2020 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championship

PIAA Preview: AA Heavyweight

PIAA Preview: AA Heavyweight

Preview of the 2020 PIAA State Wrestling Championships

Mar 3, 2020 by Brock Hite
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The Pennsylvania Individual State Championships return to FloWrestling on Thursday, March 5th. We'll kick off the action with the AA division at 9AM Eastern.

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The Pennsylvania Individual State Championships return to FloWrestling on Thursday, March 5th. We'll kick off the action with the AA division at 9AM Eastern.

All matches will be live from the Giant Center in Hershey. Catch all the action as 28 individual state champions will be crowned. Brackets can be found in FloArena.

Check out our lightweight preview

152

Overview:

Caleb Dowling (12th, St. Joseph’s Catholic) comes in as the overwhelming favorite and the West Virginia commit is ranked #6 in the country. Dowling is looking for his fourth medal as he has finishes of fourth, second, and third in three trips to the Giant Center. The bottom bracket isn’t quite as clear - several medalists will be fighting it out for a spot in the Saturday afternoon final.

Top Bracket:

Even though Dowling is the favorite, it’s not a clear path to the final. Tyler Martin (12th Bishop McDevitt) is the probably quarterfinal opponent and he was sixth in Hershey a year ago. The Bottom quarter has PJW state champion Wesley Barnes (9th, Southern Columbia) and PJW third place finisher Aiden Zimmerman (9th, Johnsonburg) looking to make a name for themselves in their first trip to Hershey. Anything other than Dowling coming out of the top half would be a major upset.

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Bottom Bracket:

AJ Corrado (11th, Burrell), Malachi DuVall (11th, Penns Valley), and Sulley Allen (12th, Sharon) have all taken medals home in the past. Benjamin Haubert (11th, Palisades) is the regional champion opposite of Allen. His regional final win in tiebreaker over Martin shows he's ready to challenge for a medal this weekend. I like Corrado’s experience in the Giant Center and he wrestled a tough match against Dowling in the regional final. I will take him out of the bottom side.

Prediction:

Caleb Dowling, 12th St. Joseph’s Catholic over AJ Corrado, 11th, Burrell

2019 Results:

1st: Ryan Vulakh (Pope John Paul II) TF Trent Schultheis (Freedom Area), 20-5 5:10

3rd: Keegan Rothrock (Saint Joseph's) DEC Mason Karpinski (Greenville), 3-2

5th: Sully Allen (Sharon) F Trenton Harder (Bermudian Springs), 4:36

7th: D.j. Erickson (Hanover) DEC Hudson Holbay (Westmont Hilltop), 3-1


160

Overview:

Two-time returning state champion and Lehigh commit Thayne Lawrence (12th, Frazier) is the top seed, and returning state champion Andrew Cerniglia (12th, Notre Dame), a Navy recruit, is the second seed. Those two could meet in a final that would be one of the most credentialed in history. Both are ranked Top-5 nationally and the winner should likely face Keegan O'Toole in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. There are bracket busters looking to spoil their fun, though.

Top Bracket:

Lawrence isn’t going to cruise in the top. Sitting in his quarter is returning medalist Gavin Garcia (10th, Southern Columbia). Garcia split matches with Nolan Lear (10th, Benton) the past two weeks and finds himself in a tough quarter again. Last year Garcia was shutout by Cerniglia in the quarterfinals. Both Garcia and Lawrence missed time this season with injuries. It’s tempting to pick Garcia with the upset. I still might after watching the round of 16, but give me Lawrence.

Bottom Bracket:

Cerniglia might be the best wrestler in PA regardless of class or weight. At worst he’s in the conversation. I think he puts an exclamation point on his high school career this weekend, and I wouldn’t want the task of stopping him. Lear and returning medalist Keegan Rothrock (12th, St. Joseph’s Catholic) appear to be the potential opponents in the semifinal. Their quarterfinal should be entertaining. I like Lear, but I can’t see anyone beating the senior leader of Notre Dame Green Pond.

