Pennsbury Wrestling

Brian Sellers knows what’s out there. By Joe Santoliquito Inquirer Suburban Staff The 112-pound junior from Pennsbury knows his role will change very soon, from the wrestler who stalks to the one being stalked. Out there is probably the best 112-pound wrestler in the state, West Chester Henderson’s Jermaine Jones, a two-time state champion. It won’t happen this weekend, when Sellers will compete in the District 1-North Class AAA championship at Wissahickon. The two will likely meet at the regional tournament on Feb. 29. Meanwhile, Sellers is preparing himself with performances like the one he completed last weekend in the Section 1 tournament at Pennsbury, scoring 2 pins and one major decision to be named the most outstanding wrestler. Sellers is 35-2, with his two losses coming against Jones in a 12-0 decision and the other in a tight 3-1 decision against Pennsylvania's no. 2 ranked wrestler, Easton’s Chad Sportelli. “Wrestling against Jermaine will be a tough match, of course, but, hopefully, I’m going to make it a lot closer than the last time,” Sellers said. “The reason I decided to drop from 119 was that I was looking at the bigger picture. Going up against Jones at 112 is definitely tough, but 119 at the state level is a lot deeper in talent than at 112.” No area wrestler besides Jones has been able to beat Sellers. The only real test he received at the sectional tournament came in the finals against Truman freshman Matt Rizzo, who was tied with Sellers, 2-2, in the second period before Sellers scored four more takedowns and pinned him at 4 minutes, 43 seconds. Sellers said he would wrestle Jones differently, if they meet again in the regional championship. He needs to avoid Jones’ power moves. “I’m going to try to avoid his tilts as much as possible,” Sellers said. “I wouldn’t say I look forward to wrestling Jermaine - he’s a two-time state champion - but it’s not something I dread.”

Brian Sellers Brian Sellers of Pennsbury is a junior, wrestles 112lbs. with a record of 35-2 with 20 pins and 7 tech-falls. Last week he went 3-0 with 2 pins and 1 major decision en route to the District 1, Section 1 championship and Outstanding Wrestler Award in a bracket that featured 100-match winner and former state placewinner Jon Denny as well as a pin vs. up-and-coming Truman freshman Matt Rizzo. His only losses this year were to 2x state champion Jermaine Jones and a close 3-1 decision vs. Easton's Chad Sportelli. Brian is a AAA Southeast Regional Champion with a career record of 80-14.

Wrestlers listed by winning percentage (Through Jan. 14) Wrestlers listed by winning percentage (minimum of 9 matches, .667 winning percentage) Name, School Record 103 POUNDS Joe Weygand, Wood 22-1 Kyle Palucis, Pennsbury 17-6 L. Paglaiccetti, Bensalem 15-7 Kevin Radley, Tennent 14-7 112 POUNDS Jerry Balasco, C. Rock 13-3 Chris Strickland, Penns. 16-6 Brian Norcross, George 8-4 119 POUNDS Brian Sellers, Pennsbury 21-1 Matt Rizzo, Truman 14-3 Jon Denny, Neshaminy 8-3 125 POUNDS Dan Vagnozzi, Pennsbury 14-4 Bill Trimble, Pennsbury 15-6 Brian Wambold, C. Rock 6-3 130 POUNDS A.J. Barrett, Wood 18-1 Brian Rowan, Neshaminy 13-6 135 POUNDS Calvin Simmons, Truman 14-5 Scott Miller, Pennsbury 13-5 Ben Rees, Pennsbury 15-6 Zack Warsavage, George 8-4 140 POUNDS Mike Olds, Truman 15-4 145 POUNDS Joe Bowman, Pennsbury 18-5 Curt Beardsell, Tennent 13-4 Pat Warusz, Neshaminy 15-5 Steve Drumm, Truman 13-6 152 POUNDS Dave Schreiner, Tennent 16-1 Jon Kokinda, C. Rock 16-2 160 POUNDS Kevin Moore, Truman 16-2 Sonny Flood, Tennent 15-4 171 POUNDS John Spinosa, Wood 11-0 Jon Schimpf, Pennsbury 19-3 Joe Maroney, Bensalem 15-5 189 POUNDS Ryan Collins, C. Rock 17-3 Pat Frain, Pennsbury 19-5 Kevin McKeon, Tennent 14-6 Mike Gretz, George 10-5 275 POUNDS Joe Bergen, Pennsbury 19-4 Ed Ruiz, Tennent 14-3 Matt Pape, Conwell-Egan 16-4 Geoff Donahue, Nesh. 9-4

