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PA States brackets and worthless predictions

We had a little rough patch until BJ wise and Wayde Kolb came along. A Kolb boy (not sure if its Wayde's boy or his brothers) got second at regionals and his younger brother placed at Jr High State. The next batch of good benton light weights is already in the pipeline. They qualified 5 this year and they are all under classmen
 
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The only Watson's I knew were Greg and Garth who both wrestled for coach Smythe and coach Watson who coached the JV squad. Great coaches good old days from warrior run I graduated in 88 but followed wrestling there til 2005 then moved to central mountain school district so I follow them quite a bit
Lynn wrestled for Warrior Run early 70s maybe. Wrestled when Caslow was coaching there. Came to Philipsburg-Osceola to teach and be an assistant for Cas. Eventually moved back to Warrior Run area to take over his dad's construction business. He is good friends with Matt Brown's in-laws
 
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Before the preview, some data about this year's tournament:

Weights with multiple returning state finalists:
AAA 120 – Chappell (S2), Delaney (S2)
AAA 138 – Hillegas (2x S1), Henson (Missouri S1) Farber (S2)
AAA 152 – Scott (S1), Robinson (S2)
AA 113 – Steen (S1), Ungar (NJ S1)
AA 120 – Seymour (S1), Biscoe (S2)
AA 126 – Crookham (S1), Arrington (S1), Haines (S2)
AA 138 – Kiser (S2), DeMark (S2)
AA 145 – McClenahan (S2)
AA 160 – Lawrence (2x S1), Cerniglia (S1)

Weights with multiple nationally ranked wrestlers – too many to list. This is PA!

Weights with returning state finalists:
AAA 113 – Dibert (S1)
AA 126 – Phipps (2x S2)
AAA 132 – Herrera (2x S1)
AAA 152 – Scott (S1)
AAA 160 – Ulrey (S2)
AAA 170 – Kibe (S1)
AAA 182 – Nijenhuis (S1)
AAA 195 – Stout (S2)
AAA 220 – Schon (defending champ)
AAA 285 – Catka (S1)
AA 132 – McMillen (S1)
AA 170 – Schultheis (S2)
AA 195 – Garcia (defending champ)
AA 220 – Ryan (S2)
AA 285 – Whitehill (defending champ)

Best names:
AA 160 – Max Delaye. With a name like that, future Stall Camp counselor.
AA 195 – Marshall Van Tassel. When not wrestling, he runs a German strip club.

Feel good story:
AA 170 – last year, Canton’s Timmy Ward beat a much bigger opponent: cancer.
 
Previews and predictions that are 100% guaranteed to be wrong – or your money back!

(One weight per post to keep them shorter and easier to read.)

Reminder that the regional champs are seeded based upon last year’s placement and this year’s win %, and everyone else fills in the pre-drawn brackets. This can lead to some very interesting early matchups, such as (for example) AAA 138 quarters between 2x champ Sam Hillegas vs. state runner-up Deshawn Farber.

I’m not predicting all 8 medialists at any weight. My predictions go as deep as I care to at any given weight, which could be for a variety of reasons: too many similar candidates (good or bad), not caring, too lazy to go thru consis, ran out of mental energy, etc.

Placements listed below are generally last year's, but in some cases their best placement (Hillegas, Catka, McClenahan, etc.). Rankings are from Intermat, because they’re the easiest to quickly pull up.

College commitments listed below are 2020 unless otherwise noted.
 
