2024 PIAA Boys and Girls Individual State Wrestling Championship

PIAA AA Upper Weight Preview

PIAA AA Upper Weight Preview

Preview of the heavyweights (152-285) for the Boys 2024 PIAA AA State Championships.

Mar 6, 2024 by Mason Lindenmuth
PIAA AA Upper Weight Preview

The PIAA Wrestling Championships return to FloWrestling March 7-9 LIVE from the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. All bouts will be streamed live starting with AA on Thursday morning at 9 am EST. AAA gets underway at 4 pm Thursday afternoon. This four-part series will preview each bracket for lightweights (107-145) and heavyweights (152-285) on both the AA and AAA sides. AA release will be followed by AAA. Check into the event hub for all written and video content. Interactive brackets will be live on FloArena.

2024 PIAA Brackets, Results, and Schedule

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152

Returning Qualifiers: (13)

Rudy Brown, 12th, Burgettstown (2022)

Brady Collins, 11th, Clearfield

Cody Hamilton, 11th, Grove City

Trent Hoover, 12th, Penn Cambria

Cole Hubert, 11th, Saucon Valley

Chance Kimmy, 12th, General McLane

Damon Michaels, 12th, Elizabeth Forward (2021)

Cameron Milheim, 11th, Warrior Run

Joey Ney, 12th, Biglerville

Max Stein, 11th, Faith Christian Academy

Caullin Summers, 12th, Sharpsville

Ty Watson, 12th, Penns Valley

Gage Wentzel, 10th, Montoursville

Returning Medalists: (8)

Cameron Milheim, 11th, Warrior Run 2nd 152

Brady Collins, 11th, Clearfield 4th 139

Cole Hubert, 11th, Saucon Valley 5th 114

Gage Wentzel, 10th, Montoursville 5th 145

Max Stein, 11th, Faith Christian Academy 6th 132 (2022)

Ty Watson, 12th, Penns Valley 6th 152

Cody Hamilton, 11th, Grove City 8th 145

Caullin Summers, 12th, Sharpsville 8th 152

Here we find ourselves with another bracket with a whole lot of depth. 13 returning qualifiers along with 8 returning medalists should make for a tough weekend at 152 pounds! 

Top Bracket:

#4 Cameron Milheim was the runner-up at this weight a year ago after dropping the final to Harer for the sixth time last season. He is on a loaded top half of the bracket that includes #2 Melvin Miller, #3 Brady Collins, and #9 Caullin Summers. Milheim will be favored to make the semis out of the top quarter. The bottom quarterfinal though should be fun as we will likely see a rematch from the Mid Winter Mayhem final between Collins and Miller. Miller won that one late with a 3-1 decision but Collins had his opportunities to score before Miller showed off some of his crazy athleticism. I will take Miller to win that one again to make the semifinal against Milheim. Despite Milheim having the experience advantage, Miller is #7 in the country currently for a reason after winning Fargo and Super 32 titles in the offseason and is my pick to make the finals out of the top half of the bracket. 

Bottom Bracket:

Five wrestlers in the bottom bracket have earned medals in the past. #1 Max Stein finished sixth two seasons ago before just missing the podium last season. He is favored to make the top quarterfinal here where he will meet the winner between two other returning place winners in either #8 Ty Watson or #5 Gage Wentzel. That bout could be very tight but I’ll take Wentzel. Stein will be the favorite to make the top semifinal against either Watson or Wentzel however. Down below interestingly #10 Cole Hubert is the highest returning place winner but that was down at 114 pounds last season where he finished 5th. #6 Trent Hoover will be looking for his first state medal this weekend and will be favored to make that bottom quarterfinal. #7 Cody Hamilton has had an excellent season and is my pick to make the semifinals after defeating Hoover in the bottom quarter. Once Stein and Hamilton meet up in the semifinals it really could go either way, but Stein has proven to win in big moments and is my pick to make the finals out of the bottom half of the bracket. 

