Preview & Predictions For A Rock Solid 2021 Powerade
Preview & Predictions For A Rock Solid 2021 Powerade
Powerade is a must-watch event on the high school calendar every year, but especially this year. Here's everything you need to know about this year's field.
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Powerade got pushed back a month for pandemic reasons, but the quality of the tournament remains high as always. Get to know this year's field before action kicks off on Friday.
Watch the 54th Annual Powerade Tournament LIVE on FloWrestling
Friday-Sunday, Jan 29-31 | 9:00 AM EST
Earlier this week, Powerade released seeds and all the registered wrestlers for this year's tournament. We'll see nationally ranked guys in just about every weight and plenty of college-bound competitors. If you're used to seeing the 14 national high school weights, it might be surprising to see just 13 here, but this is the set PIAA will be rolling with moving forward. Here's a weight by weight look at what to expect.
106
Branden Wentzel was a PIAA champ as a freshman, and he's the top seed here. After Vinny Kilkeary won Super 32 at 106, it looked like we were all set for a match between last year's AA and AAA champs, but with Kilkeary up, we won't get that bout. Most of the field is made up of freshmen and sophomores who are still looking to make names for themselves in this year that hasn't offered nearly as many opportunities to compete as a typical season. This should really set the stage for the post season.
Wentzel's PIAA finals match against Calan Bollman (the #2 seed at 113)
Finals Prediction: Branden Wentzel over Tyler Chappell
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - Branden Wentzel, Montoursville (10)
2 - Tyler Chappell, Seneca Valley (10)
3 - Andrew Binni, Canon-McMillan (9)
4 - Austin Neel, Walsh Jesuit - OH (11)
5 - Louie Gill, Hickory (9)
6 - Cooper Hornack, Burrell (9)
7 - Ayden Smith, Notre Dame GP (9)
8 - Tanner Spaulding, LaSalle - OH (9)
113
If this bracket goes according to seeds, we'll see Super 32 and PIAA champ Vinny Kilkeary against Ohio placer Nolan Frye on the top side. The bottom semi is seeded to be PIAA finalist Calan Bollman against Thomas Link who placed at Ironman and Beast of the East last season before finishing 3rd at National Preps. Kilkeary was at 106 in October, but he's been competing at 113 and even once at 120 this year. He'll have his work cut out for him this weekend with this strong group at the top, but he's shined in some pretty big moments.
Vinny Kilkeary's interview after winning a Super 32 title this fall
Finals Prediction: Vinny Kilkeary over Thomas Link
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #1 (106) Vincent Kilkeary, Latrobe (10)
2 - Calan Bollman, Chestnut Ridge (10)
3 - Thomas Link, Malvern Prep (10)
4 - Nolan Frye, Walsh Jesuit - OH (11)
5 - Justin O'Neill, Hickory (12)
6 - Anthony Ferraro, Pine Richland (10)
7 - Colin Bartley, Laurel (10)
8 - Landen Duncan, Chalker - OH (10)
120
The top three at 120 are all nationally ranked, and are pretty big favorites to finish in the top three spots on the podium. Freshman #5 Mason Gibson was a Super 32 champ as an 8th grader and made the finals again this fall. Second seed Mac Church sits at #16. He lost to Gibson at Super 32 in 2019 11-3, but in order to get to Gibson in a potential final, he's seeded to see #9 Brett Ungar in the semis. Unseeded Nick O'Neill is #13 at 113 but now up at 120. He could bust up this bracket that has serious national implications.
Mason Gibson's win over Mac Church at 2019 Super 32
Finals Prediction: Mason Gibson over Brett Ungar
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #5 Mason Gibson, Bishop McCort (9)
2 - #16 Mac Church, Waynesburg (10)
3 - #9 Brett Ungar, Notre Dame GP (12)
4 - Jacob Houpt, Canon-McMillan (11)
5 - AJ Stayton, Faith Christian (10)
6 - CHAD OZIAS, Connellsville (11)
7 - Hunter Swedish, Seneca Valley (12)
8 - Bryce Rodriguez, Carlynton (11)
126
This bracket feels like one with upset potential as it has state placers and national level talent galore. While it doesn't have the top guys in the country, it will be a proving ground for some really tough kids. Top seed Joey Fischer was a state finalist last year while #4 seed Ethan Berginc and #6 seed Zander Phaturos were state champs. #17 Dustin Norris is the #3 seed, and class of 2023 Big Boarder Sam Cartella is the #8 seed. Spencer Barnhart, the #2 seed, has a win over Berginc this season and has performed well at national level events in the past. This weight is as open as it gets.
