Pennsbury Wrestling

Trentonian Preview By Rick Fortenbaugh Although Lower Bucks County always produces some of the best wrestling in the area, this year our Pennsylvania squads are primed to make an even bigger impact. At the top of the list is Joe Kiefer’s Pennsbury squad. To put it simply, the Falcons are loaded. A state semi-finalist last year in the PIAA Class AAA Duals, Pennsbury returns 22 wrestlers with varsity experience from a team that went 22-1. One poll has Pennsbury ranked as high as third in all of Pennsylvania. Pennsbury Coach: Joe Kiefer Last Year: 22-1, SONL Patriot Division champion, District 1 Dual Match champion and state semifinalist, No. 6 ranking in the area. Lineup: 103-Lee Jay Milas (So.); 112-Chris Strickland (Sr.); 119-Brian Sellers (Sr.); 125-Dan Vagnozzi (Sr.); 130-Bill Trimble (So.); 135-Ben Rees (So.); 140-Joe Zizzo (Sr.); 145-Joe Bowman (Sr.); 152-Chris Ryan (Jr.); 160-Kyle Allen (Sr.), Jeff Spiker (Sr.); 171 Corey Howard (Jr.), Bill Bramwell (Jr.); 189-Pat Frain (Sr.); 215-Joe Bergen (Jr.); Hvy-Tyrus O’Neill (Jr.). Strengths: Where do you start? Sellers set a school record last year with 44 wins in route to a fifth place finish at states. Bowman had 40 victories and was eighth at states. Vagnozzi was fourth at regions and recorded 28 wins. Also piling up the victories last year were Strickland (27), Trimble (25), Rees (23), Allen (23), Frain (29) and Bergen (30). Zizzo (10-7) was injured some last year, but is tough. Milas has beaten out Kyle Palucis, who won nearly 20 bouts last year. Howard is a capable transfer from Bensalem. Ryan missed last year with a knee injury, but can go. There’s tremendous depth all over the place, not to mention all kinds of proven winners. Holes: You find one. Outlook: This is the strongest Pennsbury team since 1992 and it has the potential to even outperform that powerhouse squad. The Falcons have a great shot to again run the table until the state dual-match semifinals where it will most likely run into either Easton or Northampton from the Lehigh Valley. Pennsbury will also be a strong contender for the No. 1 spot in the prestigious 48-team Trentonian Area Ratings along with the likes of North Hunterdon and Hunterdon Central. From a Lower Bucks perspective, it doesn’t get any better than this.