Wild Quarterfinals Set Class AAA Semis

106 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#5 Tyson Klump (Nazareth Area) vs. #18 Geo Barzona (Central Mountain)

#13 Aiden Burke (Council Rock North) vs. #2 Cole Manley (Altoona Area)

Semifinals Preview

#5 Tyson Klump wrestled a very tough #1 Matt Parker (Pennridge) winning (2-1) in the quarterfinals. Klump wrestled majority of the season up at 113 lbs. and 120 lbs. where he sustained most of his 10 season defeats. Klump was a State Qualifier a season ago and has clinched his first PIAA State Medal. He faces #18 Geo Barzona who is coming off a bug win over #3 Chris Wright (Central Dauphin). Barzona has lost to #2 Cole Manley twice in the last two weeks but has proven his #18 ranking is much to low. #13 Aiden Burke is another wrestler who played second most this post-season falling to #1 Matt Parker (Pennridge) twice in the last two weeks. Unlike Parker Burke sits a match from the PIAA State Finals but faces #2 Cole Manley. The sophomore from Altoona clinched his first PIAA State Medal a season after qualifying. If I had to pick I would say Klump and Manley are favored to advance but at this point anything is possible.

 

113 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#1 Devin Brown (Franklin Regional) vs. #8 Dan Moran (Northampton Area)

#2 Gage Curry (North Hills) vs. #5 Dustin Steffenino (Upper Perkiomen)

Semifinals Preview

Well fans were not disappointed with the #1 Devin Brown vs. #3 Austin DeSanto match. As expected it was a wild ride that went into overtime ultimately leading to a fall for Brown. DeSanto had a slick slide by to put him up but an escape and stall point tied the match. Brown nearly had a defensive fall on DeSanto in the third and in the overtime period got a fall when DeSanto draped over his back. The semifinals will be a State Finals rematch from a season ago as Brown meets #8 Dan Moran. Moran earned a major decision over sophomore Carmine Ciotti (McDowell). Last season Brown won a close match and I expect this same this time around. On the bottom half #2 Gage Curry had an impressive win over a tough sophomore #7 KJ Fenstermacher (7-3). Curry faces #5 Dustin Steffenino who earned a (7-1) decision over #4 Devin Schnupp (Warwick). Steffenino and Curry are both returning PIAA State Medalists – I give a slight edge to Curry.

 

120 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#3 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth Area) vs. #4 Derek Gulotta (Owen J. Roberts)

#1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) vs. #12 Derek Wilson (South Western)

Semifinals Preview

Again fans were rewarded with a #2 vs. #3 bout that featured rookie Sam Sasso. The freshman outlasted #2 Tyshawn White (Central Dauphin) in a tight (7-6) match. Sasso now faces senior #4 Derek Gullota who clinched his fourth straight PIAA State Medal with a narrow (4-3) win over freshman #11 Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area). Sasso has the momentum in his favor but Gulotta is the more experienced grappler and has been here before. On the bottom half #1 Spencer Lee has continued to go unchallenged and I would be surprised if his semifinals match against #12 Derek Wilson goes beyond the first period. It would be an interesting finals between him and Sasso.

 

126 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#1 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #7 Chandler Olson (Shippensburg Area)

#3 Zack Trampe (Council Rock South) vs. #10 Lucas Miller (Boyertown Area)

Semifinals Preview

#1 Luke Karam earned a hard fought (5-2) win over #2 Wade Cummings (Downingtown East) in the quarterfinals and he will face sophomore #7 Chandler Olson who has picked up two pins en route to the semifinals. Olson clinched his second straight PIAA State Medal over #9 Joey Blumer (Kiski Area) in the quarters. #3 Zach Trampe won the scrambles with #4 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe) defeating the junior for the second time this season. In the semifinals Trampe will face #10 Lucas Miller who held on (3-2) over tough freshman Seth Koleno (Bald Eagle Area). Miller has been defeated by Trampe twice this season the last meeting taking place on 1/31/2015 with Trampe winning (4-3). Expect another close match between these District 1 wrestlers.

 

132 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#3 DJ Fehlman (Warren Area) vs. #2 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe)

#18 Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) vs. #1 A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg Central)

Semifinals Preview

#2 Luke Pletcher looks to be on a mission at 132 lbs. and he next faces #3 DJ Fehlman in his third straight PIAA State Semifinals. It is not a knock on Fehlman but Pletcher should have no issues advancing into the finals. Fehlman clinched a PIAA State Medal with a tiebreaker win in the quarters (4-1) over #5 Evan Fidelibus (Easton Area). On the bottom half its an all WPIAL Semifinals as #1 A.C. Headlee faces #18 Jake Hinkson. Hinkson really turned it on in Hershey after finishing fourth in the WPIAL last weekend. All four of the WPIAL wrestlers will earn a medal as #12 Josh Ridgeway (Norwin) advanced in the consolation round. Last week Headlee pinned Hinkson in the first period and I expect both Pletcher and Headlee to advance into the finals.

