Darian Cruz (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Champions from District 10 this year were Reynolds, which has won this event three times (2006, 2007, 2009) and finished second (2010) within the last seven years. Runner-up at this district was Fort LeBoeuf, champions in 2010 and runners-up in 2011. Last year’s runner-up to Bethlehem Catholic was Boiling Springs, who this year won the District 3 championship with a victory over Bermudian Springs. Those four squads, along with District 4 champion (north central) Central Columbia reflect the primary contenders.
Breaking down the draw, it would appear that the top half of the bracket is much tougher with four of those teams, as well as District 7 (WPIAL/Pittsburgh area) champion Burrell all present. Key first round matches place Burrell against Bermudian Springs, with that winner likely clear to the semifinal round; while Central Columbia draws Fort LeBoeuf for the right to face Bethlehem Catholic in the quarterfinal round.
Reynolds and Boiling Springs are alone in the bottom half of the draw. In the first round, the Raiders draw District 11 runner-up Saucon Valley; while Boiling Springs faces District 10 third place squad Saegertown, a team which will be heard from in an extreme way over the coming three-plus years.
In Class AAA, No. 10 Canon-McMillan is the defending champion, and enters the event as a slight favorite ahead of No. 31 Central Dauphin, who won the previous four championships. Last year, the Big Macs ended an extremely lengthy dual meet win streak for Central Dauphin in the semifinal round with a 28-25 victory. In qualifying for the team state tournament, Canon McMillan won the District 7 title for a fourth consecutive year, while Central Dauphin retained their strangle-hold on the District 3 championship.
Other teams meriting attention are WPIAL runner-up Franklin Regional, ranked No. 35 nationally and coming off a 31-26 loss to Canon-McMillan in Saturday night’s final; WPIAL third-place team North Allegheny, which suffered a narrow 28-27 defeat to Franklin Regional in the semifinal round; District 11 champion Easton, which has been in the finals eight times during the 14-year history of this event; District 11 runner-up Parkland, which is very strong in the back-third of the lineup, and the 2010 runner-up; District 1 champion Owen J. Roberts; and District 10 champion Erie McDowell, the defending runners-up.
In looking at the draw, it is again the top half that appears to be stronger. Central Dauphin’s challenges will start with an opening round match against North Allegheny. However, it is highly likely that the middle of the Rams lineup -- No. 8 Tyson Dippery (138), Austin Rose (152), No. 5 Garrett Peppelman (160), and Colton Peppelman (170) -- along with some lower weight contributions will prove to be enough for the victory. That will lead them into a quarterfinal match against Parkland, presuming they are able to upend Mifflin County in the opening round. Key wrestlers for Parkland include No. 8 Ethan Lizak (113), Josh Ortman (138), Nazar Haddad (182), and Shaun Heist (220). If they can win a couple matches down low against an underrated Rams group, and somewhat limit the Central Dauphin damage through the middle, they could steal the dual meet in the upper-weights.
However, the safe bet is that Central Dauphin advances to the semifinal round, where they are most likely to face either Franklin Regional or Owen J. Roberts. The Panthers have four stars in the middle of the lineup -- No. 5 Michael Kemerer (126), Tyler Smith (132), No. 20 Josh Maruca (138), and No. 13 Josh Shields (145) -- along with Super 32 Challenge runner-up Luke Fleck (285) to provide a hammer in the back end. This Owen J. Roberts squad is extremely balanced, but unfortunately for them, it is likely that four of their better wrestlers will have to match up as underdogs against star Panthers wrestlers. If they are to pull off the upset, it would involve some creative lineup maneuvering, and then using their superior depth against the lesser-known Franklin Regional wrestlers.
In the lower half of the draw, Easton is the prohibitive favorites to clear the third quarter of the draw. The Red Rovers squad is led by freshman Evan Fidelibus (113), senior Robbie Rizzolino (132), senior Evan DiSora (160), and senior Tyler Greene (182). It is a battle-hardened squad with a good mix of veterans and youth. Down in the lower quarter of the draw, Canon-McMillan is the likely exiter, with a state dual meet finals rematch against Erie McDowell looming in the second round. The Big Macs are led by No. 12 Dalton Macri (120), No. 3 Connor Schram (126), No. 2 Cody Wiercioch (170), and No. 15 Alex Campbell (220).
The lower semifinal is likely to place two of the most heralded programs in PIAA wrestling -- Easton and Canon-McMillan -- against one another. However, it is hard to create the scenario for which Easton is able to come out with a win, though the Red Rovers will certainly try their darndest.
Predictions
Class AA: Bethlehem Catholic gets the three-peat with a championship victory over Boiling Springs
Class AAA: Central Dauphin runs the "gauntlet," ending with an upset victory over Canon-McMillan in the championship match.
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