Thomas Haines is after his fourth state title (Photo/Rob Preston)Pennsylvania, the nation's best wrestling state, without dispute, will stage its state wrestling championships this week starting on Thursday in Hershey at the GIANT Center. The first round in the championship and consolation bracket will be staged on that day in each division, Class AA (small-school) starts at 9 a.m. ET, while Class AAA (big-school) starts at 4 p.m. The medal matches in each division will be staged on Saturday, Class AA at 2 p.m., and Class AAA at 7 p.m.
Full Schedule
Thursday 3/6, 9:00 a.m. Class AA championship and consolation first round (6 mats)
Thursday 3/6, 4:00 p.m. Class AAA championship and consolation first round (6 mats)
Friday 3/7, 9:00 a.m. Class AA quarterfinals and consolation second round (6 mats)
Friday 3/7, 1:30 p.m. Class AAA quarterfinals and consolation second round (6 mats)
Friday 3/7, 6:30 p.m. Class AA semifinals and consolation quarterfinals/semifinals (4 mats)
Saturday 3/8, 9:00 a.m. Class AAA semifinals and consolation quarterfinals/semifinals (4 mats)
Saturday 3/8, 2:00 p.m. Class AA championship and medal matches (4 mats)
Saturday 3/8, 7:00 p.m. Class AAA championship and medal matches (4 mats)
Overview
The individual talent level in these state tournaments is staggering. In Class AAA, there are 28 nationally ranked wrestlers contained in the brackets, including individuals at 13 of the 14 weight classes. Three national number one wrestlers are in the field -- Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) at 113 pounds, Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) at 120, and Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale) at 170. In addition, two different weight classes -- 120 and 138 pounds -- contain four ranked wrestlers. The Class AA tournament has eight ranked individuals, with one person occupying 8 of the 14 weight classes.
The obvious lead narrative this year is the quest of Marsteller and the nation's second-ranked 285 pound wrestler Thomas Haines (Solanco) to win their fourth state titles in Class AAA. They are very likely to become the 11th and 12th four-time PIAA state wrestling champions, and the first pair to do it in the same year.
These wrestlers are the second and ninth ranked overall prospects in the Class of 2014, and will pass the torch in many ways to the next all-time Keystone State great in Spencer Lee, who is the top prospect in the Class of 2017.
In terms of team races for this year, both traditional tournament state titles have clear favorites. Even though there are six ranked teams in the Class AAA tournament, No. 8 Franklin Regional enters as the clear favorite to win their first traditional state title, after winning their first dual meet title last month. The Panthers have qualified six wrestlers to state, five of whom are two-time returning state place-winners, plus the freshman freak Lee
However, it is No. 25 Nazareth, which has qualified a Class AAA high of seven wrestlers to the state tournament. That group is led by Chase Zemenak, a two-time state placer, who is ranked No. 13 nationally at 132 pounds. The other four nationally ranked teams each qualified five wrestlers for the state tournament: No. 37 Greater Latrobe, No. 41 Boyertown, No. 43 Cumberland Valley, and No. 50 Parkland.
In Class AA, No. 13 Bethlehem Catholic is prohibitive favorites to win their third straight traditional state title, after earning their fourth straight dual meet state title last month. The Hawks qualified a tournament-high eleven wrestlers for the state tournament, including competitors in the first seven weight classes. Eight of those qualifiers were Southeast Regional finalists, with four leaving as champions: No. 13 Luke Karam (106), No. 3 Zeke Moisey (126), Nick Cortopassi (170), and Andrew Dunn (220).
Class AAA
106: Two of the nation's top three wrestlers sit in this weight class, Devin Brown (Franklin Regional) and Gage Curry (North Hills). They met in this past weekend's WPIAL final, which was won by Brown 2-1, so Brown is now No. 2 nationally to Curry's No. 3. Last year at state, Brown was champion in Class AA for Saegertown, while Curry was fourth in Class AAA. They both competed in the 2013 FloNationals, Curry was third and Brown two matches from placing.
Curry has the tougher path in this year's event, starting with an opening round bout against returning state runner-up Connor Sheehan (Solanco), who finished third in the South Central regional two weekends ago. He is in the half of the draw with three regional champions, a likely quarterfinal against Charlie Lenox (Erie McDowell), and then a semifinal against either Dan Moran (Northampton) or Kordell Rush (Pennridge). Brown sits in the lower half of the draw, where a semifinal meeting with South Central regional champ Brett Kulp (Exeter Township) is the most likely outcome.
