The Pennsylvania Challenge of Champions was hosted from 1983 to 2000. This dual featured the highest placing senior at each weight from AA vs AAA. At its peak, the dual was a pretty good representation of the true strength of each class. AAA took the all-time series 12-6.

Interest from the competitors waned as other postseason events took precedent. The top seniors began to decline invitations before the eventual dissolution of the event following the 2000 dual.

Around Pennsylvania there are some crazy fans that buy into the AAA supremacy to a degree that is unreasonable. Statements like, “I went to varsity in the afternoon. AAA ninth isn’t for me,” when talking about the AA finals can be heard. The notion that AA is JV is pretty laughable. There is a falloff at the AA level; the sheer volume of athletes to pull from will dictate this. For the next classification cycle the calculated enrollment number of students in 9th-11th grade for AA classification tops out at 298 male students. There are 17 schools with enrollment numbers hitting four figures on the AAA side.

PIAA Brackets in FloArena

The size of the school doesn’t necessarily mean much, though. Waynesburg is an AA school with a calculated enrollment of 169 that elects to wrestle up at the AAA level. They finished second in the dual championships and third in the individual tournament team race.

The falloff happens somewhere around the 5th-8th medalists, and the gap widens when you start comparing the qualifiers that finished out of the medals. Often on the AAA side there will be wrestlers that are multiple-time medalists that fail to qualify for the tournament. It shows the depth on the AAA side, especially when these wrestlers go on to qualify for NCAA’s the very next season.

The top four medalists are very comparable and there are some weight classes that AA is superior at the very top. When presented with regular-season results at these weights, the AA deniers find great pain. Their beloved AAA wrestlers couldn’t have lost to those sad JV wrestlers from small-town Pennsylvania.

With wrestling currently on the shelf, let's play this dual out on paper. Note that this is the same place Kyle Dake has a losing record, so don’t get too bent out of shape if the match you're interested in doesn’t go the way of the wrestler you support.

106: Branden Wentzel (9th) Montoursville, AA, 46-7 vs Vinny Kilkeary (9th) Greater Latrobe, AAA, 30-7

This match didn’t take place at Powerade where both wrestlers were placewinners. Kilkeary was eighth and Wentzel picked up a sixth-place finish. From that result you could feel that the AA side has an advantage in the opening bout of the dual. I’ll point you to the light with some extra data.

Mac Church finished third on the AAA side and took home the Powerade title; Jake VanDee was third at Powerade and dropped the overtime bout to Kilkeary in the final. VanDee defeated Wentzel in the consolation semifinals 9-3 at Powerade.

All the common opponent data doesn’t favor Kilkeary, though. Pacey Najdusak knocked off Kilkeary and dropped a decision to Wentzel at Powerade. Both guys defeated AA runner-up Callan Bollman of Chestnut Ridge.

Take past results and throw them out in this bout. Kilkeary showed major improvement throughout the year. He seemed to be drastically undersized early in the year and gained ground on the 106lb field as the year went on. Kilkeary has big-move potential and isn’t afraid to go after them in big situations. He hit a headlock to secure a fall in sudden victory to win his state title. Kilkeary survived a drastically tougher field in AAA. I have him in this bout by a few.

Kilkeary, 7-4

AA- 0        AAA- 3

113: Gary Steen (11th) Reynolds, 48-1 vs Ethan Berginc (11th) Hempfield Area, 37-6

This is one of the weight classes the AA haters have to avoid in conversations about AAA supremacy. Steen won Ironman and Powerade. Back-to-back years he defeated Carter Dibert at Powerade. Dibert has been first and third in AAA for the past two years. Dibert has four wins in his high school career over Berginc, against zero defeats.

Watch Steen take out Dibert for the 2019 Powerade title

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Berginc was in the field at Powerade, but up at 120lbs. He finished 1-2 with one of those losses coming against his AAA finals opponent Aiden Lewis.

I like Steen in all positions in this match. Steen is a supreme high school talent regardless of division or even state.

Steen, 7-2

AA- 3        AAA- 3

120: Sheldon Seymour (12th) Troy, 39-1 vs Will Betancourt (12th) Manheim Central, 41-2

This is a match that is going to have wild variance when you ask wrestling fans about the outcome. Seymour, who was ultimately selected for the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, is a two-time champion, but undersized at 120lbs. He would greatly benefit from a dual format catching Betancourt right off the scale. Betancourt started the season at 132lbs before starting the descent to 120lbs with a bit of a layover at 126lbs.

