The PIAA Championship is the best high school state tournament in the country. OK, I recognize my bias. Hershey has a special place in my heart, as I grew to love the sport in the seats of the old Hershey Park Arena. The state finals mark a special match in a wrestler’s career. The sting of a loss sticks with you for a long time, maybe longer than the euphoria that a title brings. No matter the outcome, it’s an unforgettable experience. 

This year’s finals had special moments: returning champs unseated, underdogs claiming the title, all-time careers capped with a state championship, local rivalries for the title. You can watch the full replays here with AA Parade of Champions starting at 54:36 and the AAA Parade of Champions starting at 5:55:00.

Part of my PIAA coverage goal is to mix historical pieces with the stories of today. History class will be in session as I will break down the 10 best PIAA championship bouts of the 1990s. This is my wheelhouse when it comes to eras. I was between fourth grade and a college freshman during these years. I wrestled in the 1996 and 1997 championships, I didn’t miss a session the years I wasn’t competing in either class, and the amount of time I spent watching the videos I had of the finals would be impossible to track. I don’t think there is a time in your life that sports mean more to you as a fan than those late elementary and middle school years. In the early ’90s, these wrestlers were bigger than Dan Marino or Ken Griffey Jr. to me. 

These are the top five championship finals from each class. 

AA

Honorable Mention:

1996 152lbs Joey Killar (Saucon Valley) dec. Rennie Rodarmel (Montoursville) 7-6

1999 David Patrick (Wyalusing) dec. Tom Waldron (Loyalsock) 8-6ot

1999 Mike Robinson (Benton) dec Brad Yoder (Southmoreland) 13-9

5: 1992 103lbs Jason Betz (Warrior Run) dec. Andy Levan (Pine Grove) 6-5tb

Jason Betz and Andy Levan had a great rivalry. Betz won his first two state titles over Levan in razor-thin bouts. Betz appeared to be on his way to four titles until disaster struck his senior season in the semifinals. 

Betz took control of this match in the third period with a takedown to lead 5-3 before it looked like the pressure of the situation was going to overwhelm him, He was called for a questionable stall warning, and followed it up with a locked hands call as he returned Levan with a double leg. With just five seconds remaining on the restart Levan was able to tie the match with an escape off of a granby. This was the first year of the sudden victory period followed by the 30-second tiebreaker. Levan was close to scoring at the buzzer, but Betz knew the position and the time on the clock. 

Betz won the disc toss and earned an escape for his first title. This appeared to be a bigger moment in PIAA history until Jeremy Lengle spladled Betz in the 1995 semifinal. Betz was on his way to a technical fall when Lengle caught the hail mary. Had Betz won his fourth title the Betz vs Levan matches would have gained a lot of historical significance.

4: 1993 140lbs Mike Garcia (Mount Carmel) dec. Brett Werkheiser (Wilson Area) 6-5

In an era where four-time placewinners were a rare occurrence, Mike Garcia turned the trick with three titles included on his resume. Garcia was a junior in this bout and a returning state champion from 130lbs, but he wasn’t a favorite in this bout. It was a true toss-up as he was wrestling returning 140lb state champion Brett Werkheiser. Werheiser ended up being a third runner-up in a row for Wilson under legendary coach Dave Crowell.

Garcia and Werkheiser split bouts in the postseason before this rubbermatch. Garcia took the District 11 (Mount Carmel now wrestles in District 4) final, and Werkheiser earned the Southeast Regional title. 

Garcia had a great front headlock and scored on it during the bout. Werkheiser tied the match with just over a minute to go at three. Werkheiser got over-aggressive with a tilt and Garcia was able to float his hips over for a reversal. Werkheiser answered back with a reversal of his own as he switched off a standup and was able to scoot the corner. With just 0:11 remaining Garcia scored the winning escape.

This bout is filled with connections to today’s Pennsylvania high school wrestling. Dave Crowell was in Werkheiser's corner, Powerade Tournament director Frank Vulcano was the official, and Mike Garcia is the father of Southern Columbia stars Gaige and Gavin Garcia.

