PIAA Preview: AAA Lightweight
PIAA Preview: AAA Lightweight
Preview of the 2020 PIAA State Wrestling Championships
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The Pennsylvania Individual State Championships return to FloWrestling on Thursday, March 5. AAA kicks off at 4 PM following the opening rounds in AA.
All matches will be live from the Giant Center in Hershey. Catch all the action as 28 individual state champions will be crowned. Brackets can be found in FloArena.
106
Overview:
Fans love parity. The unknown going into a tournament makes for a great fan experience. This is the weight class of the fans. You might be able to call freshman phenoms Tyler Kasak (9th, Bethlehem Catholic) and Mac Church (9th, Waynesburg) favorites, but there are plenty of data points that should make you believe that the field has a chance.
Top Bracket:
Jacob Van Dee (10th, Erie Cathedral Prep) is the top seed with state qualifier prestige points. He should be pressed by NE Regional runner-up Sean Logue (10th, Father Judge). Logue was third at Escape the Rock.
Freshmen Church and Matt Repos (9th, Central Dauphin) should battle it out in the bottom quarter. Church has a credential sheet that needs extra pages to fit everything. Most notably Church finished 2nd at Ironman, 5th at Beast of the East, and won Powerade. Repos spent most of the season at 113lbs and hasn’t lost since making the drop.
I think Church makes the final, but don’t expect it to come easily. Van Dee pressed him to tiebreaker in their dual.
Bottom Bracket:
Kasak and Ty Watters (9th, West Allegheny) should square off in the round of 16. This was a quarterfinal at PJW’s a year ago with Kasak taking the 6-0 decision. Watters turned heads at the sectional tournament knocking off Church. Nic Allison (10th, Mifflin County), a returning qualifier, should await the winner.
The bottom quarter should be a battle between Keanu Manuel (11th, Downingtown East) and Vincent Kilkeary (9th, Greater Latrobe). Manuel had several quality wins at 120lbs at the beginning of the season before descending down to 106lbs. Kilkeary has come on late in the season and gave Watters his only loss of the year. Kilkeary is still a little undersized for the weight and Manuel definitely is pushing the upper limits.
I’m going to stick with Kasak, but place it at the bottom of my confidence poll.
Prediction:
Mac Church, 9th, Waynesburg over Tyler Kasak, 9th, Bethlehem Catholic
2019 Results:
1st: Carter Dibert (Franklin Regional) DEC Dylan Chappell (Seneca Valley), 7-2
3rd: Kyle Hauserman (Council Rock North) DEC Aiden Lewis (Cedar Cliff), 6-2
5th: Mason Prinkey (Connellsville) DEC Kyle Waterman (Council Rock South), 4-1
7th: Braxton Appello (Easton) FOR Julien Maldonado (Boyertown), 0-0
113
Overview:
Arizona State commit Carter Dibert (11th, Franklin Regional) is the top seed. The returning state champion will not have a shortage of former medalists trying to knock him off. Ben Monn (12th, Cumberland Valley) and Braxton Appello (10th, Easton) are the regional champions in the bottom bracket. Both are returning medalists looking to improve their spot on the podium.
Top Bracket:
Dibert is the top seed and could face Mason Prinkey (11th, Connellsville) in the round of 16. This was the semifinal a year ago. It was a tightly contested bout that Dibert blew open with his top work late in the match.
Both Dante Frinzi (10th, Bethlehem Catholic) and Mason Leiphart (10th, Dover) won matches at the state tournament a year ago. That will be an interesting first-round match to the possible shot at Dibert in the quarters.
Julien Maldonado (11th, Boyertown) and Aiden Lewis (11th Cedar Cliff) are returning medalists that could hit in the bottom quarter. If you can stay away from Dibert’s top work you have a shot, I just think he’s too good to not make the final out of this half.
Bottom Bracket:
Monn has finished sixth back-to-back seasons. He will be looking to improve on that finish this year. He is a solid favorite out of the bottom half. He dropped just two bouts on the season. One to Dibert in the King of the Mountain finals and another to Brett Ungar at Trojan Wars.
Nico Taddy (9th, West Allegheny) is the wild card in the bottom half. He has several losses to nationally ranked wrestlers, and was able to turn early-season losses to Prinkey into a win at the SW Regional Tournament. He could be putting things together at the right time.
Prediction:
Carter Dibert, 11th, Franklin Regional over Ben Monn, 12th, Cumberland Valley
2019 Results:
1st: Alejandro Herrera (Seneca Valley) DEC Finn Solomon (Franklin Regional), 10-5
3rd: Karl Shindledecker (Chambersburg) DEC Matt Mayer (Bethlehem Catholic), 1-0
5th: Kyle Burkholder (Hempfield) DEC Ben Monn (Cumberland Valley), 5-2
7th: Andrew Smith (Nazareth) DEC Maximino Mendez (Council Rock South), 6-2
120
Overview:
Six returning medalists are in the field with Dylan Chappell (11th, Seneca Valley) leading the way as a runner-up. Regional results made for some interesting early bouts at the weight. There will be some tough wrestlers being sent to the wrestlebacks early on.
