The 2023 PIAA State Championships kick off on Thursday in the Giant Center. First off, for brackets, visit my bracket hub. Now, let’s look at the lower weights for AAA and who we should look out for.
107 LBS
Favorite
(NE-1) Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic)
Top Contenders
(SW-1) Tanner Mizenko (Canon-McMillan)
(SC-1) Thunder Beard (Central Dauphin)
(SE-1) Colby Martinelli (Pennridge)
(NW-1) Braiden Weaver (Altoona)
(NE-2) Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights)
“Land Mines”
(NE-2) Luke Siriani (Abington Heights)
(SW-2) Santino Sloboda (Butler)
(SC-2) McKaden Speece (Wilson)
Top Potential Matchups
Quarterfinals – Tanner Mizenka (Canon-McMillan) vs Luke Siriani (Abington Heights)
Quarterfinals – Thunder Beard (Central Dauphin) vs Colby Martinelli (Pennridge)
Quarterfinals – Braiden Weaver (Altoona) vs Santino Sloboda (Butler)
Keanu Dillard
Keanu Dillard is the favorite to win it at 107 LBS. Despite not wrestling in the month of December, Dillard has collected a 20-0 record and has 18 bonus point wins. Dillard’s impressive season came on full display at the Northeast AAA Regional, taking out an experienced Dorian Hoffman (Wyoming Valley West) by major decision and defeating two-time state placer Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights) 8-0 in the finals.
The Field
This is a very unpredictable field because I could see a good chunk of these guys beating each other. We would have to go to the top half of the bracket to find a true contender, and the field is wide open here. Tanner Mizenko has one of the more difficult paths to navigate to the finals. Luke Sirriani most likely awaits in the Quarterfinals, which should be a tough match. Thunder Beard looks like one of the best options to come out of the top half of the bracket, with wins over guys in this field, like a win by fall over Mizenko. Watch out for McKaden Speece in the consolations, as he has two wins over Beard and could do some damage in the consolations.
114 LBS
Favorite
(NE-1) Nathan Desmond (Bethlehem Catholic)
Top Contenders
(NW-1) Logan Sallot (Erie McDowell)
(SW-1) Luke Willochell (Greater Latrobe)
(SC-1) Kaedyn Williams (Manheim Twp)
“Land Mines”
(SW-2) Tyler Kapusta (Franklin Regional)
(NE-2) Carson Wagner (Northampton)
(NW-2) Alex Reed (Shikellamy)
Top Potential Matchups
Quarterfinals – Nathan Desmond (Bethlehem Catholic) vs Tyler Kapusta (Franklin Regional)
Quarterfinals – Luke Willochell (Greater Latrobe) vs Carson Wagner (Northampton)
Quarterfinals – Alex Reed (Shikellamy) vs Kaedyn Williams (Manheim Twp)
Semi-Finals – Luke Willochell (Greater Latrobe) vs Kaedyn Williams (Manheim Twp)
Nathan Desmond
Returning state champion Nathan Desmond is the favorite to repeat at 114 LBS. Desmond won a state championship last year at 106 LBS defeating Luke Willochel, who is in this field. Desmond has had a great season up to this point, coming in with a 37-1 record. To go along with that excellent record, Desmond has won some of the best major tournaments, including the Walsh Jesuit Ironman, Beast of the East, and Escape the Rock. Desmond boasts impressive wins this year, including over Ayden Smith (Notre Dame-GP), Louie Gill (Hickory), and two wins over Carson Wagner.
The Field
This is a pretty deep weight overall, with some great talent on each side of the bracket. Although Desmond is the favorite, his path to the finals will be challenging, with possible matches against Tyler Kapusta, who is a returning state placer, and then Logan Sallot in the Semi-Finals. The bottom half of this bracket will be fun with some quality Quarterfinal matches. Luke Willochell returns to the state tournament after a runner-up finish last year. He will have a problematic Quarterfinal matchup against a really good Carson Wagner. Kaedyn Williams is another primary contender, and his quarterfinal matchup could be against a solid wrestler in Alex Reed. Willochell vs Williams could be one of the better Saturday morning Semi-Final matchups if those two can navigate to the Semis.
