WPIAL Finals Set to Feature 19 PIAA State Medalists

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Below is a look at the match-ups set to take place tonight at Norwin High School for the 2013 WPIAL Championships. Brackets can be found here

106 lbs.

Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) vs. Gage Curry (North Hills)

Both wrestlers are freshmen and have met once this season with Pletcher winning (4-1). Pletcher is currently ranked #1 in the State in Class AAA while Curry is ranked #3. Expect to see a similar result as their first meeting with Pletcher winning by at least 2 takedowns.

113 lbs.

Dom Forys (North Allegheny) vs. A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg Central)

Returning PIAA State Third Place finisher from a season ago at 106 lbs. Dom Forys, a junior ranked #2 in the State, will take on outstanding sophomore A.C. Headlee. Headlee was the fourth place finisher last year in the WPIAL at 106 lbs., a weight in which all three WPIAL qualifiers earned PIAA State medals at 106 lbs. Headlee comes into his first WPIAL Finals ranked #7 in the State. Expect an intense match as both wrestlers are agressive and always in search of the fall. The two have not met this season but did face off last season in the WPIAL Consolation Finals which Forys won (3-1) to place Third at 106 lbs.

120 lbs.

Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area) vs. Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic)

In one of the WPIAL’s most impressive weight-classes, sophomores Sam Krivus and Vincenzo Joseph will mee in the finals at 120 lbs. Krivus is the #1 ranked wrestler in the State in Class AAA and was a PIAA State third place finisher last season at 113 lbs. Joseph, ranked #6 in the State, upset Canon-Mac’s Dalton Macri in the semi-finals in dominating fashion. Joseph was a PIAA State seventh place finisher last season at 106 lbs. The two have not faced each other in their high school careers.

126 lbs.

Connor Schram (Canon-McMillan) vs. Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional)

Two of the WPIAL’s top wrestlers will go head-to-head in a rematch of the 2012 POWERade Finals at 126 lbs. Connor Schram is looking to end his impressive career at Canon-Mac with four WPIAL Championship titles. Schram was a PIAA State Champion as a freshman and finished as the State’s runner-up in his next two attempts. Schram comes in to the finals ranked #1 in the State and defeated Kemerer at POWERade by injury default. In that match Kemerer was leading by a takedown when Kemerer was struck in the head in a flurry. Kemerer is a sophomore and in search of his second straight WPIAL Championship after finishing as the PIAA State runner-up a season ago at 106 lbs.

132 lbs.

Tyler Smith (Franklin Regional) vs. Ethan Kenney (Connellsville Area)

Returning PIAA State fifth place finisher Tyler Smith is currently ranked #2 in the State in Class AAA and the junior is searching for his first WPIAL Championship. Smith wil take on WPIAL vetren wrestler Ethan Kenney who comes in ranked #3 in the State behind Smith. The senior Kenney is hoping to earn his second WPIAL Championship as he captured the 103 lbs. title as a freshman in 2010. In his three trips to Hershey Kenney has placed twice at the PIAA State Tournament finishing in seventh as a freshman and junior. The two have not met this season or in their careers.

138 lbs.

Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional) vs. Jesse Rodgers (North Allegheny)

Sophomore Josh Maruca will be in search of his first WPIAL Championship after finishing in third place last season at 126 lbs. Marcua then went on to finish in fifth place at the PIAA State Tournament and his currently ranked #4 in the State. His opponent is junior Jesse Rodgers who has reached the placement round of the WPIAL Championships for the first time in his career. Last season Rodgers faced Maruca in what would be the last match of his sophomore season as he injury defaulted in 5:00. That match took place in the quarter-final round of the WPIAL Championship at 126 lbs. as Rodgers was forced to forfeit his consolation bout as Maruca went on to place third and advance to the PIAA State Tournament. The two have not faced each other yet this season.

145 lbs.

