Easton's Mitchell Minotti captured a Class AAA state title at 140 pounds last season, handling Central Dauphin's Kevin Gooding, 12-6, but that's when it got a little more difficult for the junior.
Minotti had injured his shoulder in a 5-3 semifinal win over LaSalle College's Matt Cimato, but he didn't know how bad it was. He won a title at the NHSCA National Tournament in Virginia Beach, but he when he got his shoulder checked out afterward, he found out he had a torn labrum.
He had surgery at the end of May and had to rehab for the next 6 1/2 months. He missed the season-opening Reno Tournament of Champions, but he came back for the Manheim Holiday Tournament and won the 152-pound title.
"I'm a little behind the eight ball," Minotti said in an upcoming Pennsylvania Wrestling Newsmagazine article, "but with a little more time in the room, I'll be right where I left off."
Minotti is a Lehigh University recruit.
Oliver dominating
A former Easton wrestler is dominating in college. Jordan Oliver, a three-time state champion, won a national title for Oklahoma State last season and is well on his way to another one this season.
Oliver is 10-0 with 10 pins and is ranked No. 1 at 133 pounds for the second-ranked Cowboys. His latest pin came against Wisconsin's 16th-ranked Zach Zehner in 5:44. Oliver was leading 21-7 at the time.
