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.

AAA Lightweight

Saturday, March 13th

Session I 8am

Session III 4pm

106

First Appearance in Hershey:

W4 Cael Nasdeo, 10th, Williamsport, 19-2

E2 Luke Sirianni, 10th, Abington Heights, 15-3

W3 Kaedyn Williams, 9th, Manheim Township, 24-1

W1 Tyler Chappell, 10th, Seneca Valley, 34-2

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Tony Burke, 11th, Council Rock North, 18-5

W2 Dominic Flatt, 12th, Solanco, 20-5

E4 Josh Jasionowiccz, 12th, Stroudsburg, 12-4

Returning Medalists:

E1 Carson Wagner, 10th, Northampton, 11-0 (6th 106lbs)

Top Bracket:

Wagner is the only medalist in the field and has multiple wins over fellow qualifiers from the east. There are very few common opponents mixing between the east and west qualifiers. Flatt and Burke both have experience in Hershey and should be in a competitive bout in the bottom quarter. I like Wagner in this half.

Bottom Bracket:

The bottom half has quite a bit of uncertainty. Chappell earned a second period reversal and rideout en route to a 2-1 victory over Williams a week ago. They both have interesting quarterfinals. Sirianni pushed Wagner to overtime a week ago. Williams and Wagner have similar frames that are a stark contrast to the stockier Sirianni. Jasionowicz has homerun hitter potential and a very strong top game. I like both Chappell and Williams to schedule the rematch, but they have to be focused in the quarters.

Prediction:

Carson Wagner, 10th, Northampton over Tyler Chappell, 10th, Seneca Valley

2020 Results:

1st Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe) F Jake Vandee Union City, PA (Cathedral Prep), 6:31

3rd Mac Church (Waynesburg) DEC Matthew Repos (Central Dauphin), 1-0

5th Tyler Kasak PA (Beth Catholic) F Carson Wagner (Northampton), 2:13

7th Sean Logue (Father Judge) DEC Nic Allison (Mifflin County), 4-2

113

First Appearance in Hershey:

E1 Zach Jacaruso, 10th, Delaware Valley, 16-0

E3 Mason Ziegler, 9th, Quakertown, 28-1

E2 Charlie Bunting, 10th, Nazareth, 7-2

E4 Cael McIntyre, 10th, Bethlehem Catholic, 10-4

W1 Kamdyn Williams, 9th, Manheim Township, 20-0

Returning Qualifiers:

W4 Troy Hohman, 11th, Penn Trafford, 24-4

Returning Medalists:

W2 Vincent Kilkeary, 10th, Greater Latrobe, 23-2 (1st 106lbs)

W3 Jacob Van Dee, 11th, Erie Cathedral Prep, 14-1 (2nd 106lbs)

Top Bracket:

Kilkeary is a returning champion and the favorite on the top half. Kilkeary will throw the kitchen sink regardless of the situation. Jacaruso failed to qualify out of a tough NE Region a year ago. He’s undefeated and consistently showing the skill that put him in the Escape the Rock finals last season. Can Jacaruso’s length cause problems for Kilkeary?

Bottom Bracket:

The balance of power is in the west at the weight and I think Van Dee and Williams are on a collision course in the semifinals. A week ago Van Dee controlled the match outside of one exchange where he went for a lateral drop. It was pivotal as he looked like he was going up 5-0 just before the throw attempt and came out of the exchange down 5-3. If this match happens I am very interested to see what adjustments are made on both sides.

Prediction:

Vinny Kilkeary, 10th, Greater Latrobe over Jacob Van Dee, 11th, Erie Cathedral Prep

2020 Results:

1st Ethan Berginc (Hempfield Area) DEC Aiden Lewis (Cedar Cliff), 3-2

3rd Carter Dibert (Franklin Regional) DEC Nico Taddy (West Allegheny), 3-0

5th Dante Frinzi (Beth Catholic) DEC Braxton Fries-appello PA (Easton), 7-6

7th Ben Monn (Cumberland Valley) MD Derek Keen (Central Mountain), 8-0

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120

First Appearance in Hershey:

W4 Chad Ozias, 11th, Connellsville, 16-7

E3 Gunnar Myers, 9th, Wallenpaupack, 15-4

E2 Austin Fashouer, 12th, West Scranton, 13-2

Returning Qualifiers:

W3 Mason Leiphart, 11th, Dover, 23-2

E4 Keanu Manuel, 12th, Downingtown East, 15-3

Returning Medalists:

E1 Dante Frinzi, 11th, Bethlehem Catholic, 13-0 (5th 113lbs)

W2 Karl Schindledecker, 11th, Chambersburg, 21-1 (3rd 113lbs 2019)

W1 Mac Church, 10th, Waynesburg Central, 25-2 (3rd 106lbs)

Top Bracket:

Frinzi turned the 113lb bracket on its head last year when he knocked off Carter Dibert. This season he is the hunted on his half. I like the favorites in the quarter and can see the semifinal being a wild match. Shindledecker missed the qualifying last year after he was 3rd as a freshman. He wrestled a good bout against Church in the finals last week. I think the key to the match will be Frinzi’s top game. If Shindledecker can get away this one will be tight.

Bottom Bracket:

I have Church as a heavy favorite on the bottom half. He is a complete wrestler and has experience in pressure situations. The quarterfinal against Manuel is the most intriguing match on  the side from my perspective. Last year Manuel dropped two sudden victory matches in Hershey. He has been there twice and now doesn’t have the pressure of medaling hanging over him. Can he start winning some of the tight matches that he has dropped in the past?

Prediction:

Mac Church, 10th, Waynesburg Central over Karl Shindledecker, 11th, Chambersburg

2020 Results:

1st Will Betancourt (Manheim Central) DEC Dylan Chappell (Seneca Valley), 4-2

3rd Rafael Portilla (Carlisle) DEC Kyle Hauserman (Council Rock North), 4-2

5th Andrew Smith (Nazareth) DEC Nathan Lucier (Coatesville), 3-2

7th Lane Aikey (Bellefonte Area) DEC Jace Ross (Connellsville), 9-2

126

First Appearance in Hershey:

E3 Patrick Snoke, 12th, Northampton, 11-4

W2 Luke Simcox, 9th, Central Mountain, 23-3

E4 Nate Shippey, 11th, Interboro, 14-4

Returning Qualifiers:

E2 Dominic Findora, 11th, Downingtown West, 12-1

Returning Medalists:

E1 Tyler Kasak, 10th, Bethlehem Catholic, 12-0 (5th 106lbs)

W4 Matt Repos, 10th, Central Dauphin, 24-3 (4th 106lbs)

W3 Ethan Berginc, 12th, Hempfield Area, 31-5 (1st 113lbs)

W1 Carter Dibert, 12th, Franklin Regional, 33-0 (3rd 113lbs)

Top Bracket:

Kasak vs Repos right away!!! This is a great match-up and they missed each other last season. A little measuring stick is that they both split with Mac Church. You will get plenty of interesting scramble positions in this match. Simcox was the buzz of the weight at the West Super-Region. He knocked off Berginc and Repos, then took Dibert down to the wire. I have him in the top four, can he make the final?

Bottom Bracket:

Dibert and Berginc both have a state title on their resume. Dibert has owned the rivalry with an 8-0 record against Berginc. The results have ranged from a technical fall down to two 3-2 decisions. Could Berginc flip the script in the last chapter?

