2021 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championship

2021 PIAA AAA Upper-Weight Preview

Preview of the PIAA State Wrestling Championships.

Mar 12, 2021 by Brock Hite

This year the PIAA State Championships have a unique look. Both the AA and AAA Championships will be contested on a single day with just an eight-man field. All action will be live on FloWrestling with AA being contested on Friday, March 12th, and AAA on Saturday, March 13th. Sessions will be split with 106-138 being contested in sessions I and III at 8am and 4pm. 145-285 will be contested in sessions II and IV at 12pm and 7:30pm. The schedules for AA and AAA are identical so Friday and Saturday follow the same timeline.

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In this four part series we will look at the fields at each weight. The lightweight and heavyweight separation will preview the weight classes that will be contested in the same sessions.

AAA Heavyweight

Saturday, March 13th

Session II 12pm

Session IV 7:30pm

145

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Dagen Condomitti, 10th, 11-1

E2 Connor Eck, 12th, Bensalem, 15-2

W3 Riley Bower, 11th, Williamsport 23-1

E4 William Morrow, 11th, North Penn, 13-5

Returning Medalists:

E1 Sam McMonagle, 12th, West Chester Henderson, 17-1 (7th 126lbs)

W4 Ty Linsenbigler, 12th, Hempfield Area, 32-8 (5th 145lbs)

W2 Wyatt Henson, 12th, Waynesburg Central, 29-1 (1st 138lbs)

W1 John Altieri, 12th, Norwin, 30-3 (4th 138)

Top Bracket:

This half is absolutely loaded. McMonagle, Linsenbigler, and Henson are all returning medalist. Henson is in this half after a disqualification from a slam. The slam came off a double leg. It was a clean wrestling position that turned into an unfortunate situation. Wrestling through the postseason is all about a fresh start each week. Henson is the class of the field and should come out of the top side.

Bottom Bracket:

I am working under the assumption that Altieri will have no ill effects from last week's injury. I like the west to flex its muscle and schedule a rematch between Altieri and Bower. They have wrestled twice with Altieri taking two overtime bouts. Last year in the quarterfinal it was a non-control fall off a leg attack. It’s really hard to win time after time in razor thin bouts. Give me Bower to make the finals.

Prediction:

Wyatt Henson, 12th, Waynesburg Central over Riley Bower, 11th, Williamsport

2020 Results:

1st Cole Handlovic (Beth Catholic) DEC Jagger Condomitti (Northampton), 3-2

3rd Paniro Johnson (Cathedral Prep) DEC Jared Keslar (Connellsville), 5-3

5th Ty Linsenbigler (Hempfield Area) DEC Mason Spears (Franklin Regional), 3-0

7th Antonio Petrucelli (Owen J. Roberts) DEC Antonio Amelio (Seneca Valley), 6-3

152

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Chase Barlow, 11th, Strath Haven, 21-2

E4 Dom D’Agostino, 11th, Interboro, 15-4

Returning Medalists:

E1 Evan Gleason, 12th, Bethlehem Catholic, 13-0 (5th 138lbs)

W4 Jared Keslar, 11th, Connellsville, 19-4 (4th 145lbs)

W2 Rocco Welsh, 10th, Waynesburg Central, 24-4 (2nd 126lbs)

E2 Zac Martin, 12th, Neshaminy, 14-1 (6th 132lbs)

W1 Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, 12th, Seneca Valley, 36-0 (4th 132lbs)

Top Bracket:

This weight was absolutely loaded in the West Super-Region. That has helped spread the balance throughout the bracket this weekend. Gleason and Keslar is the feature quarter as both have earned medals in the past. Keslar and Welsh missed each other last week after a fantastic match at WPIALs. You want to set an appointment for that one if Keslar and Welsh get through the quarters.

Bottom Bracket:

Herrera-Rondon has thoroughly impressed me this season as he has continued to add to his arsenal and develop different aspects of his game. The feature quarterfinal will be at the top, though. Martin and Johnson are both returning medalists. If Johnson gets his crack at Herrera-Rondon it could be very interesting. Johnson dropped the semifinal to Welsh last week in an exciting match. He had just as many scoring opportunities as Welsh, but he couldn’t capitalize. Herrera-Rondon is a headache to finish on, but Johnson’s attacks are often explosive quick hitters.

