For those that have survived the early rounds of Powerade and made it to the quarterfinals this evening, we salute you. It has been a fun morning and afternoon filled with dominant stars and emerging new faces and the occasional busted bracket, along with a packed gym swimming in the sounds of screaming moms and grandmas jumping up and down matside. It is everything a holiday tournament in Western Pennsylvania should be and it is about to get really real up in here, starting at 7:30 tonight. As the quarters kick in, these are the matches you simply can’t miss.

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Dec. 27-28 | 8:15 a.m. ET

Mac Church vs Jacob Van Dee

The 106 bracket went absolutely kablooey in the round of 16, with upsets being the norm. Only two of the seeds survived, but top seed Mac Church has a daunting prospect awaiting him in his quarter with Erie Prep’s Jacob Van Dee. Van Dee is highly rated by many in Pennsylvania, so despite not being seeded it’s not a total surprise that he has made it this far. It’s not winning the matches that warrants attention, it’s how he has won them. Van Dee has been viciously efficient going on the attack immediately and racking up takedowns and reversals and punctuating them with nearfalls right and left. He looks very very dangerous. Can Church stay the course and use his expert scrambling to be the only seed to make it to day two on the championship side? 

126 Youth Movement with Meyer Shapiro vs Tyler Cymmerman and Rocco Welsh vs Finn Solomon

My predicted run from the two freshman from outside the seeds is coming to fruition and they are taking no prisoners on opposite sides of the bracket. The early rounds have been particularly interesting as we analyze everyone’s individual approach. Welsh seems to be saying catch me if you can as he blisters his opponents with takedowns on his way to massive techs, while Solomon and Cymmerman both look for the quick falls and remain fresh for the next encounter. Only Shapiro has had to work a little but he was in control at all times. I am betting on the two phenoms Welsh and Shapiro to keep on rolling right into tomorrow.

Just watch Gabe Arnold every chance you get (vs Dillon Sheehy this go round)

Despite his national ranking, Arnold doesn’t have a lot of results behind him as an incoming freshman, so his path through Powerade as an unseeded landmine is a little funky. Frankly, he may have already seen his stiffest test when he defeated Keegan Rothrock in the round of 16. I don’t expect a huge challenge from Dillon, but you can rest assured that Arnold’s lightning quick athleticism will make every second worth watching.

170 Madness!!!! Connor O’Neill vs Caden Rogers, Lenny Pinto vs Shane Reitsma, Trey Kibe vs Jaden Bullock, Tyler Stoltzfus vs Mac Stout

Far and away the best bracket in the tournament has been at a steady boil and is prepared to explode across all four matches. Every single one of these wrestlers is talented enough to walk out of this round a winner, and all eight have looked fantastic in the early rounds getting prepped for this moment. None have been really tested and in fact all have appeared to be in top form. O’Neill has been taking care of business, Pinto is driving guys through the floor and Bullock and Stoltzfus have both given everyone a good look at their devastating top games. You have six nationally ranked guys with the other two being in and out bubble guys. Tons of contrasting styles makes it extra spicy and the PA guys are also divided up so the motivation to reach the semis against your in-state rivals adds another layer. This. Will. Be. Awesome. THESE ARE THE MOMENTS THE FLOARENA SPLIT SCREEN WAS MADE FOR!!!!!

Best of the 4 vs 5 Matches: Wyatt Henson vs Bo Moler and Nathan Harden vs Jon List

Lots of rock solid looks at the turn with the 4 vs 5 matches, but the two I pulled out feature wrestlers coming in with a lot to prove. Both Henson and Harden have been able to go deep in tournaments this year but haven’t been able to manufacture that one win that gets them into the final. These are winnable matches for both, but they won’t be easy, and they will both want to emerge unscathed and not have to really labor through these if they can be rested for their shots at the top seeds tomorrow (Hillegas for Henson and Nijenhuis for Warden).

Bonus Cinderella Run: Chanz Shearer vs Jared Keslar

When I say the sound of the gym is the booming echo of a proud mother shrieking as she bunny hops all around the edge of the mat, what I really mean is it still sounds like it did when Chanz Shearer stuck the 3rd seed Kenny Kiser out of nowhere in his opening match. Shearer was clearly inspired as he just kept the party going by headlocking a rushing Caden Stout right off the whistle and pinning him as well. He has a winnable match against Keslar ready and waiting and then he can spend all night dreaming of somehow miraculously catching a still snoozing Beau Bartlett tomorrow morning...