Finals Prediction: Dustin Norris over Joey Fischer
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - Joey Fischer, South park (12)
2 - Spencer barnhart, Malvern Prep (10)
3 - #17 Dustin Norris, LaSalle - OH (12)
4 - Ethan Berginc, Hempfield (12)
5 - MASON PRINKEY, Connellsville (12)
6 - Zander Phaturos, Waynesburg (11)
7 - SP Odonnell, Malvern Prep (10)
8 - Sam Cartella, Western Reserve Acad.-OH (10)
132
The two nationally ranked guys are on the bottom side of the bracket here in #8 Jackson Arrington and #13 Brandan Chletsos. The top side is tough as well with state finalist Dylan Chappell and two-time Ohio placer Casey Wiles. The five through 8 seeds are very capable of pulling upsets here as well, and Pierce, Colman, and Witmer all have state medals under their belts. #14 Dyvaire VanDyke didn't get a seed, and he would win the whole thing. This bracket could definitely shake up the national rankings.
Finals Prediction: Jackson Arrington over Dylan Chappell
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - Dylan Chappell, Seneca Valley (12)
2 - #13 Brandan Chletsos, Notre Dame GP (11)
3 - #8 Jackson Arrington, Forest Hills (11)
4 - Casey Wiles, LaSalle - OH (12)
5 - Brair Priest, Hempfield (11)
6 - Connor Pierce, Harborcreek (11)
7 - Christian Colman, Germantown Academy (12)
8 - Zack Witmer, St. Joe (12)
138
State finalist Ian Oswalt got the top seed here with #19 Cole Homet coming holding down the #2 seed. They'll be pushed by state placer Chandler Ho and Fargo AA Jake Niffenegger. This bracket seems relatively straight forward, but it's also an opportunity for some un-credentialed guys to make a big statement.
Finals Prediction: Cole Homet over Ian Oswalt
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - Ian Oswalt, Burrell (12)
2 - #19 Cole Homet, Waynesburg (11)
3 - Jake Niffenegger, LaSalle - OH (11)
4 - Chandler Ho, DuBois (12)
5 - Matt Sarbo, Altoona (12)
6 - Kelin Laffey, Pine Richland (11)
7 - Reed Fulmer, Malvern Prep (10)
8 - Josh Bauman, Notre Dame GP (12)
145
PIAA champ Wyatt Henson is #3 in the country and a pretty big favorite here, but he'll contest with state placers Tyler Cymmerman, Kenny Duschak, John Altieri, and Carter Gill. Realistically, Henson might be one of the surest picks to win the bracket, but this also feels like a weight with some serious upset potential.
Wyatt Henson's PIAA final against Sammy Hillegas
Finals Prediction: Wyatt Henson over Tyler Cymmerman
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #3 Wyatt Henson, Waynesburg (12)
2 - Chanz Shearer, Seneca Valley (12)
3 - Tyler Cymmerman, Derry (12)
4 - Kenny Duschak, Blackhawk (12)
5 - John Altieri, Norwin (12)
6 - Carter Gill, Hickory (11)
7 - Chase Henderson, Walsh Jesuit - OH (12)
8 - Kale Buckiso, Thomas Jefferson (12)
152
This bracket is stacked with three guys in the top six in the country. #6 Erik Gibson and #5 Rocco Welsh appear to be on a collision course for the semis although Super 32 placer Grant Mackay may have something to say about that. On the top half of the bracket, #4 (145) Alejandro Herrera-Rondon is the favorite to make the finals, but if seeds hold he'll have state placer Isaac Cory in the quarters followed by a semi with either Ty Linsenbigler or Jared Keslar. Both of those guys placed here last year and also placed at the state tournament. This might be the toughest bracket of them all.
Rocco Welsh's PIAA semifinal from 2020
Finals Prediction: Erik Gibson over Alejandro Herrera-Rondon
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #4 (145) Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, Seneca Valley (12)
2 - #6 Erik Gibson, Bishop McCort (11)
3 - #5 Rocco Welsh, Waynesburg (10)
4 - Ty Linsenbigler, Hempfield (12)
5 - JARED KESLAR, Connellsville (11)
6 - Grant Mackay, Laurel (10)
7 - Michael Zacur, Thomas Jefferson (12)
8 - Isaac Cory, Montoursville (11)
160
Three nationally ranked wrestlers are in this field, and one of them, #17 Enzo Morlacci, doesn't have a seed. He's a total wild card, and his placement in the bracket will certainly shake things up. The other two ranked guys, #13 Cole Spencer, and #7 Derek Fields, are both on the bottom half of the brackets and will meet in the semis if seeds hold. State finalist AJ Corrado is the top seed, and he'll be pushed by state placers Ryan Weyandt and Antonio Amelio who are the #4 and #5 seeds. This bracket smells like chaos.
