Josh Walsh & Aaron Karns Take 4th Place At NE AAA Regional Tournament
Dawg "Character & Heart" Shines At Meat Grinder Regional

Five Dawgs competed at the nationally renowned PIAA NE Class AAA Regional Championship tournament held at Liberty High School in Bethlehem on March 3 & 4.  Regional qualifying Dawgs included freshman Dom Yantorn (103lbs), junior Tyler Perry (130lbs), senior Josh Walsh (145lbs), sophomore Aaron Karns (171lbs), and senior Zeb Bankes (275lbs).

After all Dawgs dropped to the consolation bracket following Friday's opening competition, it was gut-check time to come back to Saturday's competition with "it's a new day" attitude.

And it was "a new day" for the Berwick wrestlers.

Especially for senior Josh Walsh & sophomore Aaron Karns.

Dropping to the first round of consolations in the meat grinder of all state regional tournaments meant that any hopes of advancing to the state championship tournament would require four consecutive wins to notch a coveted 3rd place finish.  Four of the five Dawgs went on to win their first consolation match.  Two Dawgs, senior Josh Walsh and sophomore Aaron Karns, nearly completed the miraculous comeback with simply outstanding wrestling that saw each win three consecutive matches before just falling short in taking 4th place honors.

One of my favorite sayings is that "wrestling is not a sport for the weak of heart."  The roller coaster ride of highs and lows that all prestigious wrestlers experience is the character-defining difference that separates the "one-on-one" gladiator sport of wrestling from all the rest.

And the there was no weakness of heart witnessed at Liberty High School on Saturday.

In fact, the Dawgs showed "it was all about heart" in their tremendous comeback effort.

Each and every Dawg laid it "all on the line" in every match knowing a loss would mean the end of their season, and to our seniors, an end to their high school wrestling career.

Saturday's competition at the regional tournament was definitely "a new day for the Dawgs."

Amid both the joyous and heart-breaking moments experienced at the regional championship tournament, the Dawgs competed with the "character and heart" of a champion.

The most important thing for both our departing seniors and returning underclassman, something that they so clearly defined with their gallant efforts at the regional tournament, is to understand and know:

"Today is another new day."

Congratulations Dawgs!!

Josh Walsh, 4th Place NE AAA Regional Championship
District Champion
Two-Time Consecutive District Champion
Senior, 145lbs.
District Wrap:  Josh Walsh captured his second consecutive District Championship title and third district medal by bulldozing his way through his bracket with outstanding wrestling to seal gold.  Josh has been on a mission all year and phase 2 is up next with the NE Class AAA Regional tournament where Walsh will be aiming to advance to Hershey for the state championship tournament.
Regional Wrap:  After dropping a narrow decision in the quarterfinal round, Josh fought back with a vengeance in the consolation bracket winning three consecutive matches that placed him in the consolation final where he earned 4th place honors.  While Josh was not able to advance to the state championship tournament, he made the Dawg Faithful proud throughout his entire career with his outstanding wrestling ability and competitive spirit.  Consider this.  Josh did not wrestle varsity as a freshman.  In his sophomore debut, Josh won 5th place honors at districts.  As a junior, Josh won his first district championship title and placed 5th at the regional tournament.  Josh notched it up once again as a senior winning his second consecutive district championship and taking fourth place at the regional tournament.  In just the past two years, Josh has over 65 wins.  That is exceptional.  Josh Walsh will always be remembered by the Dawg Faithful for his superior strength and "in your face" wrestling style.

Josh Walsh tips his hat for one last time to the Dawg Faithful as a two-time consecutive District Champion, three-time consecutive District Medallist, two-time consecutive Regional Place Winner, and notching over 65 wins in his last two seasons!
Congratulations Josh!!  What A Great Varsity Career!!
You Have Our Best Wishes Always!!