Miller and Stein met last month in the Team State Championship Final between Bishop McCort and Faith Christian Academy. Miller had several opportunities to score including a takedown that was awarded just after the buzzer at the end of the third period that was eventually wiped off to send the match to sudden victory. Stein was then able to take advantage and countered a single leg by Miller with an ankle pick and put Miller to his back for the takedown and three nearfall to win 6-1 in sudden victory. Despite the headiness and overall body awareness Stein showed in that match to pick up the upset over Miller, I believe Miller will be able to clean up his finishes this time and get the win for a state title as a freshman. 

Prediction: Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort) over Max Stein (Faith Christian Academy)

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2023 Results:

152 LBS

1st Conner Harer (Montgomery) DEC Cameron Milheim (Warrior Run), 3-2

3rd Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian Academy) DEC Max Bluhm (Lackawanna Trail), 5-1

5th Liam Scrivanich (Saucon Valley) DEC Ty Watson (Penns Valley), 5-1

7th Steffan Lynch (North East) DEC Caullin Summers (Sharpsville), 4-2

160

Returning Qualifiers: (11)

Kaden Barnhart, 12th, River Valley

Reece Bechakas, 12th, Kane

Story Buchanan, 12th, Girard

Ryan Celaschi, 11th, Frazier

Chase Frameli, 12th, Jefferson Morgan

Conner Harer, 12th, Montgomery

Danny Haubert, 12th, Palisades

Tyler Morrison, 11th, West Perry

Isaiah Pisano, 12th, Hopewell

JoJo Przybycien, 12th, Fort LeBoeuf

Cael Weidemoyer, 10th, Faith Christian Academy

Returning Medalists: (4)

Conner Harer, 12th, Montgomery 1st 152

Cael Weidemoyer, 10th, Faith Christian Academy 3rd 152

JoJo Przybycien, 12th, Fort LeBoeuf 4th 126 (2022)

Tyler Morrison, 11th, West Perry 6th 139

2022 and 2023 PIAA Champion and Rutgers commit Conner Harer will be looking to close out his high school career wit his third PIAA Championship this weekend. 

Top Bracket:

Harer is 51-0 and the top seed in this bracket and will likely dominate to the semifinals on the top side. The bottom half could get interesting however, as #5 Tyler Morrison and #6 JoJo Przybycien, two returning medalists will meet in the round of 16. I believe Przybycien will take that matchup and will likely hit #2 Devon Magro in the quarterfinals.  Magro has been excellent this year and will be the favorite to take out Przybycien to meet Harer in the semifinals in a rematch of a final from the Mid Winter Mayhem. Harer won that matchup back in January 3-2. Harer has proven time and time again in his career that he is a pro at this point of winning close matches and I believe he will do it here again to make his third final in three years. 

Bottom Bracket:

#7 Story Buchanan had an excellent Northwest Region tournament where he was able to avenge two prior losses to Przybycien and win the regional title. Buchanan will be looking for his first state medal this weekend and put himself in great position to do so. Buchanan will likely meet #8 Hudson Ward in the top quarterfinal which I believe he will come out on top of to make the semifinals. #3 Cael Weidemoyer was third a year ago and is the favorite out of the bottom side where he will likely have to go through two three-time state qualifiers in #9 Reece Bechakas and #10 Isaiah Pisano. Once in the semifinals, Weidemoyer will be favorited to make the finals against Harer. 

These two met last year in the semifinals with Harer coming out on top with a 4-1 decision. Harer is a proven winner and I will not be picking against him to win his third-straight PIAA crown. 

