Cover the hockey rink, roll out the mats and pack Hershey Park’s Giant Center with some of the rawest fans in the sport. It’s time for the Pennsylvania state tournament!

Once again we are unfortunately given some early round battles that we would love to see come later in the tournament, but nonetheless the action from start to finish will keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

This year’s PIAA Class AAA field features four of the country’s top-ranked wrestlers in their respective weight class in addition to 21 guys who are ranked in the top 20.

Iowa-bound senior Michael Kemerer will look to become a four-time state finalist as his teammates Spencer Lee and Devin Brown look to claim another title. Another theme that everyone has had their eye on this season is how Bethlehem Catholic fairs at the state level with their ascent up to the 3A level.

After claiming Class AA titles a season ago, Jake Reigel and Luke Karam will attempt to repeat. Fellow Golden Hawk Andrew Dunn, ranked 3rd at 285 after moving up from 220 for the post-season, is in the hunt for his first title after a depressing third place finish a season ago.

Sam Krivus will be eyeing another title after his fourth place finish last year as Cam Koy attempts to deny him his second title to claim a second one of his own.

Up and comers Matty Parker and Sammy Sasso are looking to make some history at their firs state tournament as well. Parker may have an easier road with Riley Palmer missing this season. And Sasso will certainly have his hands full with one of the pound-for-pound best in Lee.

But enough of the banter, let’s get to the weight-by-weight breakdown.


106



Top Contenders
#17-Matty Parker, Pennridge
Tyson Klump, Nazareth
Caleb Morris, Waynesburg
Cole Manley, Altoona
Will Kaldes, Cumberland Valley
Job Chishko, Penn Trafford
Logan Macri, Canon McMillan
Luke Werner, Liberty

Round 1 must-see match-up
Kaldes vs Macri

Commentary: After not getting to see Palmer and Parker meet at ETR, we were champing at the bit to see it in the post-season. But like I stated above, having Palmer miss weight is a huge heartbreaker. But the field of competition is still just as tough. Parker is the favorite to come out of the top half of the bracket. However, it will not be easy with Nazareth’s Tyson Klump and Penn Trafford’s Job Chishko waiting in the wing for the Lehigh verbal commit. Parker and Klump could hit in the quarters with a possible meeting with Chishko coming in the semis.

The bottom half has Morris, Werner and Manley along with Kaldes and Macri who meet in the prelims. When it all shakes out, Morris and Manley should be the getting ready to face off in the semis. The nod here goes to Manley to make the final where Parker will be waiting.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Parker 2. Manley 3. Morris  4. Chishko
Willie’s picks: 1. Parker   2. Kaldes  3. Werner  4. Manley


113



Top Contenders
#8-Devin Brown, Franklin Regional - 2x State 2A Champ
Austin DeSanto, Exeter
Danny Moran, Northampton - Returning Runner-Up
Kordell Rush, Pennridge
KJ Fenstermacher, Liberty
Charlie Lennox, McDowell
Gage Curry, North Hills
Dustin Steffinino, Upper Perkiomen

Round 1 must-see match-ups
Moran vs Rush
Lennox vs Curry

Commentary: The top half of this bracket is absolutely crazy. Brown, the returning champ here and Moran, the returning runner-up, could potentially meet a round earlier this year in the semis. But don’t overlook Rush, who meets Moran in the first round, and DeSanto, who has looked incredible this year and also owns a win over Moran from ETR. For me, DeSanto is my favorite to come out of the top and possibly take the whole thing.

Now the hammers in the bottom half will definitely have just as tough of a time. The first round match-up with Lennox and Curry will be fireworks from the start, which I see going to Curry. Curry’s quarterfinal bout with Fenstermacher, who will have to come out firing in his state tournament appearance, will also be a match to watch. Top nor bottom, there’s not an easy route here.

