PA AAA Semi's LIVE! - My Favorite Round of Wrestling
PA AAA Semi's LIVE! - My Favorite Round of Wrestling
My Favorite Round of Wrestling
Willie Saylor, Editor
The big stage at Fargo. The blood round at NCAA where one is knocked out and the other goes into the record books. The finals of Olympic Team Trials.
For me, as a fan, those are the greatest, most pressure-packed rounds of wrestling.
But taking a backseat to no other is the semifinals of PA's AAA division. From the raw desire of an athlete to achieve a goal he's had since his youth, to the vivid display of passion from the fans, it's really one of the most poignant exhibits of wrestling passion.
Perhaps you might have to be from PA, as I am, to appreciate its magnitude. 8,000 fans, whose collective roars and gasps undulate in the crucial situations, driving home what is on the line. Make the finals and you'll go down in the lore of wrestling in a state that deifies its stars. Your name will reverberate for years to come and down on through Hershey-goers posterity.
No pressure or anything.
This year's group of semifinalist once again features some of the most proven talent on a national level. Here is their prowess, by the numbers:
Of the 56 left in contention for a state title
- 29 are ranked in the country
- 7 have won Super 32
- 21 have placed at Super 32
- 16 have placed in Fargo
Below are the semifinal match-ups, all of which can be viewed live on Tech Wave starting at 9AM. Catch all the action here.
106:
Jr. Tyrone Klump, Nazareth vs. #3-Fr. Luke Pletcher, Greater Latrobe
Jr. Connor Sheehan, Solanco vs. Fr. Dylan Chatterton, Central York
Notes: Pletcher is the man everyone talks about, and for good reason (Super 32, Flonations placings). But Chatterton is wrestling with the toughness that belies his freshman status. Trust me, these guys are the next generation of PA super studs.
113:
#14-Ethan Lizak, Parkland vs. #12-Jr. Scotty Parker, Pennridge
#11-Sr. Zack Fuentes, Norristown vs. #19-So. AC Headlee, Waynesburg
Notes: The final four of what I've been calling the toughest state bracket in the country this season.
120:
#15-Jr. Dalton Macri, Canon Mac vs. #20-So. Vincenzo Joseph, Pitt CC
Zach Valley, Northampton vs.#4-So. Sam Krivus, Hempfield
Notes: Macri and Joseph traded major decisions of each other this year. Krivus is a straight up juggernaut.
126:
Sr. Tyler Walker, North Hills vs. #7-So. Michael Kemerer, Franklin Regional
Sr. Kyle Krasavage, Wyoming Valley West vs. #3-Sr. Connor Schram, Canon Mac
Notes: Kemerer, a Super 32 Champ, looks to get to the finals for the second straight year. Schram, the Powerade Champ, hasn't failed to reach a state final yet.
132:
Jr. Francesco Fabozzi, CB East vs. Jr. Tyler Smith, Franklin Regional
Sr. Ethan Kenney, Connelsville vs. #13-Pat Duggan, Cumberland Valley
Notes: Fargo Runner-Up Duggan is the class of the weight. But his morning bout with Kenney will be a tight one.
138:
#11-Jr. Joey Galasso, Father Judge vs. So. Josh Maruca, Franklin Regional
#10-Tyson Dippery, Central Dauphin vs. Sr. TJ Brandt, Altoona
Notes: Dippery was 3rd as a Soph and a Runner-Up last year. But Galasso is firing on all cylanders. Could make for the final of the tournament.
145:
#15-Sr. Chris Vassar, Cedar Cliff vs. #10-So. Josh Shields, Franklin Regional
#4-Jr. Solomon Chishko, Canon Mac vs.Sr. Nolan Barger, Clearfield
Notes: Vassar was a finalist last year. To repeat that feat, he'll have to get past Shields, who announced his arrival by winning Powerade. The winner will get Chishko, who's only two losses at Hershey have been overtime affairs in the semi's.