Prediction: Conner Harer (Montgomery) over Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian Academy)

2023 Results:

160 LBS

1st Grant MacKay (Laurel) DEC Hunter Hohman (Grove City), 5-0

3rd Deegan Ross (Lackawanna Trail) MAJ Collin Hearn (Conneaut), 8-0

5th Luke Sugalski (Faith Christian Academy) DEC Jagger Gray (Trinity), 3-2

7th Justice Hockenberry-Folk (West Perry) DEC Zeke Dubler (Glendale), 3-2

172

Returning Qualifiers: (10)

Anthony DeAngelo, 12th, Trinity

Caden Finck, 12th, Montgomery

Luke Fugazzotto, 10th, Northwestern Lehigh

Alex Hoffman, 12th, Milton

Hunter Hohman, 12th, Grove City

Carmine Lenzi, 11th, Berks Catholic

Keegan Ramsay, 11th, Notre Dame Green Pond

Kyle Scott, 10th, Tyrone

Adam Waters, 10th, Faith Christian Academy

Braedon Welsh, 11th, Fort Cherry

Returning Medalists: (4)

Adam Waters, 10th, Faith Christian Academy 1st 172

Hunter Hohman, 12th, Grove City 2nd 160

Braedon Welsh, 11th, Fort Cherry 4th 172

Caden Finck, 12th, Montgomery 5th 172

Adam Waters became just the fourth freshman to win a PIAA title at 172 pounds and above last season. Waters finished off his 44-1 freshman campaign with a fall in the finals over returning PIAA champion Holden Garcia to win the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the AA class. Waters will look to repeat this weekend for his second PIAA crown. 

Top Bracket:

#1 Waters is the class of this weight and will likely dominate to the semifinals. Carmine Lenzi is the only returning qualifier in the bottom quarter of the top bracket and will likely wrestle #6 Eljah Brown in the round of 16. Brown is favored to make it to the semifinals out of the bottom quarter. Brown has had a great season but will not be enough for Waters, who is currently #6 in the nation. Waters will make his second straight PIAA final. 

Bottom Bracket:

The bottom half of this bracket is a lot more exciting. #3 and returning medalist Caden Finck will meet the winner between #9 Kyle Scott and #10 Andrew Wolfanger in the round of 16. Finck will likely see #4 Keegan Ramsay in the top quarter in which he will have the slight edge in and is my pick to make the semifinals. #5 Luke Fugazzatto and #7 and returning fourth-place finisher Braedon Welsh will hit in the round of 16 with the winner likely seeing #2 Hunter Hohman in the quarterfinals. Hohman was a runner-up a year ago and is favored to make the bottom semifinal. Finck and Hohman have not met this year, but Hohman’s only loss to a Pennsylvania competitor this year was a 5-4 loss to #2 in AAA Vaughn Spencer so he is my pick to meet Waters in the finals. 

Both of these guys were in the state finals a year ago, however, Waters has competed on some of the highest levels of the sport at this age and typically fairs best in the big moments. Waters sent a roar around the Giant Center last year when he threw a lefty headlock in the finals to win by fall. After watching that, Waters is my pick here. 

Prediction: Adam Waters (Faith Christian) over Hunter Hohman (Grove City)

2023 Results:

172 LBS

1st Adam Waters (Faith Christian Academy) F Holden Garcia (Notre Dame Green Pond), 1:32

3rd Waylon Wehler (St. Marys) DEC Braedon Welsh (Fort Cherry), 5-2

5th Caden Finck (Montgomery) FOR Jalen Wagner (Reynolds)

7th Caleb Close (Bald Eagle Area) DEC Lucas Lawler (Bishop McDevitt), 1-0

189

Returning Qualifiers: (12)

Carter Chamberlain, 12th, Clearfield

Caleb Close, 11th, Bald Eagle Area

Vitali Daniels, 12th, Bentworth

Garrett Garcia, 12th, Southern Columbia (2022)

Mason Higley, 11th, Towanda

Lucas Lawler, 11th, Bishop McDevitt

Magnus Lloyd, 12th, General McLane

Conner McChesney, 12th, Fort LeBoeuf

Andrew McMonagle, 12th, Huntingdon

Kaden Rodarmel, 12th, Loyalsock

Cody Wagner, 12th, Faith Christian Academy (2022)

Augustus Warke, 12th, Schuylkill Haven

Returning Medalists: (6)

Vitali Daniels, 12th, Bentworth 4th 215

Garrett Garcia, 12th, Southern Columbia 5th 172 (2022)

