INDIANA, PA – In what has become one of the Nation’s most premier off-season tournaments the eighth annual FloNationals featured Pennsylvania’s best in their home state. Overall Team Pennsylvania left the Kovalchick Athletic and Convention Complex on the campus of IUP with five overall National Champions and a total of 34 medalists.

Leading the charge for the Keystone State were four 2017 PIAA State Champions including Julian Chlebove, Sammy Sasso, Trent Hidlay and Gavin Hoffman. Rounding out the five FloNationals Champions was 3-time PIAA State Medalist Cole Manley (Altoona) at 126 lbs. 

At 120 lbs. 2-time PIAA State Champion Julian Chlebove (Northampton Area) added a FloNationals Belt to his growing list of accolades when he earned a (12-3) major decision in the finals over third seed Jakob Camacho (Connecticut). Chlebove then pulled a Cory Clark when he tossed FloWrestling’s Willie Saylor (Easton Area) before receiving his Championship belt. At 126 lbs. Virginia Tech recruit and Altoona Area senior Cole ‘CJ’ Manley captured his first FloNationals Championship from the #2 seed defeating Trace Kinner (New Jersey) in the finals (3-1). Manley used a second period takedown to grind out the victory.

One of the more surprising FloNationals match-ups came in the 145 lbs. finals where Nazareth Blue Eagle teammates Sammy Sasso and Brock Wilson clashed. Sasso, a junior and 2017 PIAA State Champion, looked to defend his FloNationals Championship belt and win his second straight in Indiana, PA. To do so he needed to get by a wrestler he trained with everyday in the Nazareth Area wrestling room. Nazareth senior Brock Wilson, a 2-time PA State Medalist and 2016 Finalist who is heading to Harvard next year, defeated PIAA Class 2A State Champion Justin McCoy (Chestnut Ridge) in the semifinals (4-0) to advance into the finals. Despite being obviously familiar with each other’s style junior Sammy Sasso showed his skillset in a (9-3) decision over teammate Wilson. 

Returning to his second straight FloNationals Finals was junior Trent Hidlay (Mifflin County) who recently captured his first PIAA State Championship. After defeating Maryland’s Dale Tiongson (8-2) in a re-match of the 2016 POWERade Finals, Hidlay met Wyoming’s 3-time State Champion Hayden Hastings. This time around Hidlay would not be denied in the FloNationals finals earning a (5-4) win over a scrappy Hastings.

The fifth Keystone State wrestler to claim a FloNationals Championship belt was 2-time PIAA State Champion Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville). The junior has been on a roll since capturing his second straight PA State Championship as he won the NHSCA Junior Nationals last week in Virginia Beach and won his first FloNationals Belt on Saturday night. Hoffman faced a familiar opponent in Anthony Walters (Bishop McCort) which was a PIAA State Finals re-match from March 11th in which Hoffman was the victor (8-4). When the pair of 3-time PIAA State Medalist juniors met this time it was again Hoffman who had his hand raised in a (13-5) major decision.

In addition to Anthony Walters at 195 lbs. and Brock Wilson at 145 lbs. Pennsylvania had five additional FloNationals Runner-ups. PIAA State Champion Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia) was unable to claim his second straight FloNationals Championship falling to Antonio Minnino (New Jersey) in the 113 lbs. finals (3-2). The last time these two met was at 2016 Super 32 where Minnino won in overtime (7-5 SV). Sophomore Ryan Vulakh, a 2016 PIAA State Medalist, advanced into the 138 lbs. finals but fell (5-3) to Ironman Champion Zack Donathan (Ohio). Vulakh was unable to compete in the PIAA this season after being ruled ineligible due to his transfer from North Penn to Pope John Paul II.

PIAA State Champion Cody Mulligan (Saegertown) was a FloNationals Runner-up at 182 lbs. falling to returning finalist Jelani Embree (Michigan) by a (5-2) margin. At 220 lbs. PIAA State Champion Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby) ran into a physical beast in the finals. Indiana junior Mason Paris, a 2-time State Champion, crushed the FloNationals field at 220 lbs. including a fall over Kennerly in the finals. Likewise 2017 PIAA State Champion Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan) had his hands full with California grappler Seth Nevills (Clovis, CA) at heavyweight. Nevills had big brother Nick and NCAA National Champion Jason Nolf (Kittanning), both of Penn State, in his corner en route to the (8-0) victory.

