The PIAA Championships return to FloWrestling March 9-11. All bouts will be streamed live starting with AA on Thursday morning at 9am EST. AAA gets underway at 4pm Thursday afternoon.This four part series will preview each bracket for lightweights (107-145) and heavyweights (152-285) on both the AA and AAA side. 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.

107

Returning Qualifiers: (4)

Mason Beatty, 12th, Mount Union

Seth Kolb, 10th, Benton

Jacob Sombronski, 11th, United

Returning Medalists: (1)

Aaron Seidel, 10th, Northern Lebanon 1st 106

Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) will look to break the streak of three straight returning champions failing to repeat at 106lbs on the AA side. Gary Steen (Reynolds), Branden Wentzel (Montoursville), and Louie Gill (Hickory) all came up short in their second attempts to take home the 106lb crown. I like Seidel’s chances to break the curse as he has a 6-2 win over Dominic Deputy (Chestnut Ridge) who I view as the favorite to oppose Seidel in the final. Seidel is currently 44-0 with 42 bonus point victories. 

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Top Bracket:

Seidel is the top seed and heavily favored in the half. History maker Sierra Chiesa (Northwestern) is the first female qualifier to take the mat in Hershey. Antonio Boni (Central Valley) and Gage Swank (Muncy) wrestled for a 7th place medal at PJW’s a year ago and appear to be the possible path for Seidel in the quarter and semifinals. Anything except Seidel coming out of the top half would be the upset of the tournament.

Bottom Bracket:

The bottom half is a very intriguing side. William Detar (Trinity), Kole Davidheiser (Faith Christian), and Deputy all took home medals from the 92lb PJW bracket a year ago. Deputy defeated them both en route to his spot in the final. There is high school experience on this side as Mason Beatty (Mount Union) and Seth Kolb (Benton) have wrestled on the Giant Center floor. Beatty could wrestle into freshman regional champion Dalton Wenner (Cranberry) who defeated him at Mid Winter Mayhem back in December. Kolb takes on Davidheiser in another great round of 16 bout. 

Detar has just two losses on the season and they are both to Seidel. Deputy has faced a grueling schedule and I think his experience will be a separating factor in the bottom bracket. 

Deputy is a very good three position wrestler. Can he make the right adjustments to take out Seidel? That is a question that I waiver back and forth on. Seidel impresses me with his composure and ability to wrestle through positions. This will be a marquee championship bout if it happens.

Prediction: Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) over Dominic Deputy (Chestnut Ridge)

2022 Results:

106 LBS

1st Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) DEC Louie Gill (Hickory), 4-2

3rd Ayden Smith (Notre Dame Green Pond) DEC Cole Hubert (Saucon Valley), 5-3 SV

5th Parker Sentipal (Burgettstown) DEC Carter Beck (Saegertown), 3-1

7th Major Lewis (Trinity) DEC Elijah Brosius (Cranberry), 2-0

114

Returning Qualifiers: (14)

Aiden Beimel, 10th, St. Mary’s (AAA)

Nico Fanella, 10th, Indiana (AAA)

Jace Gessner, 12th, Lewisburg

Brayden Hartranft, 10th, Berks Catholic

Mason McLendon, 12th, Susquenita

Easton Mull, 10th, Chestnut Ridge

Weston Pisarchick, 11th, Brockway

Colton Wade, 10th, Sullivan County

Jorden Williams, 11th, Chartiers-Houston (AAA)

Returning Medalists: (5)

Ayden Smith, 11th, Notre Dame 3rd 106

Cole Hubert, 10th, Saucon Valley 4th 106

Parker Sentipal, 11th, Burgettstown 5th 106

Landon Bainey, 11th, West Branch 6th 113

Carter Beck, 10th, Saegertown 6th 106

14 returning qualifiers ties 114lbs for the most on the AA side. Distribution of returning credentials are distributed pretty evenly across the bracket. There have been tons of matches already wrestled this year between the qualifiers and we will possibly see some early round rematches from last year’s state tournament. One of the interesting storylines to follow is three AAA qualifiers dropping down to AA. Aiden Beimel (St. Mary’s) and Nico Fanella (Indiana) were due to enrollment readjustment that happens every two years, while Jorden Williams (Chartiers-Houston) move from Hempfield in District 3.

