA small schools this year.

There are five rounds scheduled (each team gets a 1-round bye) before teams are matched up (according to their pool results) for the 7PM finale.
Pool A includes #3Blair Academy, Parkland, Lake Stevens (WA), Council Rock-South, and Jackson Memorial, who is always ranked highly in New Jersey.

Here’s your Pools and Schedule
Pool A Pool B
Blair Academy (NJ) High Point Regional (PA)
Parkland (PA) Walsh Jesuit (OH)
Lake Stevens (WA) Pen Arygl (PA)
Council Rock South (PA) Collins Hill (GA)
Jackson Memorial (NJ) Easton (PA)

10:00 a.m.
Mat 1 – Blair Academy vs. Parkland
Mat 2 – Lake Stevens vs. Council Rock South
Mat 3 – High Point Regional vs. Walsh Jesuit
Mat 4 – Pen Argyl vs. Collins Hill
Off – Jackson Memorial and Easton

11:45 a.m.
Mat 1 – Blair Academy vs. Jackson Memorial
Mat 2 – Parkland vs. Lake Stevens
Mat 3 – High Point Regional vs. Easton
Mat 4 – Walsh Jesuit vs. Pen Argyl
Off – Council Rock South and Collins Hill

1:30 p.m.
Mat 1 – Blair Academy vs. Council Rock South
Mat 2 – Parkland vs. Jackson Memorial
Mat 3 – High Point Regional vs. Collins Hill
Mat 4 – Walsh Jesuit vs. Easton (Televised on RCN)
Off – Lake Stevens and Pen Argyl

3:15 p.m.
Mat 1 – Blair Academy vs. Lake Stevens
Mat 2 – Council Rock South vs. Jackson Memorial
Mat 3 – Collins Hill vs. Easton
Mat 4 – High Point Regional vs. Pen Argyl (Televised on RCN)
Off – Parkland and Walsh Jesuit

5:00 p.m.
Mat 1 – Parkland vs. Council Rock South
Mat 2 – Lake Stevens vs. Jackson Memorial
Mat 3 – Walsh Jesuit vs. Collins Hill
Mat 4 – Pen Argyl vs. Easton
Off – Blair Academy and High Point Regional

7:00 – Final Matches
Mat 1 – Pool A 1st vs. Pool B 1st
Mat 2 – Pool A 2nd vs. Pool B 2nd
Mat 3 – Pool A 3rd vs. Pool B 3rd
Mat 4 – Pool A 4th vs. Pool B 4th
Mat 5 – Pool A 5th vs. Pool B 5th

Coverage:
Visit http://nhsca.com and/or http://nhsca.com/event/10th-Annual-Final-Four-of-High-School-Wrestling
for live coverage details.

TOM will also provide live audio and updates on all duals, pending broadcast rights, though we our play-by-play will focus on the following mats:

10AM: Pen Argyl vs. HM-Collins Hill
11:45: #12Easton vs. #16High Point
1:30: #16High Point vs. Collins Hill
3:15: HM-Collins Hill vs. #12Easton
5:00: General Discussion/live chat/recap
7:00: Finals