Top Bracket:
Chappell and returning fourth-place finisher, Matt Mayer (11th, Bethlehem Catholic) are the credentialed athletes in the top quarter.
Nathan Lucier (11th, Coatesville) defeated former medalist Killian Delaney (12th, West Chester Henderson) back-to-back weeks to put himself in an advantageous bracket spot. Lane Aikey (11th, Bellefonte) is making his second appearance in Hershey and should battle Lucier for the semifinal position.
I like Chappell from this half.
Bottom Bracket:
Big matchups on this half will happen early. Kyle Hauserman (11th, Council Rock North) and Andrew Smith (12th, Nazareth) could happen in the round of 16. Delaney and Will Betancourt (12th, Manheim Central) are both two-time place winners that should meet in the quarters.
You could tell me anyone of those four made the final and I would believe you. I’ll take Hauserman.
Prediction:
Kyle Hauserman, 11th, Council Rock North over Dylan Chappell, 11th, Seneca Valley
2019 Results:
1st: Sean Pierson (Nazareth) DEC Kurtis Phipps (Norwin), 9-5
5th: Will Betancourt (Manheim Central) DEC Cameron Enriquez (Stroudsburg), 2-1 UTB
7th: Cole Homet (Waynesburg) DEC Killian Delaney (West Chester Henderson), 5-3
126
Overview:
Kurtis Phipps (12th, Norwin) has come up just short the last two years in Hershey. His final with Sean Pierson was one for the ages. He earned the top seed, but not an easy path to his third final in a row.
Top Bracket:
Phipps has two-time medalist Kyle Waterman (12th, Council Rock South) in his quarter. This is a tough quarterfinal match for Phipps, but he has put together runs through tough brackets before. Waterman just signed with App State.
The bottom quarter has an interesting dynamic with Sam McGonagle (11th, West Chester Henderson). He has several quality wins this season and is searching for his first state medal after coming up short twice. I think it will be McGonagle and Phipps in the semi, with Phipps making his third straight final.
Bottom Bracket:
Rocco Welsh (9th, Waynesburg) has wrestled as tough of a schedule as possible at the high school level in his first year. Don’t be fooled by his seven losses. I like Welsh out of the top quarter.
The bottom quarter has an interesting quarterfinal matchup possible. Cole Wilson (12th, Northeastern) has a win in Hershey over Luke Lucerne (12th, Council Rock North). You have to like Lucerne’s current resume against Wilson, but memories of the 2018 result could linger with Lucerne. I’m going to blow right through that past result and pick Lucerne to make the final from the bottom side.
Prediction:
Kurtis Phipps, 12th, Norwin over Luke Lucerne, 12th, Council Rock North
2019 Results:
1st: Darren Miller (Kiski Area) DEC Colton Camacho (Franklin Regional), 6-5
3rd: Patrick Gould (East Stroudsburg South) DEC Kenny Hayman (Canon McMillan), 6-4
5th: Jj Wilson (Cedar Cliff) DEC Trenton Donahue (Dubois), 4-2
7th: Braden Ricchini (Council Rock South) F Mike Torres Bethlehem, PA (Liberty), 2:45
132
Overview:
This might not be the most credentialed bracket in the field (see 170AAA), but it has the potential to be the most fun to watch. And… there are some great credentials at this weight. When these guys hit the mats Arena alerts should be blowing up your phone. Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (11th, Seneca Valley) is seeking his third title.
Two guys in the field have wins over Herrera-Rondon this season, and are both in the bottom half. Kenny Herrmann (12th, Bethlehem Catholic) is one of those wrestlers. He made a Super 32 final, but came up short in the regional final against fellow Super 32 placewinner, Partick Noonan (12th, Stroudsburg).
Gabe Willochell (12th, Greater Latrobe) has split with Herrera-Rondon this season and sits in the top quarter of the bottom bracket.
Before getting into the bracket breakdowns, lets recap the title contender results against each other this season:
Noonan dec Herrmann 1-0
Herrmann dec Noonan 7-5sv
Herrmann dec Herrera-Rondon 4-0
Herrera-Rondon dec Willochell 4-2
Willochell dec Herrera-Rondon 2-0 utb
Willochell dec Sarbo 11-10
Willochell fall Noonan 1:37
Top Bracket:
Herrera-Rondon and Noonan appear to be on a collision course in the semifinals. These two missed each other at Powerade when Willochell knocked off Noonan in the semifinal and Herrera-Rondon in the final. This will be a clash of styles, where anyone guessing the outcome is doing just that… guessing. I’ll go with the winners win philosophy and take Herrera-Rondon.
Bottom Bracket:
Willochell is a heavy favorite out of his quarter, but Herrmann will have to work. Whether it’s returning medalist Cole Homet (10th, Waynesburg) or former medalist Matt Sarbo (11th, Altoona) the quarterfinal will be a test for Herrmann.
Willochell can pin anyone. I think that's what he’ll need to do to beat Herrmann in the semifinal. I just can’t see it, but I also don’t have the imagination of Willochell. Herrmann defeated Willochell 7-3 in the semifinal a year ago. I’m sticking with Herrmann.
Prediction:
Kenny Herrmann, 12th, Bethlehem Catholic over Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, 11th, Seneca Valley.
2019 Results:
1st: Julian Chlebove (Northampton) DEC Kenny Herrmann (Bethlehem Catholic), 6-2
3rd: Sam Hillegas (North Hills) DEC Gabe Willochell (Greater Latrobe), 9-2
5th: Tyler Dilley (St. Marys) DEC Drew Clearie Nazareth, PA (Nazareth), 5-0
7th: Cade Balestrini (Shikellamy) DEC Bryce Brennan (Red Land), 4-2
138
Overview:
This bracket seems to be very straight forward. Straight forward to the point I’m almost sure a huge upset will happen to make me look foolish for discounting the field. Two-time champion Sam Hillegas (12th, North Hills) is in the top quarter with returning runner-up Deshawn Farber (12th, Nazareth). Wyatt Henson (11th, Waynesburg) created this with a regional final victory over Hillegas. I can’t help but look forward to the rubber match as Hillegas had defeated Henson at Powerade.
Top Bracket:
The top quarter between Farber and Hillegas seems to be the de facto semifinal. I like Hillegas as a three position wrestler and can’t see him coming up short in this half of the bracket.
Bottom Bracket:
Henson out of this half feels like a formality. He has majored Evan Gleason (11th, Bethlehem Catholic) and defeated Chanz Shearer (11th, Seneca Valley) twice, one of those by major decision.
Kibwe McNair (12th, Methacton) is making his third appearance in Hershey and is a wild card in the top quarter. Anything but Henson coming out of this bracket would be a major upset.
Prediction:
Sam Hillegas, 12th, North Hills over Wyatt Henson, 11th, Waynesburg
2019 Results:
1st: Ed Scott (Dubois) F Deshawn Farber Nazareth, PA (Nazareth), 3:25
3rd: Tyler Williams (Souderton) DEC Ty Linsenbigler (Hempfield), 5-3
5th: Antonio Petrucelli (Owen J. Roberts) F Devon Britton (Northampton), 3:54
7th: Nick Coy (Penn Trafford) DEC Troy-Thomas Elhajj (Lower Dauphin), 6-1
145
Overview:
When Cornell commit Cole Handlovic (12th, Bethlehem Catholic) made the drop to 145lbs, everyone pointed to the Handlovic vs Jagger Condomitti (11th, Northampton) rivalry that would ensue. Handlovic has taken two of the matches and Condomitti picked up one win. Don’t let that great rivalry fool you into thinking this is a two wrestler weight.
Top Bracket:
Three medalists are in the top quarter. Cade Balestrini (12th, Shikellamy) was seventh at 132lbs, Ty Linsenbigler (11th, Hempfield) and Condomitti were both fourth at 138 and 145lbs. That makes for some great wrestling in the early rounds.
Regional champion Antonio Petrucelli (12th, Owen J Roberts) landed in an awkward spot in the bracket. Jared Keslar (10th, Connellsville) pinned Petrucelli at Escape the Rock. They could be a round of 16 match. I think Condomitti, who is headed to Nebraska, is the class of this top bracket, but it won’t be easy for him.
Bottom Bracket:
The bottom bracket appears to be straight forward. Handlovic and Paniro Johnson (11th, Erie Cathedral Prep) should meet in the semifinals. I think Handlovic’s scramble and mat game will be the difference. Handlovic took a 6-2 decision in the third-place match at team state.
Prediction:
Cole Handlovic, 12th, Bethlehem Catholic over Jagger Condomitti, 11th, Northampton
2019 Results:
1st: Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic) DEC Cameron Robinson (Council Rock North), 3-2
3rd: A.j. Tamburrino (William Tennent) DEC Jagger Condomitti (Northampton), 3-1 SV
5th: Paniro Johnson (Erie Cathedral Prep) DEC Tate Nichter (Chambersburg), 7-3
7th: Brandon Connor (Wilson West Lawn) DEC Nathan Stefanik Nazareth, PA (Nazareth), 3-1