113: As already mentioned No. 1 Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) is the anchor figure of this weight class. Not that it's a threat to Lee, but he is in the quarter with another regional champion, Jacob Lizak (Parkland). It also happens that Lizak is looking at a tough first round bout against returning state placer Dylan Chatterton (Central York), who placed third in the South Central regional. The likely semifinal for Lee is against South Central regional champion Tyshawn White (Central Dauphin), a returning state placer who finished third at the Beast of the East in December. The lower half of the draw is anchored by senior Joe Wheeling (General McLane), a returning state qualifier and champion at the King of the Mountain, who enters the tournament 34-1.
120: Four nationally ranked wrestlers, including a pair of defending state champions reside in this weight bracket. No. 1 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) and No. 6 Ethan Lizak (Parkland) anchor opposite halves of the draw. No. 8 Jake Gromacki (Erie Cathedral Prep) joins Pletcher in the top half of the draw, while No. 5 Scott Parker (Pennridge) joins Lizak in the bottom half. It is highly likely that these will be the semifinal matchups. The fifth regional champion, Zack Clingan (Spring Grove) is in the quarter bracket with Pletcher.
126: There are four nationally ranked Class AAA competitors in this weight class. Unfortunately they all exit through the WPIAL, which means that one was displaced last week, and that was Dominic Forys. Remaining are WPIAL champion Dalton Macri (Canon-McMillan), who beat Sam Krivus (Hempfield) in 4-3 in the final after knocking off Forys 11-5 in the semifinal; Krivus, who beat A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg) 7-2 in the semifinal; and Headlee, who beat Forys 10-5 in the third place bout.
Krivus, ranked No. 7 nationally, beat Macri last year 3-1 in the state final, and is looking at a quarterfinal against returning state placer Rodney Sunday (Dallastown), prior to a likely semifinal against two-time state placer Zach Valley (Northampton). No. 6 Macri and No. 17 Headlee are on a semifinals collision course, where Macri is 2-0 on the year against Headlee (dual meet and sectional). The most likely block to that would be a first round match for Headlee against fellow state placer Ben Ross (Pennridge).
132: Three nationally ranked wrestlers reside in this weight class. The freshman Cameron Coy (Penn-Trafford), ranked No. 15 nationally, is alone in the bottom half bracket after his 5-2 upset of No. 6 Tyler Smith (Franklin Regional) in the WPIAL final this past weekend. Smith is in the second quarter of the draw with No. 13 Chase Zemenak (Nazareth), a wrestler he beat 1-0 in the state dual meet semifinal.
The top quarter of the draw features regional champions Trevor Corl (Bellefonte) and Eddie Kriczy (Boyertown), along with 2012 state runner-up Matthew Grossmann (Manheim Township). Notable challengers to Coy in the bottom half of the draw come from the opposite quarter, state placer Zach Elvin (Central Dauphin) and Ty Buckiso (Peters Township), who is in his state tournament debut after being fourth in last year's WPIAL 126 weight class that featured placers one through three.
138: Each of four nationally ranked wrestlers occupies a quarter bracket of the draw in this weight class. However, that is not the end of the quality depth here in arguably the deepest bracket of the whole tournament. No. 4 Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) enters as WPIAL champion after avenging a 3-2 loss to No. 2 Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) from the POWERade final with a 5-2 win this past weekend. The other two ranked wrestlers are South Central regional finalists Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley), ranked No. 10 nationally, and No. 19 Courtlandt Schuyler (Manheim Township).
Joseph is in the quarter bracket providing the cleanest path to the semifinal round. Duggan is looking at a dangerous first round bout against Joey Alessandro (Hempfield Area), who had to beat an Ohio D1 state champion just to place at POWERade, before a likely quarterfinal against one of two pesky sophomores -- Kaleb Young (Punxsatawney) or James Saylor (Easton). Two-time state runner-up Kemerer is looking at a likely quarterfinal with Cadet National double runner-up Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County), whom he beat 7-2 in the POWERade semifinal round; while Schuyler is likely to face now three-time state qualifier Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg South), who enters state with a 33-1 record.