Top Bracket:

Ayden Smith (Notre Dame) is the top seed after two medals down at 106lbs. He even wrestled a majority of this year at 106lbs. Parker Sentipal (Burgettstown) is another returning medalist that could wrestle into Smith. That was a 7-1 win for Smith in the consi semifinal last year. 

In the bottom quarter I’m intrigued by the possible quarterfinal between Fanella and Weston Pisarchick (Brockway). Pisarchick has several quality wins this year and seems to be wrestling at a higher level than a year ago. This will be a must watch if the matchup comes to fruition. 

I like Smith even with the late season weight change.

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Bottom Bracket:

Colton Wade (Sullivan County) and Landon Bainey (West Branch) are the regional champions on this side. They are placed in the 2nd and 3rd seed positions, but here that doesn’t equate to an easy path. Brayden Hartranft (Berks Catholic) could wrestle in to Wade and knocked Wade off in the exact scenario a year ago. Mason McLendon (Susquenita) is also in the top quarter. He is a four-timer qualifier looking for his first medal. 

Carter Beck (Saegertown) and Cole Hubert (Saucon Valley) wrestle first round in a battle of returning medalists. Hubert beat Beck in the consi semifinal a year ago. Bainey is the potential reward awaiting in the quarter final. I like Bainey here, but don’t be shocked if chaos ensues on this half. 

Smith defeated Bainey in ultimate tiebreaker two years ago. Bainey doesn’t want to take that route in this bout. I give the mat advantage to Smith and think he will take a close one here.

Prediction: Ayden Smith (Notre Dame) over Landon Bainey (West Branch)

2022 Results:

113 LBS

1st Gavin Bradley (Athens) DEC Branden Wentzel (Montoursville), 4-3

3rd Gauge Botero (Faith Christian Academy) DEC Deven Jackson (West Perry), 7-2

5th Lucas Fye (Bald Eagle Area) DEC Landon Bainey (West Branch), 5-2

7th Hunter Robison (Saegertown) F Jack Kazalas (Quaker Valley), 1:55

121

Returning Qualifiers: (11)

Jake Bennett, 11th, Fort LeBoeuf (2021)

Gideon Bracken, 10th, United

Cooper Feltman, 10th, Notre Dame

Aiden Grogg, 10th, Saucon Valley

Brock Holderbaum, 12th, Chestnut Ridge

Jackson Rush, 10th, West Perry

Returning Medalists: (5)

Branden Wentzel, 12th, Montoursville 2nd 113

Gauge Botero, 10th, Faith Christian 3rd 113

Lucas Fye, 11th, Bald Eagle Area 5th 113

Elijah Brosius, 10th, Cranberry 8th 106

Jack Kazalas, 11th, Quaker Valley 8th 113

The top end talent at 121lbs is second to none. Gauge Botero (Faith Christian) is the top seed, a returning third place finisher and ranked 9th in the country. However, he isn’t the most credentialed wrestler in his quarter. That’s Branden Wentzel (Montoursville), he has finished first, third, and second at the PIAA Championships. Wentzel ends up in that quarter because he has been defeated four times this season by freshman Brandt Harer (Montgomery), including the regional final. Three of the four wins for Harer have been by major decision.

Top Bracket:

Botero and Wentzel are on track to meet in the top quarter. You have to favor Botero if you look at this season’s body of work. Remember it was Wentzel who took this matchup at Powerade a year ago. It’s far-fetched for me to believe this quarter final is anything, but the de facto semifinal. 

Bottom Bracket:

Returning medalist Lucas Fye (Bald Eagle Area) and Harer are the regional champions in the bracket. Jackson Rush (West Perry) could be an early test for Harer. Rush has four losses on the season, two to Fye and two to Botero. This will be a good measuring stick to see how comfortable and confident the freshman is at the Gian Center. I think we’ll see a Fye vs Harer semifinal, with the freshman living up to the billing. 

