The PIAA Wrestling Championships return to FloWrestling March 7-9 LIVE from the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. All bouts will be streamed live starting with AA on Thursday morning at 9 am EST. AAA gets underway at 4 pm Thursday afternoon. This four-part series will preview each bracket for lightweights (107-145) and heavyweights (152-285) on both the AA and AAA sides. 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.

2024 PIAA Brackets, Results, and Schedule

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152

Returning Qualifiers: (14)

Beknazar Baiyshbekov, 11th, Neshaminy

Eli Carr, 12th, Hempfield Area 

Keegan Demarest, 12th, Pocono Mountain East

Wyatt Dillon, 12th, Central York

Collin Gaj, 11th, Quakertown

Parker Kearns, 12th, Mifflin County

Sam Kuhns, 12th, Pennridge

Parrish McFarland, 12th, Pottsville (2021)

Nadav Nafshi, 11th, Harriton

Kollin Rath, 11th, Bethlehem Catholic

Luke Sipes, 11th, Altoona

Austin Smith, 12th, Abington Heights

Griffin Walizer, 12th, Central Mountain

Antonino Walker, 12th, Plum (2021)

Returning Medalists: (5)

Collin Gaj, 11th, Quakertown 1st 145

Kollin Rath, 11th, Bethlehem Catholic 1st 139

Eli Carr, 12th, Hempfield Area 4th 139

Luke Sipes, 11th, Altoona 7th 152

Griffin Walizer, 12th, Central Mountain 5th 145

The story of this weight is the potential rematch between nationally ranked #3 Kollin Rath and #5 Collin Gaj. These two have been connected throughout their entire careers to this point. They met twice as freshman at the PIAA tournament in both the quarterfinals and for third-place and it was Rath winning both, 4-1 and 3-1 in sudden victory for third-place. Last season, both Rath and Gaj capped off outstanding sophomore seasons by defeating returning PIAA champions for their first state titles, with Rath defeating returning champion Pierson Manville for the 139 pound title while Gaj defeated two-time PIAA champion Mac Church for the 145 pound title. These two met up once again in the finals of the Beast of the East in December and it was Rath winning once again in an absolute nailbitter, 2-1 in tiebreakers where Rath was able to earn an escape with under a second to go in the third period to force sudden victory. Following that match in an interview Rath mentioned how these two are also training partners at Stellar Trained which throws another interesting wrinkle into their rivalry. If these two nationally ranked competitors were to meet in the finals, it would be an absolute treat for everyone in attendance. 

Watch Rath and Gaj’s Beast of the East Final

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Top Bracket:

Rath is the top seed and will likely cruise to the semifinals where he could match up against two-time PIAA place winner #3 Luke Sipes. These two have not met this season, however, Rath is the heavy favorite and my pick to dominate back to the finals. 

Bottom Bracket:

The bottom half of this bracket has three returning PIAA place winners with #4 Eli Carr in the top quarter where he will be favored to make the semifinals. On the bottom side, Gaj would likely see two-time PIAA place winner Griffin Walizer in the quarterfinals before meeting Carr in the semifinals. Like Rath, I fully expect Gaj to get the job done on the bottom half of the bracket and navigate his way back to the finals.

These two have met several times throughout their careers and they have all been low-scoring matches, which makes sense when you factor in them being training partners as well. Despite that, this is definitely one of my most anticipated matches of the weekend. Rath has gotten the better of Gaj in their rivalry, but Gaj is a very dangerous wrestler and can score from just about anywhere. This match is truly up for grabs for either guy, but I’m gonna stick with Rath to win this super match for his second PIAA title. 

