Tom Marchetti ’87
Career Record: 83-17-1, NE Regional Champ, State Finalist
Tournament Championships: Manheim Champ, 3x Crestwood Champ
College: Bucknell (All American)
1987 – 145 lbs.: District Runner-Up, Regional Champ, State Runner-Up (33-3)
1986 – 155 lbs.: District Runner-Up, Regional Fourth (28-5)
1985 – 126 lbs.: District Fourth (21-9)
1984 – 119 lbs.: No postseason (1-1)
Tom Marchetti nearly completed a Vision Quest to knock off two-time state champ Scott Hovan in a battle of future All Americans, capping off a fantastic Easton career.
As a freshman, Marchetti saw some varsity action in January, and recorded his first varsity win and first varsity pin against Bethlehem Catholic.
As a sophomore, Marchetti won the starting spot at 132 pounds during the regular season. He opened his career as a starter with a championship at the Crestwood Mountaintop tournament, besting Dale Franquet (Lewisburg), 5-2 in the finals. He cut down to 126 following the holiday tournament season, going 12-4 the rest of the way and earning the four seed at the D11 tournament. He opened with a pair of wins, including a 10-8 decision over Kevin Arduini (Nazareth). He fell in semifinals to Mike Bartholomew (Northampton), 2-1, then had a rematch with Arduini for the right to go to regionals. This one was a barnburner, with the Blue Eagle coming out on top 14-9 and ending Marchetti’s sophomore season.
As a junior, Marchetti moved up to 155 and won Crestwood yet again to start the season. He won Manheim later that December, capped by an 8-7 win over Brian Fisher (Susquenita) in finals. He finished the season on a 16-2 run, with his only blemishes coming to Jeff Kaboly (Northampton) and Jay Weiss (William Allen). At the D11 tournament, Marchetti bonused his way fo finals, where he’d get a rematch with Weiss, but the Canary star was able to hold on for a 2-0 victory. At Regionals, Marchetti majored in his quarter, but dropped a 6-4 decision to Todd Ungard (Williamsport), then shockingly fell in his first consolation bout to end his season prematurely.
As a senior, Marchetti was a force to be reckoned with. He opened the season by hamemring state champ Tony Iasiello Jr. (Bethlehem Catholic) 11-2 after winning Crestwood for a third time. He took third at Maheim, losing his semifinal bout to Jeff Kwortnik (North Penn) before recovering to pin Mike Toplisek (Canon McMillan) in their first bout against each other. He was undefeated through the rest of the regular season at 167 pounds. However, Marchetti decided he wanted to end Scott Hovan’s nearly two-year long winning streak and upend the returning state champion at 145 pounds. So Marchetti made the descent for the D11 tournament to set up a clash of titans. At the D11 tournament, Marchetti pinned Iasiello again in semis to get his match with Hovan. But the future All American handed Marchetti a 5-1 loss in round number one, with Marchetti riding Hovan nearly the entire third period, but unable to use his power half to get backpoints. The following weekend. Marchetti and Hovan would lock horns again. However this time, in what Ted Meixell wrote was “the most startling upset of the year”, Marchetti turned the tables and brought a sold-out Liberty crowd to their feet. Hovan raced out to a 4-1 lead, but Marchetti was able to tie the score up with a late takedown at the end of the first. He blew it open in the second, reversing Hovan to his back for five, then putting an exclamation point on things with a third period takedown to stun Hovan. The following weekend at states, Marchetti pined Bryan Brockman (Trinity) in the second period, then snuck by Kevin Ochalek (Oil City), 4-2 to get to the Saturday sessions. He survived a wild 12-10 win over Mike Toplisek (Canon McMillan), his second win over the Macs star, to set up his third straight finals date with Hovan. However, Hovan was able to convert on three leg attacks for takedowns and stay off of bottom, to win his second gold medal with a 6-3 victory over Marchetti, as the two embraced as rivals and friends after the match.
After Easton, Marchetti went to Bucknell, where he made the NCAA semifinals and took 4th in the 1989 NCAA tournament, becoming the first All American in Bucknell history. He would go to NCAAs four times, earning All American honors once and losing in the blood round as a senior, and graduated as the most decorated wrestler in Bucknell history.
History of Easton Wrestling 