145: This weight class joins 120 in having a pair of defending state champions, No. 3 Solomon Chishko (Canon McMillan) and No. 6 Joseph Galasso (Father Judge). Those wrestlers are in opposite half bracket per PIAA policy. Galasso has the tougher path with two-time state placer Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional) awaiting in the quarterfinal round, those two met last year in the semifinal, where Galasso won 3-2; however, that presumes Maruca gets past Chad Wickard (Big Spring) in the opening round, an opponent Maruca beat only 3-1 in last year's state quarterfinal.
The likely semifinal would be against Southeast regional champion Francesco Fabozzi (Central Bucks East), a returning state placer who is 37-1 on the year. In the other half of the draw, Chishko is looking at a likely semifinal against South Central regional champion Max Good (Cedar Cliff), who qualified for state his first two years of high school failing to place but missed out on state last year.
152: The pair of nationally ranked wrestlers in this weight class is in opposite halves of the draw. No. 3 T.C. Warner (Cumberland Valley), a two-time state runner-up, is in the top half; while two-time state placer Josh Shields (Franklin Regional), ranked No. 11, is in the bottom half. Warner's path to the final most likely involves clearing a pair of regional champions, Elijah Brown (Easton) in the quarterfinal and Cadet freestyle All-American David Hollingshead (Altoona) in the semifinal.
In the lower half, Shields is looking at a quarterfinal with state placer Josh Ortman (Parkland), and then a quarterfinal with one of two past state placers -- Mason Bentzel (Spring Grove) or Michael Springer (Norristown) -- though it could also end up being Beast of the East placer Tyler Tarsi (Nazareth), who draws Springer first round.
160: Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin), a 2012 state champion, enters the tournament ranked No. 3 nationally and the lone ranked wrestler in the weight class. The Super 32 Challenge champion this year enters the weight a solid favorite to earn his second state title. However, he'll have to be on starting with an opening round bout against National Prep placer Dom Scalise (Greater Latrobe), who was upset in an early round of last weekend's WPIAL tournament. As for the other half of the bracket, it features three regional champions: Ehrin Lee (Titusville) and Bobby Fehr (Northampton), a returning state placer and Super 32 placer, in the same quarter; along with Cadet freestyle All-American Austin Bell (Belle Vernon).
170: Chance Marsteller is the prohibitive favorite in this weight class, and is slated to win his fourth state title, presuming he is in some state of health after ending his regional championship bout two weekends ago in some pain. The likely semi is against returning state placer Noah Wilps (Chartiers Valley), while the other half of the draw features three regional champions: Kyle Coniker (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) and Trent Zdarko (Oil City) in the same quarter), along with John Dambro (Garnet Valley).
182: The two nationally ranked wresters in this weight class have met three times on the season, with No. 3 Zack Zavatasky (Greater Latrobe) upending No. 18 Kellan Stout (Mt. Lebanon) on all occasions, including 5-1 in this past weekend's WPIAL final. The wrestlers are obviously in opposite halves of the draw. Most notable challenger to Zavatsky in his half is sophomore Josh Colello (Cedar Cliff), whom he would meet in the quarterfinal; while Stout is looking at a quarterfinal against regional champion and returning state placer Nicolino Sevi (Nazareth), before a semifinal against another regional champion and returning state placer in Tyree Spearman (Erie McDowell).
195: This is the lone weight of the competition without a single nationally ranked wrestler. The top half of the draw is pretty heavy in talent with three regional champions, along with a pair of solid WPIAL underclassmen. Returning state fourth placer Jan Johnson (Governor Mifflin) won the South Central regional and starts his tourney with a first round bout against Ironman placer Zach Smith (North Allegheny); before a likely quarterfinal against undefeated returning state third placer Tom Sleigh (Dubois), who has also placed in the Super 32 Challenge and Flo Nationals. Also in that upper half is Southeast regional champion Jordan Wertz (Boyertown) and sophomore Drew Phipps (Norwin), a Super 32 placer and Cadet freestyle All-Americna.
The bottom half of the draw is anchored by regional champions Nezar Haddad (Parkland) and Cole Macek (Montour), whom are likely to meet in the semifinals. Haddad is yet to place despite this being his third state tournament appearance, and he placed seventh in last year's FloNationals; while Macek is undefeated on the season, having beaten Phipps 3-1 in overtime in the WPIAL final this past weekend.