152:
Sr. Heath Coles, Norwin vs. #8-TC Warner, Cumberland Valley
#9-Sr. Garrett Hammond, Chambersburg vs. Sr. Tyler Reinhart, Greensburg Salem
Notes: Hammond beat Warner for the title last year. Both looked otherworldly on Friday.
160:
#13-Jr. Zack Zavatsky, Greater Latrobe vs. #1-Jr. Chance Marsteller
Sr. Zach Voytek, Greensburg Salem vs. #5-Jr. Garrett Peppelman, Central Dauphin
Notes: What a final four! Marsteller is the best wrestler in HS. Zavatsky was the Powerade Champ at 160, Chance at 170. Voytek was Powerade Runner-Up to Zavatsky. Peppelman won the Beast and is a returning state champ.
170:
#1-Sr. Cody Wiercioch, Canon Mac vs. Sr. Colton Peppelman, Central Dauphin
Jr. Noah Wilps, Chartiers Valley vs. Sr. Joe Gartland, Pine Crest
Notes: Not often is there an 'untouchable' wrestler with no perceived threats in a PA AAA bracket, but that's what we have here. Wiercioch will go down as one of PA's all time bests, with 4 finals appearances and 3 titles.
182:
#5-Sr. Brett Harner, Norristown vs. Sr. Marcus Johnson, Governor Mifflin
#3-Sr. Jake Taylor, Bald Eagle vs. Sr. Tyler Greene, Easton
Notes: A potential Top match-up. Harner was a Runner-Up at Ironman, Beast, and Super 32. Taylor won FloNationals and Super 32.
195:
#17-Sr. Jake Hart, Hampton vs. Sr. Landon Hanna, Dubois
#3-Sr. Matt McCutcheon vs. Jr. Jovan Reyes, Dieruff
Notes: A Powerade Runner-Up, Hart edged McCutcheon (a two-time Super 32 champ, and the defending state champ) last week in their regional. Reyes reached Fargo finals in 2011.
220:
Sr. Evan Kauffman, Freedom vs. #3-Jr. Thomas Haines, Solanco
Jr. Zach De Luca, Pitt CC vs.Fr. Jordan Wood, Boyertown
Notes: The last time we saw a freshmen upperweight as good as Wood (Super 32 4th) in PA was when Haines won a title as a frosh. He's still never lost a bout inside the Giant Center.
HWT:
Sr. Andrew Welton, Erie Tech vs. Sr. Brad Emerick, WB Coughlin
#6-Sr. Aaron Bradley, Nazareth vs. #19-Jr. Shane Kuhn, Kiski
Notes: PA isn't known for turning big men out in quantity. This is the best final four of HWT's I've ever seen in PA. Leave all your HWT preconceptions at the door. These will be fun bouts.
AA Finals Match-Ups
106: #10-So. Devin Brown, Saegerstown vs. Fr. Luke Karam, BECA
113: Sr. Seth Carr, South Fayette vs. Fr. George Phillippi, Derry
120: #3-Sr. Darian Cruz, BECA vs. Jr. Ryan Easter, Bedford
126: #4-Ryan Diehl, Trinity vs. #9-Jr. Zeke Moisey, BECA
132: Sr. Nick Zanetta, Keystone Oaks vs. #5-Jr. Jason Nolf, Kittanning
138: Sr. Seth Landsberry, Line Mountain vs. #1-Sr. Zain Retherford
145: #3-Sr. Mikey Racciato, Pen Argyl vs. #17-Sr. Colt Cotten, Benton
152: Jr. Kyle Bova, Coudersport vs. #7-Sr. Austin Mathews, Reynolds
160: #10-Sr. Cody Law, Forest Hills vs. Jr. Evan Delong, Kane
170: #4-Sr. Pete Renda, Brandywine vs. Jr. Tristan Sponseller, Bermudian Springs
182: Sr. Troy Hembury, Muncy vs. #9-Sr. Dakota Des Lauriers, Burrell
195: #1-Sr. Ryan Solomon, Milton vs. Sr. Garrett Volcano, Chartiers Houston
220: #5-Sr. Ray O'Donnell, Saucon Valley vs. Sr. Brandon Smith, Lewisburg
HWT: Jr. Sr. Nick Budd, Port Allegheny vs. Jr. Sam Breese, Lakeview
Willie Saylor, Editor
The big stage at Fargo. The blood round at NCAA where one is knocked out and the other goes into the record books. The finals of Olympic Team Trials.