121 LBS
Favorite
(NW-1) Cael Nasdeo (Williamsport)
Top Contenders
(NE-1) Christian Horvath (Bethlehem Freedom)
(SE-1) Mason Ziegler (Quakertown)
(SC-1) Dean Houser (Daniel Boone)
“Land Mines”
(SC-3) Marco Tocci (Warwick)
(NW-2) Hunter Johnson (Mifflin County)
(NE-2) Trey Wagner (Northampton)
(SW-2) Brady Joling (Chartiers Valley)
Top Potential Matchups
Quarterfinals – Mason Ziegler (Quakertown) vs Hunter Johnson (Mifflin County)
Quarterfinals – Brady Joling (Chartiers Valley) vs Dean Houser (Daniel Boone)
Semi-Finals – Cael Nasdeo (Williamsport) vs Christian Horvath (Bethlehem Freedom)
Semi-Finals – Mason Ziegler (Quakertown) vs Dean Houser (Daniel Boone)
Cael Nasdeo
Two-time state placer and former state runner-up Cael Nasdeo looks like the favorite at 121 LBS. Nasdeo is 32-5 on the year with some impressive wins. Nasdeo took out former AA state champion and last year’s runner-up Branden Wentzel (Montoursville) at Powerade twice in the Quarterfinals and in the 5th-place match. His five losses are to quality opponents like Luke Lilledahl (Wyoming Seminary), Tommy Link (Malvern Prep), and Carson Wagner. His last loss came to Link at Powerade, and since then, he has 20 straight wins with 16 pins and a tech fall, including a title at the Fred Bell Tournament back in late January.
The Field
Nasdeo might be the favorite, but it is not by much. Christian Horvath is Nasdeo’s likely Semi-Final opponent, and we have seen a considerable increase in performance since last year. Horvath had ten losses the previous year and a disappointing performance in Hershey. This year he comes in with only three losses to top-flight competition like Kaedyn Williams and AA standout Gauge Botero. He holds impressive wins over Mason Ziegler and Carson Wagner at the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic. To the bottom half of the bracket, where we could see some chaos in the Quarterfinals. Hunter Johnson is matched up with Mason Ziegler, and Brady Joling is matched up with Dean Houser. The bottom side will be a gauntlet to get through and will be entertaining for the fans.
127 LBS
Favorite
(SW-1) Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe)
Top Contenders
(NE-1) Tahir Parkins (Nazareth)
(SE-1) Eren Sement (Council Rock North)
“Land Mines”
(NW-1) Hayden Cunningham (State College)
(SW-4) Tyler Chappell (Seneca Valley)
(SW-2) Andrew Binni (Canon-McMillan)
Top Potential Matchups
Round of 16 – Eren Sement (Council Rock North) vs Michael Turi (West Scranton)
Round of 16 – Tyler Chappell (Seneca Valley) vs Tyler Adams (York Suburban)
Quarterfinals – Tahir Parkins (Nazareth) vs Andrew Binni (Canon-McMillan)
Finals – Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe) vs Tahir Parkins (Nazareth)
Vicent Kilkeary
Two-time state champion and three-time state placer Vincent Kilkeary is the favorite at 127 LBS. Kilkeary is a returning state champion and looks to add a third state title to his collection. Kilkeary is 25-0 on the year, with some impressive wins over Andrew Binni and Hayden Coy. His half of the bracket seems simple to Kilkeary’s standards, but anything could happen.
The Field
The top half of the bracket can see more upsets than dominant performances. Tyler Adams has a tough draw, with Tyler Chappell and Shane McFillin paired up to face them in the first round. Hayden Cunningham is someone to watch out for because he has had a lot of success in big tournaments like King of the Mountain, Powerade, and Escape the Rock. In the bottom half of the bracket, it looks even more difficult. Tahir Parkins is a very familiar name on this side and should be a favorite to make it to the finals. His problem will be that he has high-level matches from the Quarterfinals on. Parkins could see Andrew Binni in the Quarterfinals with so many quality wins. If Parkins gets through that, he could see returning 3rd place finisher Eren Sement Saturday morning.
133 LBS
Favorite
(SW-1) Maddox Shaw (Thomas Jefferson)
Top Contenders
(SE-1) Gavin Sheridan (Boyertown)
(NW-1) Luke Simcox (Central Mountain)
(NE-1) Charlie Bunting (Nazareth)
“Land Mines”
(NE-2) Keegan Demarest (Pocono Mountain East)
(NE-3) Cael McIntyre (Bethlehem Catholic)
(SC-3) Eli Bounds (Boiling Springs)
(SW-2) Ethan Lebin (Hempfield Area)
(SC-2) Rocco Fratell (Northern York)
Top Potential Matchups
Round of 16 – Gavin Sheridan (Boyertown) vs Isaac McGregor (Shikellamy)
Round of 16 – Luke Simcox (Central Mountain) vs Eli Bounds (Boiling Springs)
Quarterfinals – Luke Simcox (Central Mountain) vs Ethan Lebin (Hempfield Area)
Semi-Finals – Luke Simcox (Central Mountain) vs Charlie Bunting (Nazareth)
Maddox Shaw
Returning state 3rd place finisher, Maddox Shaw is the favorite to come out on top at 133 LBS. He is coming off an impressive 41-2 year. However, Shaw looks like he took his wrestling to the next level. His two losses on the year came to 139 LB standout Pierson Manville and an out-of-state wrestler Jaxon Joy from New Jersey before avenging that loss to place 3rd at Powerade. Shaw has been dominant in recent weeks, with only WPIAL runner-up Ethan Lebin giving him fits.
