Honesdale boys wrestling team captures another District 2 Duals crown

YATESVILLE — Honesdale turned in an unforgettable performance Saturday afternoon in the finals of the 2023-24 District 2 Team Duals tournament.

The Hornets built a big early lead at this year’s event and never looked back en route to a dominating 41-18 victory over top-ranked Berwick.

Thanks in large part to pins from Sam Eisele, Levi Landry and Logan Dieterich, the Red & Black defended their Class AA title and once again qualified for states.

“I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of this team,” said longtime head coach Ryan Chulada. “Every time we challenge these kids, they just step right up. Today’s win is a real testament to their character and a reward for the hard work they’ve put in all season long.”

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This marks the fourth consecutive year Honesdale has advanced to the District Duals finals and the second straight time they’ve captured the AA crown.

Next up for the Hornets is a trip to Hershey for the PIAA state tournament. Weather permitting, they’ll take on District 7 champion Burrell in the opening round.

Action gets underway at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Start to finish

When officials announced that Saturday’s Class AA championship match between Honesdale and Berwick would start at 189 pounds, all Ryan Chulada could do was smile.

“It’s perfect,” the veteran skipper said of the announcement. “That means Levi starts it off and Joel finishes it up.”

Better known as the Landry Brothers, Levi is a sophomore and Joel is a senior. Both have made key contributions to the squad this season… and each was destined to play a crucial role in this year’s title tilt.

Meanwhile, Berwick came into Saturday’s match as the number one team in AA. The Bulldogs rolled into the district tournament with a sparkling 16-1 record, then made short work of Tunkhannock and Lackawanna Trail en route to the finals.

Nevertheless, Coach Chulada was brutally succinct in his pre-match assessment: “Berwick has a nice team. Their kids are in the weight room all the time. They’re big and strong. The difference, though, is that we’re the better wrestlers.”

Those words would prove prophetic as the match unfolded before a big raucous crowd at Pittston Area High School.

Levi Landry strode to the mat at exactly 1:30 p.m. and immediately brought Honesdale fans to their feet. The tough-as-nails 189-pounder needed just 1:04 to pin Berwick’s James DeAndrea and give the Hornets a quick 6-0 lead.

“I was really pumped to start the match off and set the tone,” Levi said. “I think my bout went exactly how I expected it to. Each time I go out onto the mat I try to maximize every opportunity to score points for my team.”

After Evan Funk dropped a 5-1 decision to Liam Carroll at 215, Hornet fans were right back on their feet when Logan Dieterich prevailed at 285. The unheralded sophomore notched a first period fall against Michael Fell, upping the Hornets lead to 12-3.

Honesdale accepted a forfeit at 107, but Berwick countered with a major decision at 114, bringing the score to 18-7.

Sam Eisele was up next at 121 and delivered more bonus points for the Red & Black. The scrappy sophomore put the clamps to Chris Mayorga in :43, widening the gulf to 24-7.

Battling back

Berwick was down, but not out.

The Bulldogs went undefeated in Wyoming Valley Conference action this season and showed exactly why over the course of the next three bouts.

Kyle Winter ignited the rally by posting a razor-thin 6-5 decision over Honesdale’s Justin Scanlon at 127.

Sawyer Keller followed with a 10-1 major at 133. And when Tyler Winter cruised to a 16-4 major of his own at 139, the Bulldogs had clawed their way back to within just seven points at 24-17.

“It got a little bit hairy there for a minute,” Coach Chulada admitted. “But, I had faith in our kids. We took their best shot and still had a lead. Plus, they were heading right into the teeth of our line-up.”

Duke Martin turned the tide for good at 145. Honesdale’s resident freshman phenom dominated Josh Kishbaugh in posting a 10-2 major, giving the Hornets some breathing room at 28-17.

Mason Avery bounded out onto the mat next and quickly took control against Berwick’s Jacob Guerriero. The junior captain put on a takedown clinic en route to a 16-1 technical fall.

This win upped the ante to 33-17 and pushed Honesdale to the brink of victory.

Sealing the deal

Joey Giannetti turned in yet another stellar effort in the day’s penultimate bout.

A battle-tested senior who now sports a 25-5 record this season, Giannetti simply overpowered Braylon Hawkins at 160. He was brutally efficient in hammering out a 13-5 major decision, which pushed the match score to 37-18.

Then, as predicted by Coach Chulada, Joel Landry closed things out.

A senior who’s won nearly 70 bouts during his varsity career, Landry got right down to business against Colin Hornberger at 172. He carded a quick takedown in the first period, then just kept piling on the points.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, Landry had secured an 18-7 major and sealed the deal on Honesdale’s dominant 41-18 triumph.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way!” Joel said of anchoring the biggest match of the year. “I’m always looking to step up and get bonus points. My main goal is to finish my shots and just never ease up.”

With this latest batch of gold medals in hand, Honesdale now prepares for its latest trip to Hershey. Last winter, the Hornets tallied their first-ever PIAA tournament win and are now looking to take the next step.

“Our goal as a team is to finish in the top five at states,” Levi said. “I love these guys. We’re a very close-knit group.”

His brother concurs.

“I consider all these guys family,” Joel said. “It’s a beautiful thing to come together as a team and grind everyday. We’re all on the same page and that’s why we’re here today. Everybody pushes each other which is what you need to win.”

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale boys wrestling team defends its District 2 Duals AA title