Class AAA State Quarterfinals to Feature Explosive Match-ups
Brutal. That is the word that comes to mind when thinking about the 2016 Class AAA PIAA State Quarterfinals. There are endless match-ups that will feature the State’s best wrestlers. Unfortuantly many of the top two or three ranked wrestlers will be meeting in the Friday afternoon session.
There is no doubt this round will be the most entertaining session of the Tournament. Below is a look at the hammer match-ups that fans will be enjoying.
106 lbs.
#1 Tyson Klump (Nazareth Arear) vs. #3 Geo Barzona (Central Mountain)
#5 Job Chishko (Penn Trafford) vs. #6 Dalton Rohrbaugh (Spring Grove Area)
#2 Patrick Gould (Hempfield) vs. #12 Brandon Meredith (Spring-Ford)
#7 Zach Glenn (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #4 Louis Newell (Seneca Valley)
2015 PIAA State Champion Tyson Klump and PIAA State Medalist Geo Barzona met in the Championship semifinals a season ago with Klump coming away with a hard fought (11-6) win. Klump went on to win the State Championship while Barzona finished in sixth place. A pair of 2015 PIAA State Qualifiers will meet with #5 Job Chishko and Dalton Rohrbaugh facing-off. The two did not meet in Hershey last season as both went (1-2). Rohrbaugh pinned #11 Cameron Enriquez (Stroudsburg) in the first round. Freshman #2 Patrick Gould was highly impressive in his first round win over #9 Jared Loose (Hempfield) winning (12-5) and dominating on his feet. He will face sophomore #12 Brandon Meredith. #4 Louis Newell took care of business against tough rookie #10 JJ Wilson (Cedar Cliff) in the first round (4-3) and he faces sophomore Zach Glenn in what should be a tight match.
113 lbs.
#3 Matt Parker (Pennridge) vs. #1 Gage Curry (North Hills)
#8 Chris Wright (Central Dauphin) vs. #15 Nick Coy (Penn Trafford)
#2 Julian Chlebove (Northampton Area) vs. #4 Logan Macri (Canon McMillan)
#5 Jakob Campbell (Boyertown Area) vs. #7 Devin Schnupp (Warwick)
One of the biggest matches of the session will be between #1 Gage Curry and #3 Matt Parker meeting in the quarterfinals. Last season Curry was a PIAA State Runner-up capturing his third career PIAA State Medal. Matty Parker, a junior, was fifth in the State last season at 106 lbs. Parker is slick on his feet and Curry is methodical and rarely puts himself in a bad position. #8 Chris Wright is looking for his second straight PIAA State Medal and will face rookie #15 Nick Coy who picked up two wins on Thursday. Another highlight bout will be #2 Julian Chlebove and #3 Logan Macri. Chlebove is a freshman who defeated returning PIAA State Medalist #6 Aiden Burke (Council Rock North) in the first round. Macri has been wrestling well in the second half of the season and is looking for his first State Medal in two attempts. A pair of 2015 PIAA State Medalists, Devin Schnupp and Jakob Campbell, will meet in the quarterfinals. Schnupp placed sixth last season at 113 lbs. while Jakob Campbell was third at 106 lbs.
120 lbs.
#3 K.J. Fenstermacher (Bethlehem Liberty) vs. #2 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township)
#6 Hunter Baxter (Pine-Richland) vs. #11 Jose Morales (Conestoga Valley)
#1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) vs. #5 Zurich Storm (New Oxford)
#4 Dan Moran (Northampton Area) vs. #18 Noah Myers (Mifflin County)
One of the best matches of the session could prove to be at 120 lb. with #2 Austin DeSanto and #3 KJ Fenstermacher. DeSanto is an animal on his feet hitting dumps and firemen carries continuously. Fenstermacher, an 2016 Escape The Rock Champion, is a returning seventh place medalist while DeSanto was fifth. They did not meet a season ago and DeSanto enters with an unblemished record at (48-0). #6 Hunter Baxter is one win away from his second PIAA State Medal but will need to get by senior Jose Morales who had two wins on Thursday in his first trip to the GIANT Center. Pennsylvania’s top wrestler Spencer Lee is mowing through the competition this post-season and he is not going to let up. He faces 2x PIAA State Qualifier #5 Zurich Storm in the quarters. Former PIAA State Runner-up and 2x PIAA State Medalist Danny Moran is hoping to go three-for-three in his trips to Hershey and will wrestle #18 Noah Myers. The junior picked up an upset over #8 Caleb Morris (Waynesburg Central) in the first round.