Prediction:

Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, 12th, Seneca Valley over Rocco Welsh, 10th, Waynesburg Central

2020 Results:

1st Ed Scott (DuBois) DEC Cameron Robinson (Council Rock North), 11-8

3rd Matt Lackman (Beth Catholic) DEC Cole Spencer (Pine Richland), 3-2

5th A.j. Tamburrino (Hatboro Horsham) DEC Marques Mcclorin (Cathedral Prep), 5-2

7th Jack Mcgill (Spring-Ford) DEC Tye Weathersby (Central Dauphin), 3-2

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160

First Appearance in Hershey:

W3 Ryan Fry, 12th, Red Lion, 25-4

E4 Landon Muth, 10th, Bethlehem Catholic, 10-4

Returning Qualifiers:

W4 Chase Kranitz, 11th, Norwin, 25-6

E3 Matt Colajezzi, 11th, Council Rock South, 23-2

Returning Medalists:

E1 Jagger Condomitti, 12th, Northampton, 13-0 (2nd 145lbs)

W2 Ethan Richner, 12th, Bellefonte, 21-1 (6th 152lbs 2019)

E2 Jack McGill, 12th, Spring-Ford, 18-1 (7th 152lbs)

W1 Cole Spencer, 12th, Pine-Richland (4th 152lbs)

Top Bracket:

Condomitti comes in as the favorite. The rest of the half is very balanced as everyone has wrestled in the Giant Center, and Richner earned a medal back in 2019. I can’t see a way it’s not Condomitti emerging from this half.

Bottom Bracket:

McGill and Spencer have medaled before and seem to be on course for the semifinals. Fry is a dangerous opponent because he is a pinner. 16 of his 25 wins this season have come by fall. Both McGill and Spencer medaled at 152lbs last season, but they didn’t hit in the bracket. Spencer defeated Tye Weathersby while McGill split matches with him. This is the best data point to make a comparison.

Prediction:

Jagger Condomitti, 12th, Northampton over Cole Spencer, 12th, Pine-Richland

2020 Results:

1st Luke Nichter (Chambersburg) F Clayton Ulrey (Lower Dauphin), 3:43

3rd Connor Herceg (Nazareth) DEC Jack Blumer (Kiski Area), 9-4

5th Connor Quinn (Owen J. Roberts) DEC Luca Augustine (Waynesburg), 11-7 SV

7th Dillon Sheehy (Council Rock North) DEC Colby Romjue (Susquehannock), 5-3

172

First Appearance in Hershey:

E3 Sonny Sasso, 10th, Nazareth, 9-3

E2 Regan Loughney, 12th, LaSalle, 17-3

Returning Qualifiers:

W4 Lance Urbas, 12th, State College, 18-4

W3 Sammy Starr, 12th, Kiski Area, 37-4

E4 Matt Romanelli, 12th, Downingtown East, 15-4

Returning Medalists:

E1 Dominic Falcone, 12th, Easton, 12-0 (7th 170lbs)

W2 Luca Augustine, 12th, Waynesburg Central, 18-1 (6th 160lbs)

W1 Trey Kibe, 12th, Mifflin County, 20-0 (4th 170lbs)

Top Bracket:

Falcone and Augustine enter as returning medalists and seem to be the favorites in the quarterfinals. There is very limited results shared between the wrestlers out of the east and west to make comparisons. I’ll take Augustine.

Bottom Bracket:

Kibe has been to the top of the podium, but last season serves as motivation for the senior as he dropped a tiebreaker match in the semifinals. Starr looks to be the likely semifinal opponent for Kibe and that is far from a gimme. Kibe picked up a fall in sudden victory last week in the semifinals.

Prediction:

Trey Kibe, 12th, Mifflin County over Luca Augustine, 12th, Waynesburg Central

2020 Results:

1st Lenny Pinto (Stroudsburg) F Mac Stout (Mt. Lebanon), 4:38

3rd Dylan Reinert (Gettysburg) DEC Trey Kibe (Mifflin County), 5-1

5th Angel Garcia (Mariana Bracetti) DEC Eli Brinsky (South Fayette), 6-0

7th Dominic Falcone (Easton) DEC Tyler Kocak (Hampton), 4-1

189

Returning Qualifiers:

W4 Colt Barley, 12th, Penn Manor, 21-3

W2 Brooks Gable, 12th, Dallastown, 25-3

W3 Justin Hart, 12th, Hampton, 26-5

E4 Bryce Molinaro, 11th, Hazleton Area, 19-3

W1 Ethan Rossman, 12th, Bellefonte, 22-2

Returning Medalists:

E1 Joey Milano, 12th, Spring-Ford, 15-0

E3 Drew Clearie, 12th, Nazareth, 10-2

E2 Isaiah Reinert, 12th, Easton, 11-2

Top Bracket:

Milano and Clearie have a long standing rivalry that is 3-1 in Milano’s favor. It was Clearie taking the 3rd place bout in Hershey a year ago. I was impressed with Milano’s performance last week defeating Clearie and Reinert.

