The PIAA Championships return to FloWrestling March 10-12. All bouts will be streamed live starting with AA on Thursday morning at 9am EST. This four part series will preview each bracket for lightweights (106-138) and heavyweights (145-285) on both the AA and AAA side. AA release will be followed by AAA. Check into the event hub for all written and video content.

145

Returning Qualifiers:

#7 Jake Gilfoil, 11th, Bishop McDevitt

Mason Leshock, 12th, Line Mountain (2019)

Hayden Mann, 11th, Conwell-Egan

#8 Hayden Ward, 11th, Canton (2020)

Returning Medalists:

#3 Eric Alderfer, 12th, Faith Christian Academy 4th 138

#2 Kaiden Wagner, 12th, Lewisburg 5th 132

#1 Conner Harer, 10th, Montgomery 5th 138

#5 Carter Gill, 12th, Hickory 7th 145

#4 Evan Maag, 12th, Notre Dame-GP 5th 106 (2020)

#10 Noah Teeter, 12th, Forest Hills 7th 132 (2020)

Top Bracket:

Two undefeated wrestlers populate the top half at 145lbs. Conner Harer (Montgomery) is a returning medalist and a consensus #1. Ty Waston (Penns Valley) is a little bit of an unknown quantity. He was a PAJW medalist in 8th grade and had a solid freshman season. This season he has taken his game to another level with 28 falls in 35 contested matches. I am excited to watch him in his first appearance in Hershey. Watson will be tested early as Evan Maag (NDGP) sits in his quarter.

Bottom Bracket:

Four returning/former medalists are in this half and two of them matchup in the round of 16 when Noah Teeter (Forest Hills) takes on Kaiden Wagner (Lewisburg). More than likely those two are facing off for a shot at two-time medalist Carter Gill (Hickory). Eric Alderfer (Faith Christian Academy) is also a two-time medalist and in the bottom quarter. There a plenty of different scenarios that could play out on this side and should be fun to watch.

Prediction:

#1 Conner Harer (Montgomery) over #3 Eric Alderfer (Faith Christian Academy)

2021 Results:

1st Levi Haines (Biglerville) F Nathan Higley (Sullivan County), 2:19

3rd Patrick Edmondson (Southern Columbia) DEC Kaeden Berger (Reynolds), 3-2

5th Kenny Duschek (Blackhawk) DEC Cooper Warshel (Richland), 11-4

7th Carter Gill (Hickory) DEC Noah Frack (Brandywine Heights), 4-3

152

Returning Qualifiers:

#8 Tyler Berish, 11th, Beth-Center

#2 Andrew Christie, 11th, Bishop McDevitt

Justice Hockenberry-Folk, 11th, West Perry

Kane Kettering, 12th, Reynolds

#7 Jack Moyer, 12th, Chestnut Ridge

#6 Cooper Price, 12th, Wyoming Area

Deegan Ross, 11th, Lackawanna Trail (2020)

Liam Scrivanich, 11th, Saucon Valley

Returning Medalists:

#1 Jackson Arrignton, 12th, Forest Hills 1st 2x 132

#3 Michael Duggan, 11th, Boiling Springs 3rd 152

#4 Devon Deem, 12th, Montgomery 4th 152

Top Bracket:

After the state championships a year ago I wrote about how impressed I was with Jackson Arrignton. The progress he made throughout his junior season has continued and he is currently ranked #2 in the nation. He has a 100% bonus rate, but was unfortunately taken out of the Powerade bracket with an injury. Those are the two losses showing on his record. Take every opportunity to watch Arrington this weekend and appreciate a special talent as he will head to NC State next season.

Bottom Bracket:

The bottom bracket should be a battle between Andrew Christie (Bishop McDevitt) and Devon Deem (Montgomery). Deem is a returning medalist and Christie has taken two out of three from Michael Duggan (Boiling Springs). Duggan edged Deem in the third place match a season ago after Deem won the East Super Region. 

Prediction:

#1 Jackson Arrington (Forest Hills) over #2 Andrew Christie (Bishop McDevitt)

2021 Results:

1st Grant Mackay (Laurel) DEC Dalton Gimbor (Hamburg), 1-0

3rd Michael Duggan (Boiling Springs) DEC Devon Deem (Montgomery), 8-4

5th Connor Yoder (North Star) DEC Alan Alexander (Pope John Paul II), 1-0

7th Luke Moore (Chestnut Ridge) DEC Jack Rimpa (Fort LeBoeuf), 3-0

160

Returning Qualifiers:

#5 Zeke Dubler, 11th, Glendale (2020)

Collin Hearn, 11th, Conneaut Area

Ty Nixon, 12th, Muncy (2020)

