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
Council Rock South
Council Rock South dominated District 1 this season and looked very good doing so. They did have one hiccup throughout the season in December when they lost to Quakertown. They avenged that loss in the District 1 AAA Finals and look to keep the 10 dual meet winning streak going. They are led by PA state placer Matt Colajezzi (160, 172). Some other wrestlers to look out for include Connor Lenahan (106), Luke Reiter (113), Ben Brillhart (126), Shermuhammad Sadriddinov (145), Bekhruz Sadriddinov (152), Anthony Cerulli (160, 172), Lucas Doyle (215), and Charles Socki (285).
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Spring-Ford (46-14)
Win over WC Henderson (70-3)
Win over Quakertown (36-19)
Loss to Quakertown (33-31)
Greater Latrobe
Latrobe dominated most of their schedule this season but had a hiccup in the District 7 AAA Semi-Finals to Connellsville, who they previously beat in the season. Latrobe is loaded with some great talent led by PA state champion and 2x PA state medalist Vincent Kilkeary (120). Latrobe also has two excellent freshmen in Luke Willochell (106) and Leo Joseph (113). They also have some great talent to watch out for including Nate Roth (138), Jack Pletcher (152, 160), Corey Boerio (215, 285), and Wyatt Held (285)
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Connellsville (38-19)
Win over Butler (39-26)
Win over Canon-McMillan (40-25)
Win over Carrick (68-6)
Loss to Connellsville (37-27)
General McLane
General McLane was not a team that wowed you throughout the season. To some this year was mediocre. But, when McLane got into the postseason, they saved their best performances. This includes a massive upset in the District 10 AAA Finals over Erie Cathedral Prep. The team is led by Wilson Spires (285). There are a couple of other wrestlers to watch out for including Teige Berger (106, 113), Hudson Spires (138), Kyle Cousins (145, 152), Daniel Mulligan (160), Magnus Lloyd (172, 189), and Jessi Stempka (189, 215).
Notable Wins/Losses
2 Wins over Erie McDowell (37-22 and 43-22)
Win over Erie Cathedral Prep (39-29)
Loss to Quaker Valley (40-29)
Loss to Forest Hills (52-15)
Loss to Ft LeBoeuf (35-28)
Central Dauphin
Central Dauphin had a great season and dominated most of the schedule. They do have two losses on the year though and they come from the hands of two District Champions including a loss in the District 3 AAA Final against Gettysburg. Central Dauphin is led by 2x PA state medalist Matt Repos (132, 138). Some other wrestlers to watch out for include Liam Flanagan (106), Dallas Schorr (120), Nathan Fletcher (126), Michael Beers (132, 138), Ryan Garvick (160, 172), Ben Stewart (285).
Notable Wins/Losses
2 wins over Cumberland Valley (26-23 and 28-26)
Loss to Mifflin County (42-23)
Loss to Gettysburg (32-30)
LaSalle
LaSalle had a good season in their own right, with only two regular season losing to two out of District opponents. They made it to the PCL Team Championship Finals and suffered another defeat to District 12 AA Finalist Conwell-Egan. They bounced back to a dominating win in the District 12 AAA Finals. LaSalle is led by Eddie Donovan (106, 113), Freshman Jackson Hersh (106, 113), and Brendan Purvis (145, 152). Some other wrestlers to watch are Matt Wiley (138, 145), Cormac Morrissey (152, 160), Josh Fayette (172, 189), and Timothy Petrilli (215).
Notable Wins/Losses
2 wins over St. Joseph’s Prep (50-19 and 51-18)
Win over Northeast High (64-9)
Loss to Parkland (50-15)
Loss to Strath Haven (54-15)
Loss to Conwell-Egan (35-33)
Connellsville
Connellsville had an excellent season this year with two losses coming to teams that are in the AAA tournament this weekend. Connellsville suffered a defeat to Latrobe earlier in the season but avenged that loss in the District 7 AAA Semi-Finals before losing in the Finals to Waynesburg. Connellsville is led by PA state medalist Chad Ozias (132, 138) and 2x PA state medalist Jared Keslar (160, 172). Some other wrestlers to watch out for include Evan Petrovich (113), Jacob Layton (120), Gabriel Ruggieri (126, 132), Lonzy Vielma (138, 145), Ethan Ansell (152), Hunter Claycomb (172), George Shultz (189), and Dennis Nichelson (215).
