The Strath Haven wrestling team boasts a storied history filled with dedicated athletes and remarkable achievements. This article delves into the legacy of the team, highlighting key players and their contributions to the program's success.
Key Wrestlers and Their Accomplishments
Chase Barlow
Chase Barlow closed out his career as the winningest and most decorated wrestler in program history. Barlow was a four-time All-Delco, Central League and District 1 South champion, a four-time state qualifier and two-time PIAA medal winner. He went 35-4 this season, including a 10-2 mark in the postseason, and 124-27 in his career with the Panthers, who finished fourth as a team at the Southeast Regional. As a senior, he took fifth at the PIAA championships at 160 pounds after finishing seventh at 152 as a junior. Barlow earned All-Delco honors in football while helping Strath Haven to the District 1 Class 5A title.
Kelton Brunner
Kelton Brunner was a key cog in the middle of the lineup for the Panthers who earned All-Delco honors for the second year in a row. Brunner won the District 1 Class 3A South title at 152 pounds to help Strath Haven win the team championship. He then finished fourth at the Southeast Regional to advance to the state tournament. A four-time regional qualifier, Brunner compiled a 33-13 record as a senior to finish his career with a 96-46 mark.
Sam Milligan
One of just two juniors on the first team, Sam Milligan had to bide his time in his first two years before he finally broke into the regular rotation this season. He more than showed he belonged, winning his first 26 matches, 18 by fall. Milligan finished the season with a 32-3 mark, winning Central League and District 1 South titles at 189 pounds. He bounced back from his first loss of the season to take third at the Southeast Regional championship and earn his first trip to the state meet where he went a respectable 2-2.
Team Achievements and Highlights
The Strath Haven wrestling team has consistently demonstrated its strength and determination in various competitions. Their fourth-place finish as a team at the Southeast Regional highlights their collective effort and talent.
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District 1 Class 3A South Title
The team's victory in the District 1 Class 3A South title, significantly aided by Kelton Brunner's individual win at 152 pounds, underscores their dominance in regional competitions.
Individual Wrestler Spotlights
Beyond the Strath Haven team, several other wrestlers from different schools have made significant impacts in their respective leagues and tournaments.
Cole McFarland (Haverford)
Just a sophomore, Cole McFarland already is a two-time All-Delco and two-time state qualifier. He made history last year when he became the first freshman in program history to qualify for the PIAA Class 3A Championships. He continues to etch his name in the record book. McFarland went 37-5 overall this season and was a double-digit winner in three weight classes. He went 12-4 at 106, 15-1 at 113 and 10-0 at 120. He became the ninth wrestler in school history, and the first sophomore, to medal at the state meet when he took fifth at 106 pounds in Class 3A.
Shane Holefelder (Sun Valley)
Shane Holefelder was a versatile wrestler who competed in three weight classes as a senior for the Vanguards, going 14-6 at 120, 18-0 at 126 and 1-0 at 132 for a 36-6 overall record. He was part of a strong lineup that guided Sun Valley to the Ches-Mont League American Division title.
Matt Ricci (Garnet Valley)
Matt Ricci compiled a 37-7 overall record to qualify for the state tournament and earn All-Delco honors for the second time in his career. He spent much of the season at 126 where he went 23-6 and took third at the District 1 Class 3A West tournament and second at the Southeast Regional to earn a trip to Hershey. A three-time Central League individual champion and four-time team champ, Ricci closed out his career with a 102-41 mark, a remarkable feat in the COVID era.
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Nate Shippey (Interboro)
Nate Shippey bounced back from a loss in the quarterfinals to finish third at the PIAA Class 3A Regional and earn his second straight trip to the PIAA Championships, one of just four wrestlers in program history to do so. He finished eighth at 126 pounds at the state championships as a junior. A two-time All-Delco, Shippey captured the District 1 Class 3A South 132-pound title with a pin, win by technical fall and decision. He finished his season with a 26-7 record and closed out his career with a 91-33 mark.
Daniel Kearney (Sun Valley)
Daniel Kearney was part of a strong senior class that powered the Vanguards to the Ches-Mont League American Division title, a berth in the District 1 Class 3A team tournament and a second-place finish at the District 1 Class 3A West tournament.
