Class AA First Round Highlights – Quarterfinal Preview
The first round of the new 20 man bracket is in the books. There were not to many surprises in Class AA but below is a look at the upcoming quarterfinals that expect to be full of excitement.
106 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
# 1 Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson-Moran) vs. #6 Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia Area)
#8 Jalin Hankerson (Boiling Springs) vs. #5 Gavin Park (Brookville Area)
#4 Kevin Gentile (Jim Thorpe Area) vs. #2 Aaron Burkett (Chestnut Ridge)
#7 Abe Guarriello (Fort LeBoeuf) vs. #3 Alan Diltz (Benton Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
All of these matches are intriguing and should all be fun . Teasdale and Lane are both PJW all-stars that have adjusted well to high school competition. Teasdale is favored but Lane will not just roll over. #8 Jalin Hankerson looked tough against a solid Colin Pasone in the first round and will take on #5 Gavin Park. Park and Hankerson did not meet when Boiling Springs faced Brookville in the PIAA State Dual Team Tournament. The best match-up at 106 lbs. is #4 Kevin Gentile vs. #2 Aaron Burkett. Gentile is undefeated and has been looking sharp this post-season. Likewise Aaron Burkett is a looking to challenge the top wrestlers at 106 lbs. and has a PIAA Medal from a season ago. Both of these wrestlers are juniors and I expect a good match. #7 Abe Guarriello is a tough top wrestler who can slow anyone down. If he can slow #3 Alan Diltz down it should be another interesting meet between two upperclassmen.
113 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#2 Max Murin (Central Cambria) vs. #11 Jack Hill (Northern Lehigh)
#10 Coy Campbell (Upper Dauphin Area) vs. #4 Faris Messai (Jamestown Area)
#1 Joe Lobeck (Lancaster Catholic) vs. #3 Nolan Link (Penn Cambria)
#6 Ryan Carlson (Brockway Area) vs. #5 Cameron Newman (Line Mountain)
Quarterfinal Preview
The highlight here is a meeting between #1 Joe Lobeck and #3 Nolan Link. Lobeck is a junior and returning PIAA State Medalist who is in the mix at 113 lbs. Link had an impressive (5-0) win over #7 Gage Bayless of Reynolds in the first round and owns a win over #2 Max Murin this season. I give the slight edge to Lobeck but Link is more than capable of knocking him off. #2 Max Murin takes on #11 Jack Hill who controlled a (8-5) first round win over #9 Angelo Barberio (Muncy). Keep an eye on #10 Coy Campbell and #4 Faris Messai (Jamestown Area). Campbell is a senior who had a first round win over a tough #12 Brian Friery (Lewisburg Area) while Farsi came out on top of a wild (11-8) win over #14 Jake Keiper (Forest Hills). Messai is a junior and returning PIAA State Medalist. #5 Cameron Newman (Line Mountain) will look ton continue his streak of success in his fourth career trip to Hershey. The senior takes on junior #5 Ryan Carlson (Brockway Area) who already owns a PIAA State State medal himself.
120 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#1 Taylor Ortz (Brookville Area) vs. #10 Justin McCoy (Chestnut Ridge)
#8 Brendan Howard (Jefferson Morgan) vs. #2 Brian Courtney (Athens Area)
#4 John Pipa (Bishop McDevitt) vs. #12 Jordan Gessner (Lewisburg Area)
#6 Cole Matthews (Reynolds) vs. #3 Colin Glorioso (Huntingdon Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
Junior #1 Taylor Ortz will take on freshman #10 Justin McCoy who had a solid (5-2) win over fellow freshman #5 Andrew Wert (Trinity). McCoy has improved as the season progressed and has faced a tough Chestnut Ridge schedule that included POWERade and a trip to the PIAA State Dual Team Tournament. Ortz is a returning PIAA State Third Place Medlaist and is favored against the rookie. Senior #8 Brendan Howard will take on sophomore #2 Brian Courtney (Athens Area) who only has one career defeat. Howard won in the first round (7-5) over a solid #7 Caleb Bordner (Tri-Valley). Courtney racked up a (13-2) major decision win in the first round over 2x PIAA State Medalist #11 Austin McDermitt. Courtney is favored but Howard is a senior in search of his first PIAA State Medal and won’t go down easily.#4 John Pipa will take on #12 Jordan Gessner (Lewisburg). Pipa is a sophomore and returning PIAA State Finalist while Gessner is making his second trip to Hershey. Freshman #6 Cole Matthews (Reynolds) will try to take down #3 Collin Glorioso who is a 2x PIAA State Medalist finishing as high as third in his freshman season. Matthews is a highly touted freshman who has 40 wins this season.
