WPIAL Crowns 8 State Champions in Class AAA Finals

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

There are a total of 11 Districts in the PIAA that compete in Class AAA wrestling but only 3 claimed PIAA Gold this weekend. In unique fashion the WPIAL continued to reign King of the Keystone State claiming the first 7 weights and adding one more at 182 lbs. to finish with an impressive 8 PIAA State Champions. In total 42 WPIAL wrestlers entered the PIAA State Tournament and 29 left with PIAA State Medals. That is a Tournament leading 69% of wrestlers who earned medals.

Undefeated junior #1 Devin Brown (Franklin Regional) won his first PIAA Class AAA State Championship a year after winning the 106 lbs. PIAA Class AA State Championship for Saegertown. In the finals Brown was able to outlast Northampton Area freshman Dan Moran (7-6) to remain undefeated for the season. Franklin Regional made it two in a row as freshman phenom #1 Spencer “The Kid” Lee continued to easily dispose of his opponents earning a (15-5) major decision over #2 Joe Wheeling (General McLane) in the 113 lbs. finals. It was only the second time this post-season that Lee didn’t pin or tech-fall an opponent.

 

 

Keeping with tradition #1 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) capped his sophomore season undefeated capturing his second straight PIAA State Championship. It was far more difficult this time around facing #2 Scott Parker (Pennridge) in the finals and needing sudden victory to win (3-1 OT). In the sudden victory round Parker relaxed near the edge of the mat and Pletcher was able to drop to a leg and earn the match clinching takedown. The normally relaxed and calm Pletcher was elated with emotion following the match.

 

 

At 126 lbs. Canon-McMillan senior and Cornell recruit #1 Dalton Macri earned his first career PIAA State Championship after finishing as the runner-up in 2013. Macri defeated #4 Zach Valley (Northampton Area) in the finals (5-1). In an impressive post-season performance #1 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) peaked at the right time during his freshman season claiming the 132 lbs. PIAA State Championship with a (2-1) decision over #3 Chase Zemenak (Nazareth Area). In his four matches at the State Tournament Coy outscored his opponents (13-1).

 

 

At 138 lbs. #1 Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic) downed WPIAL rival #2 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) for the second straight week. The two battled into overtime deadlocked at (1-1) apiece. In sudden victory the two got into a scramble as both wrestlers attempted to secure a takedown Joseph was able to come out on top and flatten Kemerer for a fall :32 seconds into overtime (6:32 SV). It was Joseph’s third PIAA State Medal, finishing seventh and third the last two seasons, and an impressive performance in a very stacked 138 lbs. bracket.

 

 

The WPIAL made it seven straight PIAA Champions as #1 Solomon Chishko (Canon-McMillan) earned his second straight PIAA State Championship at 145 lbs. The Virginia Tech recruit faced fellow returning PIAA State Champion #2 Joe Galasso (Father Judge) who will continue his career at Cornell next season. The anticipated match proved to be controlled by Chishko as he racked up three takedowns en route to a (7-2) decision.

 

 

[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

The WPIAL streak was halted at 152 lbs., but just narrowly, as #1 T.C. Warner (Cumberland Valley) escaped a late assault by #2 Josh Shields (Franklin Regional) picking up a (4-3) decision. Down (4-2) in the third period Shields was able to advance deep in on several shots and nearly tied the match. After a stall point was awarded to Shields the match difference was now just one-point. Warner appeared to have slowed down in the third period but was able to hold on for the win. It was the third PIAA State finals that Warner experienced and the first in which he came out the winner. The State Champion won the “Most Falls in Least Amount of Time” award for picking up two falls in (3:35).

Yet another District 3 star #1 Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin) earned his second career PIAA State Championship. At 160 lbs. the senior dominated #13 Ian Shannon (Carlisle Area) for the second time this post-season earning a (17-7) major decision. PIAA State History was made at 160 lbs. as #1 Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale) ended his career an undefeated 4x PIAA Class AAA State Champion. Read more here.

After three straight Champions from District 3 the WPIAL grabbed it’s eighth State Championship when #1 Zach Zavatsky (Greater Latrobe) captured the 182 lbs. title over WPIAL rival #2 Kellon Stout (Mount Lebanon) by decision (3-1). Zavatsky ended his senior year undefeated improving on PIAA State finishes of third and eighth the last two seasons. At 195 lbs. Governor Mifflin junior Jan Johnson continued his impressive career improving on his third place PIAA State Medal from last season capturing his first career PIAA Championship with a (6-0) decision over senior #3 Nezar Haddad (Parkland) in the finals. At 220 lbs. the athletic and chiseled #1 Mike Boykin (Coatsville Area) proved he is one of the top 220 lbs. wrestlers in the Nation. The senior capped his senior season undefeated and for the second straight week he defeated #2 Jordan Wood (Boyertown Area) this time for the PIAA State Championship (5-2) in the finals. It was Boykin’s second straight PIAA State medal having placed third last season at the 2013 PIAA State Tournament.

In an epic conclusion to the 2014 PIAA State Championship #1 Thomas Haines (Solanco) became the 12th wrestler in PIAA History to win four straight PIAA State Championships. Haines joined Marsteller and for the first time ever two seniors earned their fourth PIAA State Championships in the same year. Read more here.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]