126 lbs.
#1 Tyshawn White (Central Dauphin) vs. #3 Wade Cummings (Downingtown East)
#17 Devon Britton (Northampton Area) vs. #6 Chris Eddins (Greensburg Salem)
#4 Cole Manley (Altoona Area) vs. #7 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe)
#5 Chandler Olson (Shippensburg) vs. #2 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic)
Yet another #1 vs. #3 will take place at 126 lbs. with seniors #1 Tyshawn White and #3 Wade Cummings squaring off. Last season Cummings placed fourth at 126 lbs. while White finished third for the second time at 120 lbs. Cummings is a strong wrestler who has a low center of gravity and can slow down a match. Tyshawn is slick and quick on his feet so the styles should clash and make for an entertaining match. #6 Chris Eddins was a State Qualifier last season but did not leave with a medal at 120 lbs. This season he was SW Regional Champion and will face talented freshman #17 Devon Britton in the quarters. 2015 PIAA State Runner-up Cole Manley is up three weights from a season ago and will get a big test in the quarterfinals against #7 Ethan McCoy. In the first round McCoy had a tough draw defeating fellow returning PIAA State Medalist #8 Lucas Miller (Boyertown) by a convincing (6-1) score. In a rematch of the 2015 PIAA State semifinals #2 Luke Karam and #5 Chandler Olson will meet. Luke Karam has never not been in a PIAA State Tournament Finals finishing as a runner-up his freshman season before winning two straight titles. Last season he beat Olson (4-2).
132 lbs.
#5 Joe Blumer (Kiski Area) vs. #1 Zack Trampe (Council Rock South)
#4 Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area) vs. #10 James Hoffman (Hazleton Area)
#2 Zachary Hartman (Belle Vernon) vs. #9 Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin)
#7 Joey Gould (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #17 Tommy Zummo (Plum)
All four WPIAL State Qualifiers are alive in the quarterfinals. #5 Joey Blumer had a win in the preliminary round before receiving a forfeit in round 1. He will face returning State Runner-up #1 Zach Trampe in what could be an exciting bout. Both wrestlers are funky and flexible which means scrambles are likely. Whoever wins those scrambles will have their hand raised. #4 Luke Keremer did not have to break a sweat to advance into the quarterfinals picking up a forfeit in the first round. He faces junior James Hoffman who has qualified for the PIAA State Tournament all three seasons but is still looking for a State Medal. On the bottom half #2 Zach Hartman will meet fellow sophomore #9 Andrew Wert. Hartman picked up a nice (7-0) win over #8 Lucas Shaff (Emmaus) while Andrew Wert defeated tough freshman #14 Ryan Vulakh (8-1). BECA senior #7 Joey Gould had to come from behind to defeat #13 Wyatt Long (Cumberland Valley) in sudden victory (6-4 OT). He now meets #17 Tommy Zummo who upset #11 Ta’Naz Gregory (Cathedral Prep) in his first trip to the PIAA State Tournament.
138 lbs.
#1 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) vs. #2 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth Area)
#4 Colin Cronin (Upper Darby) vs. #13 Carter Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep)
#10 Douglas Gudenburr (Ringgold) vs. #5 Evan Fidelibus (Easton Area)
#7 Shaun Wilson (Waynesburg Central) vs. #3 Riley Palmer (Council Rock South)
No doubt the biggest match of the quarterfinals that all eyes will be watching is at 138 lbs. with 2x PIAA State Champion senior#1 Luke Pletcher facing #2 Sammy Sasso in the quarterfinals. While I wholeheartedly hate the fact that these two stars will be meeting in the quarterfinals and not the Championship finals this match will still live up to the hype. Both were PIAA State Runner-ups a season ago with Luke falling in the finals for the first time. Sasso was at 120 lbs. in 2015 and was pinned by Spencer Lee in his first trip to the PIAA State Finals. The two faced off in the 2015 King of the Mountain finals at 138 lbs. with Luke Pletcher coming away with a (7-5 SV) win in overtime. It was and still is the best match of the season in my opinion. You can view the full match below.