This match would be won by the wrestler that is able to dictate where the wrestling takes place. I like Seymour in the neutral position and Betancourt on the mat. Seymour has good positional awareness and will not over-pursue a ride to get caught in a reversal.

Seymour, 4-3

AA- 6        AAA- 3

126: Ryan Crookham (10th) Notre Dame, 51-1 vs Kurtis Phipps (12th) Norwin, 41-1

Ryan Crookham is one of the best talents in the state regardless of weight or classification. However, there is a conflicting result this season in Phipps’ favor. It does come with an asterisk. Crookham gave up a late reversal in the Ironman final to Nic Bouzakis for his lone loss of the season. Phipps was in a 3-3 bout when a mat return was called a slam. Medical staff prevented Phipps from continuing and he won the Powerade title.

Crookham is so solid in all positions. I think he could be effective from the top position in this matchup and just one step ahead of Phipps. If there is an opening against Crookham it would be exploited by a strong top wrestler. I don’t think Phipps' skill set aligns with the type of wrestler that could knock off Crookham.

Crookham, 5-2

AA- 9         AAA- 3

132: Brock McMillen (11th) Glendale, 36-3 vs Kenny Herrmann (12th) Bethlehem Catholic, 43-4

These two guys remind me of each other: tough to score on, excellent in tight matches, can ride when needed, and superior positioning that leaves very few openings.

If you are looking for a wide-open match with a lot of scoring, skip this one to grab some popcorn. If you’re looking to watch a high-level match with technical handfighting and calculated scrambling, you’re in for a treat. This reminds me of the Herrmann vs Alejandro Herrera-Rondon matchup that Herrmann took at state duals.

Herrmann, 5-1

AA- 9         AAA- 6

138: Kaden Cassidy (12th) Bedford, 38-0 vs Wyatt Henson (11th) Waynesburg Central, 47-4

This is a match that Cassidy wants to get on the mat, specifically with him on top. Position choice would be very critical. Would Cassidy be willing to take top in a 0-0 match if deferred to? It would be fascinating to watch.

Kenny Kiser was a common opponent this season. Henson defeated Kiser 2-1 at Powerade. Cassidy won the AA title match 10-6 over Kiser. Cassidy is a leech on top and I think he could find a turn. Even losing the battle on the feet he has different paths to victory.

Cassidy, 5-4

AA- 12     AAA- 6

145: Gage McClenahan (12th) Bald Eagle Area, 39-2 vs Cole Handlovic (12th) Bethlehem Catholic, 44-5

If you look at this matchup two years ago you have to favor McClenahan. He finished second in AAA at 152lbs, while Handlovic was sixth at 145lbs. A lot has happened in two years and these two future Cornell teammates both took odd routes to 145lb titles this season.

McClenahan missed the entire 2018-19 season with a knee injury suffered playing football. He wrestled, virtually, the entire season down at 145lbs from his sophomore weight of 152lbs. He avenged his lone loss on the AA side, but did drop a 4-2 match to Cade Ballestrini. Ballestrini missed the medal stand on the AAA side but was seconds away from taking out Handlovic’s finals opponent, Jagger Condomitti, in the round of 16.

Handlovic wrestled 152lbs all of the 2018-19 season and most of the 2019-20 season. He surprised a lot of people when he swapped weight classes with teammate Matt Lackman.

Handlovic has wrestled a schedule second to none the past two seasons. I like the experience he has in the last two seasons, and believe he would find a way to get the victory.

Handlovic, 2-1 tb

AA- 12        AAA- 9

152: Caleb Dowling (12th) St. Joseph’s Catholic, 44-4 vs Ed Scott (12th) DuBois Area, 40-0

This is one that won’t be based all on speculation. This bout happened in the Powerade semifinals. Ed Scott utilized his left side underhook that he often will throw a reverse headlock with to secure a takedown in the closing ten seconds.

Ed Scott defeats Caleb Dowling in the Powerade semifinals

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Scott has made huge strides over the past two seasons and had a 26-match pin streak snapped in the PIAA semis. I don’t see any way he doesn’t pick up the win here.

Scott, 6-2

AA- 12        AAA- 12

160: Andrew Cerniglia (12th) Notre Dame, 46-1 vs Luke Nichter (12th) Chambersburg, 43-5

This is another bout that is relatively free of speculation. The Escape the Rock final featured these two state champions. Cerniglia dominated from the opening whistle. He scored a takedown in the first 10 seconds and widened the gap with two sets of nearfall in the first period. Cerniglia finished off with a 14-2 major decision.

