Chris Kelly ’97
Career Record: 77-9, 2x D11 Champ, Regional Champ, State Medalist, State Champ
Tournament Championships: Manheim Champ, Walsh Ironman Champ
College; Lock Haven
1997 – 112 lbs.: District Champ, Regional Champ, State Champ (40-2)
1996 – 112 lbs.: District Champ, Regional Third (36-7)
1995 – 103 lbs.: (1-0)
Chris Kelly put together one of the great two-year runs in the modern era of Easton wrestling, waiting patiently for his chance in the lineup behind talented classmates Jamarr Billman, Bryan Snyder, and Willie Saylor, then exploding for two District championships and a dominant run to a state title as a senior.
Kelly made his varsity debut as a sophomore, earning a 10-7 win at 103 in a dual against Hunterdon Central.
As a junior, Kelly earned the starting spot at 112 pounds and hit the ground running. He shutout Adam Davis (Walsh Jesuit) in Easton’s 29-29 match with the Warriors, then when Easton traveled to Cuyahoga Falls for the Walsh Ironman, Kelly blitzed the field, winning a title in his first varsity tournament. On the way, he beat Ohio medalist Kevin Fabian (Oak Harbor), four-time National Prep champ John Giacche (Blair Academy), and Ohio state champion Greg Zoloty (Independence). He came back to Earth with a fourth place finish at Manheim, with future state champ Brad Mockler (Canon McMillan) handing Kelly his first career loss by pinning him in overtime of their semifinal. Mockler got the best of Kelly again in January in 10-4 decision. The following week, Kelly helped propel Easton to a title in the first Reno Tournament of Champions. Kelly ripped through the front side of the bracket and was one of four Red Rovers to make the finals. There, he fell to future NCAA champion and Idaho state champ Jared Lawrence (Sandpoint), 6-2 to finish with a silver medal. Kelly went undefeated through the rest of the regular season, highlighted by a win over New Jersey state medalist Terrell Johnson (Phillipsburg) in Easton’s 40-21 romp over the Stateliners. At the District 11 Tournament, Kelly was leg two of the “Magnificent 7”. He rolled into the finals, with two pins and a 7-6 decision over Justin Gottwald (Dieruff). After watching Willie Saylor win their first title of the night, Kelly made it number two with his 3-2 win over Greg Theony (Pocono Mountain), as part of an astonishing seven consecutive champions for the Red Rovers. The following weekend, Kelly had his win streak snapped in semifinals by future NCAA All American Chris Vitale (Nazareth), who knocked him into the consolation bracket with a 4-2 win. Kelly had a rematch with Theony for the right to go to the state tournament, and punched his ticket with a second straight 3-2 win. At the state tournament, Kelly opened with Pennsbury star and returning state finalist Chuckie Connor. He gave up a reversal in the second period and was unable to score from his feet in the third as he fell to Connor 2-1. Connor blitzed the rest of the field on his way to a state title, with none of his other match decided by fewer than four points. When Vitale lost to Mockler (the other state finalist) in quarters, it set up a medal match between Kelly and Vitale. For the second week in a row, the Nazareth star and future state finalist nipped Kelly by a point, 4-3, to give Kelly’s fantastic season a bitter end without a medal.
Kelly was one of the stars who returned for the 1997 Red Rovers who were the preseason number one team in America. Kelly took second at Walsh Ironman in the first weekend of the season, beating Illinois state runner-up Sol Ritigano (Glenbard North) in the semifinals before falling to Ohio state champion and NCAA All American Brad Byers (Walsh Jesuit) in finals. Kelly won a Manehim title at the end of the month, putting together one of the best tournaments of his career. He beat state finalist Corey Guenot (Bald Eagle Area) 4-3 in semis, then gained a measure of revenge against Brad Mockler, taking down the Canon Mac star twice in a 5-2 win in the finals. In Reno, Kelly teched Oklahoma state champ Josh Hooker (Locust Grove) and advanced to semifinals, where he fell in a tight match to national #1 and Oklahoma state champ Matt Holman (Choctaw) 6-4. He rebound to take third with a win over California state champ Ricky Palomino (Independence) for bronze. At Elite Duals, Kelly teched future Ohio state champ and NCAA All American Mark Jayne (St. Edward) as the Red Rovers knocked off the Eagles 33-25. Kelly beat National Prep champ and NCAA qualifier Jody Guiricich (Blair Academy) later that afternoon. At Reilly Duals, he pinned future state finalist Tommy Rohn (Northampton) as Easton rolled the Konkrete Kids 49-9. He majored Terrell Johnson as Easton beat P’burg and beat future Parkland star Sean Jenkins twice in a week, first at District Duals, then in Easton’s regular season finale with the Trojans. He cut back down to 112 for the postseason. Once again, Kelly was dominant in the District 11 Tournament, not giving up an offensive point and bonusing his way to finals before beating Kevin Rake (Pocono Mountain) for his second title. At Regionals, Kelly pinned his way through the tournament, including a brutal second period pin of Tim Kurtz (Shamokin) to claim his first regional title. In his second trip to states, Kelly was the overwhelming favorite to win 112. He looked the part, majoring Jeremy Haysek (North Allegheny) in the first round, pinning Noel Medina (Reading) in quarters, then majoring Mike Jones (Haverford) in semis. His finals opponent was undefeated Jared Sullivan (South Western) a two-time finalist who on paper could push Kelly. But Kelly dominated the bout, hitting an early first period slide-by then riding Sullivan out, reversing Sullivan early in the second and riding him for the entire period, then hitting a slick ankle pick to start the third and nearly had Sullivan pinned at the end of the match, but got up and started celebrating his state title as the final seconds ticked off the clock. He was one of three Easton wrestlers to win titles in 1997, setting a program record and Easton won their second straight PIAA championship, needing every bit of Kelly’s scoring as they beat Nazareth by 1.5 team points. Kelly won NHSCA Senior Nationals later that month at 112 pounds.
History of Easton Wrestling 