Prediction: Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic) over Collin Gaj (Quakertown)

2023 Results:

152 LBS

1st Ty Watters (West Allegheny) MD Ryan Garvick (Central Dauphin), 11-3

3rd Dagen Condomitti (Northampton) MD Sam Gautreau (Owen J. Roberts), 15-4

5th Lucas Kapusta (Hempfield Area) DEC Jake Dailey (Bethlehem Catholic), 3-0

7th Luke Sipes (Altoona) DEC Griffin Gonzalez (Lebanon), 3-1

160

Returning Qualifiers: (10)

Gavin Cole, 11th, Council Rock South

Asher Cunningham, 11th, State College

Carter Davis, 12th, Central York (2022)

Ryan Garvick, 12th, Central Dauphin

James Geiger, 12th, Easton

Bode Marlow, 11th, Thomas Jefferson

Gunnar Myers, 12th, Wallenpaupack

Collin Neal, 12th, Boiling Springs AA (2022)

Charlie Scanlan, 11th, Bethlehem Catholic

Lonzy Vielma, 11th, Connellsville

Returning Medalists: (3)

Ryan Garvick, 12th, Central Dauphin 2nd 152

Asher Cunningham, 11th, State College 4th 145

Gunnar Myers, 12th, Wallenpaupack 6th 133

Asher Cunningham has made huge jumps throughout his career and this season is no different. Cunningham is 33-1 with his only loss coming in the Ironman semifinals and has won titles at King of the Mountain and Powerade and has gotten himself up to #14 in the country. 

Top Bracket:

#4 Ryan Garvick is the top seed on the top side and has been second at this tournament the last two seasons. Garvick has been great at this tournament throughout his career and will be favored to make the semifinals where he will likely meet up with #2 Nick Kunstek. Kunstek is actually competing in his first PIAA championship this weekend after competing in the National Preps his first two seasons and missing the postseason last year after a transfer dispute. Kunstek is excellent with his only two losses this season coming to Cunningham and Kollin Rath and is currently #18 in the country. Kunstek is my pick to make the finals out of the top side. 

Bottom Bracket:

#5 Bode Marlow is the top seed on the bottom half of the bracket and will likely have to go through #7 Charlie Scanlan to make the semifinals. Cunningham is a returning two-time place winner and will likely see returning sixth-place finisher #3 Gunnar Myers in the quarterfinals. I believe Cunningham will continue the tear he has been on all season and cruise to the finals. 

Cunningham has gotten better throughout his entire career and has been the best guy in the state all season. This is a rematch from back in December when Cunningham was able to cruise to a 7-2 win over Kunstek. I believe Cunningham will be able to get it done this weekend for his first state championship. 

Prediction: Asher Cunningham (State College) over Nick Kunstek (Pottsville)

2023 Results:

160 LBS

1st Dylan Evans (Chartiers Valley) DEC Shawn Taylor (West Allegheny), 3-2 UTB

3rd Andrew Harmon (Bethlehem Catholic) DEC Dominic Frontino (Shippensburg), 3-0

5th Bekhruz Sadriddinov (Council Rock South) DEC Gavyn Beck (Franklin Regional), 7-2

7th Gavin Pascoe (Perkiomen Valley) DEC Brett Barbush (Manheim Central), 5-3

172

Returning Qualifiers: (11)

Avery Aurand, 11th, Mifflin County

Brandon Carr, 11th, Sun Valley

Blaise Eidle, 11th, Wilson

Sam Gautreau, 12th, Owen J. Roberts

Brian Heard, 11th, Abington Heights

Talan Hogan, 11th, Pennridge

Bekhruz Sadriddinov, 12th, Council Rock South

Vaughn Spencer, 11th, Pine Richland

Jaxon Townsend, 12th, Gettysburg

Connor Wetzel, 11th, Shikellamy

Brayden Zuercher, 10th, Nazareth

Returning Medalists: (3)

Sam Gautreau, 12th, Owen J. Roberts 4th 152

Bekhruz Sadriddinov, 12th, Council Rock South 5th 160

Talan Hogan, 11th, Pennridge 6th 172

Top Bracket:

#1 Behkruz Sadriddinov is a returning fifth-place finisher who won a U17 Fargo title in 2022. He is the top seed on the top side of the bracket. He will likely cruise to the semifinals where he will likely see #5 Brian Heard. Heard will have to get through #6 and returning place winner Talan Hogan in the round of 16, whom he defeated 9-1 earlier in the season. He would then see the winner of #7 Bodie Morgan and #8 Blaise Eidle in the quarterfinals where he is favored. Sadriddinov has high-power offense and a bit of a wild style and I believe that will help him get to his first PIAA final. 