Magnus Lloyd, 12th, General McLane 6th 189

Caleb Close, 11th, Bald Eagle Area 7th 172

Lucas Lawler, 11th, Bishop McDevitt 8th 172

Carter Chamberlain, 12th, Clearfield AAA 8th 189 (2022)

Top Bracket:

#1 Caleb Close has been eighth and seventh the last two seasons respectively and is looking to run the table to his first state title. Close is the heavy favorite to make the semifinals out of the top quarter. Returning medalist and #4 Magnus Lloyd is favored to reach the bottom quarter where he will likely meet the winner between #3 Garrett Garcia and #7 Vitali Daniels. Both of these guys are returning medalists as Daniels was fourth last season up at 215 while Garcia was fifth two years ago and missed all of last season. These two met earlier in the year and it was Garcia who won an 8-0 major decision so he is my pick to meet Close in the top semifinal. Close and Garcia have not met to my knowledge and although Garcia missed all of last season, he has not missed a beat this year as he is 30-0. Despite that, I believe Close has the advantage here as he has been more tested this season and has been very dominant. Close is my pick to make the finals out of the top half. 

Bottom Bracket:

Carter Chamberlain won the Northwest Region last weekend with a big win over #4 Magnus Lloyd in the semifinals. He will likely meet #2 Andrew McMonagle in the top quarterfinal. McMonagle has a win over #1 Close earlier this season despite dropping two matches to him since and is my favorite to make the semifinals. Out of the bottom quarterfinal, it will likely be returning medalist and #5 Lucas Lawler making the semifinal against McMonagle. I have McMonagle winning this semifinal and getting his fourth crack at Close this season. 

As I mentioned before, Close leads the series between these two 2-1 this season and has won two over the last three weeks. I believe Close is the best guy in this bracket and will extend his lead in the series to 3-1 en route to his third state medal and his first state title. 

Prediction: Caleb Close (Bald Eagle Area) over Andrew McMonagle (Huntingdon)

2023 Results:

189 LBS

1st Rune Lawrence (Frazier) F Jackson Zimmerman (Brookville), 2:42

3rd Jakob Gilfoil (Bishop McDevitt) F Rowan Holmes (Somerset), 2:46

5th Jacob Jones (Saucon Valley) F Magnus Lloyd (General McLane), 0:54

7th Jason Singer (Faith Christian Academy) F Jake Scheib (Tri-Valley), 4:59

215

Returning Qualifiers: (10)

Chad Beller, 12th, Catasauqua

Quade Boden, 11th, West Perry

Dante Burns, 12th, Conwell-Egan

Rowan Holmes, 11th, Somerset

Austin Johnson, 11th, Muncy

Rune Lawrence, 12th, Frazier

Josh Ryan, 11th, Mount Union

Jason Singer, 10th, Faith Christian

Cole Yonkin, 12th, Montoursville

Miska Young, 12th, Port Allegany

Returning Medalists: (5)

Austin Johnson, 11th, Muncy 1st 215

Rune Lawrence, 12th, Frazier 1st 189

Rowan Holmes, 11th, Somerset 4th 189

Jason Singer, 10th, Faith Christian 7th 189

Dante Burns, 12th, Conwell-Egan 8th 215

We could see an awesome final at 215 pounds. Rune Lawrence is a three-time PIAA champion and moved up to 215 pounds this season in pursuit of joining the very exclusive four-time PIAA Champion list. In his way, however, could be Austin Johnson. Johnson was a PIAA runner-up as a freshman back in 2022 up at 285 pounds before making the drop down to his more natural weight of 215 pounds last year and went 39-0 on his way to the PIAA title. Both guys are nationally ranked as well with Lawrence currently #3 while Johnson is #20 at 215 pounds in the country. 

Top Bracket:

#1 Lawrence is at the top of the bracket and will likely cruise to the finals as all of the other returning medalists are on the bottom half of the bracket. Lawrence is one of the most dominant guys in the country and currently is sitting at 99 falls in his career so he is likely looking to join the 100-pin club this weekend as well.  

