Schedule

 

Thursday

Class 2A: Weigh-ins, 8 a.m.; Preliminaries and First Round, 9 a.m.; First Round Consolations, 1:15 p.m.

Class 3A: Weigh-ins, 3 p.m.; Preliminaries and First Round, 4 p.m.; First Round Consolations, 8:15 p.m.

 

Friday

Class 2A: Weigh-ins, 8 a.m.; Quarterfinals and Second Round Consolations, 9 a.m.; Third Round Consolations, 11:45 a.m.; Semifinals and Fourth Round Consolations, 7:30 p.m.; Fifth Round Consolations, 9:30 p.m.

Class 3A: Weigh-ins, 1:15 p.m.; Quarterfinals and Second Round Consolations, 2:15 p.m.; Third Round Consolations, 5 p.m.

 

Saturday

Class 2A: Parade of Champions, 1:45; Finals and Place Matches, 2 p.m.

Class 3A: Semifinals and Fourth Round Consolations, 9 a.m.; Fifth Round Consolations, 11:30 a.m.; Parade of Champions, 6:45 p.m.; Finals and Place Matches 7 p.m.

 

Defending Champions

(2018 weight in parentheses)

 

Class 2A: 106: Gary Steen (106), So, Reynolds. 145: Nathan Haubert (145), Sr, Palisades. 160: Thayne Lawrence (152), Jr, Frazier.

 

Class 3A: 113: Alejandro Herrera (106), So, Seneca Valley. 132: Sam Hillegas (126), Jr, North Hills. 138: Jeffrey Boyd (132), Sr, McDowell. 145: Ryan Anderson (138), Sr, Bethlehem Catholic. 170: Edmond Ruth (Class 2A-170), Sr, Susquehanna Twp. 182: Carter Starocci (160), Sr, Cathedral Prep. 220: Hunter Catka (220), Jr, Sun Valley.

 

Storylines To Follow

 

Biggest match in Hershey: Since Northampton’s Julian Chlebove returned and settled into the Class 3A 132-pound weight class, fans haven’t stopped talking about a PIAA Championship match against North Hills’ Sam Hillegas. Chlebove is a two-time state champion who sat out who is junior season, while Hillegas, a junior who has one high school loss, is a two-time defending champ. Unfortunately, these two will meet in Saturday’s semifinal-round instead of the primetime finals, but it won’t take away from the anticipation of this bout.

 

Ruth looking for Class 3A Splash: Susquehanna Twp. star Edmond Ruth, now a senior, hasn’t lost a match since the PIAA Championships his freshman year. Since then, Ruth has racked up two Class 2A titles and is a spotless 30-0 in his final season of high school wrestling. Ruth is now in the Class 3A field, and he will have to get by Canon-McMillan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis and Chambersburg’s Luke Nichter for a third time to add a Class 3A to an already impressive resume.

 

Stay tuned to Heavyweight: It’s commonplace for fans to get a jump on traffic when the 285-pound wrestlers are still on the mat. That’s a mistake this year, especially in Class 3A. The top three wrestlers in the weight class are a combined 104-0, which makes the 2019 class one of the deepest in recent memory. Cathedral Prep’s Kawaun DeBoe, who is 36-0 and a state runner-up, is the top dog, with Central York’s Michael Wolfgram checking in at No. 2 in the state with a 32-0 mark. Don’t sleep on Upper St. Clair’s Jake Singer, who is 36-0 and in the bottom half of the bracket with Wolfgram. It should be good.

 

Class 2A Team Chase: Reynolds claimed the dual-meet title this season by beating Saucon Valley and Southern Columbia in the semifinal and championship rounds. But, this week’s PIAA Championships is a different animal. It’s not about depth as much as star power coming through and getting to the top of the medal stand. The Raiders are still the favorite, but the Tigers and Panthers have enough heavy hitters to make a run. This chase could come down to an upset or unknown coming through the consolation bracket to place.

 

Speaking of the Raiders …: Keep your eye on Reynolds 120-pounder Beau Bayless. The Raiders senior won a state title two years ago and was third a year ago before being at the top of the heap most of the season. Notre Dame-Green Pond freshman Ryan Crookham downed Bayless 6-1 during the dual-meet championships in an early February match that was closer than the score. Bayless has plenty of motivation this week and will be one to watch in a stacked 120-pound bracket.