AAA 106 seeds (no returning medalists):
1 – Jacob Van Dee, NW-1, Erie Prep, 37-3
2 – Keanu Manuel, SE-1, Downingtown East, 37-1
3 – Tyler Kasak, NE-1, Beca, 16-0 -- #9 Intermat
4 – Matt Repos, SE-1, Central Dauphin, 40-4
5 – Mac Church, SW-1, Waynesburg Central, 42-5 -- #19

Others of note – top half:
Mason Prinkey, SW-4, Connellsville, 32-7 – S5
Sean Logue, NE-2, Father Judge, 42-3

Bottom half:
Ty Watters, SW-3, West Allegheny, 18-1
Nic Allison, NW-2, Mifflin County, 32-3
Hayden Cunningham, NW-3, State College, 36-4

College commits: (none)

Kasak and Church are the favorites; however, there are a lot of strong entries. Watters beat Church at sectionals. Manuel beat state finalist Levi Haines up at 120. Allison was NW Regional champ last year; Van Dee beat him this year.

Toughest draw: Kasak will have to beat Watters, Allison, and Manuel (or Cunningham) just to reach the finals.

Prediction:
1 – Kasak
2 – Church

Anybody’s guess after that. I expect Van Dee, Manuel, Watters, and Allison to place in some order. (Years ago I lost the willpower to predict non-finalist order at 106 ...)

Cunningham’s podium prospects will depend on whether or not he can beat Manuel in the quarters, or his consi draw.
 
AAA 113 seeds:
1 – Carter Dibert, SW-1, Franklin Regional, 27-2 – S1 -- #7
2 – Ben Monn, SC-1, Cumberland Valley, 38-2 – S6
3 – Braxton Appello, NE-1, Easton, 26-5 – S7
4 – Julien Maldanado, SE-1, Boyertown, 31-6 – S8
5 – Derek Keen, NW-1, Central Mountain, 29-7

Others – top half:
Mason Leiphart, SC-2, Dover, 33-1
Dante Frinze, NE-2, Beca, 29-13
Aiden Lewis, SC-3, Cedar Cliff, 28-7 – S4

Others – bottom half: (none)

College commits: Dibert (Arizona State 2021)

Dibert is the clear favorite. The rest of the weight is open. Monn vs. Appello semi could be a war.

Prediction:
1 – Dibert
2 – Monn
3 – Appello
4 - Leiphart
5 – Lewis
6 - Maldonado
 
AAA 120 seeds:
1 – Dylan Chappell, SW-1, Seneca Valley, 45-4 – S2
2 – Will Betancourt, SC-1, Manheim Central, 34-2 – S5
3 – Andrew Smith, NE-1, Nazareth, 19-3 – S7
4 – Lane AIkey, NW-1, Bellefonte, 21-4
5 – Nathan Lucier, SE-1, Coatesville, 38-2

Others – top half:
Matt Mayer, NE-2, Beca, 25-7 – S4

Others – bottom half:
Kyle Hauserman, SE-3, Council Rock North, 30-2 – S3
Killian Delaney, SE-2, West Chester Henderson, 40-6 – S2

College commits: Betancourt (Lock Haven), Delaney (Lock Haven), Hauserman (Penn 2021)

Chappell has a relatively clear path in the top. Bottom half is loaded.

Prediction:
1 – Chappell
2 – Smith
3 – Betancourt
4 – Hauserman
5 – Mayer
6 - Delaney
 
AAA 126 seeds:
1 – Kurtis Phipps, SW-1, Norwin, 36-1 – 2x S2, #16
2 – Luke Lucerne, SE-1, Council Rock North, 27-3 – S4
3 – Jude Swisher, NW-1, Bellefonte, 36-3
4 – Josh Miller, SC-1, Central Dauphin, 39-5
5 – Dagen Condomitti, NE-1, Northampton, 33-8

Others – top half:
Kyle Waterman, SE-2, Council Rock South, 35-7

Others – bottom half:
Rocco Welsh, SW-2, Waynesburg Central, 37-7

College commits: Phipps (Bucknell), Lucerne (Navy), Waterman (Appalachian State), Cole Wilson (Campbell)