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Quaker Valley (53-19)
Win over Canon-McMillan (39-25)
Win over Greater Latrobe (37-27)
Loss to Greater Latrobe (38-19)
Loss to Waynesburg (35-18)
Bethlehem Catholic
Bethlehem Catholic is one of the most talented teams in the AAA field this year. They pretty much laid waist to their opponents this season except when they wrestled Nazareth in two, very tightly contested duals. BECA also posted a really good win over AA favorite Notre Dame GP this season. They are led by Freshman Nathan Desmond (106, 113), 2x PA state medalist Dante Frinzi (126, 132), and 2021 state champion and 2x state medalist Tyler Kasak (138, 145). Other wrestlers to watch include Shane McFillin (106, 113, 120), Cole Campbell (113), Cael McIntyre (120), Charlie Scanlan (145), PA state medalist Andrew Harmon, Landon Muth (160, 172), and Luke Thomas (172, 189).
Notable Wins/Losses
2 wins over Easton (49-9 and 44-12)
Win over Notre Dane GP (30-18)
2 wins over Nazareth (30-24 and 32-22)
Canon-McMillan
Canon-McMillan had themselves a good season but struggled against WPIAL opponents with all their losses coming to the other three District 7 qualifiers in this weekend’s tournament. They are led by Brandon Dami (113) and Jacob Houpt (120, 126) who have had great seasons. Other wrestlers to watch out for include Tanner Mizenko (106), Andrew Binni (126, 132), Gabriel Stafford (172, 189), and Matt Furman (172, 189).
Notable Win/Losses
Win over North Allegheny (43-24)
Win over Cumberland Valley (44-14)
Loss to Connellsville (39-25)
2 losses to Waynesburg (37-24 and 36-22)
Loss to Latrobe (40-25)
Bottom Half of Bracket
Waynesburg
Waynesburg is a lot like Bethlehem Catholic, dominant. Waynesburg dominated their dual schedule and performed well as a team at national tournaments. They are led by PA state champion and 2x state medalist Mac Church (132), 3x state medalist Cole Homet (145), and 2x state runner-up Rocco Welsh (172, 189). This is a deep team with other wrestlers to watch out for including Ky Szewczyk (113), Joseph Simon (120, 126), Zander Phaturos (126, 132), Colton Stoneking (138), Brody Evans (172, 189), Eli Makel (215), Noah Tustin (285).
Notable Wins/Losses
2 wins over Canon-McMillan (37-24 and 36-22)
Win over Connellsville (35-18)
Dallastown
Dallastown is a regular down in Hershey for the Team Championships and here they are again. Dallastown had an excellent season but took a few losses, all to state qualifiers. Dallastown is led by Caden Dobbins (152) with a solid lineup along with him. Some wrestlers to keep an eye on include Damian Key (120), Zach Luckenbaugh (126), Anthony Carulli (132, 138), Owen Bricker (138, 145), Ashton Deller (160, 172), Isaiah Feeney (172, 189), Michael Klinger (189, 215), Ben Usow (189, 215), and Hunter Bisking (285).
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Cumberland Valley (29-27)
Win over Spring-Ford (30-27)
Loss to Faith Christian (37-22)
2 losses to Cumberland Valley (32-28 and 31-28)
Mifflin County
Mifflin County had a dominant season this year defeating most of their opponents with ease. They beat multiple state qualifiers this season and look to take their momentum from an Ultimate Warrior 1st Team Championship and District 6 AAA Championship into Hershey. They are led by PA state medalist Nic Allison (113) and Kyler Everly (160, 172). Other wrestlers to look out for include Hunter Johnson (120), Blake Aumiller (132), Deakon Schaeffer (145, 152), Parker Kearns (152, 160), Trey Shoemaker (189), Anson Wagner (215, 285), and Jaxson Pupo (285).