Prediction:

Carter Dibert, 12th, Franklin Regional over Tyler Kasak, 10th, Bethlehem Catholic

2020 Results:

1st Kurtis Phipps (Norwin) DEC Rocco Welsh (Waynesburg), 7-6

3rd Luke Lucerne (Council Rock North) DEC Jude Swisher (Bellefonte Area), 6-2

5th Josh Miller (Central Dauphin) DEC Kyle Waterman (Council Rock South), 12-10

7th Sam Mcmonagle (WC Henderson) DEC Dylan Evans (Chartiers Valley), 5-2

132

First Appearance in Hershey:

W4 Colton Stoneking, 11th, Waynesburg Central, 29-5

E3 Kelly Kakos, 10th, Perkiomen Valley, 17-2

W2 Briar Priest, 11th, Hempfield Area, 31-5

E4 Dominic Wheatley, 10th, Nazareth, 8-4

Returning Medalists:

E1 Nathan Lucier, 12th, Coatesville, 17-0 (6th 120lbs)

E2 Matt Mayer, 12th, Bethlehem Catholic, 11-1 (4th 113lbs 2019)

W3 Jude Swisher, 11th, Bellefonte, 23-2 (4th 126lbs)

W1 Dylan Chappell, 12th, Seneca Valley, 35-2 (2nd 120lbs) 

Top Bracket:

Lucier has the only Giant Center experience on the half. He finished 6th after making the semifinals a year ago. Priest has some up and down results, but I have a hard time thinking that his best match isn’t the best of the half. He was just a few degrees away from scoring nearfall in the closing seconds a week ago against Chappell to win. 

Bottom Bracket:

Mayer, Swisher, and Chappell have medals from the past. Mayer defeated Swisher in a wild match at the 2019 PIAA Championships, 18-12. He has split with Chappell the last two years with Chappell getting the win in Hershey a year ago, 1-0. As the past results have shown I think any of the three could be wrestling Saturday night. I will go with Chappell’s mat game as a reason to pick him. He can win a gritty match where he needs to ride. 

Prediction:

Dylan Chappell, 12th, Seneca Valley over Briar Priest, 11th, Hempfield Area

2020 Results:

1st Kenny Herrmann (Beth Catholic) DEC Patrick Noonan (Stroudsburg), 1-0

3rd Gabe Willochell (Greater Latrobe) DEC Alejandro Herrera-rondon (Seneca Valley), 6-2

5th Cole Homet (Waynesburg) DEC Zachary Martin (Neshaminy), 5-0

7th Bryce Brennan (Red Land) DEC Mason Myers (Central York), 3-1 SV

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138

Returning Qualifiers:

E3 Chance Babb, 11th, Boyertown, 14-3

E2 Andrew Harmon, 10th, Bethlehem Catholic, 12-1

E4 Trent Kockersperger, 12th, Kennett, 15-4

Returning Medalists:

E1 Kyle Hauserman, 12th, Council Rock North, 18-0 (4th 120lbs)

W4 Dylan Evans, 10th, Chartiers Valley, 31-7 (8th 126lbs)

W2 Cole Homet, 11th, Waynesburg Central, 27-2 (5th 132lbs)

W3 Chandler Ho, 12th, DuBois, 25-5 (8th 138lbs)

W1 Finn Solomon, 11th, Franklin Regional (2nd 113lbs 2019)

Top Bracket:

Everyone in the bracket has wrestled in the Giant Center and five wrestlers have earned a medal in Hershey. In the top quarter returning medalists Hauserman and Evans makes for an interesting quarter. I don’t have much conviction in my pick of Homet over Hauserman in the semifinal, but I have to choose someone.

Bottom Bracket:

When Solomon is clicking he is the best guy at the weight. Though, he has his matches that just make you wonder why he didn’t put everything together. He made the finals as a freshman before missing out on qualifying last season. He handed state champion Kurtis Phipps his only loss last season. He is going to have to be focused each match as his half of the bracket has plenty of state experience. If he’s locked in like he was in the West Super-Region final, give him the gold medal right now. 

Prediction:

Finn Solomon, 11th, Franklin Regional over Cole Homet, 11th, Waynesburg

2020 Results:

1st Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg) DEC Sam Hillegas (North Hills), 4-3

3rd Dashawn Farber (Nazareth) DEC John Altieri (Norwin), 5-0

5th Evan Gleason (Beth Catholic) DEC Christian Hodges (Lower Merion), 4-0

7th Steven Storm (Pocono Mountain East) DEC Chandler Ho (DuBois), 3-0

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