 

138 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#1 Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area) vs. #4 Stephen Maloney (Bethlehem Catholic)

#8 Dom Giannangeli (Franklin Regional) vs. #2 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford)

Semifinals Preview

Again three WPIAL wrestlers occupy the four semifinal spots at 138 lbs. with #1 Sam Krivus meeting #4 Stephen Maloney and #2 Cameron Coy meeting #8 Dom Giannangeli, Coy had a nice win over #3 Zach Elvin (Central Dauphin) in the quarters (2-1) and I expect he and Krivus to meet for an unbelievable sixth time this season. Krivus has won all five of the previous meetings. Last week Coy beat Giannangeli (3-0) and fans should expect a similar match although Giannangeli has been wrestling very tough in his first trip to Hershey.

 

145 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#1 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) vs. #10 Jonathan Ross (Northern York)

#7 Chase Gallick (Wallenpaupack Area) vs. #2 Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley)

Semifinals Preview

#1 Michael Kemerer put it on #3 Hayden Hidlay and he is looking poised to not become a 4x PIAA State runner-up. He will take on #10 Jonathan Ross who had a solid quarterfinal win over fellow junior #5 James Saylor (Easton Area) score (4-2). On the bottom half #2 Patrick Duggan cruised to a (7-2) decision over #4 Jarod Verkleeren and the senior is looking to get back into the State Finals for the second time. He faces #7 Chase Gallick who majored #11 Alex Klucker (East Pennsboro) in the quarters.

 

152 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#1 Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic) vs. #2 Kaleb Young (Punxsutawney Area)

#7 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #3 Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional)

Semifinals Preview

#1 Vincenzo Joseph will face arguably his  toughest opponent of the Tournament in the semifinals going up against junior #2 Kaleb Young. The returning PIAA State Medalist is an Iowa recruit who is very talented. I expect Joseph to continue what he has the whole season and advance into his second straight PIAA State Finals. On the bottom half its a re-match between #3 Josh Maruca and #7 Michael Labriola. The two faced off in the PIAA State Dual Team semifinals and in a critical bout Labriola pick up a (3-2) win that made the dual a little more interesting. Labriola had a surprising defeat in the NE Regional Finals but as rebounded and clinched his second straight PIAA State Medal. It is going to another very close match but I think Maruca finally advances into the State Finals after three seasons on the podium.

 

160 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#8 Bailey Shutt (Lower Dauphin) vs. #1 Josh Shields (Franklin Regional)

#3 Noah Stewart (Mifflin County) vs. #5 Cody Cordes (Wyoming Valley West)

Semifinals Preview

#8 Bailey Shutt had a good first two days but he will face a uphill battle against #1 Josh Sheilds. I don’t expect Shutt to cause to much of an issue for Shields who easily advances into his second straight PIAA State Finals. The bottom half is up for grabs as #3 Noah Stewart faces #5 Cody Cordes. Stewart avenged an earlier defeat to #2 Paul Dunn (Bethel Park) in the quarters while #5 Cordes slipped by #17 Alex Elliott (Sun Valley) score (2-1). I think Stewart has the edge.

 

170 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#3 Jared Seigrist (Manheim Central) vs. #4 Te’Shan Campbell (Penn Hills)

#2 DJ Hollingshead (Altoona Area) vs. #7 Jake Shaffer (Greater Latrobe)

Semifinals Preview

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The wide open 170 lbs. bracket is exciting because any one of the remaining four wrestlers have a legitimate shot at winning a State Championship. I think the semifinal between #3 Jared Seigrist and #4 Te’Shan Campbell will be an exciting meeting. As I stated before Campbell is a juggernaut who has some unmatched skills from neutral. If he is able to rid

182 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#2 John Jakobsen (Strudsburg) vs. #4 Casey Glunt (James Buchanan)

#3 Josh Colello (Cedar Cliff) vs. #1 Kellon Stout (Mount Lebanon)

Semifinals Preview

 

195 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#1 Drew Phipps (Norwin) vs. #3 Tommy Rayhart (Big Spring)

#5 Francis Duggan (Cumberland Valley) vs. #4 Jan Johnson (Governor Mifflin)

Semifinals Preview

 

220 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#2 Seth Janney (South Western) vs. #3 Tyler Worthing (Kiski Area)

#5 Omar Haddad (Parkland) vs. #1 Jordan Wood (Boyertown Area)

Semifinals Preview

 

285 lbs.

Semifinal Match-Ups

#2 Bo Spiller (Solanco) vs. #3 Ryan Monk (Dallas)

#1 Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #5 Tommy Killoran (Boyertown Area)

Semifinals Preview

#2 vs. #3 is a rematch from early in the season at the Solanco Mule Classic. In that match #2 Bo Spiller defeated #3 Ryan Monk in tiebreaker. The two are both evenly matched but Spiller has the slight advantage.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]