2019 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championship

Hershey Day I Recap

News and updates from the 2019 PIAA State Wrestling Championships.

Mar 8, 2019 by Willie Saylor

Hershey is the sweetest place on Earth. But for some, it's bittersweet.

The first non-pigtail bout of the tournament saw defending state champion and Ironman runner-up Gary Steen (Reynolds) go down.

Welcome to the PA State Tournament.

Below you'll find the major developments from Day I which included pigtails and the first preliminary round for both AA and AAA.

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BRACKETS | SCHEDULE

106 AA: Matt Vulakh (Pope John) over Gary Steen (Reynolds)

The Story: Steen is ranked 8th in the country after a state title as a freshman and an Ironman finals appearance. Not that Vulakh is a slouch. He was 7th last year in Hershey. Additionally, Southern Columbia had to like the result as they and Reynolds are projected to be in a battle for team honors.

106 AAA: Braxton Appello's Buzzer Beater

Easton's District and Regional Champ was in a pickle. Stymied for much of the match, he trailed 4-2 to Central Mountain's Derek Keen before a four-point play as time expired.

113 AAA: Freshman Solomon over Returning State 3rd

Franklin Regional's Finn Solomon knocked off Liberty's Tal-Reese Fleming who came in at 33-1 on the season.

120 AA: Ian Oswalt (Burrell) over Blake Showers (Biglerville)

In a battle of two returning placers, #3-Ian Oswalt edged #7-Blake Showers, 3-2

120 AA: Caydin Wickard (Boiling Springs) over Amonn Ohl (St. Joe's)

Wickard was a state qualifier last year in California. Ohl was a returning 6th placer.

126 AAA: Ken Hayman (Canon Mac) over Pat Noonan (Stroudsburg)

The #4 ranked Noonan, who has cracked the national rankings in the past, fell to Hayman in overtime.

132 AA: Garrett Cornell (Everett) over Nathan Higley (Sullivan County)

Cornell placed 3rd last year but was ranked just 11th coming in. He got back on track by beat Higley, who was state 6th and ranked #4.

138 AAA: Tyler Linsenbigler (Hempfield) over Jeff Boyd (Erie McDowell)

The second returning state champ to fall, Boyd came in with a 26-1. With the score tied at 1 in the 3rd, Linsenbigler got the takedown with :03 left.

138 AAA: Another Sophomore To Watch

Jack McGill of Spring Ford bounced senior Nick Coy who was ranked 3rd coming in and placed 5th last year.

145 AA: The Monster Top Half

All held serve in the top half of 145 where quarters will be much-watch stuff. Returning state finalists Caleb Dowling (St. Joes) and Nathan Haubert (Palisades) starts us off. And nationally ranked Andrew Cerniglia (Notre Dame) has one of the best freshman in the country in Gavin Garcia (Southern Columbia). They represent four of the top five ranked wrestlers in the state along with Gabe Miller (Pequea Valley) who is in the bottom bracket.

170 AAA: State Runner-Up Luke Nichter Goes Down

In a 5-5 bout late, Chambersburg Junior Luke Nichter was taken down by Angel Garcia. Lichter was ranked #3 in the state and #11 in the country.

182 AAA: Razor Close Call

Was this a takedown? It was close. The out of bounds line came into play as did the clock in this 1pter between #6-Tyler Mousaw (Unionville) and #11-Nehemiah Diggs (Harrisburg).