220: Sophomore sensation Jordan Wood (Boyertown), a returning state finalist who is ranked No. 7 nationally, was upset in the Southeast regional final this past weekend by No. 11 Michael Boykin (Coatesville) by a 5-2 score. Boykin placed third in the same weight last year. The two wrestlers are due to meet again in the state final this weekend. Wood has the tougher path with Super 32 Challenge placers Tyler Worthing (Kiski Area) and Jake Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty), who both won regional titles, standing in his way. For the undefeated Boykin, it is a likely quarterfinal with Super 32 placer Antonio Pelusi (LaSalle) and then a semifinal against one of two regional champions -- Dwayne Pepper (Shikellamy) or Bo Spiller (Solanco) -- or for that matter Omar Haddad (Parkland).
285: Thomas Haines (Solanco) is after a fourth state title, and it would be a stunner to see him upended. Since his loss in the South Central regional as a freshman, Haines is in a stretch of 125 matches with just one loss, and that came in the 2012 POWERade final to Kyle Snyder, the nation's top senior who is training this year at the USOTC. His likely semifinal is against one of two regional champions, Shane Kuhn (Kiski Area), a two-time state placer, or returning state placer Tracey Green (Methacton). Those two wrestlers are 36-1, and slated to meet in the quarterfinal round. By comparison the lower half is underwhelming, but is most likely to come down to regional champions Scot Augustine (Erie McDowell) or Ryan Monk (Dallas).
Class AA
106: Two undefeated freshmen feature in opposite halves of the draw in this weight class, Brian Courtney (Athens) and Max Murin (Central Cambria).
113: Returning state runner-up Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic) is ranked No. 13 nationally, but his road to a title will be challenging, starting with a first round bout against returning state third placer Colin Glorioso (Huntingdon). The path continues with a likely quarterfinal against former state placer Austin McDermitt (Burgettstown), and then a likely semifinal with past Cadet National All-American Taylor Ortz (Brookville).
The bottom half of the draw is anchored by Southwest regional champion Austin Griffiths (Southmoreland), who is a two-time state placer. His path to the final includes a likely quarterfinal against returning state placer Jacob Wasser (Palisades), with the potential for a semifinal match against 2012 Cadet National double All-American Jacob Gabriel (Bedford).
120: Defending state champion, and Super 32 Challenge runner-up, George Philippi (Derry Area) is ranked No. 7 nationally. A likely semifinal match looms against either returning state placer Willis Gruver (Redbank Valley) or freshman sensation Todd Lane (Southern Columbia). The other half of the draw is led by two-time state placer, and 2012 state runner-up, Korbin Myers (Boiling Springs). In last year's 113 pound semifinal, Philippi upended Myers 2-1 in the tiebreaker.
126: Ranked No. 3 nationally, Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic) is seeking an elusive state title having placed fifth, second, and second in his state tournament campaigns to date. For the season, Moisey is undefeated at 40-0, and it is likely he'll meet a fellow 40-0 competitor in John Demaske (Jefferson Morgan) in the semifinal round. Demaske placed fourth last year in the same weight that Moisey took second. For purposes of the other half of the draw, regional champions are Cody Blankenship (Kane) and Lewis Williams (Central Columbia)
132: Two undefeated wrestlers anchor this weight class, three-time state placer Ian Brown (Hanover) and sophomore Mike Carr (South Fayette), who went 0-2 at the state tournament last year. They are in opposite halves of the draw. Brown is looking at a quarterfinal date with returning state runner-up, and two-time state placer, Ryan Easter (Bedford).
Then, it would be a likely semifinal bout against two-time state placer Austin Harry (Lake Lehman) or returning state placer Dalton Zimmerman (Brookville). For Carr, it is a likely quarterfinal date with returning state third placer Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs), and then a semifinal with two-time state placer Tyler Vath (Saegertown).
138: Two-time state placer and Super 32 Challenge runner-up Brock Zacherl (Brookville) is ranked No. 5 nationally, and has a relatively clear path to the final. The other regional champion in his half is Josh Evans (Palmerton). Regional champions in the other half of the draw are returning state placers Jake Wentzel (South Park) and Kent Lane (Southern Columbia). Wentzel has a possible quarterfinal with returning state placer Nick Monico (Saegertown), while Lane could face George McGuire (Fort LeBoeuf).