If the final is Botero vs Harer it will be my most anticipated final of the championships. There are several contradicting results with common opponents. I think whoever dictates the positions will win the bout. Both have several positions they are very good in, who can force the match into those positions?

Prediction: Gauge Botero (Faith Christian) over Brandt Harer (Montgomery)

2022 Results:

120 LBS

1st Jaden Pepe (Wyoming Area) MD Brock Weiss (Jersey Shore), 15-4

3rd Coen Bainey (Bald Eagle Area) DEC Cooper Hornack (Burrell), 1-0

5th Chris Vargo (Bentworth) MD Hunter Gould (Conneaut Area), 12-0

7th Cole Householder (Brookville) DEC Logan Richey (Quaker Valley), 3-2

127

Returning Qualifiers: (9)

Marvin Armistead, 11th, Berks Catholic

Kobi Burkett, 12th, Chestnut Ridge

David Kennedy, 10th, Montoursville

Returning Medalists: (6)

Coen Bainey, 12th, Bald Eagle Area 3rd 120

Cooper Hornack, 11th, Burrell 4th 120

Chris Vargo, 11th, Bentworth 5th 120

Hunter Gould, 11th Conneaut Area 6th 120

Cole Householder, 10th, Brookville 7th 120

Steven Harris, 11th, Conwell-Egan 8th 106 (2021)

The balance of power at 127lbs is from the Southwest Region. Chris Vargo (Bentworth), Cooper Hornack (Burrell) and Coen Bainey (Bald Eagle Area) finished 5th, 4th and 3rd last year at 120lbs. Over the past three seasons they have traded wins back and forth. Vargo has the upperhand on Bainey 5-2, and has split with Hornack as they stand 2-2. Bainey took both matches over Hornack last season. It’s truly a ranker’s delight depending on whether you favor most recent results, championship side results, or just the volume of quality wins within the triangle. You probably want to pick your champion out of these three and Vargo has the clearer path by virtue of his Southwest Regional title. 

Top Bracket:

Vargo is the top seed. He should await the first round winner of returning medalist Cole Householder (Brookville) and David Kennedy (Montoursville) in the top quarter. Freshman Arment Waltenbaugh is a bit of a wildcard as the Southeast Regional champion. Four of his five losses are to out-of-state competition. He has returning medalist Hunter Gould (Conneaut Area) in his quarter, but both round of 16 matches should be highly competitive. Vargo is a strong favorite in this half.

Bottom Bracket:

Bainey and Hornack are the favorites in this have, but there are plenty of obstacles. Cyrus Hurd (North East) wrestled at Erie Prep a year ago finishing just outside of a qualification spot in AAA. He turned around a technical fall loss to Gould in the regional final. Matthew Smith (Midd West) won a solid Northeast Region. 

Bainey hits former PIAA medalist, Steven Harris (Conwell-Egan) in the opening round. Hornack drew freshman Hayden Yacoviello-Andrus (Bermudian Springs). Andrus announced his arrival on the varsity level week one when he split matches with AAA medalist Charlie Bunting (Nazareth). 

If you play the percentages I think you have to take Vargo. The bottom bracket is littered with possible landmines and Bainey and Hornack have to deal with each other. 

Prediction: Chris Vargo (Bentworth) over Coen Bainey (Bald Eagle Area)

2022 Results:

126 LBS

1st Scott Johnson (Muncy) DEC Mark Palmer (Brockway), 9-2

3rd Kaden Milheim (Warrior Run) MD Jojo Przybycien (Fort LeBoeuf), 9-1

5th Dylan Granahan (Benton) DEC Charlie Robson (Conwell Egan), 6-4

7th Eli Bounds (Boiling Springs) DEC Gaven Suica (Burgettstown), 5-4

133

Returning Qualifiers: (14)

