The PIAA State Wrestling Championships get underway Thursday, March 7th at 9AM EST. All the action will be live on FloWrestling. Sessions will alternate between AA and AAA, with AA kicking off the action Thursday AM. This four-part preview series will give you an idea of what to look for when the whistles blow in Hershey.

WATCH THE PIAA INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE MARCH 7-9

152 Pounds

Overview:

Three medalist return at 152 pounds and are housed in three different quarters. This normally is due to the separation criteria of regional champions. Not the case at 152 pounds. Dillon Sheehy (Council Rock North), a late season drop to 152 pounds, threw a wrench into the plans and created the separation when he defeated Dan Mancini (Owen J Roberts) in the Southeast Region semifinal. That placed Cam Connor (Kiski) as the top seed and Cole Handlovic (Becahi) check in as the second seed. 

Top Bracket:

Connor has dropped just two bouts on the season: a 1-0 decision to AA favorite Ryan Vulakh and a 6-1 decision to Mancini at the PIAA Team Championships. He should push through to the semifinals, but it might not be easy going against Jeremiah Oaks (Scranton). Michael Kistler (Northampton) and Sheehy should battle it out in the quarters to earn the spot opposite of Connor. Kistler has shown he can beat the favorites at this weight when he took out Mancini at Escape the Rock for fifth place. I like Connor in the top half.

Bottom Bracket:

Handlovic should push into the semifinals from the bottom quarter. The top quarter should be decided between Mancini and returning state qualifier Tanner Updegraff (Hershey). Updegraff has just two losses on the season coming to Oaks and Handlovic, and he split bouts with Oaks. I think the two returning medalist battle it out in the semifinals and Handlovic earns the spot 

Prediction:

Cole Handlovic (Becahi) over Cam Connor (Kiski)

2018 Placewinners:

1. William Evanitsky, 12th, Scranton

2. Gage McClenahan, 10th, Bald Eagle Area

3. Luke Kemerer, 12th, Hempfield Area 

4. Daniel Mancini, 11th, Owen J. Roberts

5. Clayton Ulrey, 10th, Lower Dauphin

6. Ty McGeary, 11th, West Allegheny

7. Luca Frinzi, 11th, Bethlehem Catholic

8. Cole Spencer, 9th, Pine-Richland

160 Pounds

Overview:

There is a lot of parity at the weight and it will lead to some great battles in the early rounds of the tournament. Six mid to low medalist return and two of them will meet in the pigtail round of 32, Ethan Baney (Southwestern) will take on Patrick O’Neil (North Penn). O’Neil bested Baney for seventh place a year ago. Clayton Ulrey (Lower Dauphin) was the only returning medalist to win his region and comes in as the top seed.

Top Bracket:

Ulrey is in the top quarter and should push into the semifinals. The round of 16 bout between returning AA medalist Tyler Wileman (Juniata) and Jake Richardson (Mars Area) should be competitive and the winner could push Ulrey. Connor Herceg (Nazareth) and John Crawford (Strath Haven) are the regional champions sitting in the fourth and fifth sed spots. They are likely to square off in the quarters. I like Ulrey to advance from the top bracket. 

Bottom Bracket:

Expect chaos on the bottom side of the bracket. In the bottom quarter state medalists (O’Neil and Baney) meet in the pigtails for the opportunity to wrestle the second seed Jack Blumer (Kiski). The winner of that bout gets rewarded with a potential matchup with returning medalist Luca Frinzi (Becahi). The top quarter doesn’t get any easier to advance from as four of the five competitors have experience in Hershey. Trey Kibe (Mifflin County) is the regional champion in the quarter, but could see returning medalist Ty McGeary (West Allegheny) in the round of 16. Returning state qualifiers Connor Quinn (Owen J Roberts) and Dylan Reinert (Gettysburg) close out the top quarter. I like Kibe and Frinzi to battle in the semifinals and will take the sophomore from Mifflin County to advance.

