The Streak (Easton High School Wrestling)
The Streak was a period of 68 years, spanning from 1948 to 2015, in which Easton Area High School in Easton, Pennsylvania produced at least one individual district champion in the sport of high school wrestling.[1][2][3]
From 1948 to 2015, Easton had 185 individual district wrestling champions, while never failing to have at least one champion, in any year. Competing in Pennsylvania's Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, a district that has long been regarded as one of the most competitive districts in the United States[4] for the sport of wrestling, Easton High School's 68-year streak was considered to be a testament to the program's consistent excellence.[5]
District champions by year
Year
| Year | Wrestler (weightclass) | State Champion | NCAA All American |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Dick Rutt (105) | ||
| 1948 | Qunidi Pompilli (114) | ||
| 1948 | Charles Debellis (129) | ||
| 1948 | Mario DiVietro (156) | ||
| 1949 | Santo Calcagnetti (95) | ||
| 1949 | Dick Rutt (103) | ||
| 1949 | Clair Rutt (112) | ||
| 1949 | Qunidi Pompilli (120) | ||
| 1949 | Charles Debellis (133) | ||
| 1949 | Jim Mangino (138) | ||
| 1949 | Gene Abbott (145) | ||
| 1949 | Claude Danner (165) | ||
| 1949 | Tom Riehl (185) | ||
| 1950 | Dick Finelli (95) | ✓ | |
| 1950 | Harry Cather (103) | ||
| 1950 | Jim Mangino (145) | ||
| 1951 | Jack Uhler (95) | ||
| 1951 | Dick Finelli (103) | ||
| 1951 | Harry Cathers (112) | ||
| 1951 | Gus Basso (120) | ||
| 1951 | Dan Finelli (127) | ||
| 1951 | Sam Divetro (138) | ||
| 1951 | Art Cathers (145) | ||
| 1951 | Oscar Dorsey (154) | ||
| 1951 | Art Schaeffer (HWT) | ||
| 1952 | Dick Finelli (115) | ||
| 1952 | Gus Basso (123) | ||
| 1952 | Al Zarbatany (136) | ||
| 1952 | Sam Divietro (141) | ||
| 1953 | Joseph Piscitello (145) | ||
| 1953 | Bill Schaeffer (HWT) | ||
| 1954 | Tom Gaines (97) | ||
| 1954 | Larry Gaines (114) | ||
| 1954 | Charles Dentith (147) | ||
| 1955 | Larry Gaines (122) | ||
| 1955 | Nido Collina (140) | ||
| 1955 | John Divetro (167) | ||
| 1956 | Gino Delorenzo (147) | ||
| 1957 | Ted Sulkin (105) | ||
| 1958 | Malcom Purdy (97) | ||
| 1958 | Bill Kelley (135) | ||
| 1958 | Phil Richards (140) | ||
| 1959 | John Vincent (105) | ||
| 1959 | Bill Kelley (140) | ||
| 1960 | John Vincent (114) | ||
| 1960 | Malcom Purdy (122) | ||
| 1961 | Malcom Purdy (122) | ||
| 1961 | Dick Dewalt (129) | ||
| 1961 | Larry Callair (HWT) | ||
| 1962 | Alton Boyer (98) | ✓ | |
| 1962 | Jim Balsco (106) | ||
| 1962 | Dick Dewalt (136) | ✓ | |
| 1962 | Willie Falwell (148) | ||
| 1963 | Ray Ferarro (115) | ||
| 1964 | Bob Ferarro (98) | ✓ | |
| 1964 | Don Doll (106) | ||
| 1964 | Chuck Amato (168) | ✓ | |
| 1965 | Bob Ferarro (115) | ✓ | |
| 1965 | Rueben Roberts (123) | ||
| 1965 | Steve Diacount (183) | ||
| 1966 | Bob *Ferarro (130) | ✓ | |
| 1967 | Dwight Dansor (115) | ||
| 1968 | Bob Pratt (130) | ||
| 1968 | Craig Fox (136) | ✓ | |
| 1968 | Barry Snyder (141) | ||
| 1969 | Ed Gigliotti (106) | ||
| 1969 | Chico Lutes (115) | ✓ | |
| 1969 | Bob Pratt (130) | ||
| 1969 | Barry Snyder (141) | ||