For me, as a fan, those are the greatest, most pressure-packed rounds of wrestling.
But taking a backseat to no other is the semifinals of PA's AAA division. From the raw desire of an athlete to achieve a goal he's had since his youth, to the vivid display of passion from the fans, it's really one of the most poignant exhibits of wrestling passion.
Perhaps you might have to be from PA, as I am, to appreciate its magnitude. 8,000 fans, whose collective roars and gasps undulate in the crucial situations, driving home what is on the line. Make the finals and you'll go down in the lore of wrestling in a state that deifies its stars. Your name will reverberate for years to come and down on through Hershey-goers posterity.
No pressure or anything.
This year's group of semifinalist once again features some of the most proven talent on a national level. Here is their prowess, by the numbers:
Of the 56 left in contention for a state title
- 29 are ranked in the country
- 7 have won Super 32
- 21 have placed at Super 32
- 16 have placed in Fargo
Below are the semifinal match-ups, all of which can be viewed live on Tech Wave starting at 9AM. Catch all the action here.
106:
Jr. Tyrone Klump, Nazareth vs. #3-Fr. Luke Pletcher, Greater Latrobe
Jr. Connor Sheehan, Solanco vs. Fr. Dylan Chatterton, Central York
Notes: Pletcher is the man everyone talks about, and for good reason (Super 32, Flonations placings). But Chatterton is wrestling with the toughness that belies his freshman status. Trust me, these guys are the next generation of PA super studs.
113:
#14-Ethan Lizak, Parkland vs. #12-Jr. Scotty Parker, Pennridge
#11-Sr. Zack Fuentes, Norristown vs. #19-So. AC Headlee, Waynesburg
Notes: The final four of what I've been calling the toughest state bracket in the country this season.
120:
#15-Jr. Dalton Macri, Canon Mac vs. #20-So. Vincenzo Joseph, Pitt CC
Zach Valley, Northampton vs.#4-So. Sam Krivus, Hempfield
Notes: Macri and Joseph traded major decisions of each other this year. Krivus is a straight up juggernaut.
126:
Sr. Tyler Walker, North Hills vs. #7-So. Michael Kemerer, Franklin Regional
Sr. Kyle Krasavage, Wyoming Valley West vs. #3-Sr. Connor Schram, Canon Mac
Notes: Kemerer, a Super 32 Champ, looks to get to the finals for the second straight year. Schram, the Powerade Champ, hasn't failed to reach a state final yet.
132:
Jr. Francesco Fabozzi, CB East vs. Jr. Tyler Smith, Franklin Regional
Sr. Ethan Kenney, Connelsville vs. #13-Pat Duggan, Cumberland Valley
Notes: Fargo Runner-Up Duggan is the class of the weight. But his morning bout with Kenney will be a tight one.
138:
#11-Jr. Joey Galasso, Father Judge vs. So. Josh Maruca, Franklin Regional
#10-Tyson Dippery, Central Dauphin vs. Sr. TJ Brandt, Altoona
Notes: Dippery was 3rd as a Soph and a Runner-Up last year. But Galasso is firing on all cylanders. Could make for the final of the tournament.
145:
#15-Sr. Chris Vassar, Cedar Cliff vs. #10-So. Josh Shields, Franklin Regional
#4-Jr. Solomon Chishko, Canon Mac vs.Sr. Nolan Barger, Clearfield
Notes: Vassar was a finalist last year. To repeat that feat, he'll have to get past Shields, who announced his arrival by winning Powerade. The winner will get Chishko, who's only two losses at Hershey have been overtime affairs in the semi's.
152:
Sr. Heath Coles, Norwin vs. #8-TC Warner, Cumberland Valley
#9-Sr. Garrett Hammond, Chambersburg vs. Sr. Tyler Reinhart, Greensburg Salem
Notes: Hammond beat Warner for the title last year. Both looked otherworldly on Friday.
