Thursday marks the first day in Hershey for the 2022 PIAA State Team Championships. This is one of the best tournaments team wise, in the country. This tournament not only includes some of the top wrestling teams in the state of Pennsylvania, but some of the top individual talent in the country.

Top Half of Bracket

Benton

Benton is led by multiple state medal contenders including Chase Burke (120, 126), Ethan Kolb (132, 138), and Nolan Lear (172, 189). This Benton team has always had some great individual talent through the years, but depth in the roster was always an issue for this team, not this year though. Benton can usually put out a full lineup which in today’s age of team dual wrestling in high school, which is potent.

Notable Wins/Losses

2 wins over Montgomery (36-23 and 40-24)

Win over Forest Hills (34-25)

Loss to Clearfield (39-27)

Faith Christian

Faith Christian can put out a very solid lineup. This is not a team that is going to wow you with an incredibly talented roster, but this is a team that just comes out to scrap and that is dangerous to any opponent. This team is led by 2x PA state medalist Eric Alderfer (145, 152). That is not the only name to watch out for because this team has some great young talent including Sam Hunter (106, 113), Chase Hontz (126), Max Stein (138), and Luke Sugalski (160, 172) with all four of them being Freshmen.

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Abington Heights (44-24)

Win over Dallastown (37-22)

Brookville

Brookville has been a familiar name coming out of District 9 and always puts out a good lineup. This team is led by 2x PA state medalist Owen Reinsel (132, 138). Like Faith Christian, this team does not have a “knock your socks off” talented lineup, but this team has some notable talent looking to burst into the scene this year. Watch out for Jared Popson (113), Brayden Kunselman (132, 138), and Jackson Zimmerman (189, 215) in this tournament. Those might be names that we could be seeing in a couple of weeks when the individual tournaments get going.

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Burrell (40-27)

Win over Reynolds (51-18)

Loss to Bald Eagle Area (45-23)

Loss to Chestnut Ridge (35-25)

Burgettstown

Burgettstown has a really deep lineup with a ton of notable talent. This team is led by Parker (106, 113) and Joey (132, 138) Sentipal who are excellent talents and two to look out for. Also, in this lineup you should watch out for Gaven Suica (126, 132), Rudy Brown (138, 145), Eric Kovach (138, 145, 152), Hunter Guiddy (145, 152, 160) and Joey Baronick (285).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Corry (47-12)

Loss to Quaker Valley (36-35)

Notre Dame GP

This is about the most dominant lineup that you will see in the AA tournament this weekend. This team is led by Ayden Smith (106, 113), Brandon Chletsos (132, 138), Evan Maag (145, 152), and Holden Garcia (160). Another name to watch out for is Mason Ludlow (285). There is not much to say here because the talent speaks for itself, but this is a team just like Benton in the past years. They had extraordinary talent but not enough depth as a team, they do this year though.

Notable Wins/Losses

2 wins over Saucon Valley (35-15 and 50-5)

Loss to Blair Academy (52-6)

Loss to Bethlehem Catholic (30-18)

Corry Area

Corry has a lot of depth in their lineup and has a good shot to make some noise in this tournament. This team is led by two big guys in PA state medalist Hayden Linkerhof (215) and Xavier Reyda (285). Like I said this is a deep lineup that has some guys to watch out for in Cody Proper (120), William Allen (126), Damion Kinney (132, 138), Hunter Savitz (138, 145), Trey Proper (145, 152, 160), and Mason Savitz (172).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Cochranton (39-27)

Win over Tyrone (36-29)

Loss to Burgettstown (47-12)

Loss to Hickory (36-25)

Bishop McDevitt (D3)

Bishop McDevitt is another team that has some great depth in their lineup. This team is led by Jake Gilfoil (145), Andrew Christie (152), Kade Werner (189), PA state medalist Bryce Enders (215) and 2021 state runner-up Riley Robell (285). A couple other names to look out for is Hunter Wagner (126, 132), Anthony Glessner (160), and Lucas Lawler (172).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Camp Hill (44-30)

Win over Boiling Springs (37-26)

Burrell

Burrell has become a staple in this tournament and might as well just put the first Thursday of the state tournament in the schedule before the season starts. Burrell is led by 2021 state runner-up Cooper Hornack (120) and Nicholas Ferra (132). There is some good talent on this roster though including Calio Zanella (113), Shawn Szymanski (145, 152), Damian Barr (160, 172), Nicole Zanella (160, 172), Cole Clark (189, 215), and Luke Boylan (215, 285).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Ft LeBoeuf (37-30)

2 Wins over Mt Pleasant (43-25 and 33-24)

Loss to Brookville (40-27)

Loss to Chestnut Ridge (52-19)

Loss to Quaker Valley (30-28)

Bottom Half of Bracket

Quaker Valley

Quaker Valley has a really balanced lineup with little to no holes from top to bottom. They are led by PA state medalist Patrick Cutchember (189, 215). There is a ton of talent to watch out for including Isaac Maccaglia (106, 113), Logan Richey (120, 126), Brandon Krul (126, 132), Michael Carmody (132, 138), Justin Richey (152, 160), Mason Diemert (172, 189), and Amir McCracken (215, 285).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Burgettstown (36-35)