Solomon Chishko (Canon-McMillan) vs. Josh Shields (Franklin Regional)

Another match-up of the State’s #1 and #2 ranked wrestlers will take place at 145 lbs. with junior Solomon Chishko and sophomore Josh Shields. #1 State ranked Chishko is looking to capitalize on his return to the mat that occurred just three weeks ago. Chishko is one the State’s top juniors who placed third at the PIAA State Tournament in his two previous trips. Shields comes in ranked #2 in the State after he placed sixth in the PIAA State Tournament at 132 lbs. in his freshman debut. Shields was a WPIAL runner-up last season and has not faced Chishko in his career.

152 lbs.

Tyler Reinhart (Greensburg Salem) vs. Heath Coles (Norwin)

In a familiar math-up seniors Tyler Reinhart and Heath Coles will do battle for the fifth time this season. The series is tied at 2 a piece in their four meetings this season with Reinhart winning last week by a score of (2-1 in TB). Reinhart is ranked #4 in the State and Coles is ranked #5. In his career Reinhart has twice finished one win away from qualifying for the PIAA State Tournament, finishing in fourth place twice. Heath Coles will be in the hunt for his second straight WPIAL Championship title after capturing the 145 lbs. title last season and also earning a PIAA State fourth place medal.

160 lbs.

Zack Zavatsky (Greater Latrobe) vs. Zach Voytek (Greensburg Salem)

In another re-match of the POWERade finals two seniors will do battle at 160 lbs. Both Zavatsky and Voytek earned PIAA hardware last season as Zavatsky placed in eighth place at 160 lbs. and Voytek finished in seventh place at 152 lbs. The two have met twice this season with Zavatsky winning both meetings including a (7-1) victory last week in the Sectional finals.

170 lbs.

Cody Wiercioch vs. Noah Wilps (Chartiers Valley)

Senior Cody Wiercioch is on a mission for his third PIAA State Championship medal and will be facing Chartiers Valley’s junior Noah Wilps in the finals at 170 lbs. Wiercioch, ranked #1 in the State and defeated Wilps by technical-fall at the POWERade Tournament in December. Wilps is currently ranked #10 in the State and the junior will be making his first trip to Hershey.

182 lbs.

Adam Nickelson (Belle Vernon Area) vs. Alex DeCiantis (North Allegheny)

In the semi-finals of the 2012 WPIAL Championships Adam Nickelson pinned Alex DeCiantis in (5:17) at 170 lbs. to advance to the finals where he finished as the runner-up. Nickelson went on to place eighth at the PIAA State Championships. DeCiantis has qualified for this third PIAA State Tournament and is looking for his first WPIAL Championship. Nickelson comes in ranked #5 in the State while DiCiantis is ranked #6.

195 lbs.

Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area) vs. Jake Hart (Hampton)

Returning PIAA State Champion Matt McCutcheon will take on 2012 PIAA State runner-up in the finals at 195 lbs. which figures to be an entertaining match. McCutcheon is the #1 ranked wrestler in the State and Nation at 195 lbs. while Hart is ranked #3 in the State.

220 lbs.

Alex Campbell (Canon-McMillan) vs. Zach DeLuca (Central Catholic)

Senior Alex Campbell, ranked #3 in the State, has qualified for his second straight PIAA State Tournament after finishing at the runner-up last season in the WPIAL at 220 lbs. Campbell placed fifth at last seasons PIAA State Championship at 220 lbs. DeLuca, a junior currently ranked fifth in the State at 220 lbs. has qualified for his first PIAA State Tournament after advancing to the consolation semi-finals in 2012 at 220 lbs. The two have not met this season or in their career.

285 lbs.

Shane Kuhn (Kiski Area) vs. Angelo Brogila (Canon-McMillan)

#1 State ranked Shane Kuhn in a junior who is in search of his first career WPIAL Championship after a runner-up finish last season. Kuhn had an impressive PIAA State Tournament as a sophomore finishing in fourth place at 185 lbs. The junior will take on senior Angelo Brogila who comes in ranked #16 in the State.

 

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