Last Updated: January 17, 2007 9:40pm

Easton 64 - Liberty 3 Wednesday January 17, 2007 Easton High School Start time: 8:10 End time: 9:56 Referee:Chris Grammes Easton wins toss takes odd bouts 171 - So. Joe Piro (E) WBF 2:51 Jr. Cory Robinson (L) 1st - E td-2; +3bp; E Fall 0:44 189 - Jr. Cory Rutt (E) WBFFT 215 - Sr. Sherman Compton (L) dec 9-6 So. Chris Wilson (E) 1st - Lib Inj time; Lib td-2; +3bp; +2bp 2nd - E def; L down; L rev-2; E esc-1; 3rd - E down; E esc-1; E td-2; +2bp; 285 - Sr. Nick Williams (E) WBF 0:44 So. Andre Fernandez (L) 1st - Lib td-2; E rev-2; E Fall 0:44 103 - Sr. Desmond Moore (E) md 12-4 Fr. Garret Henning (L) 1st - E tf-2; Lib esc-1; E td-2; 2nd - E def; L neu; td-2; L esc-1; 3rd - E neu; E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2; 112 - Jr. Kegan Handlovic (E) WBF 2:00 vs Fr. Anthony Marino (L) 1st - E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2+3 E Fall 2:00 119 - Jr. Jordan Oliver (E) WBF 1:45 Fr. Dan Hong (L) 1st - E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2; L esc-1; E td-2+3bp ; L esc-1; E td-2 Fall 1:45 125 - Fr. Mark Hartenstine (E) WBTF 17-1, 5:59 Jr. T.J.Bonilla (L) 1st - E td-2+2bp; L esc-1; 2nd - L def, E down; E locked hands L-1; E rev+3bp; 3rd - L down; +3bp; +2bp; +2bp 130 - Sr. JuJu Drummond (E) WBF 5:21 Jr. Alex Perez (L) 1st - L td-2; 2nd - E def, L neu; E td-2+ 2bp; +3bp; 3rd -E top; +3bp; +3 bp E fall 5:21 135 - Jr. Tevin Gibson (E) dec 7-3 Fr. Ryan Kisslinger (L) 1st - E td-2; L esc-1 2nd - L def; E down; E esc-1; E td-2; L esc-1; 3rd - L down; E esc-1; E td-2; 140 - So. Eric Burgey (E) dec 7-3 So. Matt Royer (L) 1st - E td-2; L esc-1; 2nd - E def; L down, L stall; L esc-2; E down; 3rd - E down; E rev-2; E stall; E +3bp; L esc-1; 145 - Jr. Colin Dailey (E) md 15-1 Sr. R.J.Cabrera (L) 1st - E td-2; 2nd - L def, E down; E esc-1; E td-2 +3 bp; +3bp; 3rd - L neu; E td-2 L esc-1; E td-2; 152 - Jr. Jeremy Snyder (E) dec 4-1 Jr. Zach Kisslinger (L) 1st - nada 2nd - E def, L down; L esc; 3rd - E down; E rev-2 +2bp; 160 - Sr. Jules Knighton (E) WBF 1:00 So. John Fragano (L) 1st - E td-2+ 3bp; fall 1:00

Winner of Chuck Lieberman Award: Mark Hartenstine. Easton

Rovers storm past 'Canes EASTON 64, LIBERTY 3. Freshman Mark Hartenstine walks off with OW award. Thursday, January 18, 2007 By MIKE WEILAMANN The Express-Times PALMER TWP. | The only suspense Wednesday night was which Easton Area High School athlete would be named the outstanding wrestler. The Red Rovers started and ended with pins -- two of six on the night -- and cruised to a 64-3 Lehigh Valley Conference victory over Liberty at the 25th Street Gym. Easton (9-0, 5-0 LVC), ranked No. 2 in The Express-Times region, won 13 of 14 bouts -- losing only at 215 pounds. "We try to improve every match," said Rovers coach Steve Powell, whose team was coming off a big 32-28 independent win over Upper Perkiomen here on Saturday. "So far, we've seen that. We did a real good job -- getting the pins where we could." Easton freshman 125-pounder Mark Hartenstine was awarded the Chuck Liederman award, presented annually to the outstanding wrestler in this match. Hartenstine scored an impressive technical fall win over T.J. Bonilla. "I really wasn't expecting to win it," said Hartenstine, who improved to 15-9 with the victory. "I knew I had a tough match tonight. It's a real surprise for the most part." No. 6 Liberty (11-6, 2-2), which only had three takedowns in the loss, did its best to stay competitive against a much superior and older squad. Coach Jody Karam's young Hurricanes, who featured seven freshmen and sophomores in their lineup, battled tough in a number of losses. "Our kids went out and fought as hard as they possibly could," said Karam, who was also without junior 135-pounder Shane Kelly, who has the flu. "I'm proud of my kids' effort. Obviously, I'm not happy with the result." Easton vaulted out to a quick 12-0 lead with Joe Piro's pin in the opening bout at 171 and Cory Rutt's forfeit win at 189. The crowd was expecting to see a good matchup between Rutt (15-4) and Sherman Compton (15-4) but Karam opted to bump up Compton to 215 where he picked up the 'Canes' lone win -- 9-6 over Chris Wilson. "I owe it to my team to give us the best shot to score (team) points," said Karam, whose team likely faced being shut out otherwise. Easton's powerful lightweights stretched the lead to 34-3 behind wins from Desmond Moore (103), Kegan Handlovic (112) and Jordan Oliver (119). Handlovic (23-2) had his hands full with good-looking freshman Anthony Marino for the first minute or so before taking Marino to his back for a buzzer-beating pin in 1:59. "Marino was keeping him off-balance," Powell said. Hartenstine made it 39-3 with his victory. The Rover built a 10-1 lead after two periods -- turning Bonilla four times over the last two periods with arm-bar tilts. "Top is my best position and I was just trying to turn him," Hartenstine said. Ju-Ju Drummond's pin in the next bout at 130 sealed it at 45-3 with five bouts left. Easton now turns its attention to Saturday's NHSCA Final Four, which includes Blair Academy and Nazareth. "It'll be a lot of excitement and fun for the crowd and the (wrestlers)," Powell said. Mike Weilamann can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at mweilamann@express-times.com.