Class AA Semifinals Set to Feature Three #1 vs. #2 Bouts
106 lbs.
#4 Beau Bayless, Reynolds vs. #3 Jaret Lane, Southern Columbia
#2 Kevan Gentile, Jim Thorpe vs. #1 Aaron Burkett, Chestnut Ridge
The top four ranked wrestlers all advance into the semifinals as both #3 Jaret Lane and #4 Beau Bayless each scored (1-0) wins in the quarterfinals. The last time these two met was in the PIAA State Dual Team Tournament and it was a wild one! In that match Jaret Lane outlasted Bayless in a crazy (5-4 UTB) win. I expect similar match this time. On the bottom half it will be a #1 vs. #2 with 2015 PIAA State Runner-up #1 Aaron Burkett (CR) taking on #2 Kevan Gentile (JT). These two seniors met last season in the quarterfinals with Burkett coming away with a narrow (8-7) victory. Gentile went on to finish fourth while Burkett was the State Runner-up to Gavin Teasdale.
113 lbs.
#4 Kollin Myers, Boiling Springs vs. #5 William Girard, Williams Valley
#3 Bronson Garber, Upper Dauphin vs. #1 Gavin Teasdale, Jefferson Morgan
The South East Region controls 113 lbs. with freshmen #4 Kollin Myers (Boiling Springs) and #3 Bronson Garber (Upper Dauphin) leading the charge. On the top half Myers will face Williams Valley senior Willy Girard who last season was seventh in the State Tournament. Last week at the SE Regional he was upset by #8 Luke Pipa but bounced back to take third. Myers fell in the finals to #3 Bronson Garber despite defeating him in their two prior meetings. Garber will have his hands full with undefeated PIAA State Champion #1 Gavin Teasdale (JM) who has two tech-falls in his first two matches.
120 lbs.
#7 Jalin Hankerson, Boiling Springs vs. #1 Charlie Lenox, Fort LeBoeuf
#17 Angelo Barberio, Muncy vs. #4 Faris Messai, Jamestown
#1 Charlie Lenox (FB) defeated 2015 PIAA State Runner-up #3 Joe Lobeck (LC) in the quarterfinals and now will face #7 Jalin Hankerson (BS) in the semis. Hankerson will make his second appearance in the PIAA State Semifinals after defeating #11 Sam Sallot (HC) in the quarterfinals (11-4). On the bottom half #17 Angelo Barberio (Muncy) is continuing his surge a week after placing fourth in the North East Regional. It will be Barberio’s first PIAA State Medal in three trips to the GIANT Center. Barberio upset #2 Jack Hill (SV) in the first round and followed it up with a (1-0) decision in the quarters over #5 Ryan Carlson (PC). Barberio will take on senior #4 Faris Messai (Jamestown) in the semifinals. Messai was a 2014 PIAA State Medalist finishing seventh at 113 lbs. The senior had a quality win over #6 Jordan Gessner (Lewisburg) in the quarterfinals (11-7).
126 lbs.
#1 Cole Matthews, Reynolds vs. #2 Brian Courtney, Athens
#6 Mason Lindenmuth, Brockway vs. #3 Max Murin, Central Cambria
The toughest weight of the Tournament that features three State Champions is starting to take shape with #2 Brian Courtney (Athens) earning an impressive (8-3) decision over #4 Jon Gabriel (BF) in the quarterfinals. The last time these two met 2015 PIAA State Champion Jon Gabriel was victorious (6-5). #2 Courntey will now face #1 Cole Matthews (Reynolds) in a rematch of the 2015 PIAA State Finals at 120 lbs. In that match Matthews won his first PA State Title with a (3-2) win over Courtney. Matthews rolled into the semis with a fall over freshman #15 Gabe Miller (PV). On the bottom half #3 Max Murin earned an (8-2) decision over #5 Tanner Altobelli (RV) in the quarterfinals and will now face #6 Mason Lidenmuth (Brockway) in the semifinals. Murin is the third returning PIAA State Champion in the bracket.