126 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#1 Tristan Law (Forest Hills) vs. #9 David Pipa (Bishop McDevitt)
#6 Mike Stuart (Benton Area) vs. #3 Seth Hogue (Reynolds)
#7 Sammy Hepler (Tri-Valley) vs. #2 Jon Gabrial (Bedford)
#11 Stone Kepple (Derry Area) vs. #4 Charlie Johnson (Wyoming Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
#1 Tristan Law will take on #9 David Pipa who knocked off returning PIAA State Medalist #5 Lewis Williams (Central Columbia) in the first round (5-3). #6 Mike Stuart (Benton Area) wrestled well against #8 Grant Bond in the first round and will face #3 Seth Hogue (Reynolds) in the quarterfinals. These two faced off at POWERade this season and it was a (9-0) major decision victory for Seth Hogue. While Hogue is favored I don’t think it will be nearly as big of a victory this time around. Sophomore #7 Sammy Hepler (Tri-Valley) takes on #2 Jon Gabriel (Bedford) in a battle of two PIAA State Medalists. Gabriel, a returning PIAA State Finalist, needed tiebreaker to get past #14 Cole Aaron (Brookville Area) in the first round. I think Hepler has a shot at knocking off #2 Gabriel considering momentum is in his favor. #11 Stone Keppel (Derry Area) looked sharp against #13 Tanner Altobelli in the first round picking up a fall. Johnson on the other hand narrowly escaped a (9-8 TB) win over #10 Chase Anklam in the first round. Johnson is undefeated this season in his second trip to Hershey.
132 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#1 Korbin Myers (Boiling Springs) vs. #6 Jacob Boozel (Mount UnionArea)
#7 Kody Komara (Freedom Area) vs. #5 Jarrett Carter (Fort LeBouef)
#3 Mickey Phillippi (Derry Area) vs. #8 Mason Lindenmuth (Brockway Area)
#10 Mike Bartolo (Reynolds) vs. #4 Zack LeBarron (Warrior Run)
Quarterfinal Preview
#1 Korbin Myers is the clear favorite against #6 Jacob Boozel. #7 Kody Komara (Freedom Area) won a tough (2-1) match in the first round over #14 Anthony Vitale (Benton Area) and takes on #5 Jarrett Carter in the quarterfinals. Carter also had a tight match in the first round winning (1-0) over freshman #13 Jason Jones (Saucon Valley). Carter and Komora should be a tight match but Carter is slightly favored. Former PIAA State Champion George Phillippi cruised into the quarterfinals and now takes on #8 Mason Lindenmuth in the quarterfinals. In one of the more significant upsets on the first round returning PIAA State Finalist #2 Josh Giorgio (Schuylkill Valley) fell in overtime (3-1) to Reynolds senior Mike Bartolo who is making his third trip to Hershey in search of his first PIAA State Medal. Bartolo takes on undefeated junior #4 Zack LeBarron who is also in his third trip to Hershey and searching for his first PIAA State Medal.
138 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#1 Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs) vs. #7 Sam Miller (Bloomsburg)
#5 Keith Batkowski (Montoursville Area) vs. #2 Tyler Vath (Saegertown)
#3 Michael Carr (South Fayette) vs. #6 Shae Bloom (Curwensville Area)
#13 Luke Walter (Grove City Area) vs. #4 Collin Edsell (Wyalusing Valley Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
#1 Kyle Shoop is the favorite going against #7 Sam Miller in the quarterfinals. An bout to watch will be #5 Keith Batkowski vs. #2 Tyler Vath. Two solid wrestlers with Vath owning three PIAA State Medals while Bartkowski is making his second trip to Hershey. Undefeated junior Michael Carr will have a tough match against junior #6 Shea Bloom who had a major decision over #12 Tyler Marsh in the first round. Sitting on the bottom half #4 Collin Edsell will be favored against #13 Luke Walter.