Bottom Bracket:

Reinert is probably viewed as the favorite on the bottom half. However, he needed sudden victory to defeat Hart last year in the medal round. Rossman defeated Hart in the semifinals last week. He will take on Molinaro, who is the only junior in the bracket.

Prediction:

Joey Milano, 12th, Spring-Ford over Isaiah Reinert, 12th, Easton

2020 Results:

182 LBS

1st Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan) DEC Donovan Mcmillon (Peters Township), 6-0

3rd Drew Clearie (Nazareth) DEC Joey Milano (Spring-Ford), 5-2

5th Maximus Hale (Downingtown West) DEC Nick Baker (Penn Manor), 5-1

7th Isaiah Reinert (Easton) DEC Caden Wright (Emmaus), 2-1

195 LBS

1st Luke Stout (Mt. Lebanon) MD Luke Montgomery (Bethel Park), 12-1

3rd Ryan Catka (Sun Valley) DEC Jake Lucas (Cumberland Valley), 4-2 TB2

5th Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley) DEC Brayden Roscosky (Kiski Area), 11-8

7th Jackson Talbott Harrisburg, PA (Central Dauphin) F Louis Carbajal (Spring-Ford), 2:18

215

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Quinn Collins, 11th, Central Bucks East, 19-4

W3 Logan Harmon, 12th, Armstrong, 18-2

E4 Carl DiGiorgio, 11th, Central Bucks West, 23-5

W1 Josh Harkless, 12th, Wilson(West Lawn), 27-1

Returning Medalists:

E1 Ryan Catka, 12th, Sun Valley, 16-0 (3rd 195lbs)

W4 Cole Weightman, 11th, Belle Vernon, 29-6 (6th 220lbs)

W2 Jacob Lucas, 12th, Cumberland Valley, 26-1 (4th 195lbs)

E2 Jason Henderson, 12th, Delaware Valley, 15-1 (5th 195lbs)

Top Bracket:

This weight class has an eerily similar feel. Seven of the eight in the field were in the 195lb bracket a year ago. Weightman is the only one that was not in the bracket as he finished 6th at 220lbs. In the bracket a year ago Catka defeated Harkless, Lucas, and Henderson. Razor close matches, but he has to be looked at as the favorite.

Bottom Bracket:

The top quarter is a rematch from the backside a year ago. Henderson pinned Harmon in that bout. However, he trailed 5-0 at one point in the bout and was down 5-3 when he secured the fall. Harkless has shown improvement this season. Did he pass the field by?

Prediction:

Ryan Catka, 12th, Sun Valley over Josh Harkless, 12th, Wilson(West Lawn)

2020 Results:

220 LBS

1st Dorian Crosby (Cathedral Prep) DEC Nate Schon (Selinsgrove), 3-1

3rd John Meyers (Greensburg Salem) F Chase Mielnik (Downingtown West), 2:22

5th Stephen Schott (Nazareth) FOR Cole Weightman (Belle Vernon), 0-0

7th T.j. Moore (Cedar Crest) DEC Dustin Swanson (Garden Spot), 7-1

285

First Appearance in Hershey:

E1 Cameron Butka, 12th, West Scranton, 14-1

E2 Sean Kinney, 9th, Nazareth, 9-1

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Matthew Cruise, 11th, Easton, 12-3

W3 Dawson Dietz, 12th, Hampton, 34-5

E4 Julien Laventure, 11th, Upper Darby, 34-5

Returning Medalists:

W4 William McChesney, 11th, Greensburg Salem, 23-6 (7th 285lbs)

W2 Nate Schon, 12th, Selinsgrove, 36-1 (2nd 220lbs)

W1 Isaiah Vance, 12th, Hempfield Area, 33-1 (2nd 285lbs)

Top Bracket:

Styles make matchups. You could tweak that statement here to read: styles and size make matchups. Schon has a title and a runner-up finish in his career down at 220lbs. Last week he dropped the final to Vance who wrestled a classic heavyweight bout. Vance has the perfect combination of hips and footwork to give Schon fits. I really like Schon on the top side and think he will take a different approach if Vance awaits in the final.

Bottom Bracket:

Kinney is the first 285lb freshman medalist since 2016. He has continued to prove himself throughout the postseason. Dietz will provide another big test for the freshman right away. Vance finished second to Hunter Catka last year and is looking to finish off his career with a state title. The lone blemish on Vance’s record is a 4-3 loss to mcChesney. That has been the most wrestled rivalry amongst qualifiers as Vance holds an 11-1 advantage in their bouts.