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PIAA wrestling championship overview

John Grupp
By John Grupp
13 Min Read • March 6, 2003 | 23 years Ago
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Class AAA

103 pounds

  • Defending champion: Coleman Scott, Waynesburg

  • Who to watch: Morgan Baublitz, 37-3, Jr., Cumberland Valley; Seth Ciasulli, 39-1, So., Easton; Kyle Fluke, 34-3, Fr., State College; Steve Mytych, 33-4, So., Pleasant Valley; Bill Spencer, 32-0, Sr., Highlands

  • Outlook: Ciasulli is the heavy favorite to win the weight class. His only loss came to No. 1 Blair (N.J.) Academy's Travis Blasco, 4-3, in a dual meet. Undefeated Spencer is the best hope for the WPIAL/PIAA Southwest Regional wrestlers. But the diminutive Spencer is facing a tough quarterfinal match with Mytych, who lost to Caisulli, 2-0, in the Northeast Region finals. Waynesburg's Chris Neidermeier gets Fluke in the quarterfinals and could make some noise.

  • The winner is: Seth Ciasulli, Easton

    112 pounds

  • Defending champion: Drew Headlee, Waynesburg

  • Who to watch: Mike Goslicky, 34-2, Sr., Thomas Jefferson; Alex Krom, 36-3, So., Easton; Tim Harner, 36-3, Jr., Norristown; Brad Pataky, 21-0, So., Clearfield; Coleman Scott, 36-1, Jr., Waynesburg;

  • Outlook: Scott is the one to beat. He is the defending champ at 103 and hasn't lost to a Pennsylvania wrestler in two years. But it will take some work. His half of the bracket includes Krom, Harner, Quakertown's Nate Nauroth (34-5) and Berwick's Jeremy Griffith (33-3). WPIAL runner-up Goslicky faces an interesting quarterfinal bout with Pataky, last year's 103-pound runner-up. Don't discount Connellsville's Steve Bell (38-6), who has a decent shot to reach the semifinals.

  • The winner is: Coleman Scott, Waynesburg

    119 pounds

  • Defending champion: Tim Haas, Cedar Cliff

  • Who to watch: Sean Clair, So., 30-0, Plum; Mark McKnight, 34-1, Sr., Chartiers Valley; Ashtin Primus, 37-5, Fr., Connellsville; Jared Royer, Jr., 32-1, Cedar Cliff; Mike Sees, 31-1, Sr., Shikellamy; Brian Sellars, 43-1, Sr., Pennsbury

  • Outlook: This is easily the toughest weight class in Class AAA. All three WPIAL wrestlers -- remember, only three in each weight class advanced this year -- could reach the semifinals. The first round includes Sellers vs. McKnight and Primus vs. Freedom senior Reinaldo Merced (34-1). Clair should waltz into the semifinals, where he will likely get Sees, who has a hand injury. Royer's only loss came to Clovis (Calif.) Gabe Floris in the Powerade finals.

  • The winner is: Mark McKnight, Chartiers Valley

    125 pounds

  • Defending champion: Matt Ciasulli, Easton

  • Who to watch: Dan Ensico, 32-2, Sr., Valley; Tim Haas, 32-1, Sr., Cedar Cliff; Tim McGoldrick, Dave Morgan, 35-3, Jr., West Scranton; Clint Shirk, 36-4, Jr., Bald Eagle Area;

  • Outlook: Haas, last year's 119-pound champion, is the odds-on favorite. Like his teammate Royer, Haas' only loss came to a Clovis (Calif.) wrestler in the finals at Powerade. The WPIAL is outclassed in this bracket. Enciso, the Southwest Region champion, will be fortunate to reach the semifinals.

  • The winner is: Tim Haas, Cedar Cliff

    130 pounds

  • Defending champion: Brian Baglio, Red Land

  • Who to watch: Clint Collins, 26-0, So., Upper Merion; Bryan Hart, 39-4, Sr., Easton; Donnie Jones, 34-2, So., Greensburg Salem; Jay Morrison, 37-3, Jr., Whitehall; Chris Ramos, 24-3, Jr., Governor Mifflin

  • Outlook: WPIAL champion Jones is trying to improve on last year's woeful PIAA effort and become the third member of his family to win a state title, joining older brothers Vertus and Greg. Standing in the way are Morrisson, who placed third at 125 last year; Hart, the Northeast Regional runner-up; and Ramos, who pinned Jones last year to end the freshman's 0-2 showing at Hershey. Expect much better this year.