Chase Bell, 11th, Reynolds

Peter Chacon, 12th, Montour

Noah Doi, 10th, Camp Hill

Jamison Poklembo, 11th, Mount Pleasant 

Blain Puchalsky, 11th, West Perry

John Samy, 12th, Salisbury Township (2021)

Mason Weyant, 11th, Chestnut Ridge

Returning Medalists: (7)

Jaden Pepe, 12th, Wyoming Area 1st 120

Scott Johnson, 12th, Muncy 1st 126

Conner Heckman, 12th, Midd-West 3rd 132

JoJo Przybycien, 11th, Fort LeBoeuf 4th 126

Dylan Granahan, 12th, Benton 5th 126

Charlie Robson, 11th, Conwell-Egan  6th 126

Gaven Suica, 11th, Burgettstown 8th 126

Jaden Pepe (Wyoming Area) is 153-5 in his career and quietly on track to win his third state title. He is headed to Harvard next season and somehow doesn’t garner the attention he should.  

Top Bracket:

Pepe is the top seed and should cruise in this half. A first round bout between Chase Bell (Reynolds) and Mason Wagner (Faith Christian) could be one of the most deceiving in the tournament when you look at records. Both teams wrestle incredibly tough schedules seeking the toughest competition. Wagner won this match-up in tiebreaker at the PIAA Team Championships back in February. 

Bottom Bracket:

Both quarters have fun storylines in the bottom. Charlie Robson (Conwell-Egan) is the regional champion in the top quarter. However, returning state champion Scott Johnson (Muncy) is also in the quarter after finishing second to Pepe in the Northeast Regional. Johnson draws Kross Cassidy (Bedford). Cassidy has just one loss on the season, as he dropped his regional semifinal. You favor Johnson in the quarter, but he will have to wrestle for his berth in the semifinal.

In the bottom quarter Conner Heckman (Midd West) and JoJo Przybycien (Fort LeBoeuf) are both returning medalists. Heckman has a slightly better resume of wins over his career and appears to be favored. 

Johnson took the District 4 title over Heckman 3-2. I can’t find a reason to believe it won’t be Johnson making his third final in a row.

Pepe won the Regional final over Johnson 8-4. He is just so consistent attacking legs that it is hard to pick against him.

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Prediction: Jaden Pepe (Wyoming Area) over Scott Johnson (Muncy)

2022 Results:

132 LBS

1st Brandan Chletsos (Notre Dame Green Pond) DEC Owen Reinsel (Brookville), 1-0

3rd Conner Heckman (Midd-West) DEC Mason Barvitskie (Southern Columbia), 1-0 UTB

5th Calan Bollman (Chestnut Ridge) DEC Max Stein (Faith Christian Academy), 1-0

7th Jack Martinec (Cochranton) DEC Kyle Mccollum (Beth-Center), 7-2

139

Returning Qualifiers: (10)

Brady Collins, 10th, Clearfield (AAA)

Niko Ferra, 12th, Burrell 

Chase Hontz, 10th, Faith Christian

Wyatt Lazzar, 11th, Commodore Perry

Cameron Mingee, 11th, Littlestown

Joey Sentipal, 12th, Burgettstown

Bryson Vaughn, 12th, Notre Dame

Returning Medalists: (3)

Anthony Evanitsky, 10th, Wyoming Area 3rd 138

Mason Barvitskie, 11th, Southern Columbia 4th 132

Ethan Kolb, 12th, Benton 7th 120 (2021)

Back-to-back top seeds for Wyoming Area. Anthony Evanitsky (Wyoming Area) won four in a row on the backside last year after a quarterfinal loss to Ryan Crookham (Saucon Valley) to take third. Three of those wins were in overtime. Can Evanitsky use that experience to run the championship side this season?

Top Bracket:

Evanitsky is the top seed and strong favorite in the top quarter. Watch for Cameron Mingee (Littlestown). He was fifth in the Southeast Region, but has one of the better wins in the field with an 11-10 win over Mason Barvitskie (Southern Columbia).

