Rematches Highlight Class AAA Finals

106 lbs.

Finals
#5 Tyson Klump (Nazareth Area) vs. vs. #2 Cole Manley (Altoona Area)

Finals Preview
#5 Tyson Klump vs. #2 Cole Manley is a toss up in my book. These two both are new to the PIAA State Medal stand and I think whoever opens up will win the match.

 

113 lbs.

Finals

#1 Devin Brown (Franklin Regional) vs. #2 Gage Curry (North Hills)

Finals Preview

Devin Brown has turned it up and is looking for his third straight PIAA State Championship as a senior. Brown majored #8 Dan Moran in the semifinals, a rematch of the PIAA State Finals a season ago, and last week (10-4). He has been riding tough on top and I expect him to keep up the aggression. He has been here before and is primed for a third PA State Championship. I was impressed with Curry’s ability to out wrestle a tough Steffenino in the semifinals but he will need to bring all he has against Brown.

 

120 lbs.

Finals
#3 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth Area) vs. #1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional)

Finals Preview

Spencer Lee is arguably the most dominant wrestler in the Nation. Period. He is simply light-years ahead of the field. Lee will take on a talented freshman #3 Sam Sasso who defeated senior and 4x PIAA State Medalist #4 Derek Gulotta (Owen J. Roberts). Sasso is funky and can scramble but Lee is simply to tough from all three positions.

 

126 lbs.

Finals
#1 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #3 Zack Trampe (Council Rock South)

Finals Preview

These two wrestlers have not met this season but participated in two of the same Tournaments. At the KOM Tournament Karam lost in the semifinals to Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe) and ended up finishing in third place. Trampe advanced into the finals and defeated McCoy to win the KOM Championship. At the Escape The Rock Tournament Luke Karam finished as the runner-up while Trampe was fifth. In the finals Karam lost to New Jersey’s Anthony Cefolo (3-2) while Trampe aslo lost to Cefolo in the semifinals (9-8). Obviously these two are closely matched wrestlers but I give Karam the slight edge because this is his third straight PIAA State Finals appearance.

 

132 lbs.

Finals
#2 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) vs. #1 A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg Central)

Finals Preview

The second all WPIAL Finals and rematch from a week ago projects to be a good one. 2x PIAA State Champion Luke Pletcher is on a mission to avenge the defeat he suffered last week in ultimate tiebreaker (2-1 UTB). Chances are this match will not be decided in regulation.

 

138 lbs.

Finals
#1 Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area) vs. #2 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford)

Finals Preview

You guessed it – the third all WPIAL finals and rematch from a week ago. These two University of Virginia recruits have met five times this season and fans will see the sixth of such meetings tonight. Both have PIAA State Championships to their names and Krivus, the senior, owns all five of their meetings. Coy is more than capable of knocking him off but needs to be mentally prepared.

 

145 lbs.

Finals

#1 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) vs. #2 Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley)

Finals Preview

#1 Michael Kemerer has been here three times prior and this fourth appearance should prove to be different than the others. Kemerer handled a very tough Jonathan Ross in the semifinals and will face #2 Patrick Duggan a West Virginia recruit who is making is second career PIAA State Finals appearance. I think Kemerer is mentally prepared and doesn’t feel any pressure going into the finals.

 

152 lbs.

Finals

#1 Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic) vs. #3 Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional)

Finals Preview

The fourth all WPIAL finals will be a rematch from a week earlier when #1 Vincenzo Joseph dominated #3 Maruca. In that match Joseph racked up a (15-5) major decision win. The Penn State recruit has really separated himself from the rest of the field and should have no issues repeating as a PIAA State Champion.

 

160 lbs.

Finals

#1 Josh Shields (Franklin Regional) vs. #5 Cody Cordes (Wyoming Valley West)

Finals Preview

Once again #1 Josh Shields is miles ahead of the field and will have no issues earning his elusive PIAA State Championship a season after falling in the finals.

 

170 lbs.

Finals

#4 Te’Shan Campbell (Penn Hills) vs. #2 DJ Hollingshead (Altoona Area)

Finals Preview

Penn Hills senior Te’Shan Campbell had an impressive performance against #3 Jared Siegrist but seemed to injure his knee in the process. With :45 seconds left in the third period Campbell went down grabbing his right knee. After the match he was treated by staff and a large bag of ice was taped to his leg. If Campbell’s knee injury is minor and he is unaffected by it I expect a tough close match with #2 D.J. Hollingshead. It is hard to believe Hollingshead was a 160 lbs. the entire regular season and looks strong at 170 lbs.

 

182 lbs.

Finals

#2 John Jakobsen (Strudsburg) vs. #1 Kellon Stout (Mount Lebanon)

Finals Preview

#1 Kellon Stout has been on fire and outmatched a talented #3 Josh Coello (Cedar Cliff) in the semifinals (7-0). He will take on #2 John Jakobsen in a meeting of #1 vs. #2. This is the second straight appearance by Stout in the PIAA State Finals and I think he comes away this time with the Championship.

 

195 lbs.

Finals

#3 Tommy Rayhart (Big Spring) vs. #4 Jan Johnson (Governor Mifflin)

Finals Preview

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Another rematch this one from two weeks earlier when #3 Tommy Rayhart snapped #4 Jan Johnson’s 88 match win streak in the quarterfinals of the SC Regional Championship. Rayhart went on to win the SC Regional Championship while Johnson finished in third. Johnson is a returning PIAA State Champion a season ago at 195 lbs. and will be poised to avenge the earlier defeat. Rayhart has been wrestling well this post-season and I think he is a slight favorite over the State Champion.

 

220 lbs.

Finals

#2 Seth Janney (South Western) vs. #1 Jordan Woof (Boyertown Area)

Finals Preview

#1 Jordan Wood advanced into his third straight PIAA State Finals and will be in search of his first career PIAA State Championship. He will face sophomore #2 Seth Janney who is a strong opponent that is tough on top and can wrestle with anyone. Although Wood is favored don’t sleep on Janney not making it a good match and pushing the World Cadet Silver Medalist.

 

285 lbs.

Finals
#2 Bo Spiller (Solanco) vs. #1 Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic)

Finals Preview

Bethlehem Catholic senior and Virginia Tech recruit #1 Andrew Dunn will face is toughest challenge of his short stint at 285 lbs. when he meets #2 Bo Spiller. Spiller was a PIAA State Fourth Place Medalist last season at 220 lbs. in Class AAA while Dunn was a PIAA Class AA third place medalist at 220 lbs. The two match-up well and it should be an entertaining bout for the heavyweights.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]