State Dual Team Rankings Shake-Up; Liberty and Reynolds Take Over Top Spots
Missing Tigers
Rookie Gavin Garcia, ranked #3 in PA Power’s Top Incoming Freshmen Report, has yet to compete this season. Like older brother Gaige he is a stud on the football field and helped lead the high school team to a PIAA State Championship in December. Gavin was reported to have suffered an injury during the playoffs so chances are that has something to do with his absence. If he comes back it will likely be at 145 or 152.
Junior Cade Linn, a 2018 PIAA State Medalist, has only competed twice, both in dual meets, this season with the last being on December 16th. The 170 pounder, who is also a solid football player, should be back in the line-up at some point this season.
Brothers Cam and Cal Haladay are both listed on the Tiger’s roster but have not competed yet this season. Cal Haladay, a 2017 PIAA State Qualifier, is reportedly skipping out on wrestling this season. The All-State linebacker has received football offers from UMass and Michigan according to his Twitter account in addition to making a visit to Northwestern. I am speculating but that likely has something to do with his absence from the mat. If he would in fact compete it would likely be at 182 or 195. Haladay was rated #65 in the 2017 TIF Report. Another NCAA Division I football recruit is Tiger junior Max Tillett who was rated #73 in PA Power’s 2017 TIF Report. He was All-State in 2018 and has made a visit to Ohio State according to his Twitter account. Cam was a District 4 sixth place finisher in 2017 and only competed in three matches last season.
Despite the absence of key wrestlers – the Tigers are solid. They fall behind 2-time State Dual Team Champions Reynolds but only drop a spot. They will still be one of the top teams in the State – it will just depend on what personnel are available. Reynolds, on the other hand, benefitted from the addition of heavyweight Derrick Skeehan into the line-up as the 2017 PIAA State qualifier was out prior to POWERade.
Hurricane Warning
The Liberty Canes shocked the State when they took down #1 BECAHI this past week. Add in a win over #5 Northampton and they find themselves up from #11 all the way to the top. Rarely do we see teams make such large bumps but there is no question Liberty earned the ranking. Head Coach Jody Karam has nine of his wrestlers ranked Top 25 in the State. Kiski Area has a case as they won the WPIAL Showcase by defeating Top 10 programs Seneca Valley and Canon-McMillan before the Holidays. Cathedral Prep, like Southern Columbia, isn’t exactly at full strength just yet. District 11 powerhouse Easton enters the Top 25 after knocking off District 1’s Spring-Ford.