#3 Ganon Smith, 12th, Newport (2019)

Aiden Zimmerman, 11th, Johnsonburg (2020)

Returning Medalists:

#1 Grant Mackay, 11th, Laurel 1st 152

Alan Alexander, 12th, Pope John Paul II 6th 152

#2 Holden Garcia, 11th, Notre Dame-GP 6th 160

#6 Luke Moore, 12th, Chestnut Ridge 7th 152

Top Bracket:

Grant Mackay (Laurel) is a returning state champion and the top seed. His only losses this season were medical forfeits at Powerade. He is the strong favorite in this half. The bottom quarter could be an interesting match-up between guys that are probably anxious to get back inside the Giant Center. Ganon Smith (Newport) qualified as a freshman and missed out the past two seasons. He took his first loss of the season in the regional final. Aiden Zimmerman (Johnsonburg) missed the entire season a year ago and got off to a slow start this year. He looks to be rounding into form winning the Northwest Regional Championship. 

Bottom Bracket:

Holden Garcia (NDGP) is the favorite in this half. Don’t let the nine losses fool you, Notre Dame wrestles a schedule that is second to none. He will be tested early as Luke Moore (Chestnut Ridge) is a returning placewinner. Moore is a pinner with 19 on the season. He pinned his first round opponent, Colin Hearn (Conneaut), at the West Super Region a year ago. 

Prediction:

#1 Grant Mackay (Laurel) over #2 Holden Garcia (NDGP)

2021 Results:

1st Aj Corrado (Burrell) F Avery Bassett (Midd-West), 6:20

3rd Nolan Lear (Benton) DEC Bailey Gimbor (Hamburg), 3-2

5th Ryan Weyandt (Forest Hills) DEC Holden Garcia (Notre Dame Green Pond), 4-0

7th Cole Casilio (Johnsonburg) DEC Oleg Melnyk (Carlynton), 5-2

172

Returning Qualifiers:

#5 Suds Dubler, 12th, Glendale

#3 Garrett Garcia, 10th, Southern Columbia

#7 Kohen Lehman, 11th, North Penn-Liberty

Gavin Stewart, 12th, Marion Center

Jalen Wagner, 11th, Reynolds

Returning Medalists:

#1 Rune Lawrence, 10th, Frazier 1st 172

#4 Nolan Lear, 12th, Benton 3rd 160

#2 Jacob Jones, 11th, Saucon Valley 4th 172

Top Bracket:

Rune Lawrence (Frazier) is the top seed and returning state champion. He didn’t get the smooth path you might expect the top seed to earn. Nolan Lear (Benton) is a returning medalist and should be the quarter final opponent. They met at Powerade where Lawrence turned a scoreless match into a fall after Lear chose bottom. I don’t expect them to make that mistake again. 

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Bottom Bracket:

Garrett Garcia (Southern Columbia) has knocked off Lear back to back weeks after missing a medal last season when Lear beat him in tiebreaker at the East Super Region. He doesn’t have an easy path as Suds Dubler (Glendale) showed his mettle wrestling Lawrence tough in the regional final. Jacob Jones (Saucon Valley) is the other region champion in the half. Jones has history with the Garcia family as he was defeated at the East Super Region by Garrett’s older brother Gavin last year. 

Prediction:

#1 Rune Lawrence (Frazier) over # 3 Garrett Garcia (Southern Columbia)

2021 Results:

1st Rune Lawrence (Frazier) DEC Malachi Duvall (Penns Valley), 9-7

3rd Gavin Garcia (Southern Columbia) TF Jacob Jones (Saucon Valley), 15-0 3:27

5th Ben Haubert (Palisades) DEC Ethan Barr (McGuffey), 5-4

7th Ethan Gush (Muncy) DEC Timmy Church (Fort LeBoeuf), 7-4

189

Returning Qualifiers:

#9 Landon Caldwell, 12th, Saegertown

Noah Gnibus, 12th, Mount Pleasant

Joseph Lapenna, 10th, Notre Dame-GP

Tucker Paynter, 10th, Trinity

#3 Jacob Scheib, 11th, Tri Valley

#7 Haydn Packer, 11th, Jersey Shore (2020)

Returning Medalists:

#1 Cole Karpinski, 12th, Greenville 6th 189

#5 Ty Csencsits, 12th, Saucon Valley 8th 189

#4 Isaac Cory, 12th, Montoursville 7th 160 (2020)

#2 Patrick Cutchember, 12th, Quaker Valley 7th 182 (2020)

Top Bracket:

This is another weight that the top seed doesn’t get any favors done by the formulated bracket. Cole Karpinski (Greenville) is undefeated and a returning medalist. He is rewarded with fellow medalist Ty Csencsits (Saucon Valley). Karpinski did pin Csencsits on the backside last year. Patrick Cutchember (Quaker Valley) is the other regional champion on this side. He has four losses on the season, three of them to Mac Stout. He’s going to have a say in this half.

