Jim Best is not one to pat himself on the back when it comes to making predictions, but you have to give him his props.
Prior to the start of last week’s Class 3A Northeast Regional Tournament at Liberty’s Memorial Gymnasium, Emmaus’ second year head coach said he felt confident, not cocky, in saying that all five of wrestlers would advance.
Best nailed it.
A school-record five Hornets placed in the top five of their respective weight class, and as a result, have qualified for this week’s PIAA Class 3A State Championship at the Giant Center in Hershey.
“All five wrestlers followed the plan laid out by the coaches,” said Best of sophomore Emilio Albanese, senior Jesse Scott, sophomore Teagan Caciolo and juniors Jackson Max and Xayden Sallit. “Believe in your preparation, focus on your next opponent only, and when you are wrestling, focus on scoring the next point.
“Do what it takes to win has been become the team mantra in the final half of the season, and that is exactly what all five wrestlers did consistently throughout the regional tournament to advance.”
Highlighting the list of Hornets making a return trip back to Hershey is Albanese, who captured his first regional title at 114.
Facing a familiar foe in Whitehall’s Wilmont Kai in the finals, Albanese (35-6) reversed the result from last week’s loss to the Zephyr junior in the District XI Tournament, with a 3-2 victory in the finals.
Albanese, who finished third a year ago, had an impressive run at regionals going 4-0 with a first period pin, a tech fall and a major decision.
After missing out by one spot from advancing to Hershey a year ago, Scott (31-13) was not about to let history repeat itself in his final season as he had best-ever showing at regionals finishing runner-up at 160.
Scott went 3-1 in the tournament and advanced to the finals before falling to Bethlehem Catholic senior Charlie Scanlan 10-4. The two also met a week earlier in the district final with Scanlan prevailing, 4-3
Caciolo (32-12) also was motivated to reach Hershey after finishing fifth at regionals in his freshman campaign.
The sophomore dropped a tough 1-0 decision to fellow sophomore Reef Dillard of Becahi in the quarterfinals on Friday but then regrouped one day later and battled his way through the consolation round winning four consecutive matches, including defeating Whitehall junior Kade Pascoe 5-0 in the third-place match.
Max, who was making his first appearance at regionals, also found himself in a somewhat similar situation after dropping his semifinal match by tech fall to Northampton stud freshman Brayden Wenrich on Saturday morning.
But the Hornets 107-pounder (35-9 on the season) was also able to battle back and secure his first-ever trip to Hershey by defeating the District 12 champ, LaSalle College sophomore Cooper Helm, by tech fall 16-1 before falling in the third-place match to Notre Dame Green Pond freshman Cael Muller.
Sallit (35-11) also had to battle his way through the consolation round to earn his first-ever trip to Hershey.
The Emmaus junior lost in the quarterfinal round to Athens senior Connor Wetzel of Shikellamy, the District 4 champ, by tech fall (17-2), but then won a pair of matches before falling into a fifth-place match. Needing a win to qualify for states, Sallit then went out and put a dominating effort in a 17-1 tech fall over Wallenpaupack junior Gabriel Caufield to clinch fifth place at regionals and the final state berth at 172.
Back in the 2021-22 season, Emmaus had three wrestlers – Jared Groller, Nick Velde and Trevor Gitski – all advanced to Hershey.
Now five will make the trip with a goal in mind of getting to the top the podium.
“We’re excited to have earned the opportunity to compete on Thursday in Hershey on the biggest stage of high school wrestling in the state of Pennsylvania, and we all have the expectation to still be competing on Saturday in the medal rounds,” said Best.
Action gets underway at 4 p.m. on Thursday with first-round matchups.
Check back later this week to Emmaussports.com for a preview of the state tournament.
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