The District 11 wrestling team tournaments for Classes 2A and 3A are set to take place on March 15, 2024, at Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium. Pairings for the tournaments will be announced on Friday, following rescheduled matches due to inclement weather earlier in the week.
The Class 2A field has already been established, featuring defending champion Saucon Valley, the returning runner-up Northwestern Lehigh, and other strong contenders such as Tri-Valley and North Schuylkill, who recently claimed the team title at the Schuylkill League tournament. Lehighton rounds out the top five teams. Pine Grove, Mahanoy Area, and Pen Argyl are expected to be seeded sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.
In the Class 3A category, the standings remain fluid, with several matches still pending that could impact team placements. Nazareth, Emmaus, Bethlehem Catholic, Northampton, Easton, and Whitehall have already secured spots in the tournament. Liberty is also likely to qualify after a perfect 5-0 performance at the Quakertown Duals, while Notre Dame-Green Pond holds a slight advantage over Stroudsburg for the final qualifying berth. The Crusaders are favored to defeat Pen Argyl in their upcoming match, while Stroudsburg must win its remaining three matches to have a chance at qualification.
The District 1 3A team tournament is also scheduled for March 15 at Upper Dublin. The quarterfinal matchups are as follows:
– No. 1 Boyertown vs. No. 8 Owen J. Roberts
– No. 2 Council Rock South vs. No. 7 Quakertown
– No. 3 Central Bucks East vs. No. 6 Garnet Valley
– No. 4 Pennridge vs. No. 12 North Penn
Semifinals and consolation matches will follow at 10:00, with the finals scheduled for 13:00. The top four teams will advance to the PIAA team tournament.
In the District 1 2A title match, Faith Christian will face Bristol, with only the champion advancing. The latest Lehigh Valley area rankings reflect changes following last week’s matches, including a notable loss for Faith Christian against Delbarton in New Jersey, which eliminated the last of the unbeaten teams.
Easton’s victory over Phillipsburg marks a significant achievement, as it was their first win in the Stateliners’ new gym. Meanwhile, Saucon Valley performed admirably at the Quakertown Duals, securing four wins before falling to Liberty in the final.
As for the Lehigh Valley rankings entering the week, they are as follows:
1. Faith Christian (15-1; 1) – Lost at Delbarton, Won team title at Coal Cracker
2. Nazareth (10-1; 2) – Victories against East Stroudsburg South and Freedom
3. Emmaus (14-1; 3) – Recent wins over Liberty, Parkland, and Pennridge
4. Bethlehem Catholic (9-1; 4) – Wins against East Stroudsburg North and Whitehall
5. Notre Dame-Green Pond (7-2; 5) – Beat Allen, upcoming match vs. Pen Argyl
6. Northampton (13-2; 6) – Victories against Pocono Mountain West and West Scranton
7. Easton (11-3; 7) – Wins against Allen and Phillipsburg
8. Pennridge (15-3; 8) – Victories over North Penn and Council Rock North
9. Whitehall (11-2; 9) – Beat Pocono Mountain East, lost to Bethlehem Catholic
10. Liberty (12-5; NR) – Successful run at Quakertown Duals
Dropped out: Parkland (9-6) after a loss to Emmaus.
Honorable mentions include teams such as Bangor, Dieruff, Lehighton, Northwestern Lehigh, Pen Argyl, Quakertown, Saucon Valley, Stroudsburg, and Upper Perkiomen, showcasing the competitive landscape of the Lehigh Valley wrestling scene.
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at [email protected].
