The PIAA Championships return to FloWrestling March 9-11. All bouts will be streamed live starting with AA on Thursday morning at 9am EST. AAA gets underway at 4pm Thursday afternoon.This four part series will preview each bracket for lightweights (107-145) and heavyweights (152-285) on both the AA and AAA side. AA release will be followed by AAA. Check into the event hub for all written and video content. Interactive brackets will be live on FloArena.

152

Returning Qualifiers: (11)

Reece Bechakas, 11th, Kane

Story Buchanan, 11th, Girard

Carmine Lenzi, 10th, Berks Catholic

Isaiah Pisano, 11th, Hopewell

Keegan Ramsey, 10th, Notre Dame

Liam Scrivanich, 12th, Saucon Valley

Returning Medalists: (5)

Conner Harer, 11th, Montgomery 1st 145

Ty Watson, 11th, Penns Valley 6th 145

Cameron Milheim, 10th, Warrior Run 7th 138

Nolen Zeigler, 12th, West Perry 8th 126

Tyler Berish, 12th, Beth-Center 8th 152

Conner Harer (Montgomery) is a returning champion and ranked 6th in the country. He is the class of this field. 

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Top Bracket:

Anything but Harer out of the top bracket would be a huge upset. I do really like the bottom quarter in this half. Story Buchanan (Girard) is making his second appearance in Hershey looking for his first medal. Buchanan has just one loss on the season and one of the better wins in the field with a sudden victory win over Ty Watson (Penns Valley). Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian) is part of a monster freshman class for Faith Christian who won the PIAA dual title. Weidemoyer has three losses on the season to Harer (10-5), New Jersey Champ Matt Henrich (4-3), and National Prep 3rd Paul Ognissanti. I am interested to watch him perform in his first PIAA Championship, keep an eye on him in the top position.

Bottom Bracket:

Four wrestlers in the bottom bracket have earned medals in the past. Cameron Milheim (Warrior Run) has one of those deceiving records I’ve been pointing out. Five of his seven losses this season are to Harer. The regional final was a wildly controversial overtime match that had an imminent scoring sequence blown dead to prematurely give Milheim the winning takedown. Harer ended up taking the victory in tiebreaker. 

Ty Watson is the second seed and he is a pinner. The junior has 53 falls in the last two years. 

I think Harer is clearly the class of the field, but believe he will have the task of beating Milheim a sixth time this season. That’s not easy to do and Milheim showed last week he is right there. 

Prediction:Conner Harer (Montgomery) over Cameron Milheim (Warrior Run)

2022 Results:

152 LBS

1st Jackson Arrington (Forest Hills) F Andrew Christie (Bishop McDevitt-Wyncote), 1:45

3rd Michael Duggan (Boiling Springs) DEC Cooper Price (Wyoming Area), 2-0

5th Devon Deem (Montgomery) DEC Justin Richey (Quaker Valley), 3-0

7th Hunter Hohman (Grove City) DEC Tyler Berish (Beth-Center), 1-0

160

Returning Qualifiers: (12)

Chase Brandebura, 12th, Carlynton (2020)

Chase Frameli, 11th, Jefferson Morgan

Vito Gentile, 10th, Reynolds 

Collin Hearn, 12th, Conneaut Area

Justice Hockenberry-Folk, 12th, West Perry

Joseph Lapenna, 11th, Notre Dame 

Andrew McMonagle, 11th, Huntingdon (2021)

Deegan Ross, 12th, Lackawanna Trail

Luke Sugalski, 10th, Faith Christian

Returning Medalists: (3)

Grant MacKay, 12th, Laurel 2nd 160

Zeke Dubler, 12th, Glendale 4th 160

Hunter Hohman, 11th, Grove City 7th 152

2021 PIAA Champion Grant MacKay (Laurel) is looking to get back to the top of the podium. 

Top Bracket:

Mackay is the top seed and the heavy favorite in the top quarter. In the bottom quarter look for Collin Hearn (Conneaut Area) and Jagger Gray (Trinity) to battle it out to be opposite of MacKay in the semifinal. Hearn has five losses on the year, one to MacKay and four to Hunter Homan (Grove City). Gray is an interesting case as he has wrestled the postseason at 170lbs, 189lbs, 172lbs and is now down at 160lbs. The move seems to be paying off for him as he won the Southeast Regional Championship to qualify for the first time. MacKay should earn his trip to his third final in three years.

Bottom Bracket:

The balance of power is pretty evenly distributed across the bottom bracket. Zeke Dubler (Glendale) and Hunter Hohman (Grove City) have earned medals in Hershey. Eight of the ten competitors have taken to the Resilite in Hershey before. This parity leaves prognosticators in a tough position. Fans should enjoy the uncertainty as the bracket plays out. I will take Hohman, but won’t be surprised at any other outcome.