Holmes’ picks: 1. DeSanto 2. Curry 3. Brown 4. Moran
Willie’s picks: 1. Brown  2. Fenstermacher  3. DeSanto  4. Moran


120



Top Contenders
#1-Spencer Lee, Franklin Regional - Returning Champ
#20-Sammy Sasso, Nazareth
Tyshawn White, Central Dauphin - Returning 3rd
Derek Gulotta, Owen J. Roberts
Jake Reigel, Bethlehem Catholic - Returning 2A Champ
Brett Kulp, Exeter
Mikey Scheetz, Northampton
Ryan Hayes, Springford
Zach Hartman, Belle Vernon

Round 1 must-see match-up
Kulp vs Hayes

Commentary: Umm…Spencer Lee. Not much else to be said besides that. However, we could see a match up between returning state champs Lee and Reigel, who won a Class AA title at 106 last season. But honestly, Lee is a different class. Another interesting match-up to watch is the quarterfinal between phenomenal freshman Sasso and returning placer Tyshawn White. White may have the experience, but Sasso has looked incredible so far this post-season. He dominated Scheetz in back-to-back finals with scores of 13-0 and 15-0 to claim his first District and Region titles. White also owns wins over Scheetz, which came at last year’s tournament, but they definitely were not on that level. I’m going to give the nod to the youngster.

Even more interesting is the potential meeting between Hartman and Gulotta in the other quarterfinal. I’m particularly intrigued by the all freshman semis between Hartman and Sasso, but we will see if Hartman can handle Gulotta first.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Lee 2. Sasso 3. Kulp 4. Hartman
Willie’s picks: 1. Lee  2. Sasso  3. White  4. Hartman

126



Top Contenders
#12-Luke Karam, Bethlehem Catholic - Returning 2A Champ
Wade Cummings, Downingtown East
Ethan McCoy, Greater Latrobe
Jacob Lizak, Parkland
Zack Trampe, Council Rock South
Chandler Olsen, Shippensburg
Owen Wherley, South Western

Round 1 must-see match-up
Wherley vs Trampe

Commentary: With Gus Solomon out for the post-season, it becomes a becomes a one horse race with returning AA state champ Luke Karam sitting on top of the bracket. I’m not saying that it will be easy for Karam by any means, but Solomon already owns a win over Karam and would have been his biggest threat in the bracket. But the rest of the field will certainly not just hand the title to Karam. Chandler Olsen should meet Karam in the semis and will definitely give him fits.

On the other side Ethan McCoy and Zack Trampe will be an incredible quarterfinal should Trampe get by Wherley in the first round. Coming out on that side will most likely be McCoy to meet Karam in the final.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Karam 2. McCoy 3. Olsen 4. Trampe
Willie’s picks: 1. Karam  2. McCoy 3. Trampe  4. Wherley


132



Top Contenders
#2-AC Headlee, Wayneburg - Returning 3rd
#3-Luke Pletcher, Greater Latrobe - 2x State Champ
Evan Fidelibus, Easton
Josh Stillings, Pennridge
Joey Gould, Bethlehem Catholic
Garrett Kyner, Chambersburg
Colin Cronin, Upper Darby
Chad Haegele, Archbishop Wood

Round 1 must-see match-up
Stillings vs Haegele

Commentary: The Pletcher vs Headlee rematch is looming here. We had to wait all season to see the match finally happen and as expected it was close and low scoring. Headlee, who had the number 1 spot for about a week, took out Pletcher a week ago and now will seek to repeat the feat to win a state title. But if Pletcher has his way, he will be adding another state title to his resumé.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Pletcher 2. Headlee 3. Fidelibus 4. Stillings
Willie’s picks: 1. Pletcher  2. Headlee  3. Fidelibus  4. Cronin

138



Top Contenders
#1-Sam Krivus, Hempfield - 2013 State Champ
#8-Cam Coy, Penn Trafford - Returning State Champ
#17-Zach Elvin
Tren Hidlay, Mifflin County
David Rump, Chambersburg
Demetri D’Orsaneo, Owen J. Roberts
Dom Giannangeli, Franklin Regional
Eric Thomas, Interboro

Round 1 must-see match-up
Rump vs Thomas

Commentary: The top two guys here are clearly Krivus and Coy. Krivus, who placed fourth last season, defeated Coy, the return champ to claim the region title a week ago as well as defeating him in the Powerade finals this season, too. But each time they meet it’s close with the latest score being 4-3. Naturally the edge goes to Krivus to take the title here. The road to that title will surely not be easy though. Krivus will have to go through Trent Hidlay and David Rump if the Chambersburg senior can pass his first round test against Eric Thomas.

