Freshmen show potential for Quaker Valley wrestling

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 17, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Previous Next

Quaker Valley wrestlers Aris Haniotes and Trey Dunlap had a night they soon won’t forget.

Both freshman athletes joined the QV wrestling program as varsity starters Dec. 6 at Avonworth in the Quakers’ first match of the season.

QV won by a convincing 64-12 final score.

Haniotes competed against Tyler Hanny in the 215-pound weight class; Dunlap took on Jackson Krul at 172 pounds.

Haniotes registered a fall in 4:53 while Dunlap recorded a fall in 5:37.

“Trey is a workhorse and one of the strongest freshmen I know,” QV coach Austin Heinl said. “He spent a lot of time hitting the weights over the summer. Aris is also a big and strong freshman with a lot of wrestling ability. He just needs to keep getting acclimated to wrestling older and more mature wrestlers. I expect them both to continue to get better and compete in the postseason.

“Usually, when a freshman is wrestling at an upper weight, you expect there to be some growing pains. It’s still early in the year, but it was great to see them have success in their first varsity outing. Both had tough matches so winning shows that the hard work in practice has been paying off.”

Haniotes said he was “super excited” about the results of his match.

“I expected it to have a different feel to it being two-minute periods,” Haniotes said. “Also, I expected certain things that have worked in my past may not work now. All in all, it was exciting to get the first one out of the way.

“I was super excited to get my first varsity win, especially being 14. The upper weights can be brutal. I didn’t expect to get a pin. The only expectation I had for myself was to work on the things Austin and the rest of the coaches have been training me on.”

Haniotes credited a teammate with helping him during the Quakers’ practice sessions.

“Chase Kretzler is a senior and has been around and really is a great role model,” Haniotes said. “I’m lucky to have a partner in the room who’s a great mentor.

“At the end of the day, it’s bigger than wrestling. That’s why I love Quaker Valley. The education and the wrestling culture is top notch.”

Dunlap, like Haniotes, proved to be a formidable force in his first varsity match.

“It was an incredible experience,” Dunlap said. “I felt a mix of nerves and excitement, but I trusted in my training and, with God’s grace, secured a victory.”

The Quakers were victors in 11 of 13 bouts, racking up seven pins and one major decision when junior Jack Diemert rolled past Avonworth’s Dimitri Velisaris, 9-1, at 152 pounds.

“Our team is a perfect mix of veterans and younger guys like myself,” Haniotes said. “I feel we can go really far this year if we stick together and continue to motivate one another. We have great teachers in our corner; the rest is up to us to deliver.”

Dunlap believes the camaraderie among the team members will help make it a banner season for the Quakers.

“We have high expectations for a successful season,” he said. “And here’s a shoutout to my coaches, teammates and the divine guidance that has been part of this journey.”

Sophomore Matt Danna (145) also secured a pin in his first match with QV as he stuck Avonworth’s Jimmy Quinn in just 1:08. Danna attended West Allegheny as a freshman.

“Matt is a grinder,” Heinl said. “He fights harder than most out on the wrestling mat, and he has talent to put it to use.”

Falls also were achieved by QV seniors Jack Kazalas and Chase Kretzler at 139 and 215 and juniors Wyatt Hamm and Marcus Richey at 133 and 160.

Sophomore Bruce Anderchak (107), junior Grant Castaldo (121) and senior Isaac Maccaglia (114) all won by forfeit.

“We knew Avonworth was going to have some tough wrestlers. You don’t want to go into a match flat against a team like that,” Heinl said. “All of our wrestlers were excited for the opportunity.

“The (final) score just reflects the team’s preparation leading up to the match.”

Sophomore Eoin Parnell and senior John McHenry, a first-year grappler, both won exhibition bouts for QV.

The Quakers tied for second with Palmyra at the Moon Duals held Dec. 9 at Moon.

QV defeated Fort Cherry, 57-18, Neighborhood Academy, 72-6, Laurel, 40-24, and Moon, 52-18, before losing a 39-27 decision to West Allegheny in the finals.

Anderchak, Danna, Kazalas and Richey remained undefeated at 6-0 off their performances at Moon. Danna and Richey both had five falls early in the season.

Castaldo, Diemert, Haniotes and Maccaglia were 5-1 through six bouts.

Tags: Quaker Valley