Notable Wins/Losses
2 wins over Central Mountain (48-21 and 42-24)
Win over Central Dauphin (42-23)
Win over Cumberland Valley (41-15)
Quakertown
Quakertown had an excellent season dominating most of their schedule. Quakertown’s lone loss on the year came in the District 1 AAA Finals to Council Rock South a team that they beat earlier in the season. Quakertown is led by PA state medalist Mason Ziegler (120, 126) and Freshman Collin Gaj (138, 145). Some other wrestlers to keep an eye on include Isaac Williams (106), Todd McGann (126, 132), Gavin Carroll (132, 138, 145), Zach Borzio (145, 152), Calvin Lachman (172), Kaden Roesener (189), and Frederick Retter (285).
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Council Rock South (33-31)
Win over Spring-Ford (35-21)
Loss to Council Rock South (36-19)
Abington Heights
Abington Heights dominated their District 2 opponents all season long. They do have a loss though, to AA state qualifier Faith Christian. Abington Heights is led by PA state medalist Luke Sirianni (106, 113). Some other wrestlers to watch out for include Cole Kroptavich (120, 126), Sam Stevens (132), Brian Heard (138, 145), Austin Smith (138, 145, 152), Sal Schiavone (152, 160), Hutch Lynott (172, 189), Caleb Marzolino (172, 189), and Tomas Delos Rios (189, 215).
Notable Wins/Losses
2 wins over Delaware Valley (30-25 and 44-27)
Loss to Faith Christian (44-24)
Nazareth
Nazareth is one of the top teams in this AAA field with dominating wins even against out of state opponents. They did suffer two losses this year and both came at the hands of Bethlehem Catholic in tight duals. Nazareth is led by 2x PA state medalist Braxton Appello-Fries (126), PA state medalist Dominic Wheatley (152, 160), PA state medalist Sonny Sasso (189, 215), and 2021 state runner-up Sean Kinney (285). Other wrestlers to watch out for include Dominic Rizzotto (106), Tahir Parkins (113), Charlie Bunting (120), Ayden Rader (132, 138), Jake Doone (132, 138), Nicholas Foster (145), Ryan Fairchild (160, 172), Noah Okamoto (172), and Chase Levey (189, 215).
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Easton (43-15)
2 wins over Northampton (48-16 and 61-3)
Win over WC Henderson (69-0)
2 losses to Bethlehem Catholic (30-24 and 32-22)
Gettysburg
Gettysburg just about dominated everybody on their schedule on their way to a huge District 3 AAA Championship over Central Dauphin. Gettysburg is led by Jacob Cherry (160, 172), Samuel Rodriguez (215), and Trevor Gallagher (285). Some wrestlers to watch include Zoey Haines (106, 113), Gabriel Pecaitis (120, 126), Wyatt Sokol (126, 132), Dalton Redden (138), Jaxon Townsend (145, 152), Logan Newell (152, 160), and Tyler Withers (172, 189)
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Emmaus (48-22)
Win over Central Dauphin (32-30)
Williamsport
Williamsport just like many of the teams in Hershey, dominated most of their schedule. Their lone loss of the year came from Wyoming Seminary, a prep powerhouse. Williamsport cruised to a District 4/9 Championship including their win over Clearfield in the Finals. Williamsport is led by 2021 state runner-up Cael Nasdeo (113), Braden Bower (132, 138, 145), and PA state medalist Riley Bower (145, 152). Other guys to look out for include Carter Weaver (152, 160), Roman Morrone (160, 172), Sebastian Robinson (189, 215), and Charles Crews (285).
Notable Wins/Losses
Win over Central Mountain (41-28)
2 Wins over Shikellamy (50-21 and 43-15)
Win over Clearfield (34-25)
Loss to Wyoming Seminary (35-24)
Rosters and schedules used in this preview where accessed from http://www.pa-wrestling.com/