132 lbs.
#2 Jacob Wasser, Palisades vs. #1 Taylor Ortz, Brookville
#4 Collin Glorioso, Huntingdon vs. #3 John Pipa, Bishop McDevitt
All four top ranked wrestlers will be featured in the semifinals with #1 Tate Ortz and #2 Jacob Wasser doing battle on the top half. Ortz defeated PIAA State Runner-up Todd Lane (SC) in the quarterfinals (5-3) and now takes on the undefeated senior Wasser who majored #9 Brock Biddle (CE) in the quarterfinals (11-4). On the bottom half #3 vs. #4 will take place with #3 John Pipa (Bishop McDevitt) and #3 Collin Gloriosso (Huntingdon) meeting. These two both competed in the 2016 Escape The Rock but did not meet as Glorioso finished in fourth and Pipa was fifth.
138 lbs.
#1 George Phillippi, Derry Area vs. #5 Chase Anklam, Pen Argyl
#4 Cole Wetzel, Boiling Springs vs. #7 Cole Aaron, Brookville
2x PIAA State Champion Micky Phillippi (Derry Area) will take on sophomore Chase Anklam (Pen Argyl) in the semifinals who will earn his first PIAA State Medal in his second trip to Hershey. On the bottom half #4 Cole Wetzel (Boiling Springs) took it to #3 Justin McCoy (Chestnut Ridge) winning by decision (12-5) over the returning PIAA State Medalist. Wetzel, a 2x Maryland State Runner-up, will face #7 Cole Aaron (Brookville) who handed Warrior Run senior #6 Zackery LeBarron his first lost of the season in the quarters (2-0).
145 lbs.
#8 Seth Baney, Huntingdon vs. #2 James Duffy, Smethport
#1 Mike Carr, South Fayette vs. #20 Caleb Clymer, Northwestern Lehigh
At 145 lbs. #2 James Duffy (Smethport) remained undefeated with a solid win over #5 Kody Komara (Freedom) in the quarterfinals (7-5). He now faces #8 Seth Baney (Huntingdon) a junior in his second trip to Hershey. Returning PIAA State Champion #1 Mike Carr (South Fayette) will take on cinderella story Caleb Clymer (Northwestern Lehigh) who last week finished sixth at the SE Regional after forfeiting his final two bouts. Now the sophomore finds himself in the semifinals after going (1-2) in his first trip to Hershey a season ago.
152 lbs.
#3 Nate Newberry, Biglerville vs. #5 Damon Greenwald, Burrell
#8 Nicholas Monico, Saegertown vs. #9 Gio Vonne Sanders, Jeannette
#3 Nate Neweberry (Biglerville) placed seventh a season ago and earned a hard fought (3-2) win in the quarterfinals over #6 Jon Wagner (Huntingdon). He will now take on #5 Damon Greenwald of Burrell who had a solid (4-2) win over #2 Shae Bloom (Curwensville) in the quarters. One of the biggest matches of the session came when 3x PIAA State Medalist #8 Nick Monico (Saegertown) upset #1 Robert Patrick (Ligonier Valley) in the quarterfinals (4-3). It will be the second straight year that Monico will be in the semifinals and the fourth time he earns a PA State Medal. Monico will face another 2015 PIAA State Medalist in the semifinals meeting #9 Gio Vonne Sanders (Jeannette). Sanders stormed out from the preliminary round to advance into the semifinals a season after he placed sixth at the PIAA Tournament.
160 lbs.
#10 Braden Fochtman, Berlin Brothersvalley vs. #6 Louie Head, Eisenhower
#1 Jake Wentzel, South Park vs. #11 Austin Farabaugh, Penn Cambria
Berlin Brothersvalley senior #10 Braden Fochtman advanced into the semifinals with a (4-3) upset over sophomore #3 Dalton Group (Susquenita). He now takes on #6 Louis Head (Eisenhower) who is a senior in his first appearance at the GIANT Center. On the bottom half undefeated returning PIAA State Champion Jake Wentzel (South Park) cruised into his third straight semifinals with a (6-0) decision over #4 Ryan Farber (Northern Lehigh). He now faces #11 Austin Farabaugh (Penn Cambria) who advances all the way from the preliminary round.