Bottom Bracket:

Jacob Scheib (Tri Valley) and Isaac Cory (Montoursville) are the regional champions in the half. Cory earned a medal back in 2020. Scheib had his medal hopes dashed last season by Csencsits. He dropped the district championship bout to Csencsits, but came back to major him for the regional title. I think this is the battle in the semifinals.

Prediction:

#2 Patrick Cutchember (Quaker Valley) over #3 Jacob Scheib (Tri Valley)

2021 Results:

1st Cael Crebs (Montoursville) F Ethan Finch (Sheffield), 5:00

3rd Trent Schultheis (Freedom Area) DEC Wesley Barnes (Southern Columbia), 4-3 TB2

5th Bryce Enders (Halifax) DEC Cole Karpinski (Greenville), 5-2

7th Ian Eckenrode (Cambria Heights) F Ty Csencsits (Saucon Valley), 3:30

215

Returning Qualifiers:

#7 Damon Backes, 12th, Mount Carmel

Brody Kline, 10th, Berks Catholic

#2 Brad Morrison, 12th, West Perry

Returning Medalists:

#1Dayton Pitzer, 12th, Mount Pleasant 1st 2x 215

Dante Mahaffey, 12th, Saucon Valley 6th 215

#3 Hayden Linkerhof, 12th, Corry Area 7th 215

#6 Cael Black, 12th, Eisenhower 6th 220 (2020)

Top Bracket:

Dayton Pitzer (Mount Pleasant) is seeking his third title alongside Arrington and Crookham. Outside of the Powerade final where he decisioned TJ Stewart, he has pinned everyone that has stepped on the mat with him. He goes about it in a different way, but think Jeff Walter if you’re a throwback Pennsylvania wrestling fan. 

Bottom Bracket:

Hayden Linkerhof (Corry) is a returning medalist and regional champion. Look for him and Brad Morrison (West Perry) to square off in the semifinals. Morrison’s only loss on the season is to Escape the Rock Champion Quinn Collins. 

Prediction:

Dayton Pitzer (Mount Pleasant) over Hayden Linkerhof

2021 Results:

1st Dayton Pitzer (Mount Pleasant Area) DEC Dylan Bennett (Montoursville), 6-1

3rd Nate Wickersham (Tamaqua) F Savauri Shelton (Bermudian Springs), 4:09

5th Eli Reese (Knoch) DEC Dante Mahaffey (Saucon Valley), 4-2 SV

7th Hayden Linkerhof (Corry Area) DEC Parker Moore (Philipsburg-Osceola), 2-1

285

Returning Qualifiers:

#4 Leo Muzika, 12th, Faith Christian Academy

Tyler Pfizenmayer, 11th, Saucon Valley

#6 Matt Watkins, 12th, Tussey Mountain

Returning Medalists:

#1Riley Robell, 11th, Bishop McDevitt 2nd 285

#3 Emmanuel Ulrich, 11th, Mifflinburg 5th 285

Top Bracket:

Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt) has wrestled really well this season and showing improvement from a season he finished second in the state. This bracket follows the same theme we’ve seen over and over with the top seed having a very tough quarter.  Emmanual Ulrich (Mifflinburg) is the potential opponent quarterfinal. This was a semifinal bout last season and Robell beat Ulrich for the Sophomore NHSCA title last spring. I like Robell, but you’ll want to watch.

Bottom Bracket:

Leo Muzika (Faith Christian), Tyler Pfizenmayer (Saucon Valley), and Matt Watkins (Tussey Mountain) all have state tournament experience. Pfizenmayer is undersized, but that sometimes creates matchup problems for the bigger guys. Austin Johnson (Muncy) brings the hype in as he is a talented freshman that is looking to become the first freshman to win a title at HWT/285. Johnson split matches in the postseason with Ulrich and he defeated Muzike during the regular season. 

Prediction:

#1 Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt) over #2 Austin Johnson (Muncy)

2021 Results:

1st Nathan Taylor (Brookville) DEC Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt-Wyncote), 5-3

3rd Hogan Swenski (Bermudian Springs) DEC Jordan Schell (Girard), 7-0

5th Emmanuel Ulrich (Mifflinburg) DEC Jalen Stephens (Meyersdale), 7-3

7th Marvin Beatty (Marion Center) DEC Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville), 4-2 TB2