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. 

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.

AA Lightweight

Friday, March 12th

Session I 8am

Session III 4pm

106

First Appearance in Hershey:

E1 Chase Burke, 10th, Benton, 26-6

W4 Landon Bainey, 9th, West Branch, 22-3

W2 Cooper Hornack, 9th, Burrell, 26-2

E2 Ayden Smith, 9th, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 12-1

W3 Louie Gill, 9th, Hickory, 27-5

E4 Steven Harris, 9th, Conwell-Egan, 14-3

Returning Qualifiers:

W1 Hunter Robison, 11th, Saegertown, 22-1 (2019)

Returning Medalists:

E3 Brandon Wentzel, 10th, Montoursville, 27-3, (1st 106lbs)

Top Bracket:

Wentzel is the reigning champion, but fell in the semifinals last week to Burke. He still holds a 2-1 advantage in the rivalry this season. Hornack and Bainey were both PJW medalists a year ago. I’ll take the Hornack vs Wentzel winner in this half. Wentzel could struggle off the scale and I’m going to pick the upset here. Parity is a good word to use at this weight and I wouldn’t be shocked to see any of the four in the finals.

Bottom Bracket:

PJW credentials are abundant in this half among the freshmen. Smith was a champion a year ago and Gill was a runner-up. However, those were down at 77lbs and 87lbs. Robison was a qualifier for General McClane in 2019, and was ruled ineligible after a mid-season move last year. Robison’s only loss on the season is to AAA Super-Region Champion, Tyler Chappell. Robison is good in all three positions and I like his experience. I think he will navigate his way through the bottom half.

Prediction:

Hunter Robison, 11th, Saegertown over Cooper Hornack, 9th, Burrell

2020 Results:

1st Branden Wentzel (Montoursville) DEC Calan Bollman (Chestnut Ridge), 4-2

3rd Jaden Pepe (Wyoming Area) DEC Deven Jackson (West Perry), 7-4

5th Evan Maag (Notre Dame GP) DEC Cayden Walter (Brookville), 11-4

7th Ethan Kolb (Benton) DEC Lucas Munsee (Corry), 4-2 SV

113

First Appearance in Hershey:

W4 Justin O’Neill, 12th, Hickory, 28-6

W3 Chris Vargo, 9th, Bentworth, 17-1

E4 Adam Schweitzer, 11th, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 12-3

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Robert Gardner, 11th, South Williamsport, 37-3

W2 Bryce Beatty, 12th, Mount Union, 14-3 (2019)

W1 Coen Bainey, 10th, Bald Eagle Area, 22-1

Returning Medalists:

E1 Jaden Pepe, 10th, Wyoming Area, 16-1 (3rd 106lbs)

E2 Gavin Bradley, 11th, Athens, 38-1 (7th 113lbs)

Top Bracket:

Jaden Pepe is a returning medalist and the favorite on the top side. He has split matches with Gavin Bradley over the past two weekends. Over the past two seasons he has four wins over Robert Gardner who will take on Bryce Beatty in the bottom quarter. Both Gardner and Beatty have state tournament experience, but will take home their first medals this year. Beatty’s signature win on the season came two weeks ago when he upended PIAA runner-up Calan Bollman. Bollman failed to qualify out of the West Super-Region.

Bottom Bracket:

The top quarter is the most intriguing in the bracket for my liking. Vargo is a freshman that has just one loss on the year. Vargo dropped the West Super-Region semifinal to Coen Bainey, just a week after defeating Bainey at the Southwest Region. Vargo is taking on two-time state medalist Gavin Bradley. Bradley also has a single loss on the season. Just like Vargo, he defeated Pepe at the regional tournament before falling at the super-region. This will be a must watch quarter final. I like Bainey in the bottom quarter. Will he have a rubber match with Vargo or will the experience of Bradley shine through?