Prediction:
1 – Phipps
2 – Lucerne
3 – Waterman
4 – Welsh
5 – Condomitti
 
AAA 132 seeds:
1 – Alejandro Herrera, SW-1, Seneca Valley, 39-3 – 2x state champ, #11
2 – Matt Sarbo, NW-1, Altoona, 35-2
3 – Bryce Brennan, SC-1, Red Land, 28-5 – S8
4 – Patrick Noonan, NE-1, Stroudsburg, 31-5 - #14
5 – Zac Martin, SE-1, Neshaminy, 32-2

Others – top half:
Trenton Donahue, NW-2, Dubois, 30-7 – S6

Others – bottom half:
Gabe Willochell, SW-2, Latrobe, 33-1 – S4, #8
Kenny Herrmann, NE-2, Beca, 39-4 – S2, #5
Cole Homet, SW-3, Waynesburg Central, 39-13 – S7

Loaded weight with 4 nationally ranked wrestlers. Any of them could win or finish 4th. Herrmann and Willochell both beat Herrera this year.

College commits: Herrera (Oklahoma 2021), Herrmann (Harvard), Noonan (Virginia), Willochell (Edinboro), Donahue (Edinboro), TJ England (Clarion), Timothy Uhler (Millersville)

Prediction:
1 – Herrmann
2 – Herrera
3 – Noonan
4 – Willochell
5 – Sarbo
6 – Donahue
 
AAA 138 seeds:
1 – Dashawn Farber, NE-1, Nazareth, 33-8 – S2, #20
2 – Wyatt Henson, SW-1, Waynesburg Central, 46-4 – S5, state champ (Missouri), #8
3 – Kibwe McNair, SE-1, Methacton, 29-1
4 – Riley Bower, NW-1, Williamsport, 33-4
5 – Dominic Frontino, SC-1, Shippensburg, 32-8

Others – top half:
Sam Hillegas, SW-2, North Hills, 35-2 – 2x state champ, #2

Others – bottom half: (none)

College commits: Hillegas (VT), Henson (Iowa 2021), Farber (Lock Haven), McNair (Kutztown), Steven Storm (Lehigh), TT Elhajj (Bloomsburg), Dominic Falcone (Army 2021)

Hillegas vs. Farber -- in the quarters! Only in PA ...

Hillegas and Henson split matches this year – Hilegas 8-3 at Powerade, Henson 4-3 at SW Regionals. Any other finals matchup would be a major surprise, with Farber being the only other real candidate.

Prediction:
1 – Hillegas
2 – Henson
3 – Farber
 
AAA 145 seeds:
1 – Ty Linsenbigler, SW-1, Hempfield, 38-2 – S4
2 – Paniro Johnson, NW-1, Erie Prep, 36-2 – S5
3 – Cole Handlovic, NE-1, Beca, 40-5 – S4, #12
4 – Antonio Petrucelli, SE-1, OJ Roberts, 37-4 – S5
5 – Brooks Gable, SC-1, Dallastown, 38-5

Others – top half:
Jagger Condomittii, NE-2, Northampton, 36-6 – S4, #11
Cade Balestrini, NW-2, Shik, 32-4 – S7

Others – bottom half:
Antonio Amelio, SW-3, Seneca Valley, 34-15

College commits: Handlovic (Cornell), Condomitti (Nebraska 2021), Johnson (Iowa State 2021), Balestrini (Bloomsburg), Petrucelli (Pitt), Sammy Hayes (Pitt), Amelio (Bucknell 2021)

Condo vs. Balestrini in Round 1, winner gets Linsenbigler in the quarters.

Side note: Balestrini was supposed to be at 138. A late-season bump messed up his descent back to 138. First-year coach missed this -- it was discovered at sectionals weigh-ins. He's been wrestling well at 145.

