Trey Balasco realizes he is on one of District One’s bigger wrestling stages. Yet, the first-year head wrestling coach at Council Rock South doesn’t mind being in the lead role.
Balasco, a 2013 Council Rock South graduate, has taken over the reins of the program from longtime head coach Brad Silimperi, who stepped down after 21 seasons at the helm. Silimperi accumulated 17 Suburban One titles, six PIAA District One Class 3A dual-meet crowns and six PIAA Southeast Regional 3A championships over his tenure.
Yet, Balasco has the Golden Hawks off to a solid start with a first-place team finish at the recent Bethlehem Holiday Classic as well as capturing the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic and a 10th-place finish at Delaware’s Beast of the East tournament.
CR South was among several local teams who had successful tournament results over the past weekend.
For Balasco, it has been a smooth transition. He retained the entire coaching staff of Shane Hughes, Brian Knoblauch, Bobby Lavelle, Trap McCormack, Mike Rappo and Ed Schneider to help cement the bond.
“The adjustment has been pretty seamless,” stated Balasco. “I feel like we have always looked at this as a team effort, even when Brad was here. There are different leadership aspects, of course, but each coach has a role, and my assistants have helped me tremendously.”
At the Bethlehem tournament, juniors Anthony Mutarelli (133) and Gavin Cole (160) and senior Bekhruz Sadriddinov (172) all won titles in their respective weight divisions. Sophomore Pat Woloshyn (127) was second in his weight class.
“Anthony Mutarelli outscored his opponents 74-2 in the tournament, tech falling and pinning his way through the tournament,” noted Balasco. “He beat the second-, fifth- and ninth-ranked kids in the state, and he is really getting to know who he is, which is one of the best wrestlers in the country.
“Gavin Cole and Bekhruz Sadriddinov took care of business and won their weight classes. Those two push each other in the room day in and day out, and we’ll see it continue to pay dividends throughout the season. Pat Woloshyn is really coming into his own as well.”
Cole, who is 15-3 and was a state qualifier with a fifth-place regional finish last season, sees himself and his team taking a giant step ahead.
“I came up a little short at the Beast of the East, so winning Bethlehem felt like a really good way to bounce back and start to separate myself from other kids in the state,” he said. “It was another big win for us as a team because we have never won it. Hopefully, it’ll be the confidence builder we needed to keep going forward this season.”
Balasco, who doesn’t have a full lineup due to injuries, has high aspirations for his unit.
“I feel when you have us at full strength, we are the best team in the state,” he stressed. “And that’s no disrespect to a lot of really good teams this year. I just believe in these kids, and the work they put in.
“We still have yet to put our best team effort together, and I think that says a lot for this team.”
Also at the Bethlehem tournament, Quakertown took a seventh-place finish with seniors Mason Ziegler (127) and Collin Gaj (152) capturing individual crowns, and senior Calvin Lachman (285) taking home a bronze medal.
Quakertown head coach Kurt Handel was pleased with his team’s showing.
“Mason and Collin had great tournaments,” said Handel. “Calvin also had a great tournament placing third, but he unfortunately ran into Nazareth’s two-time state champion in the semifinals, losing 5-3.
“Ike Williams, another senior (133), had a great performance, but he lost in the blood round. Junior Gavin Carroll (145), who finished fifth, beat a few opponents he lost to in the past. He is a quiet kid who has just improved tremendously since last year.”
Central Bucks West claimed eighth place at the Ralph Wetzel Classic, and sophomore Chris Dennis (133) and junior Patrick Kelly (139) brought home titles. Central Bucks East finished 10th at the same tournament, and seniors Reagan McCullough (215) and Joe Collins (285) both won their weight classes.
Council Rock North junior Eren Sement was second at 127 at the Powerade tournament at Canon-McMillan High School. Central Bucks South senior Jake Neill (139) collected a third-place finish at the MyHouse Trojan Wars tournament at Chambersburg High School.
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