Brian Sellers, a Pennsbury junior wrestler, is looking for bigger things this year. By TOM WARING Courier Times Brian Sellers loved the way his sophomore season went. And why not? The Pennsbury High School wrestler finished 36-9, winning the Class AAA Southeast Regional 112-pound title and earning a trip to the PIAA tournament. Sellers, now a junior, isn't satisfied. He's got his sights set on a return trip to Hersheypark Arena. In his opinion, he's a better wrestler than the one who bowed out of states with a 1-2 record. His last loss hurt. It was a 1-0 setback to Dallastown's Byron Dunlap. Had Sellers prevailed, he would have been guaranteed a top-eight finish. "I've learned from last year," he said. "I've matured as a wrestler. I've worked on some of the defensive mistakes I was making and some stuff to help my offense in practice." Sellers, competing at 119 pounds, enjoyed a terrific December. He went 18-1, winning all eight dual meets and going 10-1 in three tournaments. He won the Haverford and Carlisle tournaments, but finished second at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Classic at Quakertown. That runner-up showing is nothing to be ashamed of. In the final, he dropped a 12-0 decision to Henderson's Jermaine Jones, the two-time defending state champion at 103 pounds. January will present more challenges. Sellers and the Falcons (8-0) open the Suburban One League National Conference schedule tomorrow against Abington. There's no telling whom Sellers will wrestle in league meets, but his toughest competition could come from Neshaminy's Jon Denny, who beat him a year ago. Sellers isn't as advanced as former state champions Kip Kiefer and Chuckie Connor were when they were Pennsbury juniors, but coach Joe Kiefer said it's a "pleasant surprise" how quickly he's developing. Coach Kiefer calls the 5-2 Sellers a confident, quick, strong wrestler. He's had no trouble making weight at 119, so he's almost certain to drop to 112 for the postseason. Jones, the Henderson star, will also likely be at 112. He and Sellers wouldn't see each other until regionals. The way Kiefer sees it, Sellers has to focus on peaking at the right time, regardless of the competition. "I'd certainly give Jones the edge, but Brian needs to go to the weight class where he has the best chance to advance, place and get as far as he can," the coach said. Sellers, a 17-year-old from Yardley, is a well-rounded kid. Besides wrestling, he plays club soccer for the YMS Highlanders and is active with the youth group at Calvary Full Gospel Church in Fairless Hills. He takes honors courses and manages to find time to work as a cashier at a local grocery store. As for wrestling, Sellers relies on his brother Jason - a former Pennsbury wrestler (class of 1993) - to look on the Internet for information on potential upcoming opponents. He's counting on the coaching staff to have the team ready for crucial end-of-year meets with North Penn, Neshaminy and Council Rock. "Our job is just to work hard in practice," he said. After the SOL season ends, Sellers will begin his quest to return to Hershey. A 62-13 career wrestler, he wants to place at states this season. Sellers knows that Jones and others will make reaching that goal difficult, but he'll give it his best effort. "As long as I do my best, what else can you ask for?" he said.

Yardley News By Jim Murphy Joe Kiefer has been coaching wrestling in this area for the past 34 years, including the past 15 seasons as head varsity coach at Pennsbury High School. However, in the 2001-02 campaign, Kiefer wanted to share more with his team than just pin moves and different takedown holds. He wanted to mold memories that would last a lifetime. After a lot of hard work, Kiefer accomplished his goal with the help of many people. The Pennsbury High School wrestling team will be going to the Kaylee Scholarship Association Invitational Tournament in Walt Disney World later this month. “That is one thing we are trying to do, indulge some memories here and we think we will be successful doing that,” Kiefer said. “It is going to be a challenge. I cannot tell you for sure what is going to happen because it is not something we experienced before. When we went to tournaments previously, it just has been to wrestle. This is going to be different, there are going to be (theme) parks and things to go to.” Included on the trip are 25 wrestlers, two student managers and three coaches. In addition, some family members will be making the trip as well, which will take place from December 19th to the 23rd. “It is exciting, you get away from the usual and go to this tournament and get some new competition,” senior captain Jon Schimpf said. “I was really excited,” junior Brian Sellers said when he heard about the trip. “We are staying at Walt Disney World Resort, which is going to be a lot of fun. Just to be able to go down there.” The tournament consists of three divisions with either eight or nine teams in each. Due to a survey that Kiefer had to fill out outlining the history of the program and the size of the school, the Falcons were placed in the elite division, which is the most competitive. The Falcons will wrestle seven matches in their division, one team from California, another from Maryland and the rest from Florida. “As long as you keep focused and train hard, you can (wrestle) anywhere,” Sellers said about the nervousness of wrestling so far from home. “I feel that if you work hard in practice, it doesn’t really matter where you are. It will be fun to be down there in Florida, but it really wouldn’t matter if we were somewhere else.” Kiefer has family in Florida and from being down there, he was always impressed with the wrestling programs in that part of the country. So, when he got information mailed to him about this particular tournament, he wanted to do everything he could to make it more than just a possibility. “I called the coaches, they were excited about it and said let’s look further into it,” Kiefer said when he shared the possibility with his staff. “Then I got some parents together and we had some meetings and hashed it out.” The team started fundraising and finally made the last payment on November 12. “It’s getting to be a little bit more exciting and a little less of a headache,” Kiefer said. Once over there, the team has two goals, to win matches and to have fun as part of the trip includes time to visit Disney World and the rest of the theme parks. So is the coach worried about the concentration of his team when it comes down to wrestling? “We just have to believe in the maturity of the kids, that they know when to separate the activities and focus on wrestling when it’s supposed to be focused on,” Kiefer said. “There is no doubt they want to have a good time, you don’t go to Disney World and not want to have a good time, but we want them to know what the limits are.” “I think when you step on the mat, you’ve got to be focused,” Schimpf said. “Everybody has to be focused and after that it’s your time.” As being two of the older wrestlers on the team, Schimpf and Sellers understand that the younger kids will be following their example of when to draw that fine line between having fun and wrestling. “Definitely more responsibility,” Schimpf said. “There are a lot of kids going and only a couple of coaches, so you have to take more of a leadership role.” The Falcons have a young team with one senior currently in the starting lineup, however, they are confident that they can make some noise in the tournament. “I am hoping to go and win the tournament and I hope the team feels the same way, go down and win it,” Sellers said. But win or lose, the Falcons understand when they come back to a more frigid Bucks County, they have another goal to accomplish, which is to defend their Suburban One League Patriot Division Championship. In addition to team goals, Schimpf and Sellers have aspirations of placing in the State tournament. Schimpf is also looking for his 100th victory, needing 36 more, after posting 33 wins in his junior campaign.