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Prediction:

Andrew Cerniglia, 12th, Notre Dame over Thayne Lawrence, 12th, Frazier

2019 Results:

1st: Thayne Lawrence (Frazier) DEC Alec English (Kane), 7-2

3rd: Matthew Arciuolo (Saucon Valley) DEC Tyler Stoltzfus (Saint Joseph's), 2-1

5th: Cooper Mosier (Towanda) DEC Cole Sossong (Portage Area), 1-0

7th: Cade Linn (Southern Columbia) MD Austin Mele (Burrell), 9-0


170

Overview:

Both Mathew Arciuolo (12th, Saucon Valley) and Tyler Stoltzfus (12th, St. Joseph’s Catholic) are nationally ranked and headline the weight. They are the top two seeds with Arciuolo the top seed with a slightly better win percentage and a prestige advantage with his third place finish a year ago. Arciuolo defeated Stoltzfus twice a year ago having a distinct advantage on his feet holding a 4-0 takedown advantage in the two bouts.

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Top Bracket:

Trent Schultheis (11th, Freedom Area) made the 152lb final a year ago. He wrestled a tight match against Stoltzfus in the SW Regional final and will be the main challenger for Arciuolo. Timmy Ward (11th, Canton) is the first round opponent of Schultheis. Get on your feet when Ward takes to the mat Thursday morning. Ward missed the entire year last year after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The cancer is in remission and he is back in Hershey just like his sophomore season.

Teddy Race (12th, Kane) is the other regional champion in the top half. He has competed up at 182lbs the past two postseasons and made a late season descent. You never know what to expect when you have competitors moving weights.

Bottom Bracket:

The bottom side appears to be a battle between the regional champions. Cael Crebs (11th, Montoursville) is the third seed opposite Stoltzfus. Crebs has wrestled a great schedule this season and is battle tested. Stoltzfus defeated Crebs 8-6 the opening weekend of the season at the Top Hat.

Prediction:

Mathew Arciuolo, 12th, Saucon Valley over Tyler Stoltzfus, 12th, St. Joseph’s Catholic

2019 Results:

1st Jared Mcgill (Chestnut Ridge) DEC Christian Clutter (McGuffey), 8-2

3rd Derek Brown (Penn Cambria) F David Galasso (Athens), 2:02

5th Noah Hutcherson (Valley) DEC Tyler Fisher (Kutztown), 5-3

7th Isaiah Dejesus (Notre Dame Green Pond) FOR Carl Harris (Littlestown), 0-0


182

Overview:

Austin Walley (12th, Ellwood City) is the top seed and most credentialed wrestler in the field. Walley took fourth place a year ago.Many in the field have experience in Hershey, but are still chasing the elusive state medal.

Top Bracket:

Walley is a strong favorite in the top and should be challenged by fellow regional champion Bryce McCloskey (12th, Reynolds). McCloskey sealed the deal for the Raiders in the dual final with Southern Columbia, so he has the big match experience. McCloskey also came up big in the regional finals handing Cameron Whisner (12th, Kane) his first loss of the season. With all that said, I like Walley.

Bottom Bracket:

I like the regional champions in the bottom half as well. Dane Csencsits (12th, Saucon Valley) has been to Hershey three times and is searching for his first medal. His quarterfinal path could go through Whisner who has state experience and he has only tasted defeat once this season.

Dylan Bennett (11th, Montoursville) is undefeated and making his second appearance in the Giant Center. I like Csencsits in this half in a tight one over Bennett.

Prediction:

Austin Walley, 12th, Ellwood City over Dane Csencsits, 11th, Montoursville

2019 Results:

1st: Dayton Pitzer (Mount Pleasant Area) DEC Bryson Miller (Freedom Area), 3-1

3rd: Gavin Henry (Union City) MD Austin Walley (Ellwood City), 10-1

5th: Derek Yingling (West Branch) DEC Garrett Mcclintick (Brockway), 6-1 SV

7th: Kaleb Kamerer (Slippery Rock) DEC Hunter O'connor (Jersey Shore), 5-2


195

Overview:

Gaige Garcia (12th, Southern Columbia) is the returning state champion at 195lbs and a top five wrestler in the nation. He just eclipsed 100 falls in his career. He will cruise here. Set your alerts for Garcia if you want to see some of the best feet on a big man in the country.

Top Bracket:

Garcia is the man in the top bracket. Danny Lawrence (12th, Mahanoy) and Eric Johnson (12th, Brockway) are both state qualifiers that meet in the round of 16. They have identical 33-2 records. The winner there should be the favorite to meet Garcia in the semifinal.