Bottom Bracket:

#4 Connor Wetzel will likely meet returning place winner and #3 Sam Gautreau in the quarterfinals on the top side. Gautreau has been excellent this season and is my pick to make the semifinal here. #2 Vaughn Spencer is currently ranked #17 in the country but is looking for his first PIAA medal this weekend as much of his career has been riddled with injury. Spencer has had a dominant year and I expect him to continue that roll through the bottom half of the bracket to the finals. 

These two have not met this season but are both committed to Lehigh and will be future teammates. Both are very powerful competitors and score a lot of points, but I believe Spencer’s defense will be the difference here and he is my pick to win the 172-pound PIAA title. 

Prediction: Vaughn Spencer (Pine Richland) over Behkruz Sadriddinov

2023 Results:

172 LBS

1st Rocco Welsh (Waynesburg) DEC Matthew Furman (Canon-McMillan), 9-2

3rd Dominic Wheatley (Nazareth) DEC Macon Myers (Central York), 7-3

5th Luke Thomas (Bethlehem Catholic) DEC Talan Hogan (Pennridge), 9-4

7th Mark Gray (Kiski Area) F Kevin Olavarria (J. P. McCaskey), 2:50

189

Returning Qualifiers: (6)

Cole Bartram, 12th, Northern York

Carter Euker, 11th, Perkiomen Valley

Tucker Hogan, 12th, Daniel Boone

Jared Karabinus, 12th, Freedom

Mason Richards, 10th, Spring-Ford

Tucker Teats, 12th, Selinsgrove

Returning Medalists: (2)

Tucker Hogan, 12th, Daniel Boone 1st 189

Cole Bartram, 12th, Northern York 2nd 189

The story of this weight is the likely finals rematch between Tucker Hogan and Cole Bartram. Both guys have dominated the rest of the field this season and we will likely see this match one more time before Hogan and Bartram move on to Lock Haven next season. Hogan is a combined 89-0 the last two seasons heading into the weekend while Bartram is 33-1 this season with his only loss coming to Hogan two weeks ago in the Southcentral Region final, 9-2. Hogan won his first PIAA title last season with a 4-0 decision in the finals against Bartram and has worked his way up to #3 in the country. 

Top Bracket:

Hogan is the top seed here and has earned bonus points in all of his matches but the Region final against Bartram two weeks ago. Hogan is the massive favorite here to dominate to the finals. 

Bottom Bracket:

Like Hogan, Bartram has been utterly dominant this season and will likely cruise his way back to the finals. 

These two are unquestionably the best two guys in the bracket and have been the last two seasons. As mentioned, they will be future teammates at Lock Haven and will likely be battling in the room for years to come. For now, though, Hogan is the better guy and is my pick to win his second straight 189-pound PIAA crown. 

Prediction: Tucker Hogan (Daniel Boone) over Cole Bartram (Northern York)

2023 Results:

189 LBS

1st Tucker Hogan (Daniel Boone) DEC Cole Bartram (Northern York), 4-0

3rd Brody Evans (Waynesburg) DEC Haydn Packer (Jersey Shore), 3-1 SV

5th Tyler Withers (Gettysburg) F Dean Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts), 1:28

7th Adrian Gacek (Parkland) DEC Caleb Marzolino (Abington Heights), 3-0

215

Returning Qualifiers: (8)

Dillon Bechtold, 12th, Owen J. Roberts

Jake Conroy, 11th, Ringgold

Aiden Hight, 12th, Chambersburg

Juliano Marion, 12th, Franklin Regional

Caleb Marzolino, 12th, Abington Heights

Ryan McMillan, 12th, Wilson (2022)

Rocco Serafini, 12th, Central Mountain

Brandon Stiehler, 12th, Pocono Moutain West

Returning Medalists: (3)

Dillon Bechtold, 12th, Owen J. Roberts 2nd 215

Juliano Marion, 12th, Franklin Regional 6th 189 (2022)

Caleb Marzolino, 12th, Abington Heights 8th 189

Top Bracket:

#1 Dillon Bechtold is the returning state runner-up at this weight and is 38-0 this season with all bonus points and has moved his way up to #15 in the country. He will likely cruise to the semifinals where he will likely have a rematch with #2 Aiden Hight. These two met twice back in December with Bechtold winning by fall and a 16-2 major decision. Bechtold is the pick here to make the finals once again. 

