MERTZTOWN -- Germantown Academy's wrestling team took to the road for the first time this season, traveling to Brandywine Heights High School on Dec. 9 for the 2023 Sam Lovello Classic. As a team, the Patriots earned 164 points to finish second out of 15 teams, while seven individuals finished the day as placewinners. 

After a first-round bye, Justin Farnsworth '27, wrestling at 107 pounds, won two straight matches by technical fall. Farnsworth won the first-place bout over Tommy Boyce of Conwell Egan by decision, 7-6. 

Jack Baron '26 (114lbs) also received a first-round bye before taking down his quarterfinal and semifinal opponents by fall. Baron matched up against No. 1 seeded Jeffrey Spofford of Conwell Egan in the first-place bout, and responded with a win by major decision, 11-2. 

Luke Sugalski '25 was the top-seeded wrestler at 160 pounds, and won his first two bouts by fall. In the first-place bout against Caden Rankin of Littlestown, Sugalski won by major decision, 17-6.  

Seeded No. 4, Eric Catenacci '26 (127lbs) won his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts by fall, but fell to Ellis Kirsch, the No. 2 seed from Blair Academy, by major decision, 17-4. Gavri Sabag '25 (145lbs) also placed second, losing due to injury in the first-place bout to Nicholas Bradbury of Muhlenberg. 

Shai Sabag '27 placed third at 121 pounds, winning his first two bouts by fall before losing to Kevin Bagnell of Conwell Egan in the semifinals. He won his consolation semifinal by decision, 4-0, and took the third-place bout over Jacob Greiss of Brandywine Heights by major decision, 10-1. Robert Leeds '25 finished third at 133 pounds, winning his first two bouts by fall before losing to Andrew Messner of Berks Catholic in the semifinals. Leeds pinned his opponent in the consolation semifinal before doing the same to Malik Kelly of Truman in the third-place bout. 

The Patriots will hit the mats again on Dec. 16 and 17 when they travel to the University of Delaware for the Beast of the East tournament. 

Full Results