Overall 34 Pennsylvania Wrestlers finished on the FloNationals Podium on Saturday night. Full brackets and results can be found at the FloArena.

 

106 LBS

1st Benyamin Kamali Lansing, MI (Detroit Catholic Central) DEC Brandon Kaylor Puyallup, WA (Team aggression), 5-4

3rd Sam Latona Calera, AL (Warrior Wrestling Club) DEC Zach Shupp Hamilton, OH (Mason), 3-1 SV

5th Dylan Ryder Huntington Station, NY (Barn Brothers) MD Beau Bayless Greenville, PA (Bad Karma), 13-2

7th Doug Zapf Downingtown, PA (Downingtown West) DEC Gavin Brown Lebanon, OH (Legacy Christian Academy), 2-1

 

113 LBS

1st Antonio Mininno Woodbury, NJ (Gateway) DEC Jaret Lane Catawissa, PA (Bison Legend), 3-2

3rd Louis Newell Cranberry Township, PA (OMP) DEC Keegan O`Toole Hartland, WI (Askren Wrestling Academy), 4-3

5th Corey Gamet Jackson, MI (parma western panthers) DEC Ed Scott DuBois, PA (Young guns), 7-2

7th Gregory Quinn OH (Shadyside Roar) F Joey Thomas Mount Airy, MD (South Carroll), 1:05

 

120 LBS

1st Julian Chlebove Northampton, PA (Dark Knights) MD Jakob Camacho Danbury, CT (Iowa Style Wrestling), 12-3

3rd Ryan Moore Crittenden, KY (ETC) DEC Joshua Saunders St. Louis, MO (SUNKIST KIDS / MONSTER GARAGE), 8-7

5th Orion Anderson Schuylerville, NY (Schuylerville High School) MD Michael Mars Westland, MI (Fury Wrestling Factory), 10-2

7th James McClain El Paso, TX (Takedown Elite) TF Luke Martin Washington, WV (Patriot Wrestling Club), 17-0 2:00

 

126 LBS

1st Cole Manley Altoona, PA (Young Guns) DEC Trace Kinner NJ (Seagulls), 3-1

3rd KJ Fenstermacher Northampton, PA (Dark Knights) DEC Jackson Henson Morgantown, WV (Sunkist Kids), 5-3

5th E`lan Heard Cincinnati, OH (Lasalle) F Patrick Gould East Stroudsburg, PA (Dark Knights), 1:15

7th Sam Stuhl Ellsworth, WI (Pinnacle) DEC Victor Voinovich Streetsboro, OH (Brecksville), 2-1

 

132 LBS

1st Jacori Teemer Long Beach, NY (VHW) DEC Quinn Kinner NJ (Seagulls), 8-6

3rd Marshall Keller Christiansburg, VA (Christiansburg) DEC Quincy Monday Chapel Hill, NC (Arlington), 2-0

5th Carnell Andrews Johnstown, PA (Bishop McCort HS) DEC Travis Layton Woodstown, NJ (Seagulls), 10-4

7th Wilfredo Gil Oakland, NJ (NJ Savages) DEC Ethan Woods Caledonia, MI (Flat River Wrestling), 8-5

 

138 LBS

1st Zackary Donathan Mason, OH (Mason) DEC Ryan Vulakh Lansdale, PA (Unattached), 5-3

3rd Cameron Amine Brighton, MI (Detroit Catholic Central) F Cal Hansen Deerfield, WI (Advance School of Wrestling), 2:44

5th Joey Blumer Leechburg, PA (Young Guns) DEC Cole Matthews Greenville, PA (Bad Karma), 2-1 UTB

7th Trent Johnson Vine Grove, KY (ETC) DEC Anthony Fisher Hartly, DE (Dover), 3-2

 

145 LBS

1st Sam Sasso Nazareth, PA (Dark Knights) DEC Brock Wilson Bethlehem, PA (Dark Knights), 9-3

3rd Peyton Mocco Milwaukee, WI (Askren Wrestling Academy) F Mason Smith Verona, KY (ETC), 2:29

5th Justin McCoy New Paris, PA (Young guns) DEC Dallas Bulsak South Park Township, PA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club), 5-2

7th Kasper McIntosh Portage, IN (Portage Wrestling Club) DEC Zane Brown Louisville, KY (ETC), 8-3