Other quarterfinal match-ups include #4 Colin Cronin facing rookie #13 Carter Starocci who had a big win over 2015 PIAA State Medalist #11 Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) in the first round (4-3). Yet another weight where all four WPIAL wrestlers advanced into the quarters #10 Doug Gudenburr picked up a (3-0) win over #8 Owen Wherely (South Western) in the first round. He faces #5 Evan Fidelibus who was a PIAA State Third Place Medalist in 2015. #7 Shaun Wilson will meet junior #3 Riley Palmer in a match that should see a lot of scoring.
145 lbs.
#5 Edmund Ruth (Susquehanna Township) vs. #1 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford)
#4 Luke Gardner (Pottsville) vs. #9 Wyatt Jennings (Solanco)
#2 Brock Port (Bellefonte) vs. #13 Lucas Martoccio (Council Rock South)
#14 Dustin Stone (Harry S. Truman) vs. #3 Brock Wilson (Nazareth)
Rookie #5 Edmund Ruth defeated #15 Dakota Weitoish (Philipsburg Osceola) in the first round by a narrow (2-1 TB) win. It was his first match of his PIAA State Tournament career and in the quarterfinals he will face the hammer #1 Cameron Coy. The undefeated junior was unchallenged in a (13-3) major decision over #8 Jacob Montes (Easton Area). Pottsville senior Luke Gardner is making the most of his first trip to Hershey as he picked up a (5-4) win over #10 Kyle Luben (Meadville) in the first round. He will face Solanco senior #9 Wyatt Jennings who picked up two wins on Thursday including a (5-3) win over #11 Bryce Reddington (Methacton). #2 Brock Port is one win closer to his second career PIAA State Medal and he will take on #13 Lucas Martoccio. #3 Brock Wilson advanced into the quarters with a fall over #18 Matthew Danner (East Pennsboro) where he will face #14 Dustin Stone who is making his second trip to the GIANT Center.
152 lbs.
#7 Derek Verkleeren (Belle Vernon) vs. #1 Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County)
#6 Felix Belga (Cumberland Valley) vs. #3 Travis Stefanik (Nazareth)
#2 Jonathan Ross (Northern York) vs. #4 James Saylor (Easton Area)
#12 Dazjon Casto (Erie McDowell) vs. #5 Cole Karam (Bethlehem Catholic)
Both #1 Hayden Hidlay and #7 Derek Verkleeren got first period falls in their lone matches of the day to set up a meeting in the quarters. The last time these two met was at the POWERade this season where Hidlay picked up a third period fall. In that match however Verkleeren scored the opening takedown. #3 Travis Stefanick cruised to a (9-3) decision over #17 Skitch Light (Central Dauphin) in the first round and he faces senior #6 Felix Belga in the quarters. A rematch from the 2015 PIAA State Tournament will take place when #2 Jonathan Ross and #4 Jimmy Saylor meet for the second time in the quarterfinals. Last season the two met in the quarterfinals at 145 lbs. with Ross coming away with a (4-2) victory. He went on to finish in fifth place while Saylor was seventh. BECA senior Cole Karam had two tough matches on Thursday winning a (8-5) decision over #16 Nolan Poust (New Oxford) and downing #8 Dylan Schwartz (Council Rock South) in the first round (3-2). Karam will face sophomore #10 Dazion Casto in the quarters.
160 lbs.
#3 Joshua Stillings (Pennridge) vs. #1 Kaleb Young (Punxsutawney)
#11 Nick Carr (Abington Heights) vs. #26 Tyler Reber (Hempfield)
#17 David Cox (Oxford Area, vs. #2 Trent Hidlay (Mifflin County)
#13 Dan Iredale (Conestoga) vs. #4 Bailey Shutt (Lower Dauphin)
The Pennridge Rams have the toughest draws of the Tournament. Their second notably meeting of the quarterfinals is at 160 lbs. with sophomore Josh Stillings facing #1 Kaleb Young. Stillings was a State Qualifier last season but is on point to win his first State Medal having a successful sophomore season. Kaleb Young is a future Iowa Hawkeye who has been ranked #1 all season. He is undefeated on the year and is a 2x PIAA State Medalist. A quarterfinal match-up that 99.9% of fans did not anticipate is #11 Nick Carr meeting #26 Tyler Reber. The Hempfield senior was a South Central Regional fifth place finisher who defeated South West Regional Champion #7 Tim Wallace (Albert Gallatin). Reber looked as though he was going to win it in regulation but at the last second he relaxed on the edge and Wallace earned a takedown to tie the bout. In sudden victory Reber was able to complete the biggest upset of the session
170 lbs.
