DISTRICT ONE NORTH WRESTLING Three area athletes win titles By TOM WARING Courier Times E-mail AMBLER - Rocky Mantella and Derek Zinck are good buddies. Mantella is the unbeaten junior wrestler at Council Rock High School. He was the PIAA runner-up at 135 pounds a year ago. Zinck is a junior at Upper Perkiomen. He finished fifth in the state last season at 130. His only loss this season came against Mantella in overtime in the Beast of the East quarterfinals. According to the Off the Mat wrestling rankings, Mantella is the state's top 140-pounder. Zinck is No. 2. So, it was no surprise when the two squared off last night in the District One North final at Wissahickon. They've been wrestling together for a few years now and help each other train in the summer. They're close friends. "It's hard wrestling him," Mantella said, "but we have to hate each other for six minutes." Zinck used an escape and stall point to take a one-point lead into the final minute. But, Mantella came alive when he needed to, taking down Zinck with 35 seconds remaining and riding him the rest of the way for a 3-2 victory. Mantella and Zinck both qualified for next weekend's Southeast Regional at Norristown. The top three wrestlers in each weight class at that tournament move on to states. "I'm happy with the win, but I'm expecting two more battles with him the next two weeks," said Mantella, who has won three of four career bouts against Zinck. Mantella was one of three local champions. The others were Neshaminy's Michael Pirozzola (145 pounds) and Harry S Truman's Joe Champey (heavyweight). Rock's Tom Martin (112), Zach Harr (125) and Greg Ortman (145), all of whom finished second, are also moving on. Neshaminy's Jon Denny (103) and Joe Mitskas (heavyweight) placed third to earn a trip to regionals. Truman's Matt Wallick was the runner-up at 189 to gain a berth at regionals. Pennsbury's Marc Michaud (third at 140), Rick Tosti (fourth at 103) and Keith Jones (fourth at 135) advanced. Bensalem's lone representative at the regional will be Dylon Williams, who won his final two bouts by rideout to take third at 152. Mantella, a junior, won his third district crown. Yet, there were no smiles on the awards platform. "He's interested in winning states," said Rock coach C.D. Mock, adding that everything leading up to that is a learning experience. Pirozzola, who pinned two opponents, was named Outstanding Wrestler. An irate Mock stormed the head table, demanding to know who voted for the award (it's a 10-person district committee). Mock said that everyone knows Pirozzola is the best wrestler. He reasoned that Mantella should have been given the award because he beat the second-ranked wrestler in the state. He called the vote a "slap in the face" to Mantella. In the first round, Pirozzola, a senior, pinned Upper Perkiomen's Mike Berlanda for his 100th career fall. Pirozzola won his fourth district crown by pinning Ortman in 32 seconds. North Penn's Chris Kwortnik was the last four-time District One North champ, placing first from 1986-89. How does Pirozzola approach a tournament in which he's the overwhelming favorite? "I tune up for states," he said. "I practice what I'm going to try at states. I try to become sharper and sharper each match so, come states, I'm at the top of my game." Champey pinned his first two opponents before facing Hatboro-Horsham's Brian Haupt in the final. Champey, who pinned Haupt in the New Hope-Solebury Tournament finals, had a tougher time last night. He outlasted the athletic, quick Haupt, 8-4. Champey, who lost in the district final last year to Council Rock's Tony Milone, is making his second trip to regionals. He's trying to improve on his 1-2 record of a year ago. He wants to do better than finish in the top three. "It would be nice to go to states, but I want to win the regional because it will give me a good shot to place at states," he said.   Sunday, February 27, 2000