160:
#13-Jr. Zack Zavatsky, Greater Latrobe vs. #1-Jr. Chance Marsteller
Sr. Zach Voytek, Greensburg Salem vs. #5-Jr. Garrett Peppelman, Central Dauphin
Notes: What a final four! Marsteller is the best wrestler in HS. Zavatsky was the Powerade Champ at 160, Chance at 170. Voytek was Powerade Runner-Up to Zavatsky. Peppelman won the Beast and is a returning state champ.
170:
#1-Sr. Cody Wiercioch, Canon Mac vs. Sr. Colton Peppelman, Central Dauphin
Jr. Noah Wilps, Chartiers Valley vs. Sr. Joe Gartland, Pine Crest
Notes: Not often is there an 'untouchable' wrestler with no perceived threats in a PA AAA bracket, but that's what we have here. Wiercioch will go down as one of PA's all time bests, with 4 finals appearances and 3 titles.
182:
#5-Sr. Brett Harner, Norristown vs. Sr. Marcus Johnson, Governor Mifflin
#3-Sr. Jake Taylor, Bald Eagle vs. Sr. Tyler Greene, Easton
Notes: A potential Top match-up. Harner was a Runner-Up at Ironman, Beast, and Super 32. Taylor won FloNationals and Super 32.
195:
#17-Sr. Jake Hart, Hampton vs. Sr. Landon Hanna, Dubois
#3-Sr. Matt McCutcheon vs. Jr. Jovan Reyes, Dieruff
Notes: A Powerade Runner-Up, Hart edged McCutcheon (a two-time Super 32 champ, and the defending state champ) last week in their regional. Reyes reached Fargo finals in 2011.
220:
Sr. Evan Kauffman, Freedom vs. #3-Jr. Thomas Haines, Solanco
Jr. Zach De Luca, Pitt CC vs.Fr. Jordan Wood, Boyertown
Notes: The last time we saw a freshmen upperweight as good as Wood (Super 32 4th) in PA was when Haines won a title as a frosh. He's still never lost a bout inside the Giant Center.
HWT:
Sr. Andrew Welton, Erie Tech vs. Sr. Brad Emerick, WB Coughlin
#6-Sr. Aaron Bradley, Nazareth vs. #19-Jr. Shane Kuhn, Kiski
Notes: PA isn't known for turning big men out in quantity. This is the best final four of HWT's I've ever seen in PA. Leave all your HWT preconceptions at the door. These will be fun bouts.
AA Finals Match-Ups
106: #10-So. Devin Brown, Saegerstown vs. Fr. Luke Karam, BECA
113: Sr. Seth Carr, South Fayette vs. Fr. George Phillippi, Derry
120: #3-Sr. Darian Cruz, BECA vs. Jr. Ryan Easter, Bedford
126: #4-Ryan Diehl, Trinity vs. #9-Jr. Zeke Moisey, BECA
132: Sr. Nick Zanetta, Keystone Oaks vs. #5-Jr. Jason Nolf, Kittanning
138: Sr. Seth Landsberry, Line Mountain vs. #1-Sr. Zain Retherford
145: #3-Sr. Mikey Racciato, Pen Argyl vs. #17-Sr. Colt Cotten, Benton
152: Jr. Kyle Bova, Coudersport vs. #7-Sr. Austin Mathews, Reynolds
160: #10-Sr. Cody Law, Forest Hills vs. Jr. Evan Delong, Kane
170: #4-Sr. Pete Renda, Brandywine vs. Jr. Tristan Sponseller, Bermudian Springs
182: Sr. Troy Hembury, Muncy vs. #9-Sr. Dakota Des Lauriers, Burrell
195: #1-Sr. Ryan Solomon, Milton vs. Sr. Garrett Volcano, Chartiers Houston
220: #5-Sr. Ray O'Donnell, Saucon Valley vs. Sr. Brandon Smith, Lewisburg
HWT: Jr. Sr. Nick Budd, Port Allegheny vs. Jr. Sam Breese, Lakeview