#6 Jared Siegrist (Manheim Central) vs. #7 Josh Shalinsky (Council Rock North)
#9 Ethan Laird (General McLane) vs. #2 Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park)
#4 Noah Stewart (Mifflin County) vs. #3 Austin Bell (Belle Vernon)
#8 Jack Zimmerman (Penn Manor) vs. #1 Mike Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic)
On the top half undefeated senior #6 Jared Siegrist is looking for his second straight PIAA State Medal but will need to get through fellow senior #7 Josh Shalinsky who is in his second trip to Hershey. Junior returning PIAA State Medalist #2 Nino Bonaccorsi had no issues advancing into the quarterfinals picking up a (20-7) major decision. He faces #9 Ethan Laird who is a junior making his third trip to the GIANT Center. The biggest bout of the quarterfinals will be between #4 Noah Stewart and #3 Austin Bell. In 2015 Bell placed third at 170 lbs. while Stewart was fourth at 160 lbs. The two have not faced off this season as Bell was a POWERade Champion and Stewart was third. On the bottom half #1 Mikey Labriola took down 2x PIAA State Medalist #5 Jake Shaffer (Greater Latrobe) by major decision (12-4). He will meet Penn Manor senior Jack Zimmerman.
182 lbs.
#2 Kyle Gentile (Pennridge) vs. #1 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny)
#5 Drew Peck (Chambersburg) vs. #17 Costas Hatzipavlides (West Chester Rustin)
#15 Evan Morrill (Lower Dauphin) vs. #6 Milton Kobaly (Belle Vernon)
#4 Gregg Harvey (Boyertown Area) vs. #2 Joshua Colello (Cedar Cliff)
The second biggest match of the quarterfinal session will be between #1 Jake Woodley and #2 Kyle Gentile. This is the second of four quarterfinals that will feature a #1 vs. #3 ranked wrestlers. Woodley was a POWERade Runner-up this season while Gentile was fourth. This is a big time match-up between the newcomer and the veteran as Gentile is in his third trip to Hershey having won a PIAA State fifth place medal last season. Woodley, a junior, had a break-out season and made his first trip to Hershey. Junior #5 Drew Peck picked up a (9-0) major decision in the first round over #9 Cole Dixon (Dallas). He now faces #17 Costas Hatzipavlides who is making his second trip to Hershey. #15 Evan Morrill (Lower Dauphin) had a major upset in the first round over #8 Adam Soldridge (Bethlehem Catholic) in tiebreaker (3-2 TB). He will face Belle Vernon senior #6 Milton Kobaly who is in search of his first PIAA State Medal in his second straight trip to Hershey. A rematch of the 2015 Fifth Place match at 182 lbs. will take place in the quarterfinals as #2 Josh Colello and #4 Gregg Harvey square off. At States last season Colello defeated Harvey in the quarterfinals (5-2) and then again in the fifth place match (3-2). Expect yet another tight bout.
195 lbs.
#1 John Jakobsen (Stroudsburg) vs. #6 Jesse Kann (Penn Manor)
#3 Eli Grape (Upper St. Clair) vs. #9 Joe Doyle (Council Rock South)
#2 Drew Phipps (Norwin) vs. #15 Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby)
#14 Dylan Harr (Governor Mifflin) vs. #5 Trey Hartsock (Mifflin County)
#1 John Jakobsen (Stroudsburg) survived a tough first round match over #4 Francis Duggan (North Allegheny) by a (1-0) decision being able to ride out the sophomore in the third period. He now will take on #6 Jess Kann (Penn Manor) who picked up his 100th win on Thursday in the first round. #3 Eli Grape (Upper Saint Clair) is a junior looking for his second straight PIAA State Medal and will take on #9 Joe Doyle (Council Rock South) who himself is in his second trip to Hershey. On the bottom half #2 Drew Phipps (Norwin) had no issues in the first round picking up a first period fall over #8 Anthony Piscopo (LaSalle College). He now takes on #15 Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby) in the quarters. #5 Trey Hartsock (Mifflin County) had hard fought (3-2) win in the first round over #16 Xavier Ferrizzi (Owen J. Roberts) and now takes on #14 Dylan Harr (Governor Mifflin). Harr earned a second period fall over #7 Miles Lee (South Philadelphia) in round one.
