Juniors Emilio Albanese (127) and classmate Teagan Caciolo (121) cruised to opening round wins on Day 1 of the PIAA State Championships held in Hershey on Thursday afternoon.
A third Emmaus wrestler – senior Xayden Sallit (172) – dropped his first match but is still alive competing in the consolation round.
Albanese, a two-time medalist and making his third consecutive appearance at states, pinned Boiling Springs Alex Mentzer in 3:09 to improve to 38-2 on the season. Up next, will be a quarterfinal round matchup against a familiar foe in Perkiomen Valley’s Max Tancini. Albanese defeated Tancini 3-2 a year ago at states in the blood round.
At 121, Caciolo, a two-time state qualifier, had no trouble winning his opening round match as he pinned Central Bucks South Alex Su in 2:42. Caciolo (34-6) will face Connellsville’s Tommy Gretz, who won a pair of matches to advance to the quarterfinals.
Sallit, who’s also making his second appearance at states, dropped his first round matchup to A.J. Corp of West Chester Rustin 7-1 but bounced back after picking up a 2-1 decision over Wallenpaupack’s Gabe Caulfied in the consolation round. Sallit (33-12) had also defeated Caufield in last week’s Northeast Regional Tournament, 7-2. Up next will be a matchup against Liam Costa of Moon Area.
Action for the boys resumes at 2:15 p.m. today with quarterfinals and second round consolations. Third round consolations begin at 4:45 p.m. followed by semifinals tonight at 7 p.m.
In girls’ action, Emmaus junior Olivya Kroope (155) won her opening round match with a first period pin of Hamburg’s Daisy Nemes. Kroope, who is 34-1 on the season and a two-time state qualifier, will face Makayla Taylor of Clearfield in today’s quarterfinals at 11:45 a.m.
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