Aaron Karns, 4th Place NE AAA Regional Championship
District Runner-Up
Sophomore, 171lbs.
District Wrap:  The first district medal has been placed around the neck of Aaron Karns after an absolutely superb display of wrestling in a loaded weight class that notched a runner-up finish.  Karns will also be making his first trip to the NE Class AAA Regional championship tournament and will be in pursuit of advancing to the state championship tournament.
Regional Wrap:  Any disappointment Aaron may have with not making the state championship tournament this year will be short-lived.  Just one year ago, Aaron lost his first two matches at districts and had no postseason honors to carry him into this season.  That didn't mean much as Aaron wrestled brilliantly this season and carried that effort right into the postseason.  This year Aaron was on nobody's radar.  Next year he'll be on everybody's radar.  Karns defeated more top notch wrestlers in a short period of time than I can ever remember.  My most memorable moment at the regional tournament was when Aaron recorded a first period pin against an opponent with a 35-4 record.  After the fall, the opponent looked at his coaches and raised both hands in a gesture of "how did that happen?" One thing is for certain, the sky is the limit the next two years for Aaron and his sights will be dead-set on a trip to Hershey.
Congratulations Aaron!!

Dom Yantorn, District Champion, Regional Qualifier,
Freshman, 103lbs.
District Wrap:  Dom Yantorn, undefeated in district competition in his freshman debut, knocked off his opponents once again in brilliant fashion by nailing a District Championship title and grabbing gold as a freshman.  Dom will be a force to deal with next weekend when he does battle at the NE AAA Regional in pursuit of advancing to the state championship tournament in Hershey.
Regional Wrap:  Dom lost by decision in his quarterfinal match and came back on Saturday on a mission.  Yantorn won his first consolation match by a 12-1 major decision, which was by even a greater margin than his previous match-up against this opponent just one week ago in the district 2 final.  Dom then fought hard but lost by a mere 1 point to the eventual regional 4th place finisher.  Yantorn completed a super freshman season, a season with more excitement-filled matches than healthy nerves can endure, that also witnessed him place 32 wins in his pocket.  Dom's freshman win total of 32 was just one win shy of tying the all-time freshman win record.  Yantorn is an extreme competitor that wrestles every single match with the heart of a champion.  It is sad news for all of Yantorn's opponents that he has three more years to go!  Dom will be focusing like a laser to attain that special trip to Hershey.
Congratulations Dom!!

Tyler Perry, Third Place Districts, Regional Qualifier,
Junior, 130lbs.
District Wrap:  Tyler Perry will be making his third consecutive trip to the NE AAA Regional championship after he sealed his third consecutive district medal.  By advancing once again, Tyler will be hungry and on fire with a target of a top 3 place finish at the regional championship in order to make the coveted state championship tournament.
Regional Wrap:  Tyler opened the regional tournament by nailing a pulverizing pin in his preliminary bout against the eventual 5th placer.  Tyler's reward for his preliminary victory was to then butt heads with the bracket's #1 seed where Perry wrestled hard but incurred his first loss.  On Saturday, Tyler started the day just has he did the night before by cementing another devastating pin.  Tyler's next match was a dogfight of all dogfights but Perry just came up short in a two point decision.  Next year Tyler will be entering his senior season carrying a multitude of postseason honors.  He will have one goal on his mind each and every day.  The goal to get to Hershey.  With continued brilliant wrestling and hard work, the Dawg Faithful will be rooting Tyler on to see that his goal happens!
Congratulations Tyler!!

Zeb Bankes, Fourth Place Districts, Regional Qualifier
Senior, 275lbs.
District Wrap:  Zeb won his second consecutive district medal in just his second varsity season by wrestling on fire at the district championship tournament.  Zeb will making his inaugural appearance at the NE AAA Regional championship and will lighting the fire once again in a brand new tournament in his bid to do battle for qualification to the state championship tournament.
Regional Wrap:  Zeb may have lost his two matches at the regional tournament, but both were by close decisions and marked a postseason where Bankes wrestled at the top of his game in each and every bout at both the district and regional championship tournaments.  Most simply put, Zeb wrestled like a madman this postseason that raised every Dawg Faithful to their feet.  Remember, Zeb did not wrestle as either a freshman or sophomore.  The significant improvement in both ability and mental determination that Zeb displayed in finishing his superb varsity career will be long remembered.  "Zeb The Tank" delivered some of the most crushing pins that have ever dented area mats and that will also be long-remembered by the Dawg Faithful.

Zeb Bankes tips his hat for one last time to the Dawg Faithful as a two-time consecutive District Medallist and Regional Qualifier in just his two varsity seasons as a Dawg Wrestler!
Congratulations Zeb!!  What A Great Varsity Career!!
You Have Our Best Wishes Always!!