Class AAA First Round Recap – Quarterfinal Previews

106 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#5 Tyson Klump (Nazareth Area) vs. #1 Matt Parker (Pennridge)

#18 Geo Barzona (Central Mountain) vs. #4 Chris Wright (Central Dauphin)

#8 Sean Reddington (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #13 Aiden Burke (Council Rock North)

#16 Jakob Campbell (Boyertown Area) vs. #2 Cole Manley (Altoona Area)

Quarterfinals Preview

#5 Tyson Klump won a tough North East Regional and had a solid first round win over #11 Louis Newell but he will meet #1 Matt Parker (Pennridge) in the quarters. Parker is the favorite but Klump will push him. After upsetting #7 Job Chishko (Penn Trafford) in the first round #18 Geo Barzona will take on freshman #4 Chris Wright. I think he the favorite as he has been on a tear this post-season racking up points from the top position. On the bottom half #8 Sean Reddington went after #3 Caleb Morris in the first round racking up a (9-0) major decision. Reddington turned it on and effectively out matched a talented Morris. If he is able to keep it up he should be advancing into the semifinals with a win over #13 Aiden Burke. Boyertown Area’s Jakob Campbell is wrestling like he was earlier this season knocking off #6 Luke Werner (8-6). He faces #2 Cole Manley in the quarterfinals who earned a tough (2-0) decision over freshman #12 Logan Macri (Canon-McMillan).

 

113 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#3 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township) vs. #1 Devin Brown (Franklin Regional)

#8 Dan Moran (Northampton Area) vs. #9 Carmine Ciotti (General McLane)

#7 KJ Fenstermacher (Liberty) vs. #2 Gage Curry (North Hills)

#4 Devin Schnupp (Warwick) vs. #5 Dustin Steffenino (Upper Perkiomen)

Quarterfinals Preview

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We have some very fine match-ups at 113 lbs. starting off with #1 Devin Brown going up against #3 Austin DeSanto. Many think if Brown is going to loose it will come at the hands of DeSanto. Brown is a 2x PIAA State Champion but faces a very talented DeSanto early on. DeSanto is very aggressive on his feet and loves to push the action. I think Brown slows him down and earns a hard fought victory. Returning PIAA State Finalist #8 Dan Moran picked up a big first round win over #6 Kordell Rush (Pennridge) and now faces sophomore Carmine Ciotti in a match which Moran is favored. The bottom half of 113 lbs. is just as exciting with #7 KJ Fenstermacher meeting #2 Gage Curry. Fenstermacher has looked tough as of late and handled a solid #11 Zurich Storm (New Oxford) in the first round (9-1). He meets 2x PIAA State Medalist Gage Curry who defeated #10 Charles Lenox (McDowell) in the first round (4-3). If Fenstermacher can get his offense going quick I think he has a chance at upsetting Curry. #4 vs. #5 will meet as Devin Schnupp takes on Dustin Steffenino. The senior Steffenino is a returning PIAA State Medalist and has only one defeat on the season. Schnupp owns a quality win this season over #8 Dan Moran and is making his second trip to Hershey looking for his first PIAA Medal.

 

120 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#3 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth Area) vs. #2 Tyshawn White (Central Dauphin)

#11 Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area) vs. #4 Derek Gulotta (Owen J. Roberts)

#1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) vs. #5 Brett Kulp (Exeter Township)

#9 Matt Marino (Garnet Valley) vs. #12 Derek Wilson (South Western)

Quarterfinals Preview

PA Wrestling fans should get used to watching Nazareth Area wrestler Sam Sasso. The rookie turned it up big time since making the drop to 120 lbs. So far this post-season Sasso has an astonishing point margin of (145-25). #3 Sam Sasso will face his toughest challenge thus far going against #2 Tyshawn White. The junior is a 2x PIAA State Medalist who himself can score a ton of points. Expect an entertaining bout between the State’s #2 and #3 ranked wrestlers. Another freshman to remember is #11 Zach Hartman who is more than capable of knocking off #4 Derek Gulotta in the quarterfinals. Gulotta is a senior and 3x PIAA State Medalist so he has the slight advantage. #1 Spencer Lee will face #5 Brett Kulp who advanced with an impressive victory over #6 Ryan Hayes (Spring-Ford) by fall. The only question is the way in which Lee wins. A close match-up will take place as #9 Matt Marino meets #12 Derek Wilson.