The Field
Just because Shaw is the favorite does not mean he is the clear number one. We could flip a coin with about five names to figure out a favorite in the weight and not be wrong. Shaw draws Keegan Demarest in the Quarterfinals, who derailed a remarkable postseason run by Cael McIntyre in the Northeast AAA Regional Semi-Finals. Gavin Sheridan can potentially be on upset alert against a very good Isaac McGregor in the first round. In the bottom half of the bracket, it will get hectic. Luke Simcox has one of the most challenging roads to a state championship I have seen in a long time. First, he could open up with state placer Eli Bounds who is making his first appearance in the AAA tournament with Boiling Springs moving from AA to AAA. Then Simcox could see returning state runner-up Ethan Lebin in the Quarterfinals, which could be a tricky matchup for him. If he gets through Lebin, he gets a Saturday morning matchup with two-time state placer Charlie Bunting; yeah, brutal.
139 LBS
Favorite
(NE-1) Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic)
Top Contenders
(NW-1) Pierson Manville (State College)
(SW-1) Eli Carr (Hempfield Area)
(NW-2) Dalton Perry (Central Mountain)
“Land Mines”
(SW-2) Nate Roth (Greater Latrobe)
(NE-2) Jack Campbell (Bethlehem Catholic)
(NW-3) Conner Saylor (Hickory)
Top Potential Matchups
Round of 16 – Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic) vs Connor Saylor (Hickory)
Quarterfinals – Eli Carr (Hempfield Area) vs Dalton Perry (Central Mountain)
Semi-Finals – Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic) vs Dalton Perry (Central Mountain)
Finals – Pierson Manville (State College) vs Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic) or Dalton Perry (Central Mountain)
Kollin Rath
Forget that Kollin Rath placed 3rd at the state tournament last year for a second. Rath has three of the best wins of anyone in the state, with wins over three returning state champs in Pierson Manville, Dalton Perry, and Mac Church. The leap in performance from last year to this year is almost unbelievable and helps him push himself to the top favorite in this weight.
The Field
Yes, Rath is the favorite, but we still have two returning state champions in Pierson Manville and Dalton Perry. Manville has an easier path to make it to the finals with little threat from the top half of the bracket. Watch out for a potential Quarterfinal matchup for Manville against an impressive Freshman, Jack Campbell. Dalton Perry has a difficult path with a possible Quarterfinal match against Eli Carr. Then he gets a rematch with Kollin Rath in the Semi-Finals, who he lost to at Team States in a tight 1-0 match.
145 LBS
Favorite
(SW-1) Mac Church (Waynesburg)
Top Contenders
(SE-1) Collin Gaj (Quakertown)
(SW-2) Nico Taddy (West Allegheny)
(SC-1) Matt Repos (Central Dauphin)
“Land Mines”
(SE-2) Brandon Carr (Sun Valley)
(SC-2) Aiden Swann (Cocalico)
(NW-2) Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain)
Top Potential Matchups
Quarterfinals – Collin Gaj (Quakertown) vs Nico Taddy (West Allegheny)
Quarterfinals – Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain) vs Matt Repos (Central Dauphin)
Semi-Finals – Mac Church (Waynesburg) vs Asher Cunningham (State College)
Semi-Finals – Collin Gaj (Quakertown) vs Matt Repos (Central Dauphin)
Finals – Mac Church (Waynesburg) vs Collin Gaj (Quakertown) or Matt Repos (Central Dauphin)
Mac Church
Two-time state champion and three-time state placer Mac Church is the favorite at 145 LBS. Church has won back-to-back titles after placing 3rd in that controversial 2020 state tournament. Church comes in at 32-2 on the year, with his losses coming to guys, not at this weight or tournament. As mentioned at 139 LBS, Church lost to Rath at team states to go along with a Powerade Semi-Final loss to Jayden Robinson from Illinois. However, Church has some very impressive wins, including wins over AA standout Vince Bouzakis, Asher Cunningham and three wins over Nico Taddy.
The Field
Asher Cunningham looks like the primary challenger in the top half of the bracket with an impressive season. Cunningham has lost to Church this season in a 7-2 bout at Powerade. Despite that, Cunningham has multiple wins over Griffin Walizer and a win in the 5th place match at Powerade over Nico Taddy 2-1. It will be exciting in the bottom half of the bracket. Collin Gaj is returning state 4th place with a record of 45-0, including 30 wins by fall. He gets matched up with a problematic Quarterfinal matchup between Nico Taddy. Matt Repos is a three-time state placer and returning state runner-up. He looks to return to the finals but will have a difficult path. He could get Griffin Walizer in the Quarterfinals, which could be a challenge, and then a Semi-Final matchup with Collin Gaj, which will be one of the better Saturday morning matchups.
Records and stats were collected at pa-wrestling.com