Prediction:
1 – Handlovic
2 – Condomitti
3 – Johnson
4 – Linsenbigler
5 – Balestrini
 
AAA 152 seeds:
1 – Ed Scott, NW-1, Dubois, 36-0 – state champ, #4
2 – Cam Robinson, SE-1, Council Rock North, 40-2 – S2, #12
3 – Luke Sainato, SC-1, Gettysburg, 35-11
4 – Cole Spencer, SW-1, Pine Richland, 38-0 – S8
5 – Matt Lackman, NE-1, Beca, 25-5

Others – top half:
AJ Tamburrino, SE-3, Hatboro-Horsham, 35-3 – S3, #19
Ethan Baney, SC-3, South Western, 30-5

Others – bottom half:
Nate Stefanik, NE-2, Nazareth, 34-5
Mark McGonigal, NW-3, Clearfield, 33-7

College commits: Scott (NC State), Robinson (Iowa State), Spencer (Penn), Lackman (Clarion), Tamburrino (Navy), Stefanik (Princeton), Baney (Campbell)

Scott has pinned his last 25 opponent -- but has occasionally given up the opening takedown. He is favored but not a lock. Robinson and Tamburrino both lost close, low-scoring matches to Ryan Anderson at states last year; Tamburrino later beat Condomitti.

Prediction:
1 – Scott
2 – Robinson
3 – Tamburrino
4 – Lackman
5 – Spencer
6 – Stefanik
 
AAA 160 seeds:
1 – Clayton Ulrey, SC-1, Lower Dauphin, 34-2 – S2, #9
2 – Ethan Richner, NW-1, Bellefonte, 32-2 – S6
3 – Connor Herceg, NE-1, Nazareth, 40-4 – S8
4 – Connor Quinn, SE-1, OJ Roberts, 30-3
5 – Luca Augustine, SW-1, Waynesburg Central, 41-7

Others – top half: (none)

Others – bottom half:
Luke Nichter, SC-2, Chambersburg, 40-5 – S2, S4, #19
Jack Blumer, SW-2, Kiski, 36-2 – S3, #14

College commits: Ulrey (VT), Nichter (Drexel), Herceg (Lehigh), Augustine (Pitt 2021), Blumer (West Virginia), Dillon Sheehy (Army)

Looks like another Ulrey vs. Nichter Part IV. Ulrey won 2 of the 3 this year: 11-7 win at Powerade, 3-1 loss at sectionals, 7-5 SV win at regionals.

Prediction:
1 – Ulrey
2 – Nichter
3 – Blumer
4 – Augustine
5 – Herceg
6 – Richner
 
AAA 170 seeds:
1 – Trey Kibe, NW-1, Mifflin County, 35-2 – state champ, #2
2 – Lenny Pinto, NE-1, Stroudsburg, 40-3 – S3, #8
3 – Dylan Reinert, SC-1, Gettysburg, 46-2 – S7, #17
4 – Mac Stout, SW-1, Mt Lebanon, 39-2
5 – Matt Romanelli, SE-1, Downingtown East, 35-3

Others – top half:
Nick Delp, SW-4, Kiski, 32-5 – S8
Angel Garcia, NE-2, Bracetti Academy, 29-4 – S6, #18

Others – bottom half:
Lance Urbas, NW-2, State College, 33-5

College commits: KIbe (Penn State 2021), Pinto (Nebraska), Reinert (NC State), Garcia (Rider), Delp (Bucknell), Tyler Kocak (George Mason)

Strong semis and finals. Kibe and Pinto split matches this year, Kibe by decision, Pinto by injury default.

Prediction:
1 – Kibe
2 – Pinto
3 – Reinert
4 – Stout
5 – Garcia
6 – Delp
 
AAA 182 seeds:
1 – Gerrit Nijenjuis, SW-1, Canon McMillan, 43-0 – state champ, #2
2 – Maximus Hale, SE-1, Downingtown West, 34-8 – S5
3 – Ethan Rossman, NW-1, Bellefonte, 33-2
4 – Nick Baker, SC-1, Penn Manor, 37-1
5 – Isaiah Reinert, NE-1, Easton, 29-8

Others – top half:
Joey Milano, SE-2, Spring Ford, 43-1 – S4

Others – bottom half: (none)

College commits: 9-House (Purdue), Hale (Penn), Caden Wright (Lehigh)

No competition for Nijenjuis at all. 9-House beat Hale 8-1 last year at states.

