Vulakh and Anderson Lead Pennsylvania at the Journeymen Fall Classic

SCHENECTADY, NY – The first major Folkstyle event of the season took place in New York at the Journeymen Fall Classic where Keystone State wrestlers found success. Two of those wrestlers came away with Championship Hammers as Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic) and Ryan Vulakh (Pope John Paul II) each took first place in Group A.

Ryan Anderson, competing at 135 lbs., won a loaded field that included five Pennsylvania grapplers. In the finals Anderson took on Pennsylvania native Jojo Aragona of Pope John XXIII. It was slightly ironic having these two compete as Ryan Anderson is from Hackettstown, New Jersey and attends Bethlehem Catholic whereas Jojo Aragona is from Milford, Pennsylvania and competes for Pope John XXIII in Sparta, New Jersey.

Aragona, who is a 2x New Jersey State Runner-up, started his junior season off with a bang as he upset freshman phenom Carson Manville (Wyoming Seminary) in the opening round of pool competition (5-4). In the semifinals Aragona took on Central Dauphin wrestler Andrew Wert and won (3-2) to meet Anderson in the Championship finals. Anderson defeated fellow District XI wrestler and junior Patrick Gould (East Stroudsburg North) in the pool round (5-2). 

In the Championship finals, after a scoreless first period, Aragona escaped to start the second but Anderson responded scoring on a go-behind after a straight-on shot from Aragona. Anderson put another point on the board as Aragona went optional start halfway through the third period. Aragona pushed the action from neutral but Anderson picked up two more points off a Aragona single leg attempt. Aragona escaped as time ticked away with Anderson hanging on (5-2). Senior Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin) finished in third place with a (3-1) record as Pat Gould and Gabe Miller (Pequea Valley) each had records of (2-2) finishing sixth and seventh respectively. 

At 145 lbs. junior Ryan Vulakh (Pope John Paul II) is anxious to get back on the mat in a full season and it showed at the Journeymen Fall Classic. Vulakh, a 2016 PIAA State Medalist as a freshman, was ineligible last season due to transferring from North Penn to Pope John Paul II. A 2017 FloNationals Finalist Vulakh was also a Super 32 fifth place medalist in 2016 and a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals Runner-up in March. He entered Journeymen ranked #8 in the Nation by Flowrestling at 138 lbs. and showed why on Sunday. In the finals Ryan upended Minnesota wrestler and Fargo All-American Sam Webster with a (7-4) decision to cap a perfect (4-0) day.

See where all the Pennsylvania wrestlers who competed ended up and view brackets here.

 

106 lbs.

Sheldon Seymour (Troy Area/X-Caliber) – Third Place (3-1)

Conner Redinger (Quaker Valley/OMP) – Sixth Place (1-3)

 

125 lbs.

Ed Scott (DuBois Area/Young Guns) – Fourth Place (3-2)

AJ Burkhart (Athens Area) – Eighth Place (1-3)

Doug Zapf (Downingtown West) – Tenth Place (1-3)

 

130 lbs.

Zach Glenn (Bethlehem Catholic) – Fourth (2-2)

Tye Varndell (Cambridge Springs) – Ninth (2-2)

 

135 lbs.

Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic) – Champion (4-0)

Jojo Aragona (Pope John XXIII) – Runner-up (3-1)

Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin) – Third Place (3-1)

Patrick Gould (East Stroudsburg North/Dark Knights) – Sixth Place (2-2)

Gabe Miller (Pequea Valley) – Seventh Place (2-2)

 

140 lbs.

Cole Handlovic (Bethlehem Catholic) – Runner-up (3-1)

 

145 lbs.

Ryan Vulakh (Pope John Paul II) – Champion (4-0)

 

152 lbs.

Aurelius Dunbar (Mercersburg Academy) – Fifth Place (3-2)

 

160 lbs.

Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg/Bisen Legend) – Runner-up (3-2)

 

182 lbs.

Nathaniel Bradley (Athens Area) – Sixth Place (0-3)

 

225 lbs.

Hunter Catka (Sun Valley/Lab Trained) – Fourth Place (2-2)

 

285 lbs.

Jalen Stephens (Meyersdale) – Runner-up (2-1)

 

120 lbs. (Group B)

Cade Balestrini (Shikellamy/Buffalo RTC) – Eighth Place (1-1)

 

125 lbs. (Group B) 

Logan Ninos (Northampton/Dark Knights) – Seventh Place (0-3)

 

 

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