Bottom Bracket:

Jake Conroy earned the top seed on the bottom half of the bracket when he avenged a previous loss to Juliano Marion last weekend at the Southwest Regional tournament. He will be favored to make the semifinal out of the top quarter. Two former place winners will likely meet in the round of 16 with #3 Caleb Marzolino and #5 Juliano Marion. Those two met last year in the consolations where Marzolino won by fall to put Marion out of the tournament. Marzolino is my pick to win that match and move on to the semifinals. Conroy has had an excellent season but I believe Marzolino will be able to put a stop to his run in the semifinals and move on to the finals. 

These two met back in early January in the Escape the Rock finals and it was Bechtold coming away with the second-period fall. Bechtold has bonused his way through the season and I don’t see anyone stopping him from closing out his high school career with a PIAA title. 

Prediction: Dillon Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts) over Caleb Marzolino (Abington Heights)

2023 Results:

215 LBS

1st Sonny Sasso (Nazareth) DEC Dillon Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts), 7-5

3rd John Pardo (Kennett) DEC Eli Makel (Waynesburg), 3-1

5th Jose Garcia (J.P. McCaskey) DEC Magnus Bibla (Crestwood), 6-2

7th Connor Jacobs (Armstrong) DEC Owen Ott (Penn Trafford), 3-2

285

Returning Qualifiers: (9)

Dean Bechtold, 10th, Owen J. Roberts

Andrew Brennan, 12th, LaSalle

Joe Collins, 12th, Central Bucks East

Michael Hershey, 12th, Spring Grove

Sean Kinney, 12th, Nazareth 

Calvin Lachman, 12th, Quakertown

John Pardo, 12th, Kennett 

Nicholas Pavlechko, 12th, State College

Maxwell Roy, 11th, St. Joseph’s Prep

Returning Medalists: (5)

Sean Kinney, 11th, Nazareth 1st 285

Nicholas Pavlechko, 12th, State College 2nd 285

John Pardo, 12th, Kennett 3rd 215

Dean Bechtold, 10th, Owen J. Roberts 6th 189

Michael Hershey, 12th, Spring Grove 7th 285

#7 in the country Sean Kinney is looking to close out his high school career before moving on to play football at Lafayette in college with three straight PIAA titles at 285 pounds after falling in the finals as a freshman. Kinney has only lost five matches in his career while picking up 95 falls. There are four other returning place winners and his finals opponent from a year ago that will look to stop Kinney this weekend. 

Top Bracket:

Kinney earned the top seed and will likely cruise to the semifinals with little issue. Two returning medalists will likely meet in the round of 16 on the bottom side. #4 John Pardo was third a year ago and will have to win his opening round of 32 bout where he would see returning seventh-place finisher #9 Michael Hershey. Pardo is my pick here to make the semifinals against Kinney. Kinney and Pardo met back in late December and it was Kinney earning the first-period fall and he is my pick to head to his fourth final. 

Bottom Bracket:

#5 Dean Bechtold will likely see #6 Joe Collins in the round of 16 but is my pick to make the semifinal out of the top quarter. #2 Nick Pavlechko is the returning runner-up at this weight and has made huge jumps over the last couple of years. He has been very dominant this season and I expect him to cruise to the semifinals. Bechtold and Pavlechko have met twice this season and it was Pavlechko winning both with a fall and a 2-0 decision. Those are two very different results but I still expect Pavlechko to get the job done here to get back to the finals. 

This a rematch from last year’s 285-pound final that Kinney won 7-0. As I mentioned, Pavlechko has made big improvements since then and only has one loss on the year. I still do not believe it will be enough though and Kinney will close out his legendary career with his third 285-pound PIAA crown. 

Prediction: Sean Kinney (Nazareth) over Nick Pavlechko (State College)

2023 Results:

285 LBS

1st Sean Kinney (Nazareth) DEC Nicholas Pavlechko (State College), 7-0

3rd Layton Schmick (Carlisle) DEC Joe Enick (Penn Trafford), 3-1 SV

5th Joey Schneck (Pine Richland) DEC Ty Banco (Trinity Area), 2-1

7th Michael Hershey (Spring Grove) DEF Bailey Shindle (Kennett), 4:46