These PIAA Quarterfinals Are Going To Be Great
These PIAA Quarterfinals Are Going To Be Great
The matches we're looking forward to most on Friday morning!
A lot happened on day one at the Pennsylvania state tournament. You can get caught up with some of the best round one matches HERE. Now, we’re moving on to day two and the quarterfinals.
Below are the quarterfinals you cannot miss, broken down by class.
AA
106 #1 Louie Gill vs #3 Ayden Smith
Potentially the toughest match of the tournament for Louie Gill, the #3 ranked wrestler in the country. Gill narrowly escaped Ayden Smith earlier this season in the Powerade finals with two late period takedowns.
Watch Louie Gill and Ayden Smith’s Powerade final below.
113 #6 Deven Jackson vs #5 Landon Bainey
One of the best stories of the weekend is Deven Jackson. The West Perry senior, who lost the lower part of his legs when he was young, is trying to get back on the podium after taking 4th as a sophomore. He’ll have returning sixth-place finisher Landon Bainey of West Branch. Currently ranked #5 and #6, this is a toss up match.
120 #1 Jaden Pepe vs #4 Cooper Hornack
Two returning finalists in the quarterfinals! Returning champ Jaden Pepe is going to have an easy time going back-to-back with #4 Cooper Hornack. Hornack has taken some losses this year, but is still capable of returning to the finals if he’s wrestling his best. Winner should get #3 Coen Bainey
145: #4 Evan Maag vs #6 Ty Watson
After placing fifth at the 2020 PIAA state tