PIAA wrestling capsules
Class AAA
103 pounds
Defending champion: Jermaine Jones, West Chester Henderson
Who to watch: Tim Harner, 35-2, So., Norristown; Joe Kemmerer, 29-3, Soph., Crestwood; Michael Goslicky, 29-3, Jr., Thomas Jefferson; Alex Krom, 38-3, Fr., Easton; Brad Pataky, 31-1, Fr., Clearfield; Coleman Scott, 38-3, So., Waynesburg
Outlook: The WPIAL/Southwest Region is loaded in this weight class and should have a wrestler reach the finals. Scott is undefeated against Pennsylvania wrestlers this season. Goslicky is 0-3 against Scott, 29-0 vs. everyone else. Chartiers Valley's Mark McKnight , last year's runner-up, faces a likely quarterfinal match with Krom.
The winner is: Coleman Scott, Waynesburg
Defending champion: Jeff Breese, McGuffey
Who to watch: Mike Ciotti, 28-5, Sr., Latrobe; Jeremy Griffith, 31-3, Jr., Berwick; Jermaine Jones, 39-1, West Chester Henderson; Jared Royer, 33-3, So., Cedar Cliff; Chad Sportelli, 36-4, Sr., Easton
Outlook: Jones is vying for his third state title, but gave a lackluster showing at the Southeast Regionals. Look for a finals date with Sportelli. The WPIAL will be fortunate to get a wrestler into the semfinals at this weight class. Ciotti gets Sportelli in the quarterfinals, and Canon-McMillan's Chad Maggi gets Jones.
The winner is: Chad Sportelli, Easton
119 pounds
Defending champion: Matt Ciasulli, Easton
Who to watch: Jeff Breese, 26-4, Sr., McGuffey; Tim Haas, 35-0, Jr., Cedar Cliff; Donnie Jones, 34-1, Fr., Greensburg Salem; Todd Mowery, 32-0, Sr., Titusville; Reimark Neidermeier, Sr., 35-6, Waynesburg; Mike Sees, 30-2, Jr., Shikellamy
Outlook: Breese will try to repeat last year's feat, when he lost in the regional finals and went on to win his second state title in three years. His second-place finish was more costly this year —it means a quarterfinal match with undefeated Haas. Don't be deceived Nazareth senior Erick Frick's 29-10 record. Jones, a disappointing third at the regionals, meets Sees in a first-round dandy.
The winner is: Donnie Jones, Greensburg Salem
125 pounds
Defending champion: Jeff Ecklof, Northampton
Who to watch: Matt Ciasulli, 39-1, Sr., Easton; Scott Hutton, 31-4, Sr., Chartiers Valley; Darren Murray, 36-4, Jr., Central Dauphin; Nick Nauroth, 35-2, Jr., Quakertown; Brian Sticca, 32-1, Sr., Greensburg Salem
Outlook: The gold medal belongs to Ciasulli, a two-time state champion and the anchor of Easton's PIAA team champion. A pair of WPIAL wrestlers —Sticca and Hutton —are possible finalists, but they are fighting for second place. Hutton needs to rebound from his fourth-place finish at regionals
The winner is: Matt Ciasulli, Easton
130 pounds
Defending champion: Gino Fotrebuono, Easton
Who to watch: Jeff Ecklof, 37-0, Jr., Northampton; Dan Geib, 32-0, So., Souderton; Brock Hoffman, 33-2, Sr., Governor Mifflin; Chad Seybold, 35-4, Sr., Waynesburg;
Outlook: Another weight class in which a District 11 wrestler is the overwhelming favorite. Ecklof, the defending champion at 125 pounds, is one of the best in the nation. He gets undefeated Red Land senior Brian Baglio (34-0) in the quarterfinals. The WPIAL's best hope is Seybold, who wouldn't meet Ecklof until the finals.
The winner is: Jeff Ecklof, Northampton
135 pounds
Defending champion: DeWitt Driscoll, Connellsville
Who to watch: Brad Forbes, 41-3, Sr., Downingtown; Scott Heckman, 30-1, Jr., Bangor; Jarrod King, 38-1, So., Connellsville; Matt Kocher, 32-1, Jr., State College; Mike Rogers, 30-3, So., Easton
Outlook: King is trying to become the second Connellsville wrestler in row to win this weight class, following Driscoll. King's only loss came to 130-pound favorite Jeff Ecklof of Northampton, 7-3, in the Beast of the East semifinals. King's toughest bout will come in the semifinals, where Heckman should be lurking. Of the four WPIAL wrestlers in this weight class, only King is expected to win his first-round bout.
The winner is: Jarrod King, Connellsville
140 pounds
Defending champion: Ron Doppelheuer, Connellsville
Who to watch: Matt Barnett, 28-3, Jr., Hempfield (District 3); Dan Brown, 38-5, Sr., Easton; Christian Franco, 36-1, Sr., Whitehall; Brandon Guenot, 35-4, Jr., Bald Eagle Area; Kirk Main, 19-5, Jr., McGuffey; Mark Smith, 36-2, Sr., Upper Perkiomen;
Outlook: The WPIAL is a longshot to reach even the semifinals in this weight class. Franco is the sentimental favorite after finishing third as a sophomore and second last year. Smith broke former North Allegheny great Ty Moore's career record of 113 pins earlier this year. Canon-McMillan senior Zack Maier, the Southwest Regional runner-up, gets Franco in the second round.
The winner is: Christian Franco, Whitehall
145 pounds
Defending champion: Nathan Galloway, State College
Who to watch: Taylor Letters, 38-2, Jr., Shaler Area; Scott Morgan, 40-3, Sr., Trinity; Mark Murphy, 31-4, Jr., Northern; Matt Storniolo, 29-0, Sr., State College; John Henry-Zarzycki, 30-3, Sr., Pleasant Valley
Outlook: If it doesn't end up Storniolo vs. Letters in the finals, there are going to be a lot of disappointed —and shocked —fans at Hershey. The two have been ranked 1-2 all season, and are, by far, the state's elite 145-pounders. Storniolo won the National Prep championship last year while at Haverford before transferring to State College. Letters, the younger brother of two-time state champion Troy Letters, hasn't lost to a Pennsylvania wrestler this year. Storniolo beat Taylor Letters in last year's Beast of the East.
The winner is: Taylor Letters, Shaler
152 pounds
Defending champion: Rocky Mantella, Council Rock
Who to watch: Adam Brochetti, 32-0, Sr., Kittanning; Nathan Galloway, 33-0, Sr., State College; Matt Lear, 38-5, Jr., Easton; Seth Martin, 37-0, Sr., Selinsgrove; Albert Miles, 33-4, Jr., Canon-McMillan
Outlook: Two-time state champion Galloway must negotiate a bracket that includes two other undefeated wrestlers —Southwest Regional champion Brochetti, and Martin. Miles could survive to the semifinals. By forfeiting his third-place regional match last week, he avoided Galloway in the first round.
The winner is: Nathan Galloway, State College
160 pounds
Defending champion: Troy Letters, Shaler Area
Who to watch: Zac Fryling, 37-1, Jr., North Penn; Jeremy Hart, 33-0, Sr., State College; Jake Herbert, 34-1, Jr., North Allegheny; Ryan Sheehan, 24-1, Sr., Manheim Township
Outlook: This is a three-horse race between, Fryling, Hart and Herbert. Fryling and Herbert have one loss each —both to USA No. 2-ranked Matt Palmer of Blair (N.J.) Academy at the Beast of the East. Fryling and Herbert have never met, but they will, assuming Herbert gets past undefeated Hart in the semifinals. Herbert got pinned by another State College wrestler, Nathan Galloway, in 49 seconds in last year's semifinals. That won't happen again. This bracket also includes Carrick's Matt Waterman (29-4), who placed second at the Northwest Regional to become only the second City League wrestler to reach the state tournament (Oliver heavyweight Mike Price last year).
The winner is: Jake Herbert, North Allegheny
171 pounds
Defending champion: Travis Frick, Nazareth
Who to watch: Steve Borja, 33-0, Sr., Garden Spot; Josh Haines, 36-4, So., Northampton; Doran Heist, 32-0, Sr., Meadville; Nick Kozar, 31-2, Sr., Derry Area; Mike Metzger, 35-5, Jr., Governor Mifflin; Josh Weitzel, 39-2, Jr., Oxford
Outlook: This could be the most balanced weight class from top to bottom with five or six wrestlers capable of winning it all. Last year's runner-up, Borja, might not even reach the semifinals. He is looking at a potential quarterfinal bout with undefeated Heist. Kozar, the WPIAL champion, also faces a tough likely second-round bout with John Steiner of Bethlehem Freedom.
The winner is: Josh Weitzel, Oxford
189 pounds
Defending champion: Joel Edwards, Upper Darby
Who to watch: Matt Cassidy, 30-1, Sr., Plum; Philip Davis, 26-1, Jr., Harrisburg; Adam LoPiccolo, 31-1, Jr., Susquehannock; Jon Oplinger, 35-6, So., Northampton
Outlook: LoPiccolo, a two-time PIAA runner-up at heavyweight, dropped to 189, adding more muscle to an already brutal weight class. Cassidy's only loss came on a disqualification in the Allegheny County finals. But the two-time Southwest Regional champion is outmatched. Look for a rematch of the Southcentral Regional finals, as LoPiccolo beats Davis again.
The winner is: Adam LiPiccolo, Susquehannock
Heavyweight
Defending champion: Matt Feast, Blue Mountain
Who to watch: Drew Feldman, 29-0, Sr., Wyoming Valley West; Bob Kail, 30-2, Sr., Peters Township; Ryan Marovich, 33-1, Jr., Erie McDowell; Tom Parks, 34-2, Sr., North Allegheny; Tyler Rees, 33-0, Jr., Northern
Outlook: The WPIAL will be well-represented in this weight class with arguably the top two heavyweights in the state, Kail and Parks. They split two meetings this year, with Kail winning, 1-0, in the Southwest Regional finals last week. They can't meet before the finals this week. Likely semifinals have Feldman vs. Parks and Rees vs. Kail.
The winner is: Tom Parks, North Allegheny
Class AA
103 pounds
Defending champion: Jerry Kendall, Reynolds
Who to watch: Matt Fisk, 42-1, Fr., Wyalusing; Gary Mayfield, 36-1, So., Hanover; Keith Pavlekovsky, 34-1, Sr., Redbank Valley; Jake Strayer, 36-1, So., Forest Hills
Outlook: Fisk was the Beast of the East champion at 103, and should coast into a semifinal match with Mayfield. Strayer and Pavlekowsky are likely to meet in the other semifinals. The top WPIAL wrestler, Jeannette sophomore Larry Hall (31-2), the Southwest Regional runner-up, is a long shot.
The winner is: Matt Fisk, Wyalusing
112 pounds
Defending champion: Jim Collins, Northern Lebanon
Who to watch: Josh Anderson, 35-3, Sr., Ridgway; Garrett Cummings, 32-3, Sr., Central Columbia; Jeremy Hartrum, 38-1, Sr., Wilson; Andy Henry, 26-0, Sr., Strong Vincent
Outlook: Another Beast of the East champion, Hartrum, is the clear choice. He was Class AA runner-up at 103 last year, but will get the gold. Fort Cherry's Mike Lauff, a fourth-place finisher at regionals, is the lone WPIAL wrestler in this weight class.
The winner is: Jeremy Hartrum, Wilson
119 pounds
Defending champion: Adam Smith, Newport
Who to watch: Tony Curto, 38-7, Jr., Wilson; Matt Guerrieri, 25-5, Jr., Brandywide Heights; Joe Makara, 30-6, Jr., Burrell; Jeff Santo, 32-4, Jr., Pen Argyl;
Outlook: Makara, the three-time Southwest Regional champion, is seeking his first state title. He was second as a freshman and fourth last year.
The winner is: Joe Makara, Burrell
125 pounds
Defending champion: Evander Sola, Conrad Weiser
Who to watch: Steve Anceravage, 39-2, So., Bloomsburg; Corey Ganis, 39-4, Sr., Wilson; Dana Gingerich, 37-1, Jr., Delone Catholic; Justin Hollobaugh, 32-6, Sr., Reynolds; Zach Sheldon, 36-5, Jr., Wyalusing;
Outlook: The WPIAL has two wrestlers in this weight class, Burrell's Nick Speer and Chartiers-Houston's Danny Kosharsky. Both are big underdogs in the first round.
The winner is: Corey Ganis, Wilson
130 pounds
Defending champion: Jeremy Walsh, Oley Valley
Who to watch: Isaiah Britton, 33-0, So,. Loyalsock; Bob Frey, 37-6, Sr., Wilson; Louie Vigliotti, 35-1, Sr., Burgettstown; Jeremy Walsh, 41-0, Sr., Oley Valley;
Outlook: Vigliotti is one of the WPIAL's best Class AA wrestlers, but he faces a tough quarterfinal match with Liam Derenzis of Palisades. Walsh is a defending champion and won the Beast of the East this year.
The winner is: Jeremy Walsh, Oley Valley
135 pounds
Defending champion: Jacob Warner, Pine Grove
Who to watch: Kyle Cleary, 31-4, Sr., Pine Grove; Adam Farabaugh, 36-3, Sr., Penn Cambria; Jason Mounts, 33-7, Sr., Washington; Ross Muench, 35-6, Sr., Wyalusing; Jarrett Musselman, 34-0, Sr., Claysburg-Kimmel
Outlook: Washington's Jason Mounts (33-7), who placed third in the Southwest Regional, has Muench and Musselman on his half of the bracket.
The winner is: Jarrett Musselman, Claysburg-Kimmel
140 pounds
Defending champion: Francis Iorfido, Johnsonsburg
Who to watch: Matt Edwards, 35-1, Sr., North Schuylkill; Chris Engler, 24-0, Jr., Loyalsock; Ryan Hluschak, 33-8, Jr., Northern Lehigh; Zach Schafer, 32-3, Jr., Northwestern; Chad Sichak, 29-2, Sr., Richland; Deacon Smolleck, 35-1, Sr., Greensburg Central Catholic;
Outlook: Smolleck, who fell to Sichak in the regional finals for his first loss of the season, and Burrell's Jared Shields are underdogs in a weight class dominated by the Eastern half of the state.
The winner is: Matt Edwards, North Schuylkill
145 pounds
Defending champion: Justin Nestor, Reynolds
Who to watch: Eric Gibbons, 30-4, Sr., Bedford; Nick Krecker, 39-3, Sr., Wilson; Niles Putman, 35-6, Sr., Wyalusing; Steven Troup, 27-3, Jr., Mifflinburg
Outlook: Neither of the WPIAL wrestlers at 145 —Fort Cherry's Matt Schiff and Southmoreland's Josh Peterson —is expected to be a factor. Schiff's third-place finish at regionals left him a tough path to the finals. Wilson didn't win any individual titles last year. That changes this year.
The winner is: Nick Krecker, Wilson
152 pounds
Defending champion: Will Durkee, Shady Side Academy
Who to watch: Matt Hill, 39-1, Sr., Freedom; Francis Iorfido, 31-1, Sr., Johnsonburg; Derek Morgan, 36-0, Sr., Athens; Keith Smith, 30-1, Sr., Pius X;
Outlook: Hill is poised to meet undefeated Morgan in the semifinals. Iorfido, last year's 140-pound state champion, and Smith should meet in the top half of the bracket.
The winner is: Matt Hill, Freedom
160 pounds
Defending champion: Matt Lebe, Jeannette
Who to watch: Dann Laudermilch, 37-0, Sr., Northeast Bradford; Ryan Nowicki, 29-2, Jr., Saucon Valley; Jared Ricotta, 29-2, Jr., West Branch; Nate Shirk, 29-2, Jr., Middleburg
Outlook: The WPIAL advanced one wrestler in this weight class —Avella junior Chas Rush (27-7) —and he was fourth in the region.
The winner is: Dann Laudermilch, Northeast Bradford
171 pounds
Defending champion: Thayer Paxton, Berlin Brothersvalley
Who to watch: Kurt Brenner, 34-1, So., Freedom; Dan Edmonds, 37-3, Sr., Bloomsburg; Josh Fisk, 39-4, Sr., Wyalusing; David Iobst, 38-8, Jr., Wilson
Outlook: Brenner is the Southwest Regional champion, but will need to get through Fisk and North Schuylkill's Mark Knock (35-3) to reach the finals.
The winner is: Dan Edmonds, Bloomsburg
189 pounds
Defending champion: Kyle Cathcart, Clarion
Who to watch: Kyle Cathcart, 34-0, Sr., Clarion; Shane Datz, 32-0, So., Southmoreland, Bryan Echart, 37-3, Sr., Wilson; Matt Wilcox, 34-2, Jr., Maplewood
Outlook: Datz, the Southwest Regional champion, has an excellent chance to reach the semfinals, but then it's Echart or Wilcox. Regardless, the gold medal goes to two-time champion Cathcart.
The winner is: Kyle Cathcart, Clarion
Heavyweight
Defending champion: Ric San Doval, Shady Side Academy
Who to watch: Aaron Anspach, 34-0, Sr., Columbia; Shane Mihalko, 36-3, Sr., Freedom; Dave Yoder, 34-3, Sr., Kutztown; C.J. Wonsettler, 30-3, Sr., Bentworth;
Outlook: Mihalko and Wonsettler, who have wrestled in back-to-back weeks in the WPIAL and regional finals, could meet again in the state finals. Anspach, Mihalko's likely semifinal opponent, will deny another rematch.
The winner is: Aaron Anspach, Columbia