  • The winner is: Donnie Jones, Greensburg Salem

    135 pounds

  • Defending champion: Mike Rogers, Easton

  • Who to watch: Joey Ecklof, 35-10, So., Northampton; Nathan Kennedy, 28-7, Jr., McGuffey; Ian McGoldrick, 33-3, Sr., Pleasant Valley; Chris Renninger, Sr., 32-4, Blue Mountain; Doug Surra, 34-0, Sr., St. Marys

  • Outlook: Like 125 pounds, this weight class will present some problems for the local kids. None of the top five candidates -- at least -- was at Norwin High School last week. Kennedy, the WPIAL champion, gets either McGoldrick or undefeated Darren Murray (31-0) of Central Dauphin in the quarterfinals. Penn-Trafford's Tom Picarsic has the best chance at a top-eight medal.

  • The winner is: Doug Surra, St. Marys

    140 pounds

  • Defending champion: Christian Franco, Whitehall

  • Who to watch: Matt Barnett, 34-0, Sr., Hempfield (District 3); Scott Heckman, 33-2, Sr., Bangor; Mike Rogers, 35-0, Jr., Easton; Jared Mowl, 30-0, Jr., Moon; Andrew Sherry, 32-2, Jr., Pittsburgh Central Catholic

  • Outlook: Other than 119, this might be the toughest weight class. Rogers, last year's champion at 135, must contend with Heckman, Kocher and a worthy WPIAL group. Mowl is undefeated, but faces a quarterfinal bout with Kocher, who beat Southwest Regional 152-pound champion Jarrod King of Connellsville this year. Look for Sherry to shoot into the semifinals before falling to Rogers, who beat Heckman, 6-0, at regionals.

  • The winner is: Mike Rogers, Easton

    145 pounds

  • Defending champion: Matt Storniolo, State College

  • Who to watch: Jeff Ecklof, 38-2, Sr., Northampton; Brandon Guenot, 34-3, Sr., Bald Eagle Area; Kirk Main, 27-4, Sr., McGuffey; Ben Young, 32-2, Sr., Downingtown;

  • Outlook: Ecklof will be hard to beat after losing in the quarterfinals last year as a returning state champion. Main, the Southwest champion, gets Young in the quarterfinals and a likely semifinal showdown with Guenot. WPIAL runner-up Bryan Lekawa of Latrobe is in the same bracket as Ecklof, but they can't meet until the semifinals.

  • The winner is: Jeff Ecklof, Northampton

    152 pounds

  • Defending champion: Nathan Galloway, State College

  • Who to watch: Brandon Hill, 34-3, Sr., North Penn; Jarrod King, 40-3, Jr., Connellsville; Taylor Letters, 37-3, Sr., Shaler; Albert Miles, 37-1, Sr., Canon-McMillan; Sean Richmond, 41-3, Jr., Easton

  • Outlook: This could turn into an all-WPIAL finals with King, Letters and Miles among the best in the state. King beat Letters, 6-5, in the Southwest Regional finals last week. The score is misleading. King dominated the match. Letters reached the state finals as a sophomore, but last year lost in the first round and finished seventh. King also lost in the finals as a sophomore, falling to Rogers at 135. King and Miles are in the same half of the bracket.

  • The winner is: Jarrod King, Connellsville

    160 pounds

  • Defending champion: Zac Fryling, North Penn

  • Who to watch: Anthony Angeline, 36-0, Sr., Lampeer-Strasburg; Neil Bretz, 39-1,Jr., Cumberland Valley; Zac Fryling, 35-2, Sr., North Penn; Zeke Lane, 19-2, Jr., William Allen; Mickey Moran, 37-6, Jr., Shaler;

  • Outlook: Fryling could be the biggest sure-thing of the tournament. The West Virginia recruit made Jake Herbert look bad in last year's 160-pound finals and made mince-meat of the Southeast Region. Moran, the WPIAL champion, should get Bretz in the quarterfinals. Bretz beat Moran, 5-4, in the regular season. Albert Gallatin's John Ptak and Valley's Logan Downes won't win it, but both could bring home a medal.

  • The winner is: Zac Fryling, North Penn

    171 pounds

  • Defending champion: Steve Borja, Garden Spot

  • Who to watch: Nick Guida, 26-5, So., Parkland; Jake Herbert, 31-0, Sr., North Allegheny; Charlie Pienaar, 30-4, Sr., Penn-Trafford; Josh Weitzel, 39-1, Sr., Oxford

  • Outlook: Herbert and Weitzel look to be headed for a finals showdown. They are ranked 1-2 in the nation. Both lost in the finals last year -- Herbert at 160, Weitzel at 171. Herbert, who beat Weitzel, 5-2, in the Powerade finals, imposed his will at the Southwest Regionals and appears to be invincible right now. Pienaar is a good bet to place in the top eight.

  • The winner is: Jake Herbert, North Allegheny

    189 pounds

  • Defending champion: Matt Cassidy, Plum

  • Who to watch: Eric Cassidy, Sr., 36-2, North Allegheny; Phillip Davis, Harrisburg;Josh Haines, 40-1, Jr., Northampton; Tyler McCall, 34-1, Sr., Central Mountain; Kyle Markiewicz, 31-2, Sr., Warwick

  • Outlook: Cassidy's cousin, Matt, won at 189 last year, but it will be a tough task to keep it in the family. A quarterfinal match with Davis looks likely. The top half of the bracket also includes Haines, who is undefeated vs. Pa. wrestlers this year, and McCall, the Northwest champion. West Mifflin's Gideon Short, who sustained a shoulder injury while being illegally slammed in the WPIAL semifinals, will wrestle.

  • The winner is: Josh Haines, Northampton

    215 pounds

  • Defending champion: New weight class

  • Who to watch: Scott McKillop, 36-0, Sr., Kiski Area; Adam Lopiccolo, Susquehannock, 35-0, Sr., Jon Oplinger, 37-1, Jr., Northampton; Nic San Doval, 32-1, Sr., Central Catholic; Mike Viti, 32-4, Jr., Berwick

  • Outlook: This is a first-year weight class in the PIAA, and it's loaded. Lopiccolo and Oplinger are both ranked in the top six in the nation. McKillop, the WPIAL champion, faces a tough first-rounder with Easton's Marcus Millen and then gets Lopiccolo, the PIAA runner-up at heavyweight as a sophomore, in the quarterfinals. McKillop will try to become the second Section 4-AAA wrestler in as many years to upset Lopiccolo (Plum's Matt Cassidy). San Doval draws Oplinger in the quarterfinals. His chances are not good.

  • The winner is: Adam Lopiccolo, Susquehannock

    275 pounds

  • Defending champion: Tom Parks, North Allegheny

  • Who to watch: Tim Frank, 35-1, Sr., Fox Chapel; Ryan Marovich, 35-0, Sr., McDowell; Tyler Rees, 37-4, Sr., Northern York; Zach Sheaffer, 35-5, Jr., Cumberland Valley; Joel Yoder, 36-2, Sr., Bald Eagle Area;

  • Outlook: The WPIAL is down in this weight class and will be fortunate to get a wrestler to the semifinals. Frank will have to get past Yoder in the quarterfinals. Marovich is trying to become Erie McDowell's first state champion. Rees, last year's runner-up, lost to Schaffer last week in the SouthCentral finals on a 2-1 overtime rideout.

  • The winner is: Tyler Rees, Northern York

    Class AA

    103 pounds

  • Defending champion: Jake Strayer, Forest Hills

  • Who to watch: Matt Dunn, 36-1, Fr., Reynolds; Wally Geiger, 31-3, Sr., Meyers; Gary Mayfield, 41-1, Jr., Chad Leggett, 35-4, Sr., Biglerville; Hanover; Zach Holt, 36-5, So., Mt. Pleasant

  • Outlook: This is one of only three weight classes in which the WPIAL advanced three wrestlers (140, 145 and 152 are the others). But don't expect too much. Holt is the only one with a chance at reaching the quarterfinals.

  • The winner is: Gary Mayfield, Hanover

    112 pounds

  • Defending champion: Jeremy Hartrum, Wilson

  • Who to watch: Mike Anderson, 32-1, Jr., Littlestown; Matt Fisk, 41-3, So., Wyalusing; Kyle Kemmerer, 35-4, Sr., Brandywine Heights; Brock Scott, 30-1, Jr., Juniata Valley; Shane Valko, 38-3, So., Forest Hills

  • Outlook: Fisk, the PIAA 103-pound runner-up last year, is the heavy favorite. The WPIAL's lone qualifier, Mt. Pleasant freshman Lee Vanella, is 34-16. Nobody has more losses in Hershey.