 

126 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#1 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #2 Wade Cummings (Downingtown East)

#9 Joey Blumer (Kiski Area) vs. #7 Chandler Olson (Shippensburg Area)

#4 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe) vs. #3 Zack Trampe (Council Rock South)

#10 Lucas Miller (Boyertown Area) vs. #13 Seth Koleno (Bald Eagle Area)

Quarterfinals Preview

W0w. Fans will get an early State Tournament gift as the top two ranked wrestler in the State meet in the Championship quarterfinals. #1 Luke Karam is looking to defend a PIAA State Championship from a season ago in Class AA. His opponent #2 Wade Cummings is hoping to secure his first finish on the medal stand. Cummings and Karam met early this season at the KOM Tournament where Karam was the winner (6-4). Cummings however has momentum going into his second trip to Hershey after a South East Regional Championship over Zach Trampe. Speaking of #3 Zach Trampe he will face #4 Ethan McCoy in a rematch of the KOM Finals which he won (7-5). McCoy defeated #1 Luke Karam in the KOM semifinals and this match will be a wild one. Although not a big highlight match #9 Joey Blumer will face #7 Chandler Olson who is a sophomore and returning PIAA State Medalist. Blumer is scrappy and could cause an issue for Chandler. #10 Lucas Miller had a good win over #5 Jimmy Hoffman in the first round and will take on #13 Seth Koleno a freshman in his first trip to Hershey.

 

132 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#3 DJ Fehlman (Warren Area) vs. #5 Evan Fidelibus (Easton Area)

#2 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) vs. #10 Lucas Schaf (Emmaus)

#18 Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) vs. #7 Chad Haegele (Archbishop Wood)

#4 Brock Port (Bellefonte Area) vs. #1 A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg Central)

Quarterfinals Preview

The two favorites here Pletcher and Headlee are expected to continue their success into the semifinals although Headlee will meet scrappy #4 Brock Port who is a good mat wrestler. On the top half #3 DJ Fehlman and #5 Evan Fidelibus could be entertaining. Sophomore #18 Jake Hinkson looked sharp against #9 Garrett Kyner (Chambersburg Area) winning (3-1) over the junior and returning PIAA State Qualifier. Hinkson will face high scoring senior #7 Chad Haegele.

 

138 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#1 Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area) vs. #6 Dylan Chatterton (Central York)

#5 David Rump (Chambersburg Area) vs. #4 Stephen Maloney (Bethlehem Catholic)

#8 Dom Giannangeli (Franklin Regional) vs. #9 Dan Ritz (Crestwood)

#2 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) vs. #3 Zach Elvin (Central Dauphin)

Quarterfinals Preview

138 lbs. is occupied by three District 7 wrestlers and three District 3 wrestlers. A big match-up will take place on the bottom half of the bracket as #2 Cameron Coy will face #3 Zach Elvin in the quarters. Coy is a returning PIAA State Champion who only lost to one wrestler the entire season; #1 Sam Krivus five times. Elivin placed fourth last season at 132 lbs. a weight that Coy won. Also on the bottom half is #8 Dom Giannangeli who had a hard fought (3-1 SV) win over #7 Demetri D’Orsaneo and he moves on to face Crestwood senior #9 Dan Ritz.  On the top half #1 Krivus will face former PIAA State Medalist #6 Dylan Chatterton who pinned talented freshman #12 Trent Hidlay (Mifflin County) in the first round. Expect a close match between #5 David Rump and #4 Stephen Maloney. Rump is a junior in his second trip to Hershey. The two have not met this season but competed in two of the same Tournaments the first being the Beast of the East and the second being the Escape the Rock. Rump finished fourth at the Beast while Maloney finished fifth. Maloney won the Escape the Rock while Rump was third.

 

145 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#1 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) vs. #3 Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County)

#10 Jonathan Ross (Northern York) vs. #5 James Saylor (Easton Area)

#16 Alex Klucker (East Pennsboro) vs. #7 Chase Gallick (Wallenpaupack Area)

#4 Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area) vs. #2 Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley)

Quarterfinals Preview

The top 4 ranked wrestlers at 145 lbs. will clash in the quarterfinal round with #1 Michael Kemerer meeting #3 Hayden Hidlay in a re-match of the POWERade finals which Kemerer won. On the bottom half #2 Patrick Duggan meets #4 Jarod Verkleeren in a meeting of two very talented wrestlers. #10 Jonathan Ross has been wrestling well this post-season only falling to Patrick Duggan in two straight weeks and he will meet #5 James Saylor. #10 Ross majored #9 Dominick Petrucelli in the first round (9-0) indicating his ranking is to low.  He and Saylor should be a fun match. Don’t sleep on East Pennsboro’s #16 Alex Klucker who is well rested after picking up two first period pins on Day #1. Klucker has a serious chance to enter the semifinals as he goes up against #7 Chase Gallick (Wallenpaupack Area).