Derek Fields' Super 32 medal match against Erik Gibson
Finals Prediction: Derek Fields over AJ Corrado
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - AJ Corrado, Burrell (12)
2 - #13 Cole Spencer, Pine Richland (12)
3 - #7 Derek Fields, Brunswick (12)
4 - Ryan Weyandt, Forest Hills (12)
5 - Antonio Amelio, Seneca Valley (12)
6 - Nate Stephenson, Waynesburg (12)
7 - Holden Garcia, Notre Dame GP (10)
8 - Chase Kranitz, Norwin (11)
172
This is another incredibly deep weight that includes #7 Luca Augustine, #12 Dillon Walker, and #15 Sammy Starr in addition to a bunch more studs. The seeds suggest we just might see an Augustine vs Starr semi with the winner to face Walker. On top of these three, we have a group that's poised to make a national impact. This one should be fun.
Augustine's win over Harrison Trahan at NHSCA Fall National Duals
Finals Prediction: Luca Augustine over Dillon Walker
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #7 Luca Augustine, Waynesburg (12)
2 - Brian Finnerty, Thomas Jefferson (11)
3 - #12 Dillon Walker, LaSalle - OH (12)
4 - Kurt Thompson, Moeller - OH (11)
5 - #15 Sammy Starr, Kiski Area (12)
6 - Matthew Furman, Canon-McMillan (10)
7 - Andrew Connolly, Malvern Prep (11)
8 - Bay Blaschak, Northern York (12)
189
Five of the top 8 seeds placed at the state championships last year, so there are plenty of potential spoilers, but this really feels like a finals showdown between Jack Wehmeyer who's #2 at 182 and Mac Stout who's #2 at 195. The new PIAA weight classes create the possibility of this match, and it could end up being the best match of the whole event. Sign me up for this one on Saturday.
Mac Stout's 2020 PIAA semifinal win over Trey Kibe
Finals Prediction: Jack Wehmeyer over Mac Stout
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #2 Mac Stout, Mt. Lebanon (11)
2 - #2 Jack Wehmeyer, Malvern Prep (11)
3 - Brayden Roscosky, Kiski Area (12)
4 - Justin Hart, Hampton (12)
5 - Cael Crebs, Montoursville (12)
6 - Trent Schultheis, Freedom (12)
7 - Patrick Cutchember, Quaker Valley (11)
8 - Jonathon Sanchez, Moeller - OH (11)
220
Nick Feldman has been basically untouchable this year. The junior recently committed to Ohio State and has looked college ready. He could see state placer Cole Weightman in the semis and will probably have either state finalist Dylan Bennett or Dayton Pitzer who's ranked #17 in the country in the finals.
Nick Feldman's dominant performance at Who's #1
Finals Prediction: Nick Feldman over Dayton Pitzer
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #1 Nick Feldman, Malvern Prep (11)
2 - Dylan Bennett, Montoursville (12)
3 - #17 Dayton Pitzer, Mt. Pleasant (11)
4 - Cole Weightman, Belle Vernon (11)
5 - Jason Sine, Notre Dame GP (12)
6 - Nikolas Miller, Central Mountain (12)
7 - Leo Muzika, Faith Christian (11)
7 - Owen Veitmeier, Malvern Prep (12)
8 - Conrad Harold, Hampton (12)
285
The big men could finish this thing with a rematch of last year's heavyweight final. Last year, it was #4 Cole Deery over #11 Isaiah Vance 4-2, and since those are the top two seeds, they just might run it back. They have a handful of legitimate challengers, but seem to be in position for a pretty likely final.
2019 Powerade final between Cole Deery and Isaiah Vance
Finals Prediction: Cole Deery over Isaiah Vance
Seeds & Rankings:
1 - #4 Cole Deery, Malvern Prep (11)
2 - #11 Isaiah Vance, Hempfield (12)
3 - Dawson Dietz, Hampton (12)
4 - Harrison Levans, Germantown Academy (12)
5 - Mitch Miles, Laurel (12)
6 - Tyson Brophy, Trinity (12)
7 - Ryan Howard, Waynesburg (12)
8 - Cyrus McCarl, Central Mountain (12)