Prediction:

Jaden Pepe, 10th, Wyoming Area over Gavin Bradley, 11th, Athens

2020 Results:

1st Gary Steen (Reynolds) DEC Joey Fischer (South Park), 4-2 SV

3rd Brett Ungar (Notre Dame GP) DEC Owen Reinsel (Brookville), 4-0

5th Kai Burkett (Chestnut Ridge) DEC Hunter Walk (Tyrone Area), 5-1

7th Gavin Bradley (Athens) DEC Connor Brown (Littlestown), 6-3

120

First Appearance in Hershey:

W4 JoJo Przybycien, 9th, Fort Leboeuf, 18-8

E2 Mason Barvitskie, 9th, Southern Columbia, 19-1

W1 Mason Gibson, 9th, Bishop McCort, 19-0

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Parker Davidson, 12th, Hamburg, 20-5

Returning Medalists:

Brett Ungar, 12th, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 11-0 (3rd 113lbs)

Gary Steen, 12th, Reynolds, 27-1 (1st 113lbs)

Owen Reinsel, 11th, Brookville, 25-3 (4th 113lbs)

Ethan Kolb, 10th, Benton, 19-8 (7th 106lbs)

Top Bracket:

Last year’s semifinal between Steen and Ungar was an instant classic with Steen getting the rideout in ultimate tiebreaker. I am willing to put the cart in front of the horse and pencil that rematch in. This is the most credentialed half bracket in the tournament with two Pennsylvania and a New Jersey state championship between Steen and Ungar. 

Bottom Bracket:

The top quarter is most interesting as it should be the most competitive quarter at the weight. Mason Barvitskie has only one loss on the season, but the freshman has faced the typical Southern Columbia schedule. We know he’s a freshman medalist, but how high can he climb. Owen Reinsel will be a good litmus test right away as Reinsel was 4th a year ago. Reinsel has three losses on the season. Those losses are to Steen and Gibson, twice. He’s a proven commodity. 

Mason Gibson brings a lot of hype in his debut in Hershey and all of it is warranted. Pennsylvania has talented freshmen every year, but this is different. Gibson is deserving of the Spencer Lee and Cary Kolat comparisons that you will hear in the chatter. I don’t see Gibson tested on this half even though Kolb and Reinsel are returning medalists. Gibson has put up bonus points in both meetings with Reinsel. In a normal year Gibson would have had to go through both Steen and Ungar with the regional champion separation criteria leaving freshmen with no way to garner prestige points. This isn’t your normal year and Gibson earned his placement in the bracket by taking out Steen at the super-region. Gibson has the hand-fighting of an NCAA qualifier and it makes everything look so easy for him against great high school wrestlers. Tune in and appreciate his talent. 

Prediction:

Mason Gibson, 9th, Bishop McCort over Gary Steen, 12th, Reynolds

2020 Results:

1st Sheldon Seymour (Troy) DEC Ryan Michaels (Elizabeth Forward), 7-4

3rd Brandan Chletsos (Notre Dame GP) F Logan Jaquay (Eisenhower), 7:19

5th Nate Smith (Bishop McDevitt-Harrisburg) DEC Cole Bayless (Reynolds), 1-0

7th Nate Holderbaum Osterburg, PA (Chestnut Ridge) F Eric Alderfer (Faith Christian), 0:21

126

First Appearance in Hershey:

E4 Nolen Zeigler, 10th, West Perry, 23-10 

Returning Qualifiers:

E1 Scott Johnson, 10th, Muncy, 26-4

W4 Ross Dull, 11th, Chestnut Ridge, 21-7

W2 Connor Saylor, 10th, Hickory, 29-7

W3 Chase McLaughlin, 12th, Greenville 25-2

Returning Medalists:

E3 Gabe Gramly, 12th, 32-5 (8th 126lbs)

E2 Gable Strickland, 12th, Benton, 30-2 (5th 113lbs, 2019)

W1 Joey Fischer, 12th, South Park, 21-0 (2nd 113lbs)

Top Bracket:

All four wrestlers in this half have been to the Gian Center with Gramly the only one securing a medal. That changes this year as everyone in the field is a medalist. DIstrict 4 had a lot of parity and Johnson is battle tested. He has wins over state medalists Strickland, Gramly and Kole Biscoe. He trails in the season series with Strickland, but took the last two. I will ride the hot hand and pick him to make the final. The common opponent results among this group leads you to do nothing but continue second guessing who will emerge. 

Bottom Bracket:

Strickland is a two-time medalist, but he missed out on the podium a year ago. Fischer has two medals as well, and was an overtime takedown away from a title last season. I like these two to meet in the semifinal. I really liked what I saw at Powerade from Fischer and believe in his title chances this year.