Coy will also have a tough time returning to the final in the lower half of the bracket. A potential quarterfinal match-up with Elvin could precede a meeting with D’Orsaneo in the semis.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Krivus 2. Coy 3. Elvin 4. Rump
Willie’s picks: 1. Krivus  2. Coy   3. Elvin  4. D'Orsaneo


145



Top Contenders
#1-Michael Kemerer, Franklin Regional - 3x State Runner-Up
#5-Pat Duggan, Cumberland Valley - 2013 State Runner-Up
#6-Hayden Hidlay, Mifflin County
#10-Jared Verkleeren, Belle Vernon
Dom Petrucelli, Owen J. Roberts
Jimmy Saylor, Easton

Round 1 must-see match-up
Petrucelli vs Jonathan Ross, Northern York

Commentary: Just about every tournament that Kemerer enters, he is a favorite to be in the finals. It’s actually pretty rare not to see him in the finals and this year it’s no different as he seeks to become a four-time state finalist. Not only will he be seeking another finals appearance, but he will look to get rid of the memory of being pinned by Vincezo Joseph in OT of last year’s 138-pound final. He has looked incredible this year and is definitely on his way to claiming his second title. A Powerade finals rematch with Hidlay will be coming in the quarterfinals for Kemerer. Last time they met Kemerer won 5-2.

Also in the way of another title is Duggan who will be looking to make his way out of the bottom of the 145-pound bracket. Duggan will have a great match-up with Verkleeren, who was pinned in the region finals by Kemerer last week.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Kemerer 2. Duggan 3. Hidlay 4. Verkleeren
Willie’s picks: 1. Kemerer  2. Duggan  3. Hidlay  4. Verkleeren


152



Top Contenders
#2-Vincenzo Joseph, Pittsburg CC - Returning State Champ
#7-Josh Maruca, Franklin Regional - Returning 3rd
#8-Kaleb Young, Punxsutawney
Ethan Stever, Exeter
Mikey Labriola, Bethlehem Catholic
Nino Bonaccorsi, Bethel Park
Kazim Bakhriyev, Scranton

Round 1 must-see match-up
Young vs Bonaccorsi

Commentary: Joseph is the clean cut favorite here. The returning champ shouldn’t have to tough of a time claiming another title. The field does have some of the country’s top competitors with Maruca and Young. But the guy to keep an eye on at the Giant Center is Labriola. The sophomore owns a win over Maruca, who he could see in the semis, and can cause some trouble in his half of the bracket. Also looking to give some guys a headache are Ethan Stever and Kazim Bakhriyev, who defeated Labriola to win the Northeast Regional title. But don’t be surprised to see Labriola come out of the bottom half to face Joseph.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Joseph 2. Labriola 3. Maruca 4. Young
Willie’s picks: 1. Joseph 2. Maruca  3. Young  4. Labriola


160



Top Contenders
#2-Josh Shields, Franklin Regional - Returning Runner-Up
Cody Cordes, Wyoming Valley West
Josh Shalinsky, Council Rock North
Bailey Shutt, Lower Dauphin
Noah Stewart, Mifflin County
Paul Dunn, Bethel Park - Returning 3rd

Round 1 must-see match-up
Dunnvs Jonah Barley, Penn Manor

Commentary: Not too sure who will be able to keep up with Shields here. The undefeated senior has a serious advantage of the field. In the lower part of the bracket it looks to be a two horse race with Dunn and Cody Cordes to meet Shields in the final.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Shields 2. Cordes 3. Shalinsky 4. Shutt
Willie’s picks: 1. Shields 2. Dunn  3. Cordes  4. Stewart

170



Top Contenders
#19-DJ Hollingshead, Altoona
Kyle Gentile, Pennridge
TeShan Campbell, Penn Hills
Jared Siegrist, Manheim Central
Austin Bell, Belle Vernon
Drew Peck, Chambersburg
Idris White, Father Judge
Matt Mirth, Southern Lehigh

