It's A New Season - It's The Postseason!!

With the regular dual season now complete for the Dawgs, there's more excitement in the air.

It's A New Season!!

It's The Postseason!!

It's that time of the year where anything that you've accomplished or didn't accomplish in the regular season means squat.  Now, everything is once again brand new.  And it all starts on February 24 & 25 with the District 2 Class AAA championship tournament.

The postseason is a 3-prong attack.  First there's the district championship, then the regional championship, then it's chocolate-bound to Hershey for the state championship.

While the goal is to win it all at each level, the ultimate goal is to advance.  Once you make it to the next level, it's a brand new tournament all over again.

For the Dawgs, step one is Hazleton High School on Friday & Saturday, February 24 & 25, for the District 2 Class AAA individual championship tournament.  It will be the last time the Dawgs will be competing in Class AAA for at least the next two seasons as Berwick will compete in Class AA for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons.  Let's make the most of it!!  The top 4 district placers from each weight class move on to the next level.

Step two is the PIAA NE Class AAA regional championship tournament on Friday & Saturday, March 3 & 4.  Liberty High School will once again host the NE AAA regional tournament this year.  The regional championship is a place where dreams are either fulfilled or crushed.  It's the most gut-wrenching of all competitions where you either are awarded an additional week of wrestling at the prestigious state championship tournament or you drive home with your season over.  The top 3 placers in each weight class advance to the ultimate arena.

Step three, the ultimate arena, is the PIAA state championship tournament at Hershey from March 9 through March 11.  To just get to the state championship tournament is a coveted achievement.  To stand on the podium at states means you are among the elite.  To win it all is the dream of all dreams come true.

But it's one step at a time.  Look no further than your next match at hand.

Berwick's 2006 postseason journey will be lead by senior Josh Walsh and junior Tyler Perry, both of whom are Dawg team captains that will be heading to this postseason with the highest honors achieved from last year.

Senior Josh Walsh won the 2005 District 2 AAA Championship at 135lbs.  At the NE AAA Regional Championship tournament  last year, Josh won a pair of matches to garner 5th place honors and was just two wins away from a trip to Hershey.  Walsh, the top favorite for a second consecutive district championship at 145lbs, has been on a mission all season with his sights set to be standing on the podium at the PIAA Class AAA state championship tournament.

Junior Tyler Perry, a frequent-flyer in the district finals, was a runner-up at 112lbs last year in the District 2 AAA Championship and won a district championship his freshman year at 103lbs.  Perry also won a pair of matches at last year's NE AAA Regional Championship for 5th place honors and was just 2 wins shy of a trip to the state championship tourney.  Tyler is a favorite to win his second district championship this year at 130lbs with his eyes targeting the podium at Hershey. 

Other Dawgs that achieved postseason honors last year at the 2005 District 2 championship tournament include senior Zeb Bankes (district 8th place), sophomore Lou Ney (district 3rd place - unable to compete this postseason due to injury), and sophomore Nick Venditti (district 5th place).

Senior Zeb Bankes (275lbs) will be entering his final high school postseason with the determination to medal for the second consecutive year in a tough weight class that includes a 2005 state place winner.  Sophomore Nick Venditti (135lbs) will be seeking to continue his excellent season this year in another highly competitive bracket that includes two state ranked wrestlers.  Both Bankes and Venditti will be targeting a trip to the NE AAA regional championship so they can compete in the shoot-off for the state championship tournament.

There are several other Dawgs that will be vying to pen their first official postseason honors to their resume.  Sophomore Aaron Karns (171lbs), undefeated this season in district dual competition with several big wins against ranked opponents, is biting at the bit to upset the favorites and slate his name with postseason medals.  Freshman Dom Yantorn (103lbs), another Dawg undefeated in district competition in a highly competitive weight class, will be looking to knock off his opponents for a second time at districts and conquer new opponents beyond districts.  Sophomore Chris Johnson, who now has a full season of being in the starting lineup under his belt, is expected to let it all hang out in his bid for postseason honors.

Berwick will also introduce several other talented wrestlers to their first varsity district championship tournament including freshman Steve Prebola (112lbs), freshman Mike Derkotch (119lbs), freshman Matt Saxton (125lbs), Sophomore Josh Snyder (140lbs), junior Rich Brown (160lbs), sophomore Steve Beck (189lbs), and sophomore Derek Bower (215lbs).  Each and every one of these talented wrestlers can achieve medal this postseason.

It's A New Season!!

It's The Postseason!!

Good luck Dawgs!

Go Dawgs!!