| 1969 | Mike Capobainco (148) | ||
| 1970 | Brad Weaver (98) | ||
| 1970 | Larry Davis (136) | ||
| 1971 | Ed Kovacs (91) | ||
| 1971 | Rocky Creazzo (98) | ✓ | |
| 1971 | Brad Weaver (106) | ||
| 1972 | Greg Shoemaker (88) | ||
| 1972 | Rocky Creazzo (95) | ||
| 1972 | Tom Heilman (180) | ||
| 1973 | Greg Shoemaker (98) | ||
| 1973 | Rocky Creazzo (103) | ||
| 1973 | Russ Snyder (132) | ||
| 1973 | Darwin Brodt (167) | ||
| 1973 | Lee Guzzo (185) | ||
| 1974 | Greg *Shoemaker (105) | ||
| 1974 | Brain Lutz (119) | ||
| 1974 | Russ Snyder (138) | ||
| 1974 | Darwin Brodt (167) | ✓ | |
| 1974 | Lee Guzzo (185) | ||
| 1975 | Bob Weaver (98) | ✓ | |
| 1975 | Fred Stoelzl (132) | ||
| 1975 | Jim Palmer (HWT) | ||
| 1976 | Bob Weaver (98) | ✓ | |
| 1977 | Bob Weaver (105) | ✓ | |
| 1977 | Dave Smith (132) | ||
| 1978 | Rick Scarpantino (145) | ||
| 1978 | Dan Kasperkoski (HWT) | ||
| 1979 | Dan Kasperkoski (HWT) | ||
| 1980 | John Cuvo (98) | ✓ | |
| 1980 | Randy Ascani (119) | ||
| 1980 | Pete Stoelzl (126) | ||
| 1981 | Randy Ascani (119) | ✓ | |
| 1981 | Pete Stoelzl (126) | ||
| 1981 | Barry Rutt (138) | ||
| 1981 | Chip Easterday (167) |
1982
- Jack Cuvo (98)
1983
- Jack *Cuvo (98)
- Jody Karam (155)
1984
- Jack Cuvo (98)
- Mark Benton (105)
- Brian McIntyre (126)
- Jerry Hulbert (132)
1985
- Jack *Cuvo (105)
- Jerry Hulbert (138)
- Jeff Karam (155)
1986
- Trevor Purdy (126)
- Mike Disora (132)
1987
- Doug Hager (112)
1988
- Moss *Grays (132)
1989
- Moss *Grays (135)
- Dave Disora (140)
- Tony Rizzolino (152)
1990
- Steve Calandra (130)
- Moss Grays (145)
- Dan Goffredo (171)
1991
- Greg Geiger (140)
1992
- Gino *Cerulli (103)
1993
- Eric Thompson (160)
1994
- Eric Thompson (160)
1995
- Jamarr Billman (112)
1996
- Willie Saylor (103)
- Chris Kelly (112)
- Gary Rute (119)
- Bryan Snyder (125)
- Jamarr Billman (130)
- Rich Morris (135)
- Eric Greshko (140)
1997
- Chris Kelly (112)
- Bryan Snyder (135)
- Jamarr Billman (140)
1998
- Gino Fortebuono (112)
1999
- Matt Ciasulli (103)
2000
- Chad Sportelli (103)
- Jake Giamoni (135)
- Ryan Kilpatrick (171)
2001
- Chad Sportelli (103)
- Matt Ciasulli (119)
- Dan Brown (140)
- Ryan Kilpatrick (160)
- Justin Mclennan (189)
2002
- Alex Krom (103)
- Matt Ciasulli (125)
- Matt Lear (152)
2003
- Seth Ciasulli (103)
- Alex Krom (112)
- Mike Rogers (140)
2004
- Mike Rogers (152)
- Sean Richmond (160)
- Jason Groller (275)
2005
- Jordan Oliver (103)
- Brad Gentzle (119)
- Alex Krom (135)
- Zach Pizarro (189)
2006
- Jordan Oliver (103)
- Russ Souders (119)
- Ju Ju Drummond (125)
- Braylin Williams (140)
2007
- Desmond Moore (103)
- Kegan Handlovic (112)
- Jordan Oliver (119)
2008
- Kegan Handlovic (119)
- Jordan Oliver (130)
- Chris Wilson (215)
2009
- Chris Wilson (215)
- Justin Grant (285)
2010
- Mitchell Minotti (130)
- Joe Rizzolino (135)
2011
- Joe Rizzolino (135)
- Mitchell Minotti (140)
2012
- Mitchell Minotti (145)[6]
- Tyler Greene (182)
2013
- Robbie Rizzolino (132)[7]
- Evan DiSora (160)
2014
- Elijah Brown (152)[8]
2015
The end of the streak – 2016
The Easton wrestling streak ended on February 27, 2016 when it failed to produce a district champion.