220 lbs.
#1 Jacob Robb (Armstrong,) vs. #2 Andrew Boob (Selinsgrove)
#18 J’Michael Wedderburn (Hershey) vs. #6 Derek Berberick (Greensburg Salem)
#3 Cameron Tinner, Shippensburg, vs. #9 Evan Callahan (Bethlehem Freedom)
#4 Michael McAleavy (Peters Township) vs. #14 Garrett Zobel (LaSalle College)
The third quarterfinal match to feature a #1 vs. #2 is at 220 lbs. where #1 Jacob Robb (Armstrong) will meet #2 Andrew Boob (Selinsgrove). The two seniors are both in their third trip to the GIANT Center with Boob looking for his first PIAA State Medal. #1 Robb was a PIAA State Runner-up last season in Class AA and was fifth the year prior. He is the heavy favorite despite facing the #2 ranked wrestler. Also on the top half #18 J’Michael Wedderburn (Hershey) is making the most of his first trip to Hershey picking up a (9-5) win over #27 Kade LeMarre (Conestoga) in the first round (9-5). He will take on #6 Derek Berbick (Greensburg Salem) who escaped a (2-1) match over #8 Trent Thomas (Pleasant Valley) in the first round. On the bottom half #3 Cameron Tinner (Shippensburg) went ahead of #5 Nathan Barcaskey (Moon) early but gave up multiple takedowns in the third period. The junior held on for a (9-7) win over the senior and returning PIAA State Qualifier. Tinner now will take on fellow junior #9 Evan Callahan (Freedom) who squeaked by #11 Phil Selker (Cathedral Prep) in the first round (3-2). Also on the bottom half is #4 Michael McAleavy (Peters Township) who defeated #12 Hunter Weaver (Central Mountain) in the first round (5-0). He will take on LaSalle College sophomore #14 Garrett Zobel who picked up two wins on Thursday including an impressive (5-2) decision in the first round over #13 Gavin Caroff (Quakertown).
285 lbs.
#2 Josh Fye (Bald Eagle Area) vs. #1 Andrew Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty)
#9 Isaac Reid (Kiski Area) vs. #12 Shai Hines (Allentown Dieruff)
#3 Tommy Killoran (Boyertown Area) vs. #6 Vincenzo Pelusi (LaSalle College)
#7 Niko Camacho (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #22 Isaac Schannauer (Wilson)
The fourth and final meeting of the #1 vs. #2 ranked wrestlers in the State will meet at 285 lbs. as #1 Andrew Gunning (Liberty) and #2 Josh Fye (Bald Eagle Area) clash between two undefeated seniors. Gunning had a scare in the first round needing to come from behind against #10 Zack Jablonski (Montour) score (9-8). Fye, a 2015 PIAA State Qualifier, shut-out #5 Vincent Walld (Avon Grove) in the first round (5-0). #9 Isaac Reid (Kiski Area) escaped yet another ultimate tiebreaker bout coming away with a (2-1 UTB) win over #4 Bruce Graeber (Neshaminy) in the first round (3-2 UTB). He takes on another survivor of ultimate tiebreaker as #12 Shai Hines (Louis E. Dieruff) won (2-1 UTB) over #13 Blaine Yinger (Northeastern) in the first round. On the bottom half #3 Tommy Killoran (Boyertown) is hoping to earn his second straight PIAA State Medal and will take on #20 Oscar Daniels (Exeter) who got a big win over #6 Vincenzo Pelusi (LaSalle College) in the first round (7-3). #7 Niko Camacho (BECA) pinned a very talented rookie #14 Kawan DeBoe (Cathedral Prep) in the first round and now takes on #22 Isaac Schannauer (Wilson) in the quarters. The senior came back to wrestling after two years away to focus on football and made a statement on Thursday winning two matches over highly talented wrestlers. In the preliminary round he pinned #11 Peter Augustin (Upper Darby) and in the first round survived a (3-2) decision over South West Regional Champion #8 Hayden Rice (Norwin).
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