Prediction: Grant MacKay (Laurel) over Hunter Hohman (Grove City)

2022 Results:

160 LBS

1st Holden Garcia (Notre Dame Green Pond) DEC Grant Mackay (Laurel), 2-1

3rd Ganon Smith (Newport) DEC Zeke Dubler (Glendale), 3-2

5th Robert Schneider (Lackawanna Trail) MD Aiden Zimmerman (Johnsonburg), 12-3

7th Bryant Green (Towanda) F Christian Hirak (Derry), 4:45

172

Returning Qualifiers: (11)

Brock Covell, 12th, Titusville

Gabe Davis, 11th, Berks Catholic

Daniel Haubert, 11th, Palisades

Lucas Lawler, 10th, Bishop McDevitt

Conner McChesney, 11th, Fort LeBoeuf

Jalen Wagner, 12th, Reynolds

Waylon Wehler, 12th, St. Mary’s 

Braedon Welsh, 10th, Fort Cherry

Returning Medalists: (3)

Holden Garcia, 12th, Notre Dame 1st 160

Robbie Schneider, 12th, Lackawanna Trail 5th 160

Caleb Close, 10th, Bald Eagle Area 8th 172

There have been three freshmen who have won PIAA titles at 172lbs and above. Adam Waters (Faith Christian) will look to become the fourth. He comes in as the favorite with two wins over returning PIAA Champion Holden Garcia (Notre Dame).

Top Bracket:

Caleb Close (Bald Eagle Area) earned the top seed, but the formula seeding didn’t do him any favors as Garcia will be waiting in the quarterfinal. In the round of 16, returning medalist Robbie Schneider (Lackawanna Trail) could wrestle into Close. Schneider was undefeated going into regionals. He dropped a bout on the championship side before forfeiting in the third place bout after qualifying. A short turnaround will be unfriendly if Schneider has an injury. Tough circumstances for a senior. 

Bottom Bracket:

Waters is an exciting wrestler that points bonus points up often. At the team championships he teched Jalen Wagner (Reynolds), and pinned  second seed Conner McChesney (Fort LeBoeuf). You want to watch when this kid takes the mat.

It’s hard to win three tight matches over the same guy. It is hard to pick a freshman over a senior. Did I convince you to take Garcia? I didn’t convince myself. I like the poise I have seen out of Waters, I think he gets the job done.

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2022 Results:

172 LBS

1st Rune Lawrence (Frazier) F Jake Jones (Saucon Valley), 4:43

3rd Nolan Lear (Benton) DEC Suds Dubler (Glendale), 2-1

5th Garrett Garcia (Southern Columbia) F Riley Parker (Canton), 2:36

7th Garrett Tettemer (Notre Dame Green Pond) DEC Caleb Close (Bald Eagle Area), 3-1 SV

189

Returning Qualifiers: (9)

Jake Gilfoil, 12th, Bishop McDevitt

Rowan Holmes, 10th, Somerset

Lucas Miller, 12th,  Northwestern Lehigh

Britton Spangle, 12th, Glendale

Jackson Zimmerman, 12th, Brookville

Returning Medalists: (4)

Rune Lawrence, 11th, Frazier 1st 172

Jacob Jones, 12th, Saucon Valley 2nd 172

Jacob Scheib, 12th, Tri Valley 7th 189

Carter Chamberlain, 11th, Clearfield 8th 189 (AAA)

One of those three freshmen champions at 172lbs and above is Rune Lawrence (Frazier). He comes into the weekend ranked 8th in the country as he is looking for his third straight title. 

Top Bracket:

Lawrence is the top seed. Returning runner-up, Jacob Jones (Saucon Valley) draws into Lawrences quarter after finishing second in the Southeast Region. If that quarterfinal match happens it will be hard to find a bout with more accumulated falls between the contestants. Lawrence has 70 falls in three seasons while Jones sits on 99 in his high school career. Lawrence pinned Jones in last year’s final. 

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Bottom Bracket:

Nationally ranked #18 Jake Gilfoil (Bishop McDevitt) is still in search of his first PIAA medal. He is the favorite in a wide-open bottom half. Jackson Zimmerman (Brookville) is the other regional champion on the bottom side. 

