The first day of the 2023 PIAA Wrestling Championships has come and gone. Tomorrow is move up day as there will be eight guys at each weight class looking to punch their tickets to the semifinal and guarantee themselves a spot on the podium. Here we have highlighted some of the top quarterfinal matchups to look out for tomorrow in both AA and AAA. 

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AA Quarterfinals to Watch

114 lbs: #3 Weston Pisarchick (Brockway) vs. #4 Nico Fanella (Indiana)

This should be a great battle between two guys looking for their first state medal. Pisarchick was 1-2 last season at the state tournament but has had an absolute breakout season where he is 28-0 headed into the quarterfinals. Fanella has been wrestling well in the postseason, notably losing a tight 4-2 sudden victory match to #1 Landon Bainey last weekend in the Southwest Region finals. Both guys were dominant in their round of 16 bouts, with Pisarchick winning 7-1 while Fanella picked up a second-period fall. Expect this one to be very competitive. 

114 lbs: #7 Cole Hubert (Saucon Valley) vs. #1 Landon Bainey (West Branch)

Hubert and Bainey were both freshman state medalists, with Hubert finishing fourth last season at 106 pounds, with Bainey finishing sixth in 2021 at 106 pounds. Bainey has held the #1 ranking at 114 pounds all season, while Hubert has had a sort of up-and-down year where he spent a lot of time up at 127 pounds. Don’t let the ranking separation fool you, this could be a very competitive bout, and don’t rule out this one ending in a fall, as Hubert is a pinner. 

121 lbs: #1 Gauge Botero (Faith Christian Academy) vs. #3 Branden Wentzel (Mountoursville)

Branden Wentzel has been first, third, and second in his three trips to Hershey in his career and was probably the favorite to win his second state title coming into the season. However, he has not been able to solve the puzzle against freshman stud Brandt Harer to this point, as he has dropped four matches over the last month to Harer. Botero was third last year as a freshman and has only improved since then. He is 40-2 on the season, with his only two losses coming to #4 in the country Anthony Knox. This is a rematch from the consolation semifinals from the 2021 Powerade in which Wentzel was able to come out on top of 4-2. The winner of this match will be heavily favored to make the state finals. 

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133 lbs: #2 Scott Johnson (Muncy) vs. #4 Charlie Robson (Conwell-Egan)

Scott Johnson won a state title last season at 126 pounds, while Robson was sixth in the same bracket. Johnson has wrestled a very strong schedule, including matches against two other returning state champions – Dalton Perry and Jaden Pepe. Both guys picked up early technical fall wins in their round of 16 bouts and looked to be prepared for a war with a bid to the semifinals on the line. 

133 lbs: #3 Conner Heckman (Midd-West) vs. #5 JoJo Przybycien (Fort LeBoeuf)

A pair of returning two-time state medalists! Heckman dropped a tough semifinal bout to eventual champion Brandan Chletsos last season and will be looking to get back to the semifinals. In his way though will be Przybycien who is having the best season of his career and is looking to make his first semifinal. Winner will see the winner of the #2 Scott Johnson vs. #4 Charlie Robson matchup.

189 lbs: #1 Rune Lawrence (Frazier) vs. #3 Jacob Jones (Saucon Valley)

This is a rematch of the 2022 170-pound state final going down in the quarters! Rune Lawrence is looking for his third straight state title this weekend and has been utterly dominant this season. Lawrence has picked up first-period falls in his last thirteen bouts and clearly is on a mission to continue that trend through the whole postseason. Jones is coming off a loss last weekend in the Southeast Region final to Jacob Gilfoil but bounced back strong with a 9-0 win over #7 Carter Chamberlain. No matter how this bout ends, know that Jones will throw the kitchen sink at Lawrence. 

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AAA Quarterfinals to Watch

114 lbs: #3 Luke Willochell (Greater Latrobe) vs. #4 Carson Wagner (Northhampton)

Luke Willochell bursted on the scene last season at the state tournament as he bonused his way to the finals at 106 pounds before finishing as the runner-up to Nate Desmond as a freshman. Wagner is a three-time state medalist and has improved his placement each season, finishing sixth, fifth, and fourth the last three seasons. Both guys pitched shutout victories in their opening bouts, with WIllochell winning 6-0 while Wagner won 9-0. Winner of this matchup will likely see Kaedyn Williams in the semifinals. 

127 lbs: #3 Tahir Parkins (Nazareth) vs. #5 Andrew Binni (Canon-McMillan)

Tahir Parkins had a great regular season last year before falling short in the postseason, likely due to weight cut issues. Parkins suffered an injury at the Beast of the East back in December and missed about a month and a half of competition, but has looked great since his return. Binni was a state qualifier back in 2021 but was still sort of an unknown coming into this season. Binni had a breakout performance at Powerade where he finished seventh and has kept the ball rolling ever since, only dropping one bout in the Southwest Region final to Vinny Kilkeary. This is a bit of a style clash, and should be exciting as both guys are looking to clinch their first state medal. 

127 lbs: #7 Seamus Mack (Hempfield) vs. Michael Turi (West Scranton)

Michael Turi is on a hot streak ladies and gentleman! The freshman opened up his tournament with a win by fall over #10 Hayden Coy, and was able to follow that up with a 9-8 win over returning state medalist #4 Eren Sement. Mack is a returning state placewinner, as he finished eighth last season and came away with a first period fall in his round of 16. Will Mack secure his second state medal? Or will Turi knock off his third-straight top 10 opponent? Tune in tomorrow to find out!

133 lbs: #2 Luke Simcox (Central Mountain) vs. #3 Ethan Lebin (Hempfield Area)

This is one of my more anticipated matches of the quarterfinals. Lebin was a state runner-up last season at 126 pounds, while Simcox has been fifth the last two seasons. Both guys are committed to wrestle at Division 1 progroams, as Lebin will be headed to Bucknell next year, and Simcox is committed to the University of Pennsylvania as just a junior. Both Lebin and Simcox picked up shutout victories in the round of 16. I expect these guys to mix it up and get in a lot of exchanges, with the winner being highly favored to make the finals out of the bottom half of the bracket. 

145 lbs: #3 Matt Repos (Central Dauphin) vs. #6 Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain)

This will be a rematch from the PIAA Team State Championships a month ago where Repos was able to come away with the narrow 3-1 win in sudden victory. Repos is a three-time state medalist and made the finals a season ago before falling to Mac Church at 132 pounds, while Walizer was eighth at 145 pounds. Both guys will be headed to Division 1 programs next season, with Repos committed to Lehigh and Walizer to Lock Haven. Expect both of these seniors to sell out and leave it all on the mat in their final run in Hershey. 

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172 lbs: #2 Dominic Wheatley (Nazareth) vs. #3 Matthew Furman (Canon-McMilan)

Here we have another rematch from the PIAA Team State Championships a month ago, a match in which Wheatley was able to come out on top of 4-2 in sudden victory. In that match, Furman went out to an early 2-0 lead but gave up a penalty point for figure fouring the body to make it 2-1 after the first period. Wheatley was able to tie the match up at 2 with an escape to start the second period. Furman then chose bottom in the third and Wheatley was able to ride out the whole period with a really strategic leg ride to force sudden victory. In sudden victory,  Wheatley won an exchange and secured the victory with a merkle takedown. Expect this matchup to be very competitive once again, and don’t be surprised if it get’s a little chippy. 

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