Win over Burrell (30-28)

Loss to Norwin (34-30)

Loss to Connellsville (53-19)

Saucon Valley

Another District 11 team that is just flat out talented from top to bottom. What makes this team so good is most of their talent is young. Saucon Valley is led by Christopher Arciuolo (152, 160), PA state medalist Jacob Jones (172), PA state medalist Ty Csencsits (189), Tyler Pfizenmayer (189, 215, 285), and PA state medalist Dante Mahaffey (215, 285). Some other standouts include freshmen Cole Hubert (106, 113), Aiden Grogg (113, 120), Jackson Albert (120, 126), Hector Mateo (126, 132). Also, wrestlers to watch out for include Connor Nicholas (132), Travis Riefenstahl (138, 145), and Cael Markle (145, 152).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Spring-Ford (55-15)

Win over Boiling Springs (46-21)

2 wins over Catasauqua (51-15 and 51-21)

Win over Canton (50-14)

2 losses to Notre Dame GP (35-15 and 50-5)

Forest Hills

Forest Hills is a lot like Faith Christian and Brookville, not a lot of wow talent, but they come to wrestle every dual. Forest Hills is led by Easton Toth (138), PA state medalist Noah Teeter (145, 152) and 2x state champion and 3x state medalist Jackson Arrington (152, 160). Some wrestlers to also watch out for include Hunter Forcellini (126, 132), Dustin Flinn (160, 172), and Kirk Bearjar (215, 285).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over General McLane (52-15)

Win over Bald Eagle Area (32-30)

Win over Tyrone (39-34)

Loss to Chestnut Ridge (55-15)

Loss to Benton (34-25)

Loss to Montoursville (36-30)

Boiling Springs

Boiling Springs has always had a strong lineup and they have another one this year. They are led by Rai Barber (113), Eli Bounds (126, 132), Kobin Karper (138, 145), and PA state medalist Michael Duggan (152, 160). There are other wrestlers to watch out for including Luke Magnani (106, 113), Ean Wilson (145, 152), Deion White (172), Collin Neal (189), Jacob Scott (215), and Julyan Dodson (285).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over West Perry (31-25)

Loss to Saucon Valley (46-21)

Loss to Bishop McDevitt (D3) (37-26)

Lackawanna Trail

Lackawanna Trail absolutely dominated the District 2 field this year, never coming close to losing a dual. They are led by Max Bluhm (138, 145), Michael Bluhm (145, 152), Deegan Ross (152, 160), and Seth Ross (189, 215). Other wrestlers to watch out for include Brayden Clarke (106, 113), Cole Henry (113, 120), Gareth Fowler (120, 126), Ethan Lee (132), Tyler Rozanski (172, 189), and Jonah Houser (215, 285).

Notable Wins/Losses

2 wins over Honesdale (46-17 and 49-12)

Win over Wyoming Area (43-20)

Chestnut Ridge

Another staple in Hershey is Chestnut Ridge. Similarly, to Lackawanna Trail, Chestnut Ridge dominated District 5 opponents all season long. Chestnut Ridge is led by PA state medalist Ross Dull (120), PA state medalist Calan Bollman (132, 138), and PA state medalist Luke Moore (160, 172). This is an exceptionally talented roster with many guys to watch out for including Easton Mull (106), Brock Holderbaum (113), Kobi Burkett (126), Trevor Weyandt (145, 152), Jack Moyer (152, 160), Daniel Moore (172, 189), and Nick Presnell (189, 215).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Forest Hills (55-15)

Win over Ft LeBoeuf (53-12)

Win over Burrell (52-19)

Win over Brookville (35-25)

Hickory

Another really quality team is Hickory with some notable talent on the roster. This team is led by 2021 PA champion Louie Gill (106, 113, 120), PA state medalist Connor Saylor (138, 145), and 2x PA state medalist Carter Gill (145, 152). Some other notable wrestlers to look out for are Dylan O’Brien (106, 113), Timmy Krivosh (126, 132), Cody Miller (132, 138), Ty Holland (172, 189).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Corry (36-25)

Win over Ft LeBoeuf (44-27)

Loss to Erie Cathedral Prep (48-21)

Loss to Reynolds (42-28)

West Perry

West Perry came through a really tough schedule this season and ended up being 19-5. This is due to a roster that is exceptionally talented. There are a couple of holes in the lineup but the guys that West Perry puts on the mat makes up for it. They are led by PA state medalist Deven Jackson (113, 120), PA state medalist Nolen Zeigler (138, 145), Justice Hockenberry-Folk (160, 172), and Brad Morrison (215, 285). To go along with them, they have a couple guys to look out for including Jackson Rush (120, 126), Tyler Morrison (126, 132), Blain Puchalsky (132, 138), and Tucker Seidel (138, 145).

Notable Wins/Losses

Win over Cumberland Valley (33-23)

Win over Northern Lebanon (37-21)

Win over Montgomery (36-28)

Loss to Manheim Twp (36-26)

Loss to Bald Eagle Area (35-31)

Loss to Boiling Springs (43-23)

Rosters and schedules used in this preview where accessed from http://www.pa-wrestling.com/