12/27/23

SCRANTON, Pa. -- As we approach the end of 2023, Lackawanna College Athletics is reflecting on the top moments from the 2023 athletics calendar, and revealing them one day at a time between now and the new year! 

Today's top event comes to us from the Lackawanna College Wrestling team, which had three Region XIX Champions and six national qualifiers last season

#5: Wrestling Caps Undefeated Regular Season With Three Region Champs, Six National Qualifiers
The Lackawanna College wrestling program had plenty to celebrate under second-year head coach Frank Barbrie heading into the Gulf Atlantic District Championships last during the 2022-2023 season. The Falcons were undefeated through their dual meet schedule for the first time in program history, and had plenty of optimism heading into the national qualifying tournament being held inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium.

What it got was three district and region champions, as well as six national qualifiers, and a second-place team finish. 

Not too shabby.

The Falcons finished the 2023 Gulf Atlantic District Championships with three champions, with Kordell Waiters (Macungie, PA) winning the title at 141 lbs., Rei Yonamine (Scranton, PA) at 149 lbs., and Dylan Hogan (Bushkill, PA) taking the 165 lbs. title. It was the first time the Falcons have had three champions at the District tournament. On top of that, Shannon Clark (Scranton, PA) finished second at 285 lbs., Evan Raposo (East Stroudsburg, PA) finished third at 157 lbs., and Simeon Hunte (Burlington Twp, NJ) finished fourth at 174 lbs., helping guarantee the Falcons six qualifiers for the NJCAA Wrestling Championships in Council Bluffs, IA in early March. 

At the national tournament, Yonamine made the quarterfinals and the Falcons put up eight total wins on the weekend, the most in the program's brief history. Yonamine made the quarters at 149 lbs. before dropping two straight matches in the evening session. Waiters won his first round match at 141 lbs, dropped his next one, then fell in a tight match in the consolation bracket. Raposo fell quickly in his first match, but rebounded in the consolation with an impressive win, before falling in the second round of the consolation bracket. 

Elsewhere, Hogan won his first match of the day, then dropped the second round match-up at 165 lbs. In the consolation bracket, Hogan picked up a second win to move to the third round of consolations in the evening session, but fell there to end his day. Hunte dropped his first round match, followed by his consolation bracket match at 174 lbs., and Clark managed to win his first round match at 285 lbs, before dropping his second round match to the eventual national champion. Clark kept it rolling, gutting out a consolation bracket victory to get himself to the third round in the night session, before bowing out. 

The Falcons ended the day with eight victories and a quarterfinalist, an exclamation point on a fine 2022-2023 season. 

Top 14 Moments Of 2023 For Lackawanna College Athletics  
14) Lackawanna Softball and Ally Lemerise's Big Week
13) Paserk, Riddick, and Rush Highlight All-Academic Selections
12) Colonel Volk Day At Football Homecoming
11) Lackawanna Esports Raises $12K For Charity
10) Kyle Scott and Ji'Ayir Brown Drafted
9) Worthy, Walsh, and Collins Lead The NJCAA
8) McCarry, Morgan, and Gabriel Win Coach Of The Year Awards
7) Four Student-Athletes Named As NJCAA Player Of The Week
6) Ramírez, Walsh Win Region POTY, Mims Wins EPAC POTY
5) Wrestling Goes Unbeaten, Wins Three District Titles, Qualifies Six For Nationals
4) ???
3) ???
2) ???
1) ???