On Saturday, January 10, Stroudsburg Wrestling took a trip over the bridge to East Stroudsburg South to take them on in a dual meet at their home. Bouncing back from last year’s loss, Stroudsburg ran away with the win in convincing fashion 52-19.
Opening the meet, the team’s 107-127 pounders pinned each of their opponents, allowing the Mountaineers to jump to a 24-0 start. Chase Fetherman, ’27, Stroudsburg’s 127 pounder pinned his opponent in 42 seconds.
South would take a match to bring the score to 24-6, but Stroudsburg fired back, seeing the team’s 139lb Noah Sipple, ’29, and 145lb Colton Christian, ’27 pin their opponents.
Leonard DiMaria, ’27, and Zion Essington, ’26, pinned both their opponents, while Giovanni Alvarez, ’27, won by major decision 13-2.
Ending the dual, Stroudsburg cemented themselves as the best team in the Mountain, currently 10-3 and five wins ahead of any competition so far. Winning the Grappler’s Pride Trophy was important for the Mountaineers this year, losing it last year in an unexpected fashion.
Essington was awarded the Most Outstanding Wrestler, an award given to the most exceptional wrestler in the meet, voted by the coaches.
I lost this match last year to Jojo (Rodriguez). I got a chance to wrestle some competition, I’ve been looking for it. I got a chance to get better for Districts and thats what I’m looking forward to.
— Zion Essington, '26
.sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec { display: flex; float: left; margin: 30px 30px 30px 0; width: 50%; border-color: #870000; border-top-width: 5px; border-right-width: 5px; border-bottom-width: 5px; border-left-width: 5px; background-color: #dddddd; } .sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec p.pullquotetext, .sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec p.quotespeaker { color: #000000 !important; } .sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec .pullquotepic { width: 33%; margin-left: 25px; } .sno-story-body .sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec p.pullquotetext { font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.4em; } .sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec .quotebar { background: #dddddd; flex: 0 0 90px; margin-top: -15px; margin-left: -15px; padding-left: 15px; padding-top: 15px; margin-right: 15px; } .sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec .largequote { color: #888888; } .sno-pullquote-696fe778c2fec .quotebody { width: unset; }With multiple 10+ match winners already and multiple starters having their eyes set on postseason play, Stroudsburg is a force in the Monroe District. Only four duals are left to be played until the postseason, Stroudsburg clinched a positive record for the season already but look to improve as the season comes to a close.