Prediction:
1 – Nijenjuis, with bonus
2 – Hale
3 – Milano
 
AAA 195 seeds:
1 – Luke Stout, SW-1, Mt Lebanon, 38-0 – S2, #3
2 – Jacob Lucas, Cumberland Valley, SC-1, 39-1
3 – Jason Henderson, NE-1, Delaware Valley, 39-6
4 – Ryan Catka, SE-1, Sun Valley, 36-2
5 – Nikolas Miller, NW-1, Central Mtn, 24-10

Others – top half: (none)

Others – bottom half:
Luke Montgomery, SW-2, Bethel Park, 28-5 – S7

College commits: Stout (Princeton), Montgomery (Brown), Shane Quick (Campbell)

Defending champ Kyle Swartz is out for the year with injury. He might not have successfully repeated with Stout at the weight. Interesting note: all 5 of Montgomery’s losses this year are to Stout.

Prediction:
1 - Stout
2 – Montgomery
3 – Lucas
4 – Catka
5 – Henderson
 
AAA 220 seeds:
1 – Dorian Crosby, NW-1, Erie Prep, 43-1 – S4, #14
2 – Marques Holton, SC-1, Central Dauphin, 35-4
3 – Chase Mielnik, SE-1, Downingtown West, 34-5
4 – Stephen Schott, NE-1, Nazareth, 40-6
5 – Cole Weightman, SW-1, Belle Vernon, 29-1

Others – top half:
Paolo DiSanto, SE-2, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 32-1

Others – bottom half:
Nate Schon, NW-2, Selinsgrove, 34-1 – defending state champ, #15

College commits: Crosby (Bucknell), Mielnik (VMI), Schott (Pitt), TJ Moore (Lehigh)

The finals should be a rematch between Crosby and Schon. Crosby won the NW Regional finals on a SV escape after Schon took injury time. Schon pinned Mielnik in 0:18 this year.

Prediction:
1 – Schon
2 – Crosby
3 – Schott
 
AAA 285 seeds:
1 – Hunter Catka, SE-1, Sun Valley, 38-0 – state champ, #2
2 – Isaiah Vance, SW-1, Hempfield, 38-1 – S4, #20
3 – Thomas Pollard, NW-1, Meadville, 34-0
4 – Robert Unruh, SC-1, Exeter, 43-2
5 – Karam Chakif, NE-1, Allentown Dieruff, 31-2

Others – top half: (none)

Others – bottom half:
Mike Miller, SE-2, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 32-1

College commits: Catka (VT), John Klewin (Rider)

Catka’s weight to lose. The finals could be close if he allows Vance to slow it down into a HWT shaved bear match. If Catka controls the pace, he breezes thru this weight.

Prediction:
1 – Catka
2 – Vance
3 – Pollard
 
AA 106 seeds:
1 – Calan Bollman, SW-1, Chestnut Ridge, 37-3
2 – Cayden Walter, NW-1, Brookville, 31-5
3 – Branden Wentzel, NE-1, Montoursville, 42-7
4 – Evan Maag, SE-1, NDGP, 32-9

Others – top half:
Ethan Kolb, NE-2, Benton, 29-5
Jaden Pepe, NE-3, Wyoming Area, 45-2

Others – bottom half: (anyone and everyone)

College commits: (none)

This weight is a total crapshoot. State #1 WIrnsberger DNP at NE Regionals. State #2 Pepe lost in the NE Regionals semis to Kolb in OT (his other loss was to Wirnsberger).