 

152 LBS

1st Jaden Mattox Grove City, OH (Central Crossing High School) F Jared Franek Harwood, ND (Unattached), 5:13

3rd Carter Starocci Erie, PA (Bad Karma) DEC Josh Stillings Green Lane, PA (Pennridge), 3-1 UTB

5th Gleason Mappes Greenwood, IN (Center Grove WC) DEC Edmond Ruth Harrisburg, PA (Iron Eagles), 4-3 UTB

7th Danny Braunagel O’Fallon, IL (Team Braunagel) DEC Jacob Marsh Marysville, OH (Marysville Wrestling Club), 6-4 SV

 

160 LBS

1st Trent Hidlay Lewistown, PA (Bison Legend) DEC Hayden Hastings Sheridan, WY (Unattached), 5-4

3rd Georgio Poullas Canfield, OH (Canfield, OH) F Dale Tiongson Laurel, MD (Ground Control Wrestling Academy), 1:13

5th Grant Cuomo Brewster, NY (Iowa Style Wrestling) DEC Noah Curreri Eldred, NY (Eldred), 3-0

7th Nick Giantonio Troutville, VA (VA Elite) FOR Colt Yinger Nelsonville, OH (Nelsonville-York)

 

170 LBS

1st Ethan Smith Aberdeen, MD (Ground Control Wrestling Academy) DEC Casey Cornett Erlanger, KY (ETC), 6-5

3rd Brit Wilson Mexico, MO (Mexico) DEF Jared Ball Hilliard, OH (Hilliard Darby)

5th Tyler Barnes Rock City Falls, NY (Journeymen) DEC Colbey Harlan Oakdale, CA (Oakdale), 10-4

7th Zachary Braunagel O’Fallon, IL (Team Braunagel) DEC Dalton Group Marysville, PA (Team Nauman), 7-1

 

182 LBS

1st Jelani Embree Eastpointe, MI (Beat the Streets Detroit) DEC Cody Mulligan Saegertown, PA (Saegertown), 5-2

3rd Jacob Raschka Pewaukee, WI (Askren Wrestling Academy) TF Jarrad Dixon Tacoma, WA (lincoln High School), 20-4 5:26

5th Victor Marcelli Massillon, OH (Unattached) MD Noah Cressell Wabash, IN (Apache Wrestling), 10-2

7th Leo Higgins Palmyra, PA (Team Nauman) DEC Christian Sequete Butler, PA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club), 7-3

 

195 LBS

1st Gavin Hoffman Cogan Station, PA (Bison Legend) MD Anthony Walters Johnstown, PA (Bishop McCort HS), 13-5

3rd Ryan Vasbinder Caledonia, MI (Flat River Wrestling) F Jacob Koser Philadelphia, PA (Northern York), 2:32

5th Colton McKiernan Richmond, MI (Blue Devils) MD Tyler Stein Canfield, OH (Canfield), 11-1

7th Mark Chaid Carrboro, NC (Unattached) FOR Colin Gussman Sugar Grove, IL (Bouman Academy of Wrestling)

 

220 LBS

1st Mason Parris Lawrenceburg, IN (Lawrenceburg) F Brian Kennerly Clifton Heights, PA (MUD/Penncrest), 2:33

3rd Mansur Abdul-Malik Laurel, MD (Wyoming Seminary) DEC Jacob Slinger Pittsburgh, PA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club), 10-7

5th Josiah Jones Johnstown, PA (Bishop McCort HS) DEC Billy Korber Belle Vernon, PA (Quest), 3-1 SV

7th Tyler Marino Richmond, MI (Blue Devils) DEC Mason Giordano Canfield, OH (Canfield), 4-3

 

285 LBS

1st Seth Nevills Clovis, CA (Clovis High School) MD Brendan Furman Canonsburg, PA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club), 8-0

3rd Derek Smith Rasquera, CT (Tinora) DEC Brandon Reed Taylorsville, KY (Invicta), 16-12

5th Keaton Kluever Kaukauna, WI (Kaukauna Grappling Ghost) TF Terrese Aaron Mexico, MO (Mexico), 18-3 5:22

7th Shaun Stockwell Draper, UT (Corner Canyon) F Cole Rickert Transfer, PA (Bad Karma), 2:24