Brady Collins (Clearfield) is the other regional champion in the half. Clearfield dropped from AAA to AA this season. Collins was a AAA qualifier as a freshman. He could hit returning medalist Ethan Kolb (Benton) in the round of 16. Collins took that bout earlier in the year 3-0. I like Evanitsky on this side.

Bottom Bracket:

The top quarter appears to be youth vs experience. Joey Sentipal (Burgettstown) is making his fourth appearance in Hershey, but looking for his first medal. Reagan Milheim (Warrior Run) is just a freshman, don’t be fooled into thinking he will wrestle like one. Milheim defeated Barvitskie for the District 4 title, and was second in the Northeast Region.

In the bottom quarter Barvitskie and returning qualifier Chase Hontz (Faith Christian) appear to be on a collision course. I favor the guys from the northeast, and don’t have a reason to believe Milheim won’t be able to repeat his performance from Williamsport.

Prediction: Anthony Evanitsky (Wyoming Area) over Reagan Milheim (Warrior Run)

2022 Results:

138 LBS

1st Ryan Crookham (Saucon Valley) DEC Connor Pierce (Harbor Creek), 5-1

3rd Anthony Evanitsky (Wyoming Area) DEC Cade Wirnsberger (Meadowbrook Christian), 3-1 SV

5th Connor Saylor (Hickory) DEC Ambrose Boni (Central Valley), 5-2

7th Cameron Milheim (Warrior Run) DEC Easton Toth (Forest Hills), 5-4

145

Returning Qualifiers: (12)

Gavin Fehr, 12th, Catasaqua

Gage Gunnar, 12th, Cambridge Springs

Cody Hamilton, 10th, Grove City

Gage Heilbrun, 12th, Marion Center

Trent Hoover, 11th, Penn Cambria

Travis Riefenstahl, 12th, Saucon Valley (2020)

Returning Medalists: (6)

Kaden Milheim, 12th, Warrior Run 3rd 126

Cade Wirnsberger, 12th, Meadowbrook Christian 4th 138

Calan Bollman, 12th, Chestnut Ridge 5th 132

Max Stein, 10th, Faith Christian 6th 132

Chase Burk, 12th, Benton 7th 106 (2021)

Logan Richey, 12th, Quaker Valley 8th 120

The third weight in a row that the top end of the medal stand should be packed with guys from the Northeast Region. The exception should be Vince Bouzakis (Notre Dame). Bouzakis probably has the most deceiving record in the tournament. He’s 42-7 on the year and ranked 19th in the country. 

Top Bracket:

The eldest Milheim brother is the top seed. Kaden Milheim (Warrior Run) earned a bronze medal a year ago. He is a solid favorite in the top quarter. Bouzakis has two-time medalist Calan Bollman (Chestnut Ridge) in his quarter. Expect a tight bout in the semifinal. I have Bouzakis in a tight one, probably a lot tighter than fans from outside of Pennsylvania expect.

Bottom Bracket:

The Northeast Regional qualifiers are expected to disrupt the bracket as Trent Hoover (Penn Cambria) and Cody Hamilton (Grove City) come in as regional champions. Chase Burke (Benton) finally got by Cade Wirnsberger (Meadowbrook Christian) at regionals after Wirsnberger took the section and district matches. Wirsnberger has two medals and I look at him as the favorite in the bottom half. 

I shouldn’t put the cart in front of the horse though. Wirnsberger drew Max Stein (Faith Christian) who is a returning medalist. I look at this as one of the premier round of 16 bouts in the entire championships. I’m still taking Wirnsberger, but it won’t be an easy path.

Prediction: Vince Bouzakis (Notre Dame) over Cade Wirnsberger (Meadowbrook Christian)

2022 Results:

145 LBS

1st Conner Harer (Montgomery) DEC Eric Alderfer (Faith Christian Academy), 3-0

3rd Kaiden Wagner (Lewisburg) MD Carter Gill (Hickory), 8-0

5th Evan Maag (Notre Dame Green Pond) F Ty Watson (Penns Valley), 3:15

7th Trevor Weyandt (Chestnut Ridge) MD Cael Markle (Saucon Valley), 11-3