145: For his scholastic career, Jason Nolf (Kittanning) is 172-1, and the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the country is working on an 87 match winning streak going back to his state semifinal loss as a sophomore. His path to the state final involves a likely quarterfinal against returning state placer Zach Vroman (Brookville), with the semifinal most likely against Southeast regional champion Tony Shafer (Hanover).
The other half of the draw is led by undefeated wrestler Billy Barnes (Williamson), a returning state placer who is undefeated on the season. Barnes is looking at a likely quarterfinal against fellow state placer Michael Comunale (Pius X), and then a semifinal against one of two returning state placers: Hunter Harner (Tri-Valley) or Levi Stoyer (Reynolds).
152: The top half of the draw is stronger, as its regional champions are both returning state placers in Steve Edwards (Burrell) and two-time placer Cole Watler (Mifflinburg). Regional champions in the bottom half of the draw are Brodie Zacherl (Brookville) and Richie Cerebe (Calvary Christian). Cerebe is looking at a quarterfinal date with two-time state placer Andrew Doak (Blairsville), who lost in the regional final to Edwards; while Zacherl could see returning state placer Blake Marks (Southern Columbia) in his quarterfinal bout.
160: Returning state third place finisher Ryan Preisch (Milton), a Junior Greco-Roman All-American and ranked No. 19 nationally, is the anchor figure in this weight class. The other regional champion in this top half of the draw is returning state placer Jared Walker (South Fayette). The bottom half is led by undefeated Kyle Bova (Coudersport), who is undefeated on the season after finishing second in the state last year. He is looking at a likely quarterfinal against two-time state placer Jared Kasunic (Benton), with a possible semifinal date against returning state placer and regional champion Briton Shelton (Bermudian Springs).
170: Returning state runner-up and two-time state placer Evan Delong (Kane) is undefeated on the season and anchors the bottom half bracket. His most likely quarterfinal is against freshman sensation Zane Black (Bishop McDevitt), and then it is a possible semifinal with Cadet National double All-American Corey Hazel (Penns Valley). Regional champions in the other half of the draw are Nick Cortopassi (Bethlehem Catholic) and sophomore Garrett Hoffman (Montoursville).
182: No. 12 in the nation Spencer Loiseau (Lancaster Catholic) is undefeated on the season, after placing third in the Super 32 Challenge this fall and fifth at state last year. He is looking at a collision course with returning state fourth placer Dylan Reynolds (Saegertown) in the semifinal round. The bottom half of the draw is anchored by returning state sixth placer Terrell Fields (Valley), who was a Junior Greco-Roman All-American last summer. He is looking at a quarterfinal date with now three-time state qualifier Jose Ortiz (Bethlehem Cahtolic), with Isaiah Bobotas (Montgomery) the regional champion in the other quarter of that half).
195: Two-time state placer, and returning state runner-up, Tristan Sponsller (Bermudian Springs) is ranked No. 20 nationally in this weight class. He is undefeated for the season, and looking at a likely semifinal against fellow regional champion Garrett Wesneski (Canton), a returning state eight placer. Regional champions in the other half bracket include James Bennett (Hyndman) and Ryan Morris (Corry).
220: Returning state fourth placer Jake Temple (Avella) is undefeated on the season, and leads the delegation in this weight class. He is looking at a likely semifinal against fellow regional champion Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic), who placed sixth at state last year and fourth at the Super 32 this fall up at 285 pounds. Regional champions in the other half bracket are Connor Route (Canton) and freshman Cole Rickert (Reynolds), who is looking at a quarterfinal against the 36-1 Reynold Maines (West Branch), a loser to Temple in this past weekend's Southwest regional final.
285: Defending state champion Sam Breese (Lakeview) comes into the state tournament undefeated for the season, and the clear favorite in the weight class. Breese would most likely face Southwest regional champion Alan Beattie (Burrell) in the semifinal round. Brady Mutton (Pen Argyl), the Southeast regional champion, has the second best record in the weight class at 36-1.
Mutton is looking at a quarterfinal bout against returning state placer Austin Buttry (Chestnut Ridge), who lost in the Southwest regional semi in the tiebreaker to Jake Beistel (Southmoreland). Beistel is in the next quarter bracket, after losing 3-0 to Beattie in the regional final, along with Northeast regional champion Saul Wilkins (Wilkes Barre).
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