WPIAL Finals Will Feature Five #1 State Ranked Wrestlers

106 lbs.

#4 Job Chishko (Penn Trafford) vs. #5 Louis Newell (Seneca Valley)

Sophomore #4 Job Chishko (Penn Trafford) returns to the WPIAL Finals at 106 lbs. where he finished as the runner-up in 2015. He will face fellow sophomore #5 Louis Newell (Seneca Valley) who last season finished in eighth place at the PIAA State Tournament. Newell was the WPIAL third place medalist in 2015 but did not meet Chishko in either the South West Regional or PIAA State Tournament. Both wrestlers looked sharp in the semifinals against talented opponents. Newell scored from his feet multiple times and defeated #8 Jacob Dunlop (Belle Vernon Area) in a controlling (6-2) match. Likewise Chishko turned in a (9-4) decision over #12 Darren Miller (Kiski Area) who he needed overtime to defeat a week ago.

 

113 lbs.

#1 Gage Curry (North Hills) vs. #4 Logan Macri (Canon McMillan)

PA’s top ranked 113 lbs. wrestler #1 Gage Curry (North Hills) is looking for his first career WPIAL Championship and has qualified for his fourth straight PIAA State Championship where he has earned three medals. Standing in his way is sophomore #4 Logan Macri (Canon McMillan) who is wrestling the best of his young career. Macri had no issues in the semifinals defeating #13 Cam Connor (9-5) while #1 Gage Curry (North Hills) got his offense going earning a (11-4) decision over #15 Vincent Distefanis (Hempfield Area). These two, who have not met in the last two years, are going to battle and could be one of the top finals of the night.

 

120 lbs.

#1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) vs. #6 Hunter Baxter (Pine-Richland)

#1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) is back and better than ever. He is punishing opponents from the top position and in the semifinals pinned #8 Noah Levett (Kiski Area) in the first period. He will take on #6 Hunter Baxter (Pine-Richland) who he rolls around with at the Young Guns WC. Baxter is a leech on top and that was the difference in his semifinals match with #7 Caleb Morris (Waynesburg Central). Baxter won (1-0) but may never get the chance to get on top when he goes against Spencer.

 

126 lbs.

#6 Chris Eddins (Greensburg Salem) vs. #7 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe)

Seniors #6 Chris Eddins (Greensburg Salem) and #7 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe) will meet in the finals for the second straight weekend. Last week Eddins came away with a (7-4) victory over the returning PIAA State Third Place Medalist. McCoy looked tough in the semifinals tearing up #9 Luke Landefeld (North Allegheny) score (10-3). Eddins earned a hard fought (1-0) decision over #12 Matt Oblock (Canon-McMillan).

 

132 lbs.

#4 Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area) vs. #2 Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area)

One of the highlights of the finals should be at 132 lbs. with #2 Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area) taking on #4 Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area). #4 Luke Kemerer punched his first ticket to the PIAA State Tournament but won’t be satisfied with a runner-up finish. Likewise #2 Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon) made a trip to Hershey last season and came away with a seventh place medal. The two have not met this season.

 

138 lbs.

#1 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) vs. #7 Shaun Wilson (Waynesburg Central)

An interesting match-up at 138 lbs. will take place with senior #1 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) looking for revenge in the WPIAL Finals after falling last season to A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg Central). He will need to get through another Waynesburg Central wrestler to reclaim his title facing #7 Shaun Wilson. These two met in the POWERade semifinals this season with Pletcher escaping a narrow bout (6-5) over Wilson.

 

145 lbs.

#1 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) vs. #5 Jake Hartman (Shaler Area)

PIAA State Champion #1 Cameron Coy is looking for his second career WPIAL Championship title and the first since his rookie season. The junior has been untested and should not have an issue getting by senior #5 Jake Hartman (Shaler Area) in the finals. Hartman came away in the semifinals with a (2-1) decision over #22 Ryan Krause (Franklin Regional).

 

152 lbs.

#7 Derek Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area) vs. David Kelly (Pine-Richland)

#7 Derek Verkleeren will be making his first trip to Hershey, PA winning in the semifinals over #21 Austin Bonacci (West Mifflin) score (5-2). He will meet senior David Kelly who secured his second trip to the PIAA State Tournament with a fall over #17 Terry Victor (Waynesburg Central) in the semifinals.

 

160 lbs.

#7 Tim Wallace (Albert Gallatin) vs. #8 Mitch Hartman (Belle Vernon Area)

Senior Mitch Hartman finally secured a spot in the PIAA State Tournament but he needed a come from behind win to earn it. Down 1 point in the third period Hartman scored on a single leg takedown at the buzzer against #15 Sean Hoover (North Allegheny). Again Hartman’s elbow appeared to give him trouble and he will need to be full strength in the finals as he will meet for the second week in a row #7 Tim Wallace (Albert Gallatin). Last weekend Wallace earned a huge win over Hartman in the Sectional finals picking up a fall.

 

170 lbs.

#2 Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park) vs. #3 Austin Bell (Belle Vernon Area)

The match-up the State has been waiting for will again take place in the 170 lbs. finals between #2 Nino Bonaccorsi and #3 Austin Bell. These two have faced off twice this year with Bonaccorsi winning last week in the Sectional finals by fall in tiebreaker. Fans should expect another high quality match between these two returning PIAA State Medalists.

 

182 lbs.

#1 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny) vs. #6 Milton Kobaly (Belle Vernon Area)

Yet another marquee match-up will take place at 182 lbs. with #1 Jake Woodley earning his first trip to Hershey. Woodley has defeated Kobably three times this season but the Belle Vernon senior is dangerous and can score points in bunches.

 

195 lbs.

#2 Drew Phipps (Norwin) vs. #3 Eli Grape (Upper Saint Clair)

The last time #2 vs. #3 met it was in the Chartiers Valley Tournament finals with #2 Drew Phipps coming away with a (3-1) victory. Grape is tough to score on but Phipps is accustomed to wrestling tight bouts.

 

220 lbs.

#1 Jacob Robb (Armstrong) vs. #6 Michael Mcaleavey (Peters Township)

Jacob Robb is on a mission for his first career Class AAA WPIAL Championship and will face a tough senior #6 Michael Mcaleavey who is making his first trip to Hershey. Robb is an experienced grappler who last season finished second in the State at 220 lbs. in Class AA.

 

285 lbs.

#10 Hayden Rice (Norwin) vs. #9 Isaac Reid (Kiski Area)

After a brutal semifinal round the two left standing were #9 Isaac Reid and #10 Hayden Rice. The two have not met this season but are both evenly matched.

 

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