Prediction:Rune Lawrence (Frazier) over Jake Gilfoil (Bishop McDevitt)

2022 Results:

189 LBS

1st Isaac Cory (Montoursville) DEC Cole Karpinski (Greenville), 5-1

3rd Hadyn Packer (Jersey Shore) DEC Patrick Cutchember (Quaker Valley), 3-1 SV

5th Landon Caldwell (Saegertown) F Seth Stewart (Brockway), 1:43

7th Jacob Scheib (Tri-Valley) MD Ty Csencsits (Saucon Valley), 9-0

215

Returning Qualifiers: (9)

Jared Blobe, 12th, Notre Dame

Dante Burns, 11th, Conwell-Egan (AAA 2021)

Danny Church, 12th, Fort LeBoeuf (2021)

Vitali Daniels, 11th, Bentworth

Brody Kline, 11th, Berks Catholic

Brenan Morgan, 11th,  Central Valley

Tucker Paynter, 11th, Trinity

Returning Medalists: (2)

Austin Johnson, 10th, Muncy 2nd 285

Abraham Keep, 12th, Girard 4th 215

Back-to-back seasons freshmen have come up just short of becoming the first 285lb champion. Sean Kinney (Nazareth) was bested in the AAA final in 2021, and Austin Johnson (Muncy) came up just shy in the AA final in 2022. Johnson is down at 215lbs this season looking for the title that eluded him a season ago. 

Top Bracket:

Johnson is at the top of the bracket and should cruise to the semifinal. The bottom quarter has a lot of unknowns that should create excitement for the fans. Danny Church (Fort LeBoeuf) is the regional champion in the quarter. He had an incredible summer/fall where he made a name for himself nationally. He is still looking for his his first medal. The round of 16 bout just above him will be a big measuring stick for Mark Effendian (Faith Christian). He has been consistent all year long for the Lions. Is he ready to climb up the medal stand?

Bottom Bracket:

Brenan Morgan (Central Valley) is the regional champion in the top quarter. Jared Blobe (Notre Dame) is the one in th quarter with state championship experience.

Abraham Keep (Girard) and Brody Kline (Berks Catholic) squared off in the round of 16 last year. Kline took the bout 5-3. However, it was keep running off five straight wins to finish fourth. These two seem to be wrestling the de fecto semifinal in the bottom quarter.

Prediction: Austin Johnson (Muncy) over Abraham Keep (Girard)

2022 Results:

215 LBS

1st Dayton Pitzer (Mt. Pleasant) F Brad Morrison (West Perry), 1:07

3rd Nick Woodruff (Wyalusing) DEC Abe Keep (Girard), 4-2 SV

5th Hayden Linkerhof (Corry Area) DEC Bryce Rafferty (Brookville), 5-3 SV

7th Cael Black (Eisenhower) DEC Dante Mahaffey (Saucon Valley), 10-7

285

Returning Qualifiers: (8)

Joey Baronick, 11th, Burgettstown

Aiden Compton, 12th, Notre Dame 

Braden Ewing, 11th, Tyrone 

Mike Mazurek, 12th, Sharon

Gunner Singleton, 12th, Huntingdon

Wilson Spires, 12th, General McLane

Returning Medalists: (3)

Riley Robell, 12th, Bishop McDevitt 1st 285

Emmanuel Ulrich, 12th, Mifflinburg 3rd 285

Charles Sheppard, 12th, Hamburg 8th 285

Returning champion Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt) and Emmanuel Ulrich (Mifflinburg) are ranked #12 and #11 in the country. Ulrich’s Fargo success gives him the nod there, but it’s been Robell winning that matchup the past two years in Hershey by fall. This is the one everyone is eyeing, but there are some possible spoilers.

Top Bracket:

Robell is the top seed and expected to make his third straight final. Carson Neely (Port Allegany) is an undefeated Northwest Regional champion. He is the most fascinating wrestler at the weight for me. He was 4-9 a year ago. The sophomore has beat all comers so far this season. I am very interested to watch this young man take the mat.

Bottom Bracket:

Ulrich has been on the same side of the bracket as Robell the past two seasons. This year he is opposite of Robell and the favorite to make the final. It’s not a clear path for Ulrich though. Aiden Compton (Notre Dame) has a sudden victory win over Ulrich from the 2021 East Super Region when he was at Pen Argyl. I like Ulrich from this side, but keep an eye on that top quarter to see who emerges.

Prediction: Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt) over Emmanuel Ulrich (Mifflinburg)

2022 Results:

285 LBS

1st Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt-Wyncote) DEC Austin Johnson (Muncy), 5-0
3rd Emmanuel Ulrich (Mifflinburg) F Kade Sottolano (Williamson), 1:52
5th Leo Muzika (Faith Christian Academy) F Josh Perrine (Saegertown), 2:35
7th Xavier Reyda (Corry Area) F Charles Sheppard (Hamburg), 1:51