Class 3A State Tournament Quarterfinals To Watch on Friday

132 lbs.

#2 KJ Fenstermacher (Northampton) vs. #6 Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin)

These two met in the 2016 Beast of The East Quarterfinals where Andrew Wert was the winner (1-0). They met again a week later in the Hurricane Holiday Classic in Liberty with Fenstermacher avenging the defeat to pick up a (4-2) win. Fenstermacher has quality wins over State Champion Brian Courtney (Athens Area) and State Runner-up Jimmy Hoffman (Hazleton Area). In the first round Wert took out #9 Hunter Baxter (Pine-Richland) while Fenstermacher cruised by #18 Jake Taylor (Unionville) by tech-fall.

138 lbs.

#3 Colin Cronin (Upper Darby) vs. #4 Dan Moran (Northampton)

This is a big early round meeting between #3 Colin Cronin and #4 Dan Moran. Last season Cronin was fourth in the State at 138 lbs. while Moran was fifth at 120 lbs. Each have over 140 career wins but have not faced each other in the last three years. Moran has been on the State Podium in all three previous trips (Second, Fourth, and Fifth).

145 lbs.

#5 Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) vs. #6 Riley Palmer (Council Rock South)

These two have a ton of history with Jake Hinkson earning a (6-5) win over Riley Palmer at the 2016 PIAA State Tournament in the blood round to knock him out of medal contention. That same season Riley Palmer had a (7-4) win over Hinkson in the King of The Mountain Quarterfinals. The pair have not faced off this season.

145 lbs.

#3 Brock Port (Bellefonte Area) vs. #4 Joey Blumer (Kiski Area)

Undefeated senior Brock Port is in search of his third straight PIAA State Medal and will have his hands full with Penn State recruit Joey Blumer. The pair bring a ton of experience and credentials into the match-up as Blumer is in his third trip to the GIANT Center having brought back a seventh place medal in 2015. Port is a consistent grappler who is rarely in a bad position whereas Blumer lives in scrambles and loves to score from everywhere. It should be a nice clash of styles.

152 lbs.

#3 Carter Starocci (Cathedral Prep) vs. #4 Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan)

The last time these two met it was in the POWERade consolation semifinals and sophomore Carter Starocci was the winner (3-1). These two are the future of Pennsylvania Wrestling and have also battled each other in the PJW State Tournament. Starocci was a PIAA State Medalist as a rookie in 2016 and Nijenhuis has been explosive in his freshman campaign winning the CV Kick-Off and Escape The Rock Tournament. This one will be physical and fun!

160 lbs.

#3 Josh Stillings (Pennridge) vs. #4 Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon)

Like many matches before this is a re-match from earlier in the year. In the Escape The Rock Semifinals Stillings won a narrow (3-2 SV) match over Hartman. Both juniors were PIAA State Medalists in 2016 with Stillings finishing in fourth at 160 lbs. while Hartman was fifth at 132 lbs. The pair have similar styles which will make for a low scoring yet interesting bout.

285 lbs.

#3 Isaac Reid (Kiski Area) vs. #4 Kawaun DeBoe (Cathedral Prep)

Junior Isaac Reid and sophomore Kawaun DeBoe are each accomplished heavyweight wrestlers who in 2016 finished on the State Podium. They did not meet last season when Reid finished in sixth and DeBoe was seventh. This season they met in the POWERade third place match where Reid was the winner (2-0). 

 

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