Round 1 must-see match-up
Peck vs Bell

Commentary: This will be a very interesting bracket. TeShan Campbell defeated previously ranked Austin Bell in the final of the Southwest Regional final. Drew Peck has a 1-0 win over Idris White from ETR. And Jared Siegrist shut out Peck in the South Central Region finals a week ago. So there is plenty of familiarity within this bracket. Hollingshead is the favorite in the bottom half but will have his hands full. Bell and Peck meet in the first round with the winner moving on to most likely meet Hollingshead in the quarters. But the two that will meet in the final should be Hollingshead and Gentile.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Hollingshead 2. Gentile 3. Campbell 4. Peck
Willie’s picks: 1. Hollingshead  2. Campbell  3. Siegrist  4. Mirth

182



Top Contenders
#11-Kellan Stout, Mt. Lebanon - Returning Runner-Up
Jake Jakobsen, Stroudsburg
Gregg Harvey, Boyertown
Evan Wilson, CB East
Josh Colello, Cedar Cliff
Jared Wehrmann, Wallenpaupack
Milton Kobaly, Belle Vernon

Round 1 must-see match-up
Harvey vs Wehrmann


Commentary: Lehigh verbal commit Jakobsen has been dominant the entire year and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. The top half of the bracket should be well managed by the Stroudsburg junior with his toughest match coming in the semis against Evan Wilson on his way to the championship. The bottom half should be well in hand by Kellan Stout with an eventual meeting between him and Jakobsen coming in the final.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Stout 2. Jakobsen 3. Wilson 4. Harvey
Willie’s picks: 1. Stout  2. Jakobsen  3. Colello  4. Kobaly


195



Top Contenders
#6-Jan Johnson, Governor Mifflin - Returning State Champ
Tommy Rayhart, Big Spring
Drew Phipps, Norwin
Francis Duggan, Cumberland Valley
Matt Wagner, Delaware Valley
John Callahan, Freedom
Thomas Alcaro, Emmaus

Round 1 must-see match-up
Phipps vs Alcaro

Commentary: Returning champ Johnson has been slowed down already by taking a loss to Rayhart in the District 3 quarters. Rayhart has the momentum here, which will have Johnson seeking revenge. But he will have to make it back to the final for a potential rematch sine they are in opposite sides of the bracket. But I’m not too sure that will happen with Phipps looking to stop that momentum. Phipps will have a very game opponent in Alcaro in the first round that will give him trouble. The bottom half we will have a potential match-up between Duggan, who also lost to Rayhart, and Johnson that could come in the semis.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Rayhart 2. Duggan 3. Phipps 4. Johnson
Willie’s picks: 1. Rayhart  2. Wagner  3. Johnson  4. Phipps


220



Top Contenders
#1-Jordan Wood, Boyertown - Returning Runner-Up
Omar Haddad, Parkland
Andrew Gunning, Liberty
Tyler Worthing, Kiski
Seth Janney, Southwestern
Fred Mantsch, Hempfield
Andrew Boob, Selinsgrove

Round 1 must-see match-up
Haddad vs Zeb Pfeiffer, Penn Manor

Commentary: It’s great to see top-ranked Jordan Wood back on the mat after being out with injury for most of the season. He’s pretty much in the driver’s seat here. Seth Janney should emerge from the top to take on Wood, but I’m not sure he will be able to upset Wood.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Wood 2. Janney 3. Worthing 4. Haddad
Willie’s picks: 1. Wood  2. Worthing  3. Mantsch  4. Boob


285



Top Contenders
#3-Andrew Dunn, Bethlehem Catholic - Returning 2A 3rd
#15-Bo Spiller, Solanco 
Ryan Monk, Dallas
Tommy Killoran, Boyertown
Tyler Mears, Greater Latrobe

Round 1 must-see match-up
Austin McGuire, Warwick vs Louis Mauro, Connellsville

Commentary: Dunn is in a serious hunt for his first state title about a heartbreak loss in last year’s semis. It will be a competitive ride for both Dunn and Spiller on their way to the final where they should meet. Dunn has some very impressive wins this year which I feel gives him the edge.

Holmes’ picks: 1. Dunn 2. Spiller 3. Monk 4. Killoran
Willie’s picks: 1. Dunn  2. Spiller 3. Mears  4. Monk