  • The winner is: Matt Fisk, Wyalusing

    119 pounds

  • Defending champion: Joe Makara, Burrell

  • Who to watch: Mike Bryan, 44-7, Sr., Juniata; Matt Guerrieri, 34-3, Sr., Brandywine Heights; Larry Hall, 31-3, Jr., Jeannette; Jeff Schell, 38-1, Jr., Bloomsburg; Garrett Scott, 29-2, Fr., Juniata Valley; Jake Strayer, 40-0, Jr., Forest Hills

  • Outlook: Strayer is undefeated and the defending state champion at 103, but he isn't a strong favorite to win this rugged bracket. He gets Guerrieri in the quarterfinals and Schell in the semifinals. Hall is the WPIAL's only chance at a medal, and it's a slim one.

  • The winner is: Jeff Schell, Bloomsburg

    125 pounds

  • Defending champion: Corey Garis, Wilson

  • Who to watch: Jeff Becker, 32-5, So., Slippery Rock; Tony Curto, 20-3, Sr., Wilson; Joe Makara, 34-4, Sr., Burrell; Zach Sheldon, 34-2, Sr., Wyalusing

  • Outlook: Makara, the reigning state champ at 119, has clear sailing into the semifinals, and Becker is the biggest threat to reach the finals. The four-time WPIAL champion can expect Curto in a rematch of last year's 119-pound finals, or Sheldon, who decimated the field at the Northeast Regionals.

  • The winner is: Zach Sheldon, Wyalusing

    130 pounds

  • Defending champion: Jeremy Walsh, Oley Valley

  • Who to watch: Matt Dragon, 39-0, So., Lake Lehman; Dana Gingerich, 36-3, Sr., Delone Catholic; Brandon Reasy, 35-2, Sr., Northern Bedford; Jeff Santo, 30-0, Sr., Pen Argyl,

  • Outlook: This should come down to a battle of Santo and Dragon, two undefeated wrestlers. Give the senior the edge. The WPIAL wrestlers, including junior Steve Perri, the first Mars wrestler to ever reach states, and Mt. Pleasant freshman Donnie Ament, are first-round casualties.

  • The winner is: Jeff Santo, Pen Argyl

    135 pounds

  • Defending champion: Jarret Musselman, Clayburg-Kimmel

  • Who to watch: Owen Brickell, 37-2, Sr., Reynolds; Isaiah Britton, 35-0, Jr., Loyalsock; Cory Mancuso, 36-2, Sr., Brockway; Damian Rose, 29-4, So., Freedom;

  • Outlook: Britton, last year's 130-pound runner-up, faces a potential quarterfinal dandy with Mancuso. Rose is the WPIAL's best at this weight, but he'll have trouble getting past Blue Ridge's Chris Lewis in the first round. If he does, Brickell awaits.

  • The winner is: Isaish Britton, Loyalsock

    140 pounds

  • Defending champion: Chad Sichak, Richland

  • Who to watch: Steve Anceravage, 35-3, Jr., Bloomsburg; Travis Battles, 33-4, Jr., Reynolds; Scott Rendos, 38-0, Jr., Brockway; Jared Shields, 37-1, Sr., Burrell;

  • Outlook: Shields, the Southwest Regional champion, should reach the semifinals and a showdown with undefeated Rendos. The survivor earns the right to lose to Anceravage in the finals.

  • The winner is: Steve Anceravage, Bloomsburg

    145 pounds

  • Defending champion: Nick Krecker, Wilson

  • Who to watch: Chris Engler, 35-4, Sr., Loyalsock; Steve Lucchesi, 33-1, Sr., York Suburban; Mike Mackie, 38-5, Jr., Brandywine Heights;

  • Outlook: The WPIAL has three wrestlers at this weight, but none of them will make an impact. Flip a coin for the eventual champion. Of the 16 wrestlers in the bracket, Lucchesi is the only one to win a top-eight medal last year. He suffered his first loss of the year in the Southeast Regional finals, getting pinned by Mackie in 39 seconds.