3: 1991 130lbs Cary Kolat (Jefferson Morgan) fall Greg Budman (Hughesville) 1:16

No PIAA list would be complete with the omission of Cary Kolat. I don’t care which final you want to include, they all had their own special moments. I went with Kolat’s junior season final because of the opponent. 

Budman was the returning state champion at the weight. Kolat came right out to a Russian tie. An ill-advised spin-out led to Kolat’s takedown. When you consider what happened to Chris Bohn the next year in the final, maybe the spin out of the tie wasn’t so ill-advised. Kolat went right to work on top with a half and wrist to secure the fall in just 1:16.

In Kolat’s four finals he secured three falls and an injury default. An interesting sidenote to this bout is the quarterfinal where Cary Kolat dec Joel Torretti (Lewisburg) 12-5. Lewisburg was known for their top work at the time and Torretti received quite an ovation for putting a tough right on Kolat. In 16 bouts at the Hershey Park Arena Kolat had two decisions, five technical falls, two decisions, and an injury default.

2: 1991 112lbs Bob Crawford (Milton) dec. Brendan Hasara (Mahanoy Area) 13-11ot

If you’re a Pennsylvania wrestling fan from the ’90s and don’t have a special place in your heart for Bob Crawford, you’re probably a Nazareth fan. Crawford wrestled a wide-open funky style that was pleasing to watch. If you’re trying to introduce a young wrestler to fundamentals and basics, skip the Crawford matches. 

This match is on the list for many reasons. It had huge historical implications as it was Crawford’s first of four titles. There was history between Crawford and Mahanoy as Crawford took a dual loss in his second career bout to PIAA placewinner Jim Keck, before running off 133 straight wins, only losing again in the regional final his senior season to Dan Tashner. Spoiler, he beat Tashner the next weekend for the PIAA title. Now you factor in Crawford’s wrestling style. He was going to gun-sling and roll all over the mat. In the opening seconds, he got in a bad position with a whizzer. Hasara opened with two and two before Crawford answered with a reversal and his patented crab tight waist and half for his own set of nearfall.

This was back under the old overtime rules where we got a 1-1-1 match after regulation. 9-9 at the end of regulation turned into a 13-11ot victory. Crawford is a gem of Pennsylvania high school wrestling. He is currently an assistant at Milton and his son Kyler is a two-time PIAA qualifier.

1: 1994 125lbs Chris Marshall (Biglerville) dec. Mike Shingara (Line Mountain) 7-3sv

Pennsylvania is known for its wrestling prowess. When Virginia state champion Chris Marshall moved to Biglerville for his senior season it was an opportunity for him to prove how special he was. Marshall impressed all season long and was undefeated entering Saturday afternoon’s final. He was taking on super freshman Mike Shingara. 

Marshall took the lead 3-1 with a single leg takedown in the third period. Marshall surrendered the escape and Shingara pressed over the final minute and a half. With just three seconds remaining, Marshall was warned for stalling to tie the match at three. In sudden victory Marshall went to his inside trip taking Shingara to his back, but Shingara was so strong he was able to power out of the position. Shingara ran out of real estate before being able to secure his own takedown. Marshall came right back to his inside trip to win the bout 7-3sv. 

Historically this was significant as Shingara went on to win three PIAA Championships. Marshall went on to be a two-time All American at Central Michigan after transferring from Clarion. Ironically, it was a late stall call against Marshall that kept him out of the NCAA final in 1999. Everyone not wearing black and gold didn’t like the call as Doug Schwab took advantage of the opportunity and scored a takedown in sudden victory to defeat Marshall.

About a decade after this match I had the opportunity to work a camp with Chris Marshall. It was interesting to hear his perspective on the matches. One thing that stuck with him was the strength of Shingara. He said Shingara was the strongest guy he ever wrestled. That is saying something as Shingara was just a freshman at the time. 

