The second season for the Emmaus girls wrestling team gets underway on Sunday as the Hornets compete in the District XI Tournament at Easton Area Middle School.
Head coach Thad Smith’s team will have 13 wrestlers competing in the event, which will feature 27 teams from across the district.
Action gets underway at 9 a.m. with the finals scheduled for 7 p.m.
“Realistically, we are hoping to get three to regionals and four would be outstanding,” said Smith, who’s in his first year leading the program. “The goal for all of the girls is to outwrestle their seeds and do better than last year.”
A season ago, Emmaus placed 10th overall as a team and advanced just one wrestler, Olivya Kroope.
Now in her junior year, Kroope, is the highest ranked Hornet in this year’s tournament, receiving the No. 1 seed at 155 after a perfect 19-0 regular-season.
“She has a great chance of advancing” said Smith of Kroope, who finished fourth at districts a year ago. “It’s important for her to get that first win and just wrestle one match at a time.
“My goal for her is the state tournament and I think she’s on track for that.”
Kroope’s toughest challenger figures to be Northampton senior Mylea Lambert, the No. 2 seed. The two met in the finals of the EPC Championship back on January 25 with Kroope pinning the Konkrete Kid wrestler in 3:27. Lambert placed fourth at states a year ago.
Katherine Soto-Acuna has also enjoyed an outstanding season for the Hornets with a 17-2 mark. The senior will be the No. 3 seed at 235.
“She’s been a pleasant surprise, and I think she has a great shot,” said Smith of Soto-Acuna who’s in her first season with the program.
Freshman Peyton Schneck (16-6) is the No. 4 seed at 100, while freshman Haily Laible (12-7) is No. 6 at 148 and junior Jocelyn Vargas (10-11) No. 7 at 170.
The top three in each weight class will advance to the South East Regional Tournament next weekend at Quakertown High School
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Emmaus wrestlers competing – 1st Round matchups:
100 – #4 Peyton Schneck vs #13 Janetliz Burgos (Catty)
106 – #12 Shadeilyz Castro Ruiz vs #5 Joey Cappa (ESS)
112 – #17 Danielle Rivera vs #16 Ana Rodriguez-Ramos (Catty)
118 – #15 Flor Chouloupe vs #18 Ava Wickemeyer (Freedom)
124 – #12 Erin Bechtel vs #5. Arianna Pieretti (ESS)
130 – #11. Brynn Koberlein vs #22 Bashyah Bonilla (Allen)
136 – #9 Kadence Yannotti vs #8 Elsia Trotter (Stroudsburg)
142 – #12. Ariana Koberlein vs #5 Addison Greger (Naz)
148 – #6 Haily Laible vs #11 Marilyn Castaldo (PV)
155 – #1 Olivya Kroope vs winner #9. Lynette Johnson (Stroudsburg) or #8 Renee Eisenhauer (Pine Grove)
170 – #7 Jocelyn Vargas vs #10, Kailey Evans (Lehighton)
190 – #12. Petra Perez vs #5 Olivia Brisbois (PME)
235 – #3. Katherine Soto-Acuna vs winner #11 Mikaela Vera (Exec Ed) or #6 Lily Decker (PV)