Glorioso, Bierdumpfel highlight seven Portuese double champions

By Rob Sherrill

State freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments are in full swing, but there were some fireworks at the Phil Portuese Northeast Regional last weekend at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University.

Competing in the Junior Division, sophomores Collin Glorioso (120) of Huntingdon (Pa.) and Kyle Bierdumpfel (132) of Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Preparatory were the big names among seven wrestlers in the Cadet and Junior Divisions to claim both Greco-Roman and freestyle titles. Five of the seven wrestled at the Junior level.

Glorioso, a double Cadet regional champion a year ago, could be another redemption story in the making. Third in the AA state tournament last season at 106, Glorioso entered the Southwest Region tournament undefeated this season at 113, but finished fifth and failed to qualify for the state tournament. He blew through the Greco-Roman tournament by scoring technical falls over four of his five opponents and a 10-6 victory over New Jersey placewinner Denzel Tovar of Wall Township. He had to survive another wild match in the freestyle semifinals – one that ended 15-12 – as he won three more bouts in that style.

Bierdumpfel, a two-time New Jersey placewinner, didn’t have a match go the distance in either tournament. He had two pins and three technical falls in Greco-Roman, including a 13-3 win over University of Pittsburgh-recruit Dominic Forys of Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny in the final. He added a freestyle pin and two technical falls.

The 120-pound Cadet weight class also provided some fireworks. Freshman Wilson Smith of Rocky Mount (N.C.), third in the 3A state tournament, scored a 16-3 technical fall in the Greco-Roman semifinals over two-time New York champion Yanni Diakomihalis of Hilton, up two weight classes from his state tournament weight, and went on to win the title. Diakomihalis came back to win the freestyle title by scoring technical falls over all five opponents. Smith finished fifth.

Other highly-ranked wrestlers competing:

•  Murrysville (Pa.) Franklin Regional state champions Devin Brown and Spencer Lee swept the 113-pound freestyle titles. Brown scored three technical falls, while Lee had two technical falls, a 30-second pin and an injury forfeit win in the final.
• Lehigh University-recruit Scott Parker (126) of Perkasie (Pa.) Pennridge scored a 13-0 technical fall over Steven Simpson of Leonardtown (Md.) St. Mary’s Ryken after a pair of technical falls and a 14-second pin.
• Rutgers University-recruit Anthony Giraldo (138) of North Bergen breezed with four technical falls.
• Three-time National Prep champion Joey McKenna (145) of Blairstown Township (N.J.) Blair Academy won with two pins and three technical falls.
• Sophomore Nick Reenan (182) of Kingston (Pa.) Wyoming Seminary scored technical falls in all four bouts.