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Bottom Bracket:

Ethan Rode (12th, Newport) and Braydon Herbster (12th, Reynolds) are the regional champions in the bottom bracket. Rode was a state qualifier a year ago up a weight at 220lbs. He seems to be the guy to pick in the bottom bracket.

Prediction:

Gaige Garcia, 12th, Southern Columbia over Ethan Rode, 12th, Newport

2019 Results:

1st: Gaige Garcia Catawissa, PA (Southern Columbia) DEC Kolby Franklin (Saint Joseph's), 5-2

3rd: Colin Fegley (Mahanoy) DEC Hunter Tremain (North Star), 7-6

5th: John Vargo (Bentworth) DEC Geoff Magin (Quaker Valley), 7-4

7th: Gable Crebs (Montoursville) DEC Lawrence Richardson (Bishop McDevitt-Wyncote), 5-0


220

Overview:

There is an abundance of title contenders at 220lbs that have traded wins with each other throughout the year. Cameron Wood (12th, Montoursville), Kolby Flank (12th, Wilson), Cory Johnston (12th, Glendale) finished fourth through sixth at the weight a year ago. Jake Ryan (12th, Mount Union) finished second at 285lbs. Nathan Taylor (11th, Brookville) is the last regional champion at the weight and has a significant win. Here are the results between the contenders this season:

Flank dec Ryan 5-2

Ryan dec Johnston 3-2 (2x)

Johnston dec Ryan 5-4

Knisely dec Ryan 6-4

Knisely dec Johnston 3-1sv

Knisely dec Wood 4-2sv

Wood dec Taylor 4-3

Taylor dec Knisely 4-2

Top Bracket:

Wood vs Johnston and Ryan vs Taylor should be the quarters on the top side. Those matches haven’t taken place yet this year and both appear to be toss-ups. I’ll take Wood and Ryan to meet in the semis, with Wood making his first final appearance.

Bottom Bracket:

Knisely did his work at the regional tournament knocking off both Ryan and Johnston to earn the advantageous spot in the bottom bracket. Flank is the second seed and should square off with Knisely with a spot in the finals on the line. There are so many ways this entire bracket could play out, but I will take Flank to win the state title.

Prediction:

Kolby Flank, 12th, Wilson over Cameron Wood, 12th, Montoursville

2019 Results:

1st: Jacob Mcmaster (Greenville) DEC Dominic Deluca (Derry), 6-2 SV

3rd: Preston Zachman (Southern Columbia) MD Cameron Wood (Montoursville), 10-2

5th: Kolby Flank (Wilson Area) DEC Cory Johnston (Glendale), 9-3

7th: Connor Forrest (Hopewell) F Tyrone Fowler (Bishop McDevitt-Wyncote), 4:53


285

Overview:

Colby Whitehill (12th, Brookville) is the reigning state champion and is undefeated coming into Hershey. Jalen Stephens (11th, Meyersdale) and Lear Quinton (12th, Southern Columbia) wrestled in the third place bout a year ago. It seems like a straightforward bracket, but the big guys could be one move away from turning the bracket on its head.

Top Bracket:

Whitehill pinned Riley Kemper (12th, Burgettstown) a year ago and those two could square off in the quarterfinals.

The bottom quarter could go a lot of different ways. I’ll take Strouse, who is a three-time qualifier with the best wins on the season from that quarter. Whitehill should be the finalist from this side.

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Bottom Bracket:

Quinton and returning medalist Emmanuel Lawal (12th, Church Farm School) should square off in the top quarter. Quinton sometimes struggles with size and Lawal is not lacking in that department. I’ll take Lawal in the mild upset.

Stephens finished third a year ago and I think he is the class of the field in the bottom bracket. Whitehill defeated Stephens in the quarterfinals a year ago, I’m booking the rematch.

Prediction:

Colby Whitehill, 12th, Brookville over Jalen Stephens, 11th, Meyersdale

2019 Results:

1st: Colby Whitehill (Brookville) DEC Jake Ryan (Mount Union), 5-2

3rd: Jalen Stephens (Meyersdale) DEC Lear Quinton (Southern Columbia), 3-1

5th: Matt Long (Union City) F Derek Skeehan (Reynolds), 2:01

7th: Kole Winfield (Southern Huntingdon) DEC Emmanuel Lawal (Church Farm School), 3-2 SV