Prediction: Mayhem.
1 – Pepe
2 – Wentzel
3 – Kolb
 
AA 113 seeds:
1 – Gary Steen, NW-1, Reynolds, 44-1 – state champ, #6
2 – Joey Fischer, SW-1, South Park, 41-2 – S4, #8
3 – Gavin Bradley, NE-1, Athens, 36-2 – S6
4 – Brett Ungar, SE-1, NDGP, 42-2 – NJ state champ, #5

Others – top half:
Kai Burkett, SW-2, Chestnut Ridge, 36-5 – S5

Others – bottom half: (none)

College commits: Steen (Pitt 2021), Fischer (Clarion 2021)

State Champ vs. State Champ – in the semis! Steen and Ungar split close matches, 6-4 Steen, then 3-1 SV Ungar. Steen beat Fischer 2-1 TB2 at states last year.

Prediction:
1 – Ungar
2 – Fischer
3 – Steen
4 – Burkett
5 – Bradley
 
AA 120 seeds:
1 – Sheldon Seymour, NE-1, Troy, 35-1 – state champ, S3
2 – Ryan Michaels, SW-1, Elizabeth Fwd, 42-2 – S3
3 – Brandan Chletsos, SE-1, NDGP, 48-4 – S6, #14
4 – Logan Jaquay, NW-1, Eisenhower, 37-1

Others – top half:
Nate Smith, SE-2, Bishop McDevitt, 31-2 – S3

Others – bottom half:
Gable Strickland, NE-2, Benton, 36-3 – S5
Kole Biscoe, NE-3, Southern Columbia, 36-3 – S2

College commits: Seymour (Lehgh), Michaels (Campbell), Smith (Navy), Cole Bayless (Harvard)

Another tough bracket. Seymour won last year’s AA 106 bracket of death. Chletsos placed at 126.

Prediction:
1 – Seymour
2 – Chletsos
3 - Smith
4 – Biscoe
5 – Strickland
6 – Michaels
 
AA 126 seeds:
1 – Ryan Crookham, SE-1, NDGP, 46-1 – state champ, #2
2 – Jackson Arrington, SW-1, Forest Hills, 30-1 – state champ
3 – Connor Pierce, NW-1, Harbor Creek, 40-2
4 – Dave Evans, NE-1, Tunkhannock, 42-1

Others – top half:
Tyler Cymmerman, SW-2, Derry, 36-5 – S4

Others – bottom half:
Levi Haines, SE-2, Biglerville, 27-3 – S2

College commits: (none)

State Champ vs. State Champ!

Prediction:
1 – Crookham
2 – Arrington
3 – Haines
4 - Cymmerman
 
AA 132 seeds:
1 – Brock McMillen, SW-1, Glendale, 32-3 – state champ
2 – Anthony Glasl, NW-1, Brockway, 35-1 – S5
3 – Adam Jacob, SE-1, East Pennsboro, 32-5
4 – Kyler Crawford, NE-1, Milton, 35-8

Others – top half:
Chris Arciuolo, SE-2, NDGP, 19-8

Others – bottom half:
Ian Oswalt, SW-2, Burrell, 42-6 – S5

College commits: McMillen (Pitt 2021), Glasl (George Mason)

Looking a lot like a rematch of the SW Regional finals.

And, yes, before anyone asks: that is 4x state champ Bobby Crawford's son.

Prediction:
1 – McMillen
2 – Oswalt
3 – Glasl
4 – Arciuolo
5 – Crawford
 
AA 138 seeds:
1 – Kaden Cassidy, SW-1, Bedford, 34-0 – 2x S3
2 – Kenny Kiser, NW-1, Saegertown, 40-3 – S2
3 – Patrick Edmonson, NE-1, Southern Columbia, 22-4 – S6
4 – Jacob Jones, SE-1, Saucon Valley, 41-6

Others – top half:
Blake Showers, SE-4, Biglerville, 36-7 – S8

Others – bottom half:
Patrick DeMark, SE-3, Trinity, 20-2 – S2
Zack Witmer, SW-2, St. Joe’s, 32-5 – S4

College commits: Cassidy (George Mason), Showers (VMI)

How are the 2 returning runners-up, both seniors, both not yet committed?