145 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#2 Robert Patrick (Ligonier Valley) vs. #6 Dakota Nixon (Muncy)
#5 Zach Fry (Hughesville) vs. #7 James Duffy (Smethport Area)
#4 Nate Newberry (Biglerville) vs. #8 Nick Monico (Saegertown)
#3 Gio Vonne Sanders (Jeannette) vs. #1 Kent Lane (Southern Columbia Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
Freshman #2 Robert Patrick made his GIANT Center debut and will now take on senior #6 Dakota Nixon in the quarterfinals. Nixon is a returning PIAA State Medalist who had a solid first round win over #9 Ryan Farber (3-1). Nixon is more than capable of knocking off the #2 ranked rookie. #5 Zach Fry will meet #7 James Duffy in what should be an exciting match. Fry escaped a (3-2 UTB) win over #11 AJ Kostyak (Boiling Springs) in the first round. In another battle of stars #4 Nate Newbeery meets #8 Nick Monico. The Saegertown junior is a 2x PIAA State Medalist and is on course to capture his third in as man trips. Newberry is a tough junior who is making his first trip to Hershey finishing one win shy in his two previous seasons. The hits keep coming at 145 lbs. as #1 Kent Lane takes on #3 Gio Vonne Sanders in the first round. Sanders is a sophomore in his second trip to Hershey but faces a tall task in senior Kent Lane. Lane is a returning PIAA State Finalist and 2x PIAA State Medalist.
152 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#6 Jimmy Miller (Brookville Area) vs. #4 Trent Crouse (Chestnut Ridge)
#3 Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon Area) vs. #1 Billy Barnes (Southern Columbia Area)
#5 Michael Comunale (Pius X) vs. #7 Dominic Vitale (Benton Area)
#14 Dayton Wickwire (Towanda Area) vs. #2 Jake Wentzel (South Park)
Quarterfinal Preview
Returning PIAA State Medalist Jimmy Miller takes on a tough #4 Trent Crouse who is in his first trip to Hershey. In what I think is the best match-up of the quarterfinals in Class AA will be when #1 Billy Barnes takes on #3 Jacob Oliver in the quarterfinals. Barnes was a PIAA State Finalist last season while Oliver placed fourth in his rookie season. These two have similar styles and I expect a tight bout with the winner likely advancing into the State Finals. Another impressive match up will be #5 Michael Comunale vs. #7 Dominic Vitale (Benton Area). Communale is a 2x PIAA State Medalist and undefeated on the season while Vitale is a senior making his second trip to Hershey looking for his first PIAA State Medal. #2 Jake Wentzel has been dominate and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon as he meets #14 Dayton Wickwire in the quarterfinals.
160 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#6 Keshon Truitt (Redbank Valley) vs. #4 Jared Walker (South Fayette)
#5 Andrew Doak (Blairsville) vs. #1 Cole Walter (Mifflinburg Area)
#3 Jon Vaughn (Boiling Springs) vs. #7 Cody Mulligan (Saegertown)
#14 Justin Haley (Wyalusing Valley Area) vs. #2 Bryce Fochtman (Berlin Brothersvalley)
Quarterfinal Preview
The top half of this bracket is heavy with talent as the quarterfinals will feature four of the top six ranked wrestlers in the State. Returning PIAA State Finalist #4 Jared Walker meets senior #6 Keshon Truitt who is making his first trip to Hershey. A pair of 3x PIAA State Medalists will meet in the quarterfinals when #5 Drew Doak (Blairsville) meets #1 Cole Walter (Mifflinburg Area). Doak has placed 7th in all three of his previous trips to Hershey while Walter finished third twice and seventh once. Walter is favored but Doak is obviously very talented. On the bottom half #3 Jon Vaughn meets impressive freshman #7 Cody Mulligan. This meeting between freshman and senior should be a good one. #2 Bryce Fochtman is the clear favorite against #14 Justin Haley.
170 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#2 Greg Bulsak (South Park) vs. #9 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville Area)
#11 Derek Dragon (Lake-Lehman) vs. #5 Anthony Welsh (Bethlehem Center)
#1 Briton Shelton (Bermudian Springs) vs. #3 Levi Niebauer (Cambria Heights)
#4 Taylor Cahill (Berlin Brothersvalley) vs. #8 Nick Stephani (Troy Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
170 lbs. is a deep weight in Class A and there will be some very difficult quarterfinals. #2 Greg Bulsak is a junior who will meet talented freshman #9 Gavin Hoffman. In the first round Hoffman defeated #7 Jason Lynch (Saucon Valley) in UTB. #11 Derek Dragon will meet #5 Anthony Welch who picked up two wins on Day 1. Welch is in his second trip to Hershey as a junior. On the bottom half of the bracket there will be a big match-up between #1 Briton Shelton and #3 Levi Niebauer. Both wrestlers are returning PIAA State Medalists in their senior seasons. #4 Taylor Cahill will meet undefeated senior Nick Stephani who comes in with a (38-0) record on the season. Cahill is making his third trip to Hershey in four seasons while Stephani is in his first.