170 lbs.
#1 Anthony Walters, Westmont Hilltop vs. #4 Cody Mulligan, Saegertown
#2 Anthony Welsh, Beth-Center vs. #3 Jacob Oliver, Huntingdon
All four of the top ranked wrestlers from 170 lbs. will battle in the semifinals. #1 Anthony Walters (Westmont Hilltop) continued looking sharp advancing into the semifinals with a defeating #6 Brandon Stokes (Milton Area) in the quarters. He will take on talented fellow sophomore #4 Cody Mulligan. A rematch from a week prior in the SW Regional semifinals will take place as #2 Anthony Welsh (Beth-Center) meets #3 Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon). Last week Welsh defeated the 2015 PIAA State Runner-up (3-2) in the Championship semifinals before he lost to Walters in the finals.
182 lbs.
#1 Dakota Geer, Franklin vs. #3 Garrett Hoffman, Montoursville
#5 Luke Funck, Northern Lebanon vs. #2 Greg Bulsak, South Park
Three of the top four ranked wrestlers are alive in the semifinals with some very entertaining bouts set to take place. Undefeated 2015 PIAA State Champion #1 Dakota Geer (Franklin) will face 2x PIAA State Medalist Garrett Hoffman (Montoursville). Both seniors earned falls in their first two matches of the Tournament. On the bottom half #2 Greg Bulsak (South Park) is hoping to return to the PIAA State Finals where he won a State Championship in 2015. He will take on #5 Luke Funck (Northern Lebanon) who pinned #11 Gage Heller (Milton Area) in the quarters.
195 lbs.
#4 Blake Reynolds, Greenville vs. #1 Gavin Hoffman, Montoursville
#2 Connor Frey, Lehighton vs. #3 Bill Bowlen, Jefferson Morgan
In another weight where all four of the top ranked wrestlers are in the semifinals #1 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville) will take on #4 Blake Reynolds (Greenville). Reynolds comes in with an undefeated record at (45-0) and finished eighth last season at the PIAA State Tournament. On the bottom half #2 Connor Frey (Lehighton) will look to get past #3 Bill Bowlen (Jefferson Morgan) in a battle between two 2015 PIAA State Medalists.
220 lbs.
#2 Josiah Jones, Westmont Hilltop vs. #10 Joseph Gladish, Allentown CC
#1 Harrison Cole Nye, Bishop McDevitt vs. #5 Ethan Budd, Port Allegany
On the top half #2 Josiah Jones (Westmont Hilltop) picked up two wins both by (3-2) decisions to find himself in the PIAA State semifinals in his first trip to Hershey. He will meet #10 Joey Gladish (Allentown CC) who earned a fall and major decision to advance into the semis. On the bottom half #1 Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt) had a solid (6-4) win over #4 Toby Cahill (Berlin Brothersvalley) for the third time this season. The junior will now face #5 Ethan Budd who is a senior in his second trip to Hershey.
285 lbs.
#1 Jacob Beistel, Southmoreland vs. #3 Brylee Shumaker, Redbank Valley
#4 Alexander Nicholas, Salisbury Township vs. #5 Zach Stafford, Cambridge Springs
At heavyweight it has been all #1 Jacob Beistel (Southrmoreland) who has not had to wrestle longer than the first period to pin his first two opponents. The 2015 PIAA State Runner-up will take on Redbank Valley senior Brylee Shumaker who last season went (1-2) at the PIAA State Tournament. Two talented wrestlers will meet on the bottom half of the bracket with #4 Alexander Nicholas and #5 Zach Stafford meeting. Stafford is a senior who moved up from 220 lbs. where he competed most of the year and has faired well at heavyweight. He was a PIAA State Sixth Place Medalist a season ago at 220 lbs.
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