Another loaded weight … anybody’s guess how this turns out.

Prediction:
1 – Cassidy
2 – Kiser
3 – Witmer
4 – Jones
5 – Edmonson
6 – DeMark
 
AA 145 seeds:
1 – Nathan Higley, NE-1, Sullivan County, 36-0
2 – Thomas Spirk, SE-1, Saucon Valley, 29-8 – S8
3 – Ethan WIant, NW-1, Redbank Valley, 37-0
4 – Gage McClenahan, SW-1, BEA, 35-2 – S2

Others – top half:
Jackson Spires, NW-2, General McLane, 26-3

Others – bottom half:
Tristan Pugh, SW-3, Berlin, 41-3 – S6
Erik Gibson, SW-2, Forest Hills, 37-2 – S3, #20
Avery Bassett, NE-3, Midd-West, 37-3

College commits: Spirk (Bucknell), Wiant (Clarion), McClenahan (Cornell), Pugh (Appalachian State), Bassett (Army 2021)

Gibson vs. Bassett in Round 1 – another PA-ism.

Predictions:
1 – Gibson
2 – McClenahan
3 – Pugh
4 – Higley
5 – Bassett
6 – Spirk
 
AA 152 seeds:
1 – Caleb Dowling, SW-1, St. Joe’s, 40-4 – S3, #11
2 – Sully Allen, NW-1, Sharon, 35-2 – S5
3 – Ben Haubert, SE-1, Palisades, 37-3
4 – Wes Barnes, NE-1, Southern Columbia, 36-9

Others – top half:
Tyler Martin, SE-2, Bishop McDevitt, 36-4

Others – bottom half:
AJ Corrado, SW-2, Burrell, 42-7 – S5

College commits: Dowling (West Virginia), Allen (Edinboro), Martin (Binghamton), Trenton Harder (Army)

Dowling is the class of the weight. Last year’s 3rd was deceiving – he beat the defending champ (Haubert) and lost 3-0 to the eventual champ (Cerniglia’s only regular decision win in Hershey).

Prediction:
1 - Dowling
2 – Haubert
3 – Corrado
4 – Allen
5 - Barnes
 
AA 160 seeds:
1 – Thayne Lawrence, SW-1, Frazier, 21-0 – 2x state champ, defending champ, #4
2 – Andrew Cerniglia, SE-1, NDGP, 42-1 – state champ, #5
3 – Nolan Lear, NE-1, Benton, 32-1
4 – Gage Musser, NW-1, Commodore Perry, 33-2

Others – top half:
Gavin Garcia, NE-2, Southern Columbia, 23-2 – S4

Others – bottom half:
Keegan Rothrock, SW-2, St. Joe’s, 33-6 – S3

College commits: Lawrence (Lehigh), Cerniglia (Navy), Rothrock (Brown)

State Champ vs. State Champ! Cerniglia has been dominant against a tougher schedule (only loss by 1 pt to Gallagher). But Lawrence has also been very good, and has always found a way to win at states. The deciding factor might be Lawrence’s injuries – but he won states last year with 1 arm.

I've gone back-and-forth on this pick a lot.

Winner will get OW. Deservedly.

Prediction:
1 – Cerniglia
2 – Lawrence
3 – Garcia
4 – Lear
 
AA 170 seeds:
1 – Matt Arciuolo, SE-1, Saucon Valley, 41-1 – S3
2 – Tyler Stoltzfus, SW-1, St. Joe’s, 38-1 – S4, #3
3 – Cael Crebs, NE-1, Montoursville, 42-5
4 – Teddy Race, NW-1, Kane, 32-2

Others – top half:
Cade Linn, NE-2, Southern Columbia, 28-6 – S7
Trent Schultheis, SW-2, Freedom, 36-4 – S2

Others – bottom half:
Cole Karpinski, NW-2, Greenville, 37-6

College commits: Arciuolo (Columbia), Stoltzfus (Lock Haven)

Good finals matchup if seeds hold. Arciuolo beat Stoltzfus 2-1 in last year’s 3rd place match.

