There are some dual meets that just jump off the schedule and scream, “Watch me.”
Others grow on you as the high school wrestling season gains momentum.
Here are 16 intriguing matchups on the 2018-19 schedule for area wrestling fans:
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12
Saucon Valley at Notre Dame-GP: This Colonial League opener could be featuring the two best teams. The six-time defending champion Panthers have a solid returning cast led by stud Josh Jones. The Crusaders have an experienced handful plus transfers Andrew Cerniglia (Nazareth) and Ryan Crookham (Saucon Valley) who, barring injuries, will be wearing state medals in March.
Wilson at Pen Argyl: Both teams will be in the Colonial League’s upper echelon. The question is: Will they have enough weapons to compete with Saucon Valley and Notre Dame?
THURSDAY, DEC. 13
Nazareth at Northampton: The Blue Eagles have a strong, veteran cast (despite the loss of Cerniglia), plus two-time Georgia state champion DaShawn Farber transferring in. The Konkrete Kids have one of the area’s largest number of returning starters, led by state medalist Devon Britton, Jagger Condomitti and Michael Kistler.
Wilson at Easton: The traditional meeting of neighbors got a restart last season and thankfully continues in 2018.
SATURDAY, DEC. 15
Stroudsburg at Bethlehem Catholic: The Mountaineers have three standouts in Patrick Noonan, Cameron Enriquez and Lenny Pinto and coach Sean Richmond has the program on the rise big time. Stroudsburg will find out where it stands early on against the stacked defending PIAA Class 3A team tournament champion, before hosting Northampton four days later.
THURSDAY, DEC. 20
Northampton at Bethlehem Catholic: Two of the area heavyweights in a key EPC Division B matchup. The Konkrete Kids will need to be 100 percent healthy and wrestle very, very well to beat the Golden Hawks.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2
Liberty at Northampton: The Hurricanes are experienced and deep, led by four standout seniors Matt Maloney, Tal-Reese Flemming, Damen Moyer and Travis Brown. The Konkrete Kids’ upper weights will need a stellar showing to win.
SATURDAY, JAN. 5
Easton at Nazareth: The Red Rovers lost two key returnees who transferred, but there could be enough here to battle the Blue Eagles.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9
Notre Dame-GP at Pen Argyl: The Green Knights debuted several talented freshmen last season. How much progress they’ve made will be evident here and against other top-level Colonial League teams.
THURSDAY, JAN. 10
Bethlehem Catholic at Liberty: This one no longer is the Brothers Karam matchup of years past. There still will be plenty of fireworks and emotion, especially after Liberty won only one of 13 contested bouts in last year’s meeting.
FRIDAY, JAN. 11
St. Edward (Ohio) at Notre Dame-GP: This is not as much about the final score as it is the intent of first-year Crusaders coach Matt Veres to take the program to much higher levels than previously seen. The Eagles have had at least one alum be a college All-American every year since 1982. This also will be a measuring stick to see how far NDGP has come since competing in the season-opening Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) Ironman tournament against several of the nation’s best programs, including St. Edward.
SATURDAY, JAN. 12
Easton vs. Blair Academy (N.J.): Another measuring stick, this one for coach JaMarr Billman’s program against one of the nation’s best, and more chances for Red Rovers to see how they do in potential rematches after both teams competed the previous month at the Ironman.
THURSDAY, JAN. 17
Wilson at Saucon Valley, Easton at Parkland, Stroudsburg at Liberty: A good night for Lehigh Valley wrestling fans. Options galore.
SATURDAY, JAN. 19
Notre Dame-GP at Pope John XXIII Regional (N.J.): The Crusaders’ last of several big-time scheduling upgrades, this one against one of New Jersey’s best programs. The Lions had five state medalists last season.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23
Notre Dame-GP at Wilson: Colonial League title could be on the line here.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30
Easton at Phillipsburg: Nothing needs to be stated here. Last year’s match was a thriller that went down to the last bout, one that made Tyler Pellechia an Easton hero.