Prediction:

Clayton Ulrey (Lower Dauphin) over Trey Kibe (Mifflin County)

2018 Placewinners:

1. Carter Starocci, 11th, Erie Cathedral Prep

2. Zachary Hartman, 12th, Belle Vernon

3. Gerrit Nijenhuis, 10th, Canon-McMillan

4. Luke Stout, 10th, Mount Lebanon

5. Jacob Burgette, 12th, Scranton

6. AJ Wilson, 12th, Solanco

7. Patrick O’Neil, 11th, North Penn

8. Ethan Baney, 10th, South Western

170 Pounds

Overview:

It will be easy to get caught looking ahead to the final at 170 pounds. Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna Township) is a two-time AA state champ and ranked #10 in the country. Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan) has twice finished third and is ranked #4 in the country. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself because there are capable wrestlers waiting to derail the showdown. 

Top Bracket:

Ruth is the top seed and should cruise to the semifinals. The bottom quarter is going to be a war. Nick Delp (Kiski) appears to be the favorite even though he is in the quarter with two regional champions. Delp defeated the fourth seed Lenny Pinto (Stroudsburg) at Powerade back in December. First he has to deal with undefeated senior Dillon Keane (Bradford). I like Delp to make the semi, but think Ruth will be too much.

Bottom Bracket:

Nijenhuis is the second seed and should move easily through his quarter. Like the top bracket, the quarter opposite of Nijenhuis has several capable wrestlers. Returning medalist Maximus Hale (Downingtown) is the regional champion in the quarter, and almost everyone expects him to battle with returning runner-up Luke Nichter (Chambersburg) in the quarterfinal. Not so fast, in the round of 16 Nichter drew Angel Garcia (Mariana Bracetti Academy). Garcia had Nichter in deep trouble late in the bout during the finals at Escape the Rock. A takedown and three nearfall in the closing seconds propelled Nichter to the 7-4 victory. This will be a must see round of 16 matchup. No matter who comes out of the top quarter I like Nijenhuis to make his first final.

Prediction:

Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna Township) over Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan)

2018 Placewinners:

1. Trent Hidlay, 12th, Mifflin County

2. Luke Nichter, 10th, Chambersburg

3. Cade Wilson, 12th, Nazareth

4. Jesse Quatse, 12th, Greensburg Salem

5. Scott Joll, 11th, Belle Vernon

6. Maximus Hale, 10th, Downingtown West

7. Ben Root, 12th, Solanco

8. Tyler Mousaw, 10th, Unionville

182 Pounds

Overview:

Carter Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep) is a returning champion, undefeated, and ranked #2 in the country. Luke Stout (Mount Lebanon) has just one loss on the season and is ranked #9 in the country. This looks to be the matchup we will get to witness Saturday night. We already saw round one at Powerade and it was Starocci taking a 7-3 decision with a takedown in each period.

Top Bracket:

Starocci is the top seed and his biggest challenge looks like it could be in the quarterfinals. Scott Joll (Bell Vernon) is a returning fifth place finisher and drew into the top quarter with Starocci after his runner-up finish to Stout in the Southwest Region. Starocci is too advanced with his footwork and snaps to think he will be defeated at the high school level in Pennsylvania right now.

Bottom Bracket:

Like the top side with Starocci, I really like Stout in the bottom half. His biggest challenge could come in the quarters as well, with Chase Mielnik (Downingtown West). I think Stout will prevail in the bottom half.

Prediction:

Carter Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Luke Stout (Mount Lebanon)

2018 Placewinners:

1. Josh Stillings, 12th, Pennridge

2. Tim Wallace, 12th, Albert Gallatin

3. Max Shaw, 11th, Thomas Jefferson

4. Christian Sequete, 12th, Butler

5. Donovan Ball, 11th, Cedar Cliff

6. Josh Krieger, 12th, Shikellamy

7. Brendan Shaffer, 12th, Lower Dauphin

8. Mason McCready, 11th, Hollidaysburg

195 Pounds

Overview:

!95 pounds has a lot of similarities to 182 pounds. There seems to be a clear cut final of top ten ranked wrestlers that are the top two seeds. Cole Urbas (State College) is a returning runner-up, undefeated, and ranked #4 in the country. Max Shaw is a returning third place finisher, undefeated, and ranked #9 in the country. It is hard to see anyway that this isn’t the final.