182 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#2 Dakota Geer (Franklin) vs. #9 Brett Beltz (South Fayette)
#8 Bill Bowlen (Jefferson Morgan) vs. #3 Garrett Hoffman (Montoursville Area)
#4 Colton Dull (Bermudian Springs) vs. #6 Gage Gladysz (Greenville)
#13 Tracey Cistrunk (E.L. Meyers) vs. #1 Corey Hazel (Penns Valley Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
#2 Dakota Geer will be taking on #9 Brett Beltz who had a big win over #7 Connor Frey (Lehighton) in the first round score (7-6). #8 Bill Bowlen survived a tough first round draw with a (4-3) win over #12 Michael Collins (Pope John Paul II) and will face #3 Garrett Hoffman in the quarterfinals. Hoffman, a junior undefeated on the season, is a returning PIAA State Medalist. On the bottom half#4 Colton Dull faces #6 Gage Gladysz who is making his first trip to Hershey as a junior. Dull was a PIAA State Medalist last season as a junior. Making noise at 182 lbs. was Elmer L. Meyers wrestler #13 Tracey Cistrunk who upset #5 Garrett Reinwald in the first round (3-2). Unfortuantly for Cistrunk he gets a meeting with #1 Corey Hazel in the quarterfinals.
195 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#4 Alek Hummel (North Schuylkill) vs. #6 Logan Womelsdorf (Benton Area)
#3 Connor Buttry (Chestnut Ridge) vs. #1 Dylan Reynolds (Saegertown)
#2 Scott Thompson (Blairsville) vs. #10 Lucas Barshinger (Eastern York)
#11 Rhian Shubeck (Panther Valley) vs. #12 Luke Fornier (Elizabeth Forward)
Quarterfinal Preview
On the top half #4 Alek Hummel will meet PIAA State Medalist #6 Logan Womelsdorf in what should be an exciting match. Hummell is making his second trip to Hershey while this will be Womelsdorf’s third trip. #3 Connor Buttry will face off with #1 Dylan Reynolds in yet another battle of #1 vs. #3 in the quarterfinals. Reynolds is favored as he is a solid #1 in search of his third PIAA State Medal. On the bottom half #2 Scott Thompson remains undefeated on the season as he made quick work of #17 Nathan Black with a pin in 0:47. Thompson, a PIAA State Medalist making his fourth stright trip to Hershey, faces #10 Lucas Barshinger in the quarterfinals. Another surprising result of the first round was #12 Luke Fornier (Elizabeth-Forward) earning a fall over senior #5 Zac Faust (GAR Memorial). Fornier picked a good time to pull an upset as #7 Zach Miller (Greenville) gave up a forfeit to #11 Rhian Shubeck (Panther Valley). Now, #12 Luke Fornier and #11 Rhain Shubeck will face off as the winner advances into the semifinals.
220 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#4 Sam McCollum (Bermudian Springs) vs. #5 Tyler Oliver (United)
#2 Jacob Robb (Kittanning) vs. #6 Cole Rickert (Reynolds)
#1 Reynold Maines (West Branch) vs. #10 Danny Scheib (Tri-Valley)
#7 Zach Stafford (Cambridge Springs) vs. #3 Dylan Otis (Wyalusing Valley Area)
Quarterfinal Preview
The top half will feature #4 Sam McCollum vs. #5 Tyler Oliver in a battle of two returning PIAA State Medalists. Junior #2 Jacob Robb will have a tough quarterfinal match with sophomore #6 Cole Rickert. Robb is a retuning PIAA State Medalist while Rickert is making his second straight trip to Hershey in as many years. Returning PIAA State Finalist and #1 ranked wrestler Reynold Maines will take on freshman Dan Scheib in the quarterfinals and is the clear favorite. The final quarterfinal at 220 lbs. should be an exciting one as #7 Zach Stafford meets #3 Dylan Otis. Both were in Hershey last year with Otis coming away with a State Fourth Medal.
285 lbs.
Quarterfinal Match-Ups
#7 Robert Dunbar (Wyomissing Area) vs. #10 Ian Wolfe (Jefferson Morgan)
#2 Jake Beistel (Southmoreland) vs. #12 Nathan Gadinksi (North Schuylkill)
#1 Allan Beattie (Burrell) vs. #6 Gene Ringer (Reynolds)
#5 Tyler Beal (Keystone) vs. #3 Saul Wilkins (GAR Memorial)
Everything went basically as planned at heavyweight as #7 Robert Dunbar will face off with #10 Ian Wolfe in the top half. #2 Jake Beistel will take on #12 Nathan Gadinski with Beistel favored. #1 Allan Beattie continues his tear through the competition and he will face #6 Gene Ringer in a good match-up. The most intriguing quarterfinals match is on the bottom half with #5 Tyler Beal taking on #3 Saul Wilkins.