Years with only one champion
Of the 68 years in the streak, there were 17 seasons in which the streak was sustained by just one champion:
1956
- Gino Delorenzo (147)
1957
- Ted Sulkin (105)
1963
- Ray Ferarro (115)
1966
- Bob *Ferarro (130)
1967
- Dwight Dansor (115)
1976
- Bob Weaver (98)
1979
- Dan Kasperkoski (HWT)
1987
- Doug Hager (112)
1988
- Moss *Grays (132)
1991
- Greg Geiger (140)
1992
- Gino *Cerulli (103)
1993
- Eric Thompson (125)
1994
- Eric Thompson (119)
1995
- Jamarr Billman (112)
1998
- Gino Fortebuono (112)
1999
- Matt Ciasulli (103)
2014
- Elijah Brown (152)
Notable wrestlers who contributed to the streak
Bobby Weaver, Olympic Gold Medalist (1984), Two-time Olympian (1980, 1984), Olympic Alternate (1976), world champion (1979), NCAA Division I All American (Lehigh)
Chuck Amato – Defensive Coordinator – Akron, Former Head Football Coach – NC State, former defensive coordinator – Florida State, Two-Time ACC Wrestling Champion (NC State)
Phil Richards – CEO of Northstar Resource Group
Jordan Oliver – Two-Time Division I NCAA Champion, Three Time NCAA Finalist, Four Time All American (Oklahoma State)
Jack Cuvo – Two-Time Division I NCAA Champion, Three-Time All American (East Stroudsburg)
Bryan Snyder – Two-Time Division I NCAA Finalist, Four Time All American (Nebraska), current associate head coach – Nebraska
Jamarr Billman – Three-Time Division I NCAA All American (Penn State/Lock Haven), former head coach – Easton Area High School
Bob Ferraro – Division I NCAA Finalist (Indiana State), former head coach, Bucknell University
Barry Snyder – EIWA Champion (Penn State), NWCA Hall of Fame as an assistant coach at Easton, former head coach, Lafayette College
Mitchell Minotti – Two-time NCAA Division I All American (Lehigh)
Alex Krom – NCAA Division I All American (Maryland)
Dick DeWalt – EIWA Champion (Penn State)
Willie Saylor – Editor, FloWrestling, 2016 National Wrestling Journalist of the Year
Desmond Moore – MMA Fighter – America's Top Team
Justin Grant – Two-Time Olympic Trials Qualifier
References
- "It's all over – Easton's District 11 title streak ends at 68 years". 27 February 2016.
- "As Bethlehem Catholic defends District 11 wrestling title, Easton's streak ends". 28 February 2016.
- http://articles.mcall.com/1998-03-30/news/3179814_1_district-titles-district-championships-team-s-second-year
- "WIN's Top Ten Wrestling 'Hot Spots' in the United States". 2 November 2010.
- "Wrestling Coach of the Year – National High School Coaches Association". www.nhsca.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-12.
- "Easton Area High School wrestlers keep 'the streak' alive, and grab 24th District 11 Class AAA title as well". 26 February 2012.
- "Easton Area High School's Robbie Rizzolino, Evan DiSora keep 'The Streak' alive". 24 February 2013.
- "Easton Area High School extends streak of individual District 11 wrestling champions to 67 years". 23 February 2014.
- "Evan Fidelibus Keeps Easton's Streak Alive".
- "Pa. Wrestling 2015: A glorious night of streaks old and new at District 11 Class AAA wrestling tournament". 21 February 2015.