AAA

Honorable Mention:

1992 145lbs Jeff Catrabone (Harbor Creek) dec. Keilan O’Daniel (Canon McMillan) 9-7

1995 130lbs Terrance Jeffries (Erie Prep) dec. Jason LaMotta (Conestoga) 9-7

1996 125lbs Rob Loper (Erie Prep) dec Bob Patnesky (Canon McMillan) 12-8

1997 103lbs Mike Khan (Harrisburg) dec. Troy Minarovic (Parkland) 4-4tb

5: 1995 140lbs Chamie Hooks (Kittanning) dec. Eric Greshko (Easton) 10-8

This bout made the list on action and controversy. Hooks was jumped out to a big lead using two nearside cradles for sets of nearfall. After falling behind 9-1 Greshko stuck with the game plan. The game plan was simple, get to a cement job. In the two cradles Greshko threatened Hooks in the position, but wasn’t quite able to elevate the hips. 

Hooks led 10-3 when Greshko finally got to his position. The last :12 of the match Hooks spent it fighting for his life. He was planted right away and then it appeared he lost his elbow prop in the waning seconds. Had Hooks not dominated the action throughout I don’t think the official would have had such a long look at the fall. This call is one of the great debates of the era. I would have called the fall.

4: 1990 119lbs Ty Moore (North Allegheny) fall Rian Youwakim (Northampton) 3:34

This was more of a coronation than a great bout, but you have to include Moore in your list. I prefer his win over Silimperi his sophomore season, but it was in the ’80s.

Moore was a pinner and he went out in style. These North Allegheny teams are legendary and always come up in the debate about the best of all-time in the state of Pennsylvania. Moore was outstanding against his high school peers and pinned TJ Jaworsky in the Dapper Dan to place the cherry on a sterling high school career.

3: 1997 119lbs Anthony Rivera (Shikellamy) dec. Michael Pirozzola (Neshaminy) 7-6

This bout checks all the boxes: rivalry, historical significance, great action. These two combined for seven finals appearances and each picked up two titles. In 1996, a freshman  Rivera lost in the finals as he took on a senior Jeremy Hunter (McGuffey). This bout was Pirozzola’s freshman year, and he came with lofty expectations from his youth career.

Rivera and Pirozzola met in the semifinals at the Manheim Holiday Classic and Pirozzola picked up a first-period fall over Rivera. Pirozzola came out firing in the PIAA final, scoring two quick takedowns. It looked like the bout could get away from Rivera until he answered with a takedown and rideout to go into the second period 4-4. 

A go behind for Rivera with about a minute remaining was the difference in the bout. Ironically, Pirozzola scored the opening takedown on the low single that he missed leading to Rivera’s go behind. 

2: 1993 103lbs Jeremy Hunter (McGuffey) dec. Teague Moore (North Allegheny) 6-4sv

Two future NCAA Champions don’t often square off for a high school state championship. Moore and Hunter have incredible career resumes, it’s almost unbelievable that Moore won only one PIAA title. 

This was the first of four PIAA titles for Hunter. He had two losses on the season and in his career. Moore took the Southwest Regional final before Hunter won the state title.

The bout was controlled by Hunter as he scored a first-period takedown and rideout. He led 4-1 into the third with Moore having choice. Moore closed it to 4-2 before scoring the tying takedown with :20 remaining. It was just the second year of the sudden victory and rideout format. The sudden victory period was still two minutes long. Hunter converted a sweep single in the second half of the period and the rest is history. 

1: 1991 119lbs Bob Crawford (Milton) dec. Ryan Nunamaker (Nazareth) 15-11ot

You already got the story on Crawford and why I like him from the AA side. He won one title in AA before moving to AAA to run off three straight. Just like his AA final that made the list, all boxes are checked. This was a rivalry match that Crawford won the regional final 14-12, the free wheeling style that drives coaches crazy was on full display, and it was title number two of four for Crawford. To sweeten it for the AA guys, Crawford came up to shut up the AA haters.

Crawford was no stranger to trailing in matches. He fell behind 5-0 quickly, that's no problem for Crawford. He escaped, got into a really bad position and it looked like he could fall into a 7-1 or 10-1 hole. Still not phased he elevated and rolled through to get a takedown and two nearfall to tie the bout. He then proceeded to ride out Nunamaker the entire third period. Still under the 1-1-1 overtime rules Crawford used a headlock off of Nunamaker’s underhook pancake attempt. The five-point move proved to be the difference. 

Do yourself a favor and track these matches down. You won’t be disappointed.