Bottom Bracket:

#4 and returning medalist Jason Singer sits at the top of the bottom half of the bracket and will be favored to make the semifinals. #3 Rowan Holmes will be favored against #7 Ryan Dedrick in the round of 16 and will likely meet Johnson in the quarterfinals in a matchup Johnson will be heavily favored. Johnson will be heavily favored in the semifinals against Singer as well so let’s just move on to the finals. 

Looking at ways to try to separate these two is very interesting. Both Lawrence and Johnson have been in the PIAA finals every year of their career so far. Another interesting thing is that both guys have one loss this season and they both have come to Jude Correa of Wyoming Seminary. Lawrence was forced to medically forfeit to Correa in the Ironman finals after he sustained an injury in the semifinals. While Johnson lost a very competitive 4-3 match to Correa in the Powerade finals. So I guess the question is, do you think Lawrence will win his fourth state crown or will Johnson be able to end his career with a defeat? As tough and solid as I know Johnson is, I just have a hard time picturing Lawrence losing his last high school match in a tournament he has been so incredible at his whole career. So I am taking Lawrence to win his fourth PIAA title in a very competitive final. 

Prediction: Rune Lawrence (Frazier) over Austin Johnson (Muncy)

2023 Results:

215 LBS

1st Austin Johnson (Muncy) DEC Brenan Morgan (Central Valley), 10-7

3rd Dan Church (Fort LeBoeuf) DEC Vitali Daniels (Bentworth), 3-0

5th Brody Kline (Berks Catholic) DEC Abe Keep (Girard), 3-1 SV

7th Brayden McFetridge (Cranberry) FOR Dante Burns (Conwell-Egan)

285

Returning Qualifiers: (9)

Joseph Baronick, 12th, Burgettstown

Caleb Brewer, 12th, Wyomissing (2022)

Mark Effendian, 10th, Faith Christian Academy

Braden Ewing, 12th, Tyrone

Brody Kline, 12th, Berks Catholic

Brenan Morgan, 12th, Central Valley

Carson Neely, 11th, Port Allegany

Dylan Pitzer, 10th, Mt. Pleasant

Daniel Williams, 10th, Glendale

Returning Medalists: (4)

Brenan Morgan, 12th, Central Valley 2nd 215

Carson Neely, 11th, Port Allegany 4th 285

Brody Kline, 12th, Berks Catholic 5th 215

Joseph Baronick, 12th, Burgettstown 6th 285

Top Bracket:

#1 Brenan Morgan was a runner-up last season down at 215 pounds and will be heavily favored to make the finals once again as he is 39-0 this season and has been very dominant. #3 Mark Effendian will likely meet him in the quarters and is looking for his first state medal this weekend. #8 Joseph Baronick was sixth last season and despite an up-and-down season, he is in a decent position to make the semifinals against Morgan. Those two met earlier in the year with Morgan winning a 3-2 decision and Morgan is my pick to make the finals once again. 

Bottom Bracket:

#4 and returning fifth-place finisher Brody Kline is in a good spot to make the semifinals as he will likely see #5 Dylan Pitzer in which I expect Kline to come out in a tight decision. #2 Carson Neely was fourth last season after a 4-9 freshman campaign and has looked to make another jump his junior year as he is 41-0. I believe Neely is poised to make the finals out of this bottom side. 

We will likely see two undefeated guys square off with the heavyweight crown on the line. Although it is hard to separate these two, I believe Morgan has the edge with experience and has impressed me this year despite the move up to heavyweight and is my pick to win the heavyweight title. 

Prediction: Brenan Morgan (Central Valley) over Carson Neely (Port Allegany)

2023 Results:

285 LBS

1st Riley Robbell (Bishop McDevitt) MD Aiden Compton (Notre Dame Green Pond), 15-2

3rd Emmanuel Ulrich (Mifflinburg) DEC Carson Neely (Port Allegany), 7-2

5th Gavin Thompson (Brockway) DEC Joseph Baronick (Burgettstown), 2-1

7th Wilson Spires (General McLane) F Owen Reber (Berks Catholic), SV 5:27