Daniel Husain (Garnet Valley)
Seniors showed the way for Garnet Valley and Husain was part of that strong class that guided the Jaguars to their fifth consecutive Central League title and a third-place finish at both the District 1 Class 3A West and Southeast Regional tournaments. He competed at 138 and 145 pounds where he compiled a 41-7 record. A two-time Central League individual champion, Husain placed second at 138 pounds at the District 1 Class 3A West tournament and third at the Southeast Regional to earn his first trip to the PIAA Championships.
C.J. Wood (Garnet Valley)
Like many of his teammates, C.J. Wood is a multiple sport athlete. He earned All-Delco honors in football as a senior and also plays baseball for the Jags. He was just as versatile on the wrestling mat. Wood competed at 145, 152 and 160 where he compiled a 34-10 record and qualified for the PIAA Championships for the first time in his career. He won the Central League and District 1 Class 3A West 145-pound crowns, and placed fifth at the Southeast Regional to earn All-Delco honors for the third time.
Sam DiTrolio (Garnet Valley)
Another versatile athlete who was key to Garnet Valley’s success in football and wrestling, Sam DiTrolio earned All-Delco honors in football as an offensive lineman and filled a big role at 189 and 215 for the Jaguars in wrestling. He was the Central League champ at 215 before dropping down to 189 for the postseason where he won the District 1 Class 3A West title and took third at regionals to earn a trip to Hershey for the PIAA Championships. He picked up the 100th win of his career with a pin of Henderson’s Owen McCarthy in the opening round of the Southeast Regional and closed out his career with a 103-36 record.
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Julien Laventure (Upper Darby)
Julien Laventure is the latest in a long line of outstanding heavyweights for the Royals. He compiled a record of 82-20 in just three seasons as a varsity wrestler and qualified for the PIAA championships three times. A two-time district and regional champion, Laventure finished sixth at the state meet at 285 as a junior. He began his senior season with 28 consecutive wins, 16 by fall, and closed out the season with a 37-3 record to earn All-Delco honors for the third time in his career.
Bill Brosko (Haverford School)
Bill Brosko had a spectacular junior season. He went 26-0 in the regular season and finished the year 34-2. His only losses were the Malvern Prep heavyweight Nicholas Feldman, considered one of the top wrestlers in the country. Brosko, a three-time All-Delco, took second at the Pennsylvania Independent Schools and National Preps tournaments. It was the third straight year he earned All-America honors at National Preps. He has compiled an 80-10 record with the Fords since transferring from Marple Newtown, where he made the state tournament as a freshman.
All-Delco Wrestlers Statistics
Here is a summary of the All-Delco wrestlers mentioned in the article, along with their key statistics:
| Wrestler | School | Record | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole McFarland | Haverford | 37-5 | Two-time All-Delco, Two-time State Qualifier |
| Shane Holefelder | Sun Valley | 36-6 | Ches-Mont League American Division Title |
| Matt Ricci | Garnet Valley | 37-7 | All-Delco, State Tournament Qualifier |
| Nate Shippey | Interboro | 26-7 | Two-time All-Delco, PIAA Championships Qualifier |
| Daniel Husain | Garnet Valley | 41-7 | Two-time Central League Champion, PIAA Championships Qualifier |
| C.J. Wood | Garnet Valley | 34-10 | All-Delco, PIAA Championships Qualifier |
| Kelton Brunner | Strath Haven | 33-13 | All-Delco, District 1 Class 3A South Title |
| Chase Barlow | Strath Haven | 35-4 | Four-time All-Delco, PIAA Medal Winner |
| Sam Milligan | Strath Haven | 32-3 | Central League Champion, District 1 South Title |
| Sam DiTrolio | Garnet Valley | N/A | All-Delco (Football and Wrestling), Central League Champ |
| Julien Laventure | Upper Darby | 37-3 | All-Delco, PIAA Championships Qualifier |
| Bill Brosko | Haverford School | 34-2 | Three-time All-Delco, National Preps Tournament |