Prediction:

Joey Fischer, 12th, South Park over Scott Johnson, 10th, Muncy

2020 Results:

1st Ryan Crookham (Notre Dame GP) DEC Levi Haines (Biglerville), 7-2

3rd Jackson Arrington (Forest Hills) DEC David Evans (Tunkhannock), 8-5

5th Noah Frack (Brandywine Heights) DEC Tyler Cymmerman (Derry Area), 9-4

7th Connor Pierce (Harbor Creek) F Gabe Gramly (Mifflinburg), 2:50

132

First Appearance in Hershey:

W4 Kyle McCollum, 11th, Beth-Center, 28-6

E2 Conner Heckman, 10th, Midd-West, 32-8

E4 Cade Wirnsberger, 10th, Meadowbrook Christian, 26-10

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Kaiden Wagner, 11th, Lewisburg, 21-3

Returning Medalists:

E1 Brandan Chletsos, 11th, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 13-0 (3rd 120lbs)

W2 Connor Pierce, 11th, 21-3 (7th 126lbs)

W3 Zack Witmer, 12th, St. Joseph’s Academy, 12-3 (5th 138lbs)

W1 Jackson Arrignton, 11th, Forest Hills, 26-0 (3rd 126lbs)

Top Bracket:

Chletsos has the best credentials in the half bracket and seems to be the solid pick. Pierce and Wagner have experience in the Giant Center with Pierce earning medals in back-to-back trips. 

Bottom Bracket:

Arrignton has already earned two medals and was a state champion as a freshman. Now comes the scary news for the field. He is the most improved high school wrestler in the state that I have watched this season. His Powerade performance was pure domination against an elite field. Witmer has never finished lower than 5th in his career. In the DIstrict 6 final Arrington scored eight takedowns before securing the third period fall.  At Powerade Arrington won by technical fall over Wirnsberger. 

Prediction:

Jackson Arrignton, 11th, Forest Hills over Brandan Chletsos, 11th, Notre Dame-Green Pond

2020 Results:

1st Brock Mcmillen (Glendale) DEC Ian Oswalt (Burrell), 5-1 TB2

3rd Anthony Glasl (Brockway) DEC Adam Jacob (East Pennsboro), 2-0

5th Kaeden Berger (Reynolds) DEC Carter Gill (Hickory), 8-1

7th Noah Teeter (Forest Hills) DEC Noah Hunt (Warrior Run), 10-5 SV

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138

First Appearance in Hershey:

W4 Carson Filer, 12th, Mercer, 29-5

E3 Conner Harer, 9th, Montgomery, 35-2

E4 Logan Bartlett, 12th, Lewisburg, 20-10

Returning Medalists:

E1 Eric Alderfer, 11th, Faith Christian Academy, 21-3 (8th 120lbs)

W2 Ian Oswalt, 12th, Burrell, 21-2 (2nd 132lbs)

E2 David Kreidler, 12th, Allentown Central Catholic, 12-4 (8th 113lbs 2019)

W3 Amonn Ohl, 12th, St. Joseph’s Academy, 12-4 (6th 106lbs 2018)

W1 Brock McMillen, 12th, Glendale, 19-0 (1st 132lbs)

Top Bracket:

Filer and Harer are at separate ends of their career making their Giant Center debuts. Returning medalists stand in front of both of them. The quarter of intrigue is Harer and Oswalt. Harer is an exceptional freshman with just two losses on the season. He is getting in the Giant Center pool in the deep end. Oswalt is now a four-time medalist and a returning runner-up. Oswalt’s two losses on the season have both been to McMillen. McMillen has owned the series with five victories in three different seasons over Oswalt. This includes last year’s PIAA final. 

Bottom Bracket:

Ohl and Kreidler have plenty of experience, but are years removed from medals earned in 2018 and 2019. Both are back on the medal stand this year, the question is how high. McMillen has just one loss at the state tournament. That came his freshman year in the state finals. He will go down in history as one of the most credentialed to ever do it. Ohl wrestled a tough match against McMillen in the District 6 final, so this half won’t be uncontested. 

Prediction:

Brock McMillen, 12th, Glendale over Ian Oswalt, 12th, Burrell

2020 Results:

1st Kaden Cassidy (Bedford) DEC Kenny Kiser (Saegertown), 10-6

3rd Kenny Duschek (Freedom Area) DEC Patrick Demark (Trinity), 3-1 SV

5th Zack Witmer Bellefonte, PA (St. Joseph's Catholic) MD Zach Holland (Curwensville), 8-0

7th Blake Showers (Biglerville) DEC Chase Chapman (Philipsburg-Osceola), 10-7