Wrestling Outlook: The Shadow Team's Shadow Edition

by Pete the Streak on Mar 22, 2010 9:53 AM EDT

[Bumped a little late, but we eventually have to beat Iowa in something, someday, right? - RUTS]

With the NCAA's in full swing, it's a good time to take a peek at the future, or the Shadow Team's shadow. Pennsylvania's PIAA championships were held last weekend, and Penn State's inbound group snared 3 big school (AAA) champs: the ever-studly Alton twins, with Andrew easily taking gold at 145 (his 3rd), and Dylan destroying the 152 weight class (his 2nd), and rising senior Nico Megaludis winning his 2nd gold at 119. In the AA class, both Penn State recruits were upset. Frank Martellotti dropped a 4-3 decision to take 2nd, and Dirk Cowburn was denied his 3rd title, losing an ugly 1-0 decision to returning champ Eric Hess. The Cowburn/Hess match was highly anticipated, as both were returning champs, but......what a snoozefest. Hess' escape in the 2nd period was it, and both looked uninspired. A good wrestler can make anyone look bad, but this was sheer dullsville. Cowburn is the only small school wrestler offered a scholie (Martellotti is walking on), and I'm hoping Cael can get this guy moving and much more aggressive. All in all, while a good weekend for the good guys, here's a flashback (after the jump) to the 2009 AAA finals. Recognize any names?

2009 PIAA Finals Matchups/Results

Championship Finals
103	Jimmy Gulibon, Derry Area, maj. dec. Paul Bewak, Hempfield Area, 13-3
112	Nico Megaludis, Franklin Regional, dec. Zach Horan, Nazareth, 3-1 OT
119	Shane Young, Penn Trafford, dec. Tyler Rauenzahn, Blue Mountain, 5-3 OT
125	Sam Sherlock, West Mifflin, dec. Nathan Pennesi, Greater Latrobe, 6-3
130	Joe Waltko, North Allegheny, dec. Rocco Wellek, Erie Cathedral Prep, 10-6
135	Josh Kindig, Blue Mountain, pinned Joey Walters, Greater Latrobe, 3:03
140	Andrew Alton, Central Mountain, pinned Jack Bachman, Hempfield Area, 1:24
145	Dylan Alton, Central Mountain, dec. Joseph Napoli, Cumberland Valley, 6-3
152	Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin, maj. dec. Mark Havers, Bradford, 8-0
160	Jake Kemerer, Hempfield Area, dec. Kenny Courts, Central Dauphin, 4-2
171	Clay Gable, Dallastown, won by tech. fall over Clint Morrison, Cedar Cliff, 16-1 5:18
189	Tony Dallago, Central Dauphin, pinned Jamie Callender, Council Rock North, 1:33
215	Nate Gaffney, Connellsville, dec. Spencer Myers, Selinsgrove, 5-4
285	Evan Craig, Abington Heights, dec. David Osei, Abington, 3-1

Of the 14 champs, a total of 5 are either enrolled, or PSU bound: Megaludis, Sam Sherlock (who lost his senior year to an ACL tear), Andrew Alton, Dylan Alton, and Jake Kemerer. Kemerer, of course, is a member of this year's red-shirted Shadow Team. Coming up this Saturday night is the Dapper Dan Classic, which pits Pennsylvania's seniors against the best of the rest of the USA. It is every high school wrestler's dream to be picked for this event, and it has a remarkable history. Every year, the USA team sports ridiculous numbers, and for good reason: all these guys can rip your head off. Even so, Pennsylvania won last year, and is favored to repeat. Here are the starting line-ups, which are a veritable Who's Who of high school wrestling. Eye-popping numbers? Behold:

USA TEAM
Weight Class	Name	High School	State	Career Record Win Loss		State Championships	College Signed With
112	Ryak Finch	Safford	Arizona	204	2	3X	Iowa State University
119	Ty Mitch	Aurora	Ohio	163	22	3X	Virginia Tech University
125	Logan Stieber	Monroeville	Ohio	184	1	4X	Ohio State University
130	Jamie Clark	St. Edwards	Ohio	128	8	3X	University of Illinois
135	Ryan Nieman	Bullock Creek	Michigan	231	6	3X	Indiana University
140	Chris Villalonga	Blair Academy	New Jersey	144	3	4X	Cornell University
145	Joe Cozart	Brandon	Florida	226	4	4X	Iowa State University
152	Jackson Morse	Lowell	Michigan	184	9	3X	University of Illinois
160	Nick Sulzer	St. Edwards	Ohio	146	17	1X	University of Virginia
171	Nick Visicaro	Long Branch	New Jersey	153	17	2X	Rutgers University
189	Mike Evans	Blair Academy	New Jersey	153	8	1X	University of Iowa
215	Trevor Rupp	Pocatello	Idaho	113	6	2X
285	Bobby Telford	St. Mark’s	Delaware	116	40	2X	University of Iowa
Totals				2145	143	35

