The 2017 PIAA State Dual Team Tournament kicks-off on Thursday and PA Power Wrestling has bracket predictions! In both Class AA and AAA there are the top tier teams that will battle for a PIAA State Championship but there are several teams that will challenge them.

In Class AA I am going with the most dominant Class AA program over the last five years – the #1 Reynolds Raiders. Everything’s coming together for head coach Casey Taylor who recently returned 2x PIAA State Medalist Cole Rickert to the line-up after being sidelined for the entire season. The Pitt recruit will add even more fire power to a loaded line-up that features ten State ranked wrestlers.

Reynolds could likely face undefeated program #3 Saucon Valley in the semifinals who last season finished as the PIAA State Runner-ups. On the bottom half there are five of the top ten ranked teams eyeing a spot in the PIAA State Finals with #2 Brookville Area leading the way. The 2016 PIAA State Champions have only one defeat on the season, to Reynolds, but will have to get through a deep field. Fans could see a barn burner between #2 Brookville and #4 Southern Columbia Area in the quarterfinals. The District 4 Champions are undefeated this season and have some of the biggest names in Pennsylvania wrestling. The Tigers are benefitting from the debut of one of the top rookies in the State with Gaige Garcia who entered the line-up after suffering an injury during the football season. #5 Chestnut Ridge and #8 Bishop McDevitt could challenge the field.

 

Class AA Predictions

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The Class AAA scene took a wild turn last week when Nazareth Area reversed a 20 point defeat to Bethlehem Catholic to knock-off the returning PIAA State Champions and top rated Golden Hawks. Nazareth is riding a strong wave of momentum entering the PIAA State Tournament and the Blue Eagles are poised to claim a State Championship. The top half features five of the top ten ranked teams in the State with #4 Canon McMillan and #8 Council Rock South facing off in the first round. The dark horse, in my opinion, will be #7 Cathedral Prep who could potentially find themselves in the semifinals. 

The most anticipated match-up of the Class AAA Tournament could be the quarterfinals between #2 Bethlehem Catholic and #3 Kiski Area. Despite having ranked BECA #1 the entire season I am going with Kiski Area to pull the upset. The defeat to Nazareth exposed some chinks in Bethlehem Catholic’s armor and I think the undefeated Kiski Cavaliers will exploit them. Kiski is as solid as they come with few holes and lots of consistency throughout.

I feel the Class AAA bracket is a three team race between the top ranked programs. There are, however, several teams that will make it difficult for those teams along the way. Teams like #9 Exeter Township, #11 Boyertown Area, and #5 North Allegheny all find themselves on the bottom half with each having a shot to finish in the top four.

 

Class AAA Predictions

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