  • The winner is: Steve Lucchesi, York Suburban

    152 pounds

  • Defending champion: Derek Morgan, Athens

  • Who to watch: Keith Gavin, 30-5, Sr., Lackawanna Trail; A.J. Graves, 35-2, So., Jeannette; Ryan Hluschak, 38-1, Sr., Northern Lehigh; Joe Rovelli, 23-1, Jr., Meyers; Zach Schafer, 34-1, Sr., Northwestern

  • Outlook: Graves, the Southwest Regional champion, is pointed toward a semifinal match with Rovelli, who edged Gavin for the Northeast Regionals title. This is a wide-open bracket, but the best seems to be Hluschak, who placed third at 140 last year after losing in the first round.

  • The winner is: Ryan Hluschak, Northern Lehigh

    160 pounds

  • Defending champion: David Rivera, Allentown Central Catholic

  • Who to watch: George Childers, 36-3, Sr., Berlin Brothers Valley; Chris Hogue, 31-3, Jr., Cochranton; Damian Johnson, 35-1, Jared Ricotta, 33-0, Sr., West Branch

  • Outlook: This could end up a rematch of the Southwest Regional finals between Shady Side's Johnson and Ricotta. Johnson, who missed states last year after winning a medal as a sophomore, lost 7-1 last week.

  • The winner is: Jared Ricotta, West Branch

    171 pounds

  • Defending champion: Kurt Brenner, Freedom

  • Who to watch: Phil Bomberger, 48-2, Jr., Juniata; Kurt Brenner, 34-2, Jr., Freedom; Adam Rohrer, 30-1, Sr., Port Allegany; Nate Shirk, 27-1, Sr., Middleburg.

  • Outlook: Brenner last year became the first wrestler in Beaver County history to win a PIAA champion, and he should get No. 2. His only losses this year are to Class AAA state qualifiers Josh Weitzel of Oxford and Charlie Pienaar of Penn-Trafford. Brenner's biggest hurdle: Bomberger in the semifinals

  • The winner is: Kurt Brenner, Freedom

    189 pounds

  • Defending champion: Matt Wilcox, Maplewood

  • Who to watch: Shane Datz, 34-1, Jr., Southmoreland; David Iobst, 33-5, Sr., Wilson; Jason Manross, 34-0, Sr., Saegertown; Jason Mitkowski, 33-1, Sr., Nanticoke; Jordan Sweany, 27-3, Jr., Beth-Center

  • Outlook: Southwest Regional runner-up Datz, who placed third in the state last year, drew a tough assignment with Iobst in the quarterfinals. If he survives that, he contends with Manross. Sweany, who beat Datz in overtime for the SW Regional title, should meet Mitkowski in the semifinals.

  • The winner is: Jason Manross, Saegertown

    215 pounds

  • Defending champion: New weight class

  • Who to watch: Jerry Afari, 36-0, Sr., Columbia; Troy Charles, 29-1, Sr., Hughesville; Kyle Davis, 34-1, So., Valley View; Josh Kirsch, 37-0, Sr., Mount Union; Matt Wilcox, 33-3, Sr., Maplewood

  • Outlook: Wilcox is the defending PIAA Class AA 189-pound champion, but he isn't a sure-thing to repeat. He has a potential quarterfinal match with once-beaten Davis and a semifinal showdown with unbeaten Kirsch. The finals will offer either Charles, who pinned Davis in the Northeast Regional finals, or the undefeated Afari. Shady Side Academy's Pierce Frauenheim is the WPIAL's best, but he'll struggle to win a medal.

  • The winner is: Matt Wilcox, Maplewood

    275 pounds

  • Defending champion: C.J. Wonsettler, Brentworth

  • Who to watch: J.R. Herring, 31-2, Sr., Pine Grove; Nate Morris, 28-0, Sr., Central Cambria; Dustin Swartz, 46-3, Sr., Juniata; Chris Snyder, 31-1, Sr., Milton

  • Outlook: Snyder had an eight-second pin in the Northeast Regional semifinals and pinned his way to the crown. But he will face much better in Hershey, led by the undefeated Morris. The two WPIAL wrestlers, Southmoreland's Justin Poole and Charleroi's John Maraldo, are longshots to win a match.

  • The winner is: Chris Snyder, Milton

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