 

152 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#1 Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic) vs. #6 Kazim Bakhriyev (Scranton)

#24 James Meyer (Downingtown East) vs. #2 Kaleb Young (Punxsutawney Area)

#10 Dylan Schwartz (Council Rock South) vs. #7 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic)

#3 Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional) vs. #4 Lucas Ortiz (Conestoga Valley)

Quarterfinals Preview

#1 Vincenzo Joseph is poised to dominate everyone in his path and I don’t expect that to stop as he meets #6 Kazim Bakhriyev. #24 James Meyer picked up a nice win over #11 Ethan Stever (Exeter Township) in the first round but now gets a date with #2 Kaleb Young, a returning PIAA State Medalist. On the bottom half #7 Michael Labriola is looking to rebound from a NE Regional Finals defeat and takes on #10 Dylan Schwartz in the quarters. #3 Josh Maruca will have his hands full with #4 Lucas Ortiz who is a junior making his first trip to Hershey. Maruca is a 3x PIAA State Medalist and I think his experience helps propel him into the semifinals.

 

160 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#11 Brendan Burnham (Pine-Richland) vs. #8 Bailey Shutt (Lower Dauphin)

#6 Adam Soldridge (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #1 Josh Shields (Franklin Regional)

#3 Noah Stewart (Mifflin County) vs. #2 Paul Dunn (Bethel Park)

#17 Alex Elliott (Sun Valley) vs. #5 Cody Cordes (Wyoming Valley West)

Quarterfinals Preview

I was not surprised to see #11 Brendan Burnham advance into the quarterfinals with a win over #13 Josh Shalinsky (Council Rock North) in the first round. Burnham is a former PIAA State Medalist and will meet #8 Bailey Shutt. I expect a close match between these two. Unfortunately the top half is also occupied by #1 Josh Shields who, like teammate Spencer Lee, is on track to win a PIAA State Championship in dominate fashion. Shields will take on junior #6 Adam Soldridge who is in his second trip to Hershey. On the bottom half there will be a barn burner with #2 Paul Dunn meeting #3 Noah Stewart. These two faced off this season at the POWERade Tournament which was won by Dunn (2-0). Dunn placed third in the PIAA State Tournament last season and I expect another close match between the #2 and #3 ranked wrestlers in the State. #17 Alex Elliott will meet #5 Cody Cordes a solid senior who is making his second trip to Hershey.

 

170 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#1 Kyle Gentile (Pennridge) vs. #3 Jared Seigrist (Manheim Central)

#10 Frank Guida (Parkland) vs. #4 Te’Shan Campbell (Penn Hills)

#2 DJ Hollingshead (Altoona Area) vs. #5 Austin Bell (Belle Vernon Area)

#13 Chance Norris (Garden Spot) vs. #7 Jake Shaffer (Greater Latrobe)

Quarterfinals Preview

One of the matches I am looking forward to most is #1 Kyle Gentile vs. #3 Jared Seigrist. 170 lbs. is so wide open and I think the winner of this match sets the pace for the rest of the field. Both these wrestlers are juniors making their second straight trip to Hershey. Also on the top half is Penn Hills senior Te’Shan Campbell who is a juggernaut that can beat anyone with his strength and quickness. Campbell will take on sophomore #10 Frank Guida who picked up a first round fall over #8 Gavin Caprio (Central Mountain). If Guida can slow Campbell down he has a shot but I give the edge to Campbell. On the bottom half Altoona Area senior #2 DJ Hollingshead seems to be adjusting well to bumping up 10 lbs. and will take on junior #5 Austin Bell. These two have similar styles and I expect a tight bout. Also on the bottom half is junior #13 Chance Norris who is a dark horse. He will face PIAA State Medalist #7 Jake Shaffer who earned a tough decision over previously unbeaten #9 Matt Mirth (Southern Lehigh) in the first round.