USA Honorary Coach - Ken Chertow - 1988 USA Olympian, 3X Division I All American

PENNSYLVANIA TEAM
Weight Class	Name	High School	Hometown	Career Record Win Loss		State Championships
112	Michael Rhone	Benton	Benton	135	20
119	Anthony Marino	Bethlehem Liberty	Bethlehem	128	22
125	Mitchell Port	Bellefonte	Bellefonte	156	18	1X
130	Joe Spisak	Boiling Springs	Boiling Springs	164	15	1X
135	Joshua Dziewa	Council Rock Sout	Yardley	126	7	1X
140	Josh Kindig	Blue Mountain	Auburn	172	12	2X
145	Andrew Alton	Central Mountain	Lock Haven	178	8	2X
152	Dylan Alton	Central Mountain	Lock Haven	176	5	3X
160	Marshall Peppelman	Central Dauphin	Harrisburg	181	7	3X
171	Matthew Cunningham	Shady Side Academy	Munhall	162	12	1X
189	Jamie Callender	Council Rock North	Ivyland	156	27	1X
215	Spencer Myers	Selinsgrove	Selinsgrove	149	18	1X
285	Evan Craig	Abington Heights	Clarks Summit	169	10	2X
Totals				2052	181	18
	COACHES:
	Terry Havelka	Burgettstown	WPIAL AA Coach of the Year
	Chris Mary	Canon McMillan	WPIAL AAA Coach of the Year

In the prelims, the WPIAL's top seniors are taking on those of New York. Check out the Dapper Dan link - http://wrestlingclassic.com/ - to see the WPIAL guys, including our man Martellotti, or if you just feel like browsing through some great history - all past results are listed: Click on the "Follow the 2010 Classic Here" link for this year's rosters.

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Comments

Nice

I thought a lot about these guys while watching the finals last night. 157 looks most vulnerable to our Shadow Squad with Taylor. I’ve never seen Kemerer wrestle, but Andrew Howe of Wiscy looks like a real handful (gradulations to Vallimont for making it to the finals to face him). I think the 184 guys were seniors (Askren and the Boise Smith dude), so maybe Wright will have some decent opportunities. Molinaro could be helped out by graduation at the loaded 149 spot. But I don’t see how the Altons won’t be redshirted. Didn’t they get mauled at the Nittany Lion Open wrestling unattached against collegians? I love their upside tho. Did you see the results of the PA duals final of Central Mtn vs. Central Dauphin? (won by a point I think by Central Dauphin). Both coaches were juggling lineups to get points and at one point they bumped Dylan up to 160 to face Peppelman. Dauphin knew the team score would be close and couldn’t afford NOT to have Peppelman’s 6pts, which certainly would not have come against Dylan, however much that matchup would have been a fan favorite, so they bumped him to 171. Both got pins and the points offset.

/ends huge run-on

"We just forgot our pants. Nothing against the team or anything like that." -- take a guess

by jtothep on Mar 21, 2010 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, that team match was great.

Would have loved to see Peppelman v Alton, but the CD coach did the right thing for his team.

I expect to see the entire incoming class redshirted again, but at least we’ll now see Kemerer, Wright, Ruth and Taylor, assuming we can spread them around the weight classes.

The US team stomped our Pa. guys Saturday night, and they all seemed like they had a State Championships hangover. Even Dylan gave up a last second takedown to lose 6-5.

Even so, the future does indeed look bright for PSU.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Mar 22, 2010 5:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I think I found a picture of the Alton Twins?

The one on the right has pretty good form, the one on the left needs to get off his heels!

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi

by PaJoe on Mar 22, 2010 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

One on the right is looking defensive..

The Altons, I’m thinkin’, would look more like these dude’s badass Papa.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Mar 22, 2010 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Normally the Papa doesn't care much...

It’s the badass Mama that you need to worry about.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi

by PaJoe on Mar 22, 2010 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not a "true" wrestling fan....

But, I did watch the Altons and Nico in the PIAA finals. They are beasts (even though they come in small packages!)

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Vince Lombardi

by PaJoe on Mar 22, 2010 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Better picture of the Altons

Young Mike Tyson, before he met Don King and lost his head.

Seriously, you have to watch their interviews. Like Tyson, their voices are a little higher than you’d expect. And, like Tyson, nobody will tell them that.

by bveo12 on Mar 23, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Better picture of the Altons

Young Mike Tyson, before he met Don King and lost his head.

Seriously, you have to watch their interviews. Like Tyson, their voices are a little higher than expected. And, like Tyson, nobody will tell them that.

by bveo12 on Mar 23, 2010 12:49 PM EDT reply actions