High school wrestling’s postseason rolls on and gets a little more intense with this week’s District 3 Championships at the Hersheypark Arena.

Here is a breakdown of the top three weight classes in Class 3A and Class 2A heading into Friday’s opening rounds, which start at 10 a.m. and continue through the quarterfinals. The semifinals and finals take place Saturday.

 

Class 3A

 

152 pounds

This weight proves that you don’t need nationally-ranked talent to be a tough bracket. There are five state-ranked wrestlers scattered in the 16-man field, including Hershey’s Tanner Updegraff (No. 5), Carlisle’s Colton Zimmerman (No. 7), and Wilson’s Kolbe Eidle (No. 8) positioned in the top 10 in the state. Updegraff and Eidle are a combined 59-3, with Zimmerman checking in at 28-7. Throw in Susquehannock’s Colby Romjue (No. 20) and South Western’s Cavin Sullivan (No. 22), and you have five solid wrestlers who can rack up points. Chambersburg’s Seth Runshaw is also lurking, and he is could be a handful for Eidle in the quarterfinal round.

 

182 pounds

Like 152, this weight class doesn’t have a clear-cut favorite but features plenty of depth to keep wrestling fans guessing. Dallastown’s Jarrett Feeney and Cumberland Valley’s Jacob Lucas — they are ranked No. 8 and No. 12 in the state — jump out as the favorites, but it’s not by much. You still have Hershey’s Nyiem Flucas and Harrisburg’s Neamiah Diggs, who are a combined 53-6, in the draw, as well as Susquehanna Twp.’s Troy Ambush. Look for a Diggs-Feeney quarterfinal bout, that is if Diggs can get by Manheim Central’s Keegan McCord, who boasts a 33-8 mark on the season. This is a race that is too close to call.

 

285 pounds

That star power we said wasn’t present at 152 and 182, well, there is plenty of it in the heavyweight class. The top dog is Central York’s Michael Wolfgram, who checks in at No. 2 in the state with a 28-0 record. But he isn’t the only big-time pinner in this group. Lower Dauphin’s Kyle Wuestner (31-1) breezed through sectionals last week and sits No. 5 in the rankings, with Dallastown’s Raymond Christas ranked No. 6 in the state with a 35-1 record. Christas got rolled by Wolfgram a week ago in sectionals and will be looking to make a statement. Look for Harrisburg’s Jeffery Chisholm-Wilkenson (17-2) to make some noise and contend for a spot in the state-tournament draw.

 

 

Class 2A

 

120 pounds

You could make the argument that this is bracket is the toughest of the tournament … On either side. There are six state-ranked wrestlers in the draw, three of whom are positioned in the top 10. Boiling Springs’ Caydin Wickard and Bishop McDevitt’s Nate Smith are No. 5 and No. 6 and the favorites in this class. Other heavy hitters include Hamburg’s Bailey Gimbor (No. 9), Bermudian Springs’ Korey Smith (No. 10), Biglerville’s Blake Showers (No. 11), and Northern Lebanon’s Brandon Breidegan (No. 18). The combined record of this group is 176-36. Check out these possible quarterfinals: Showers vs. Wickard and Breidegan vs. Korey Smith … Enough said.

 

126 pounds

When you have four wrestlers in the same bracket who are all ranked in the top nine in the state of Pennsylvania, you have a loaded weight class. Upper Dauphin’s Bronson Garber leads this group in the No. 3 spot, with Bishop McDevitt’s Chase Shields, Hamburg’s Dalton Gimbor, and Trinity’s Patrick DeMark positioned in order from No. 7 through No. 9. It should also be noted that Shields and DeMark were state runner-ups in their respective weight classes last season. This foursome has a combined record of 110-13 this season. That’s pretty good.

 

132 pounds

What this weight lacks in star power, it more than makes up for it in depth. There are five state-ranked wrestlers scattered across the 12-man draw, with Northern Lebanon’s Colin Leonard leading the way at No. 8 in the state. He is followed by Newport’s Dorian Gonzalez (No. 12), Upper Dauphin’s Zach Rupp (No. 13), Biglerville’s Eli Tuckey (No. 22), and Hamburg’s Kyle Vernon (No. 25). Leonard, Rupp, and Vernon have all eclipsed 30 wins, with Octorara’s Braeden Amole and ELCO’s Trenton Brubaker also crossing the threshold. Brubaker will face Tuckey in a first-round scrum, with the winner advancing to face Vernon. Don’t sleep on this weight.