Andrew Cerniglia earns OW at ETR with the major over Luke Nichter

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

They also met in the semifinals at Beast of the East. Cerniglia built a 15-2 lead before pinning Nichter. It’s difficult to predict bonus points in a high-level match, but Cerniglia is 2/2 in bonus victories this season against Nichter.

Cerniglia, 13-2

AA- 16        AAA- 12

170: Tyler Stoltzfus (12th) St. Joseph’s Catholic, 42-1 vs Lenny Pinto (12th) Stroudsburg, 44-3

This weight class across the state of Pennsylvania is loaded with talent. Top to bottom the AAA side has a distinct advantage with five wrestlers in the Top-15. However, Tyler Stoltzfus is the highest-ranked wrestler in the country at #2. Stoltzfus won Ironman and Powerade titles this season.

The Powerade title came with three of the AAA wrestlers in the field. Stoltzfus has split four matches with Trey Kibe over the past two seasons. Pinto was in the field at Powerade and dropped a match to New Jersey runner-up Shane Reitsma. Stoltzfus beat Reitsma in the final, and Pinto finished third.

This is a huge clash of styles. Pinto wants to mix it up with explosive exchanges. He will be looking for an underhook to a seatbelt from a variety of positions. Stoltzfus wants to slow the pace, wrestle a controlled bout and do damage from the top position. I think this is a terrible matchup for Pinto; give me Stoltzfus in a reversal of their Super 32 fifth place match.

Stoltzfus, 3-2

AA- 19        AAA- 12

182: Austin Walley (12th) Ellwood City, 45-1 vs Gerrit Nijemhuis (12th) Canon-McMillan, 47-0

At 182lbs in Pennsylvania Gerrit Nijenhuis has separated himself from the field of competitors in both AA and AAA. This potential matchup never happened at Powerade with Walley competing up at 195lbs.

Nijenhuis ran off an undefeated season, while Walley suffered his lone defeat to Nicholas Feldman at Powerade. There isn’t anything that leads me to believe this won’t a bonus-point win for Nijenhuis. He scored bonus points in just under 90 percent of his matches this season.

Nijenhuis, 11-3

AA- 19        AAA- 16

195: Gaige Garcia (12th) Southern Columbia, 49-0 vs Luke Stout (12th) Mt. Lebanon, 42-0

This is a match that has been debated the entire season. Both competitors are ranked in the Top-5 in the country. They both defeated #6 Nicholas Feldman by a score of 3-2. Stout defeated Feldman in the Powerade final, and Garcia knocked him off at Escape the Rock.

I see this being a calculated one scoring exchange match. I like the feet of Garcia and think he has the better leg attack of the two.

Garcia, 3-2

AA- 22     AAA- 16

220: Cameron Wood (12th) Montoursville, 47-3 vs Dorian Crosby (12th) Erie Cathedral Prep, 48-1

Dorian Crosby has wrestled in a Fargo final. He split matches with Hunter Catka at last year’s PIAA tournament. In back-to-back weeks he defeated returning state champion, Nate Schon. His only loss this year is to top-ranked Braxton Amos at Powerade.

Crosby and Wood were in the same bracket at Powerade and it was Crosby with the higher finish. Crosby defeated AA medalist Duane Knisely in the quarters and for third place. Knisely defeated Wood in sudden victory to prevent this matchup from taking place back in December. I like Crosby to bring the AAA side within three.

Crosby, 5-2

AA- 22     AAA- 19

285: Colby Whitehill (12th) Brookville, 40-0 vs Hunter Catka (12th) Sun Valley, 42-0

There isn’t a guy in the country that you would want closing the dual for you other than Virginia Tech commit Hunter Catka. He is ranked #1 in the country and won Super 32 in dominating fashion.

Future Pitt Panther Colby Whitehill was fifth in the Super 32 bracket and they had two common opponents. Catka majored Skylar Coffey on the championship side before Coffey defeated Whitehill 9-6. Catka also defeated #2 Hayden Copass 8-2 with Whitehill falling to Copass in the semifinals by the identical 9-6 score.

With the dual in the balance I think Catka will feel the urgency to score. His footwork is top-notch at the weight class, and he is difficult to defend. In an ACC rivalry we could see play out several times in the future, Catka gets the major to seal the dual for the AAA side.

Catka, 11-3

AA-22     AAA- 23