Prediction:
1 – Stoltzfus
2 – Arciuolo
3 – Schultheis
4 – Crebs
5 – Linn
 
AA 182 seeds:
1 – Austin Walley, SW-1, Ellwood City, 41-1 – S4, #15
2 – Dane Csencsits, SE-1, Saucon Valley, 40-5
3 – Dylan Bennett, NE-1, Montoursville, 36-0
4 – Bryce McCloskey, NW-1, Reynolds, 39-5

Others – top half: (none)

Others – bottom half: (none)

College commits: Walley (Bucknell), Csencsits (Pitt), Cameron Whisner (Millersville)

Defending champ Dayton Pitzer missed the year with injury, and Tyler Waltman (who was #1 in PA at one point this year) missed the postseason. That leaves Walley as the clear favorite. His only loss is to Nick Feldman at 195. Csensits qualified for states at 195 the last 2 years; he started this year at 170 but got crushed by Stoltzfus (16-0) and Reinert (14-2). Bennett has looked good and beat Waltman.

Prediction:
1 – Walley
2 – Bennett
3 – Csencsits
 
AA 195 seeds:
1 – Gaige Garcia, NE-1, Southern Columbia, 45-0 – defending state champ, #2
2 – Ethan Rode, SE-1, Newport, 39-3
3 – Braydon Herbster, NW-1, Reynolds, 35-3
4 – Parker Moore, SW-1, P-O, 33-6

Others – top half:
Danny Lawrence, SE-2, Mahanoy, 33-2

Others – bottom half: (none)

College commits: Garcia (Michigan), Ethan Cain (Seton Hill)

Garcia has 34 pins in 39 matches wrestled (excluding 6 forfeits). He will likely add 4 more. This could get ugly.

Prediction:
1 – Garcia
2 - Rode
 
AA 220 seeds:
1 – Cameron Wood, NE-1, Montoursville, 43-3 – S4
2 – Kolby Flank, SE-1, Wilson, 40-1 – S5
3 – Duane Knisely, SW-1, Chestnut Ridge, 39-3
4 – Nathan Taylor, NW-1, Brookville, 35-5

Others – top half:
Cory Johnston, SW-2, Glendale, 36-4 – S6
Jake Ryan, SW-3, Mt Union, 37-3 – S2

Others – bottom half:
Max Tillett, NE-3, Southern Columbia, 38-10

College commits: (none)

The highest returner, Southern Columbia’s Preston Zachman, is a football casualty, enrolling early at Wisconsin. Wood beat Flank at states last year, but lost to Knisely this year in SV (other losses to Garcia and Feldman). Ryan made the HWT finals last year but has lost to Flank, Knisely, and Johnston this year.

Prediction:
1 – Wood
2 – Flank
3 – Knisely
4 – Johnston
 
AA 285 seeds:
1 – Colby Whitehill, NW-1, Brookville, 36-0 – defending champ, #7
2 – Jalen Stephens, SW-1, Meyersdale, 35-1 – S3
3 – Lear Quinton, NE-1, Southern Columbia, 37-7 – S4
4 – Bronson Strouse, SE-1, Tamaqua, 36-3

Others – top half: (none)

Others – bottom half:
Emmanuel Lawall, SE-3, Church Farm School, 31-7 – S8

College commits: Whitehill (Pitt), Quinton (Brown)

Whitehill is the clear favorite. Stephens and Quinton should be a good semis match, with Stephens winning 3-1 last year.

Prediction:
1 – Whitehill
2 – Stephens
3 – Quinton
 
Awesome analysis Jefe. There are some brutal weights this year. But I guess that's always the case in the PIAA. Hope the D5 and D6 kids do well and they can pull out a couple state champs.
Sounds like Chestnut Ridges best chance is at 106.
 
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