Top Bracket:

Jacob Miller (Boyertown) and Kyle Swartz (Northern York) are the fourth and fifth seeds coming in as regional champions. They should square off in the quarterfinals with a potential match with Urbas awaiting in the semifinals.

Bottom Bracket:

Donavon Ball (Cedar Cliff) is a returning medalist and will wrestle in the feature round of 16 match against one-loss Ethan Seely (Garnet Valley). The winner of that bout should challenge Shaw in the quarterfinals. Damen Moyer (Liberty) is the other regional champion in the half and should make a run to the semifinals. 

Prediction:

Cole Urbas (State College) over Max Shaw (Thomas Jefferson)

2018 Placewinners:

1. Luke McGonigal, 12th, Clearfield

2. Cole Urbas, 11th, State College

3. Jake Koser, 12th, Northern York

4. Elijah Jones, 12th, Boyertown

5. Dorian Crosby, 10th, Erie Cathedral Prep

6. Nate Ansell, 12th, Connellsville

7. Yusuf Aladinov, 12th, William Tennent

8. Mitchell Talbott, 12th, Central Dauphin

220 Pounds

Overview:

Top end talent is evenly distributed among the top and bottom brackets at 220 pounds. Hunter Catka (Sun Valley) is the returning state champion at 220 pounds and currently ranked #3 in the country. He has seen limited mat time this year and comes into the championships at 12-0. He is a heavy favorite to repeat.

Top Bracket:

Hunter Catka is the top seed and should see his toughest challenge in the quarterfinals from returning medalist Dorian Crosby (Erie Cathedral Prep). Crosby drew into the quarterfinal matchup after dropping a regional final to returning medalist Nate Schon (Selinsgrove).

Bottom Bracket:

Schon is the second seed and should advance to the semifinals. Waiting in the semifinals should be Shane Noonan (Hazleton Area). Noonan was 2-2 at last year’s championships, but comes into Hershey undefeated. His resume this year includes handing Schon his only defeat of the year. I like that rematch to determine the finalist across from Catka.

Prediction:

Hunter Catka (Sun Valley) over Shane Noonan (Hazleton Area)

2018 Placewinners:

1. Hunter Catka, 10th, Sun Valley

2. Parker McClellan, 12th, Altoona

3. Greg Bensley, 12th, Pocono Mountain West

4. Cole Forrester, 12th, Shippensburg

5. Ian Edenfield, 12th, Laurel Highlands

6. Denny Karas, 12th, Exeter

7. Jake Slinger, 11th, Upper St. Clair

8. Nate Schon, 9th, Selinsgrove

285 Pounds

Overview:

Three wrestlers head to Hershey with undefeated records. Two of those wrestlers met in the semifinals last year. Kuwaun DeBoe (Erie Cathedral Prep) decisioned Michael Wolfgram (Central York) 5-2 in the 2018 semifinals. Returning Jake Slinger (Upper St. Clair) is up from 220 pounds and has taken a liking to the 285 pound weight class as he is the third wrestler at the weight that enters undefeated. 

Top Bracket:

DeBoe finds himself reaping the benefit of last years win over Wolfgram placing him as the top seed. DeBoe should own his quarter and should await the winner of a premier round of 16 bout in the bottom quarter. Northeast Regional champion Sammi Khamis (Stroudsburg) will take on returning state qualifier Kyler Wuestner (Lower Dauphin) in the round of 16. I like the winner there to take on DeBoe in the semifinal.

Bottom Bracket:

Wolfgram and Slinger appear to be on course for a semifinal showdown. I like Wolfgram to take the bottom bracket and have a feeling he can turn the tide against DeBoe this year. Wolfgram on the bottom side and in the final.

Prediction:

Michael Wolfgram (Central York) over Kuwaun DeBoe (Erie Cathedral Prep)

2018 Placewinners:

1. Isaac Reid, 12th, Kiski

2. Kawaun DeBoe, 11th, Erie Cathedral Prep

3. Gerald Brown, 12th, West Mifflin

4. Michael Wolfgram, 11th, Central York

5. Garrett Zobel, 12th, LaSalle

6. Ryan Stewart, 12th, Warwick

7. Michael Leyland, 12th, Roman Catholic

8. Ryan Cody, 12th, North Penn