 

182 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#10 Nathan Bingaman (Selinsgrove Area) vs. #2 John Jakobsen (Strudsburg)

#4 Casey Glunt (James Buchanan) vs. #6 Evan Wilson (Central Bucks East)

#3 Josh Colello (Cedar Cliff) vs. #7 Gregg Harvey (Boyertown Area)

#11 Derek Spachman (Hazelton Area) vs. #1 Kellon Stout (Mount Lebanon)

Quarterfinals Preview

On the top half junior #2 John Jakobsen will meet #10 Nathan Bingaman in a match he is favored. A good match-up between #3 Casey Glunt and #6 Evan Wilson will also take place on the top half. Glunt is a returning PIAA State Medalist while #6 Wilson is a tough senior with over 110 matches in his career. On the bottom half #3 Josh Colello will take on #7 Gregg Harvey in a battle of two aggressive wrestlers. Colello is in his third trip to Hershey with sights set on his first PIAA Medal. #1 Kellon Stout will meet #11 Derek Spachman on his return path to the State Finals.

 

195 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#10 Xavier Ferrizzi (Owen J. Roberts) vs. #1 Drew Phipps (Norwin)

#8 John Callahan (Bethlehem Freedom) vs. #3 Tommy Rayhart (Big Spring)

#7 Trey Hartsock (Mifflin County) vs. #5 Francis Duggan (Cumberland Valley)

#4 Jan Johnson (Governor Mifflin) vs. #2 Matt Wagner (Delaware Valley)

Quarterfinals Preview

The meat grinder of 195 lbs. isn’t getting any easier for the top wrestlers. On the top half returning PIAA State Medalist #1 Drew Phipps meets #10 Xavier Ferrizzi a junior making his first trip to Hershey. #8 John Callahan will take on #3 Tommy Rayhart who is looking to continue his momentum from the SC Regional. Rayhart is a former PIAA State Medalist while Callahan is in his first trip to the GIANT Center. Stud freshman #5 Francis Duggan had a hard fought win over #6 Zach Smith (North Allegheny) in the first round (4-3). He meets Mifflin County junior #7 Trey Hartsock. The best match-up of the day at 195 lbs. will be #2 Matt Wagner vs. #4 Jan Johnson. The returning PIAA State Champion Johnson has only one loss this season and that was to Tommy Rayhart in the SC Regional quarterfinals. Wagner on the other hand is making his return trip to Hershey after qualifying his sophomore season.

 

220 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#2 Seth Janney (South Western) vs. #6 Andrew Boob (Selinsgrove)

#10 Andrew Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty) vs. #3 Tyler Worthing (Kiski Area)

#5 Omar Haddad (Parkland) vs. #4 Freddy Mentsch (Hempfield Area)

#13 Stephen Peake (Hopewell) vs.#1 Jordan Wood (Boyertown Area)

Quarterfinals Preview

#2 Seth Janney is a very talented sophomore at 220 lbs. who pins just about everyone he comes across. He faces #6 Andrew Boob a junior in his second trip to Hershey. #3 Tyler Worthing is looking tough after winning the SW Regional a week prior. His long hair needed a head wrap for States and he meets fellow junior #10 Andrew Gunning in the quarters. The rivalry between #5 Omar Haddad and #4 Fred Mentsch will continue on Friday. The two have met multiple times over the last two seasons including the PIAA State Tournament a season ago in the seventh place medal match won by Omar Haddad (3-2 UTB). 2x PIAA State runner-up #1 Jordan Wood seems to be getting back into form and will take on #13 Stephen Peake in the quarters. 

 

285 lbs.

Quarterfinal Match-Ups

#2 Bo Spiller (Solanco) vs. #4 Tyler Mears (Greater Latrobe)

#3 Ryan Monk (Dallas) vs. #16 Zack Jablonski (Montour)

#1 Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #13 Ben Bish (Meadville Area)

#15 Louis Mauro (Connellsville Area) vs. #5 Tommy Killoran (Boyertown Area)

Quarterfinals Preview

#2 Bo Spiller meets #4 Tyler Mears in what I think will be a tight match. Spiller is no stranger to the GIANT Center finishing fourth a season ago at 220 lbs. Mears is a talented senior who is making his first trip to Hershey with a SW Regional Championship last week. I give the slight edge to Spiller. On the bottom half #1 Andrew Dunn will face #13 Ben Bish a match that Dunn is favored. #5 Tommy Killoran meets Connellsville Area junior #15 Louis Mauro who had an impressive first round win over #10 Austin Macguire of Warwick. Killoran is a big boy who has former Boyertown PIAA State Champion Mike Spaid in his corner.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]