PIAA Preview: AAA Upperweight
PIAA Preview: AAA Upperweight
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.
Check out our lightweight preview
152
Overview:
Ed Scott (12th, DuBois) is the top seed and leads the way of several nationally ranked wrestlers at the weight. Scott could set up a feature match with Chase Saldate at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic with a title this weekend.
Top Bracket:
Scott, who will be wrestling for Pat Popolizio at NC State, sits in the top quarter and is a strong favorite. Watch for Jack McGill (11th, Spring Ford), he knocked off Tamburrino last week.
The bottom quarter is very interesting. AJ Tamburrino (12th, Hatboro Horsham) is nationally ranked and finished third a year ago. Matt Lackman (12th, Bethlehem Catholic) has the talent to beat almost anyone in the bracket but has battled injuries his entire career. Cole Spencer (11th, Pine Richland) earned a medal in 2018 before failing to qualify a year ago. I think Tamburrino comes out of the quarter, but don’t use anything permanent filling that in.
Bottom Bracket:
Cameron Robinson (12th, Council Rock North) was second a year ago. He could hit fellow two-time medalist Nathan Stefanik (12th, Nazareth) in the quarterfinal.
The top quarter seems to be wide open. Take your pick of who you like.
I like Robinson.
Prediction:
Ed Scott, 12th, DuBois over Cameron Robinson, 12th, Council Rock North
2019 Results:
1st: Daniel Mancini (Owen J. Roberts) MD Cam Connor (Kiski Area), 10-2
3rd: Tanner Updegraff (Hershey) DEC Cole Handlovic (Bethlehem Catholic), 8-5
5th: Colton Zimmerman (Carlisle) DEC Ethan Richner (Bellefonte), 11-9 SV
7th: Michael Kistler (Northampton) DEC Coltin Jezioro (Peters Township), 7-1
160
Overview:
Clayton Ulrey (12th, Lower Dauphin) is the top seed and returning runner-up. There are plenty of returning medalists in the field, with most of them sitting in the bottom bracket. You’ll want to tune into the early rounds here.
Top Bracket:
Virginia Tech commit Ulrey is the heavy favorite in the top quarter. Expect to see a potential future ACC rivalry matchup with Luca Augustine (11th, Waynesburg) in the semifinal. Augustine, who is heading to Pitt, is battle-tested with the Waynesburg schedule and has been in the national rankings at different points of the season. Augustine might have had his biggest win of the year in the regional final over Jack Blumer (12th, Kiski Area).
Bottom Bracket:
Four former medalists are in the bottom of the bracket and top guys will mix it up in the round of 16. Luke Nichter (12th, Chambersburg) split matches with Ulrey in the postseason. He’s a two-time medalist. He will take on Dillon Sheehy (12th, Council Rock North) in the round of 16. Sheehy is looking for his first medal in his third trip to the Giant Center.
The winner of the Nichter/Sheehy opener should see returning medalist and regional champion Connor Herceg (12th, Nazareth) in the quarters.
West Virginia commit Blumer and returning medalist Ethan Richner (11th, Bellefonte) should battle in the bottom quarter.
Several are capable of coming out of this half, but I like Blumer.
Prediction:
Clayton Ulrey, 12th, Lower Dauphin over Jack Blumer, 12th, Kiski
2019 Results:
1st: Trey Kibe (Mifflin County) DEC Clayton Ulrey (Lower Dauphin), 6-2
3rd: Jack Blumer (Kiski Area) DEC Luca Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic), 4-2
5th: Jake Richardson (Mars) DEC John Crawford (Strath Haven), 4-1
7th: Dylan Reinert (Gettysburg) DEC Connor Herceg Nazareth, PA (Nazareth), 7-1
170
Overview:
This is the bracket we’ve been watching for a long time. Everything came together and it’s showtime. Trey Kibe (11th, Mifflin County) is the top seed as a returning state champion. Congratulations Trey, you will be rewarded with the toughest path possible to your second state title. Lenny Pinto (11th, Stroudsburg), Dylan Reinert (12th, Gettysburg), Mac Stout (10th, Mt. Lebanon), and Angel Garcia (12th, Mariana Bracetti) are all ranked in the top 12 in the country, along with Kibe.
Top Bracket:
Kibe drew the short straw as he could see a path that includes returning medalist Nick Delp (12th, Kiski Area), Garcia and Stout en route to the finals. I like his matchups individually, but it would be a solid play to take the field with Kibe having plenty of challenges.
Bottom Bracket:
Pinto and Reinert have to like their positions in the bracket. Both Reinert and Pinto had eye-opening tournaments last year. Reinert pressed Kibe to sudden victory in the quarters, while Pinto gave Edmond Ruth all he could handle in the semifinals.
If you pick either guy from the bracket, I could be talked into agreeing with you. I’ll go with Reinert.
Prediction:
Dylan Reinert, 12th, Gettysburg over Trey Kibe, 11th, Mifflin County
2019 Results:
1st: Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon McMillan) DEC Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna), 8-3
3rd: Lenny Pinto (Stroudsburg) DEC Luke Nichter (Chambersburg), 11-4
5th: Maximus Hale (Downingtown West) DEC Angel Garcia (Mariana Bracetti), 3-1
7th: Dillon Keane (Bradford) DEC Nick Delp (Kiski Area), 8-4
182
Overview:
Gerrit Nijenhuis (12th, Canon-McMillan) is the top seed as a returning state champion. After last year’s performance, it will be hard for Nijuenhuis to top his own standard as he hits the mats at the Giant Center for the final time.
Top Bracket:
Joey Milano (11th, Spring Ford) was nationally ranked and undefeated going into the regional final. He dropped a match by fall to Maximus Hale (12th, Downingtown West) after defeating Hale in two tight bouts during the season. That set the bracket up with Milano and Nijenhuis both in the top quarter.
Bottom Bracket:
Hale and Drew Clearie (11th, Nazareth) headline the bottom bracket. They should meet in the quarters. They were 38lbs apart last year at this time as Hale was fifth at 170lbs and Clearie was sixth at 132lbs.
Prediction:
Gerrit Nijenhuis, 12th, Canon-McMillan over Maximus Hale, 12th, Downingtown West
2019 Results:
1st: Carter Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep) DEC Luke Stout (Mt. Lebanon), 7-1
3rd: Scott Joll (Belle Vernon) F Joey Milano (Spring-Ford), 0:50
5th: Brandon Matthews (Peters Township) DEC Tyler Mousaw (Unionville), 4-1
7th: Jeremy Seymour (West Scranton) DEC Dominic Falcone (Easton), 3-1 SV
195
Overview:
Luke Stout (12th, Mt. Lebanon) is looking for his state title. Twice he has taken home a medal, but not the one he wants. Stout enters as an overwhelming favorite.
Top Bracket:
Last year this weight class got blown up in the quarters. Everyone had Cole Urbas and Max Shaw penciled in for the finals. They met for third. I can’t see that happening to Stout. Go ahead and book him for the final.
Bottom Bracket:
Don’t let Luke Montgomery’s (12th, Bethel Park) five loss record keep you from picking him out of the bottom bracket. All five losses have come against Stout. Jacob Lucas (11th, Cumberland Valley) is the second seed and his only loss of the season came against 220lb SW Regional Champion Cole Weightman when he was down at 195lbs. I like Montgomery to set up a sixth appointment with Stout.
Prediction:
Luke Stout, 12th, Mt. Lebanon over Luke Montgomery, 12th, Bethel Park
2019 Results:
1st: Kyle Swartz (Northern York) DEC Donovon Ball (Cedar Cliff), 7-5
3rd: Max Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) DEC Cole Urbas (State College), 5-1
5th: Jameel Coles (Northeast) DEC Damen Moyer Bethlehem, PA (Liberty), 3-1 SV
7th: Luke Montgomery (Bethel Park) DEC Ethan Seeley (Great Valley), 8-1
220
Overview:
Last year Dorian Crosby (12th, Erie Cathedral Prep) experienced the highs and lows that go along with the state tournament. He knocked off Hunter Catka, only to be pinned in the semifinals by Andrew Balukas. Crosby had his high moment this season heading into the state tournament as he knocked off returning state champion Nate Schon (11th, Selinsgrove) in the regional finals. I expect to see part II Saturday evening. Will Crosby finish his career on top?
Top Bracket:
Crosby is the top seed and favorite, but don’t fill the bracket out in permanent ink. Cole Weightman (10th, Belle Vernon) will be working out of the fifth seed. Weightman has one loss on the year to Gaige Garcia. Weight has wins over several qualifiers at 195lbs and could be a real title threat here at 220.
Bottom Bracket:
As a regional champion you don’t expect a returning state champion in your quarter. You get even worse news when that state champion already pinned you this season. Chase Mielnik (12th, Downingtown West) will have to make adjustments if he hopes to change the outcome against Schon in Hershey.
Prediction:
Nate Schon, 11th, Selinsgrove over Dorian Crosby, 12th, Erie Cathedral Prep
2019 Results:
1st Nate Schon (Selinsgrove) MD Andrew Balukas (Easton), 14-1
3rd: Hunter Catka (Sun Valley) MD Dorian Crosby (Erie Cathedral Prep), 9-0
5th: Shane Noonan (Hazleton Area) DEC Nick Nittoli (Bangor), 3-2 UTB
7th: Jamal Brandon (Dallastown) DEC Ogden Atwood (Armstrong), 6-5
285
Overview:
Hunter Catka (12th, Sun Valley) is looking to climb back to the top of the podium. He is undefeated and ranked #1 in the country. Nationally ranked Isaiah Vance (11th, Hempfield) seems to be the biggest threat to Catka’s return to the top. Last year this was a senior-heavy weight class that kept a lot of wrestlers in this field from having experience in the Giant Center.
Top Bracket:
Catka is the heavy favorite with Karam Chakif (12th, Dieruff) and Robbie Unruh (12th, Exeter Township) as the other regional champions in the half.
Bottom Bracket:
Vance is the other former medalist is the field with Catka. Vance finished fourth a year ago. His only loss on the season was to National Prep Champion Cole Deery of Malvern Prep. Vance shouldn’t have a problem setting up the showdown with Catka Saturday evening.
Prediction:
Hunter Catka, 12th, Sun Valley over Isaiah Vance, 11th, Hempfield
2019 Results:
1st: Kawaun Deboe (Erie Cathedral Prep) DEC Jake Slinger (Upper St. Clair), 3-1
3rd: Michael Wolfgram (Central York) DEC Isaiah Vance (Hempfield), 9-3
5th: Raymond Christas (Dallastown) DEC Nathan Hoaglund (Mt. Lebanon), 3-0
7th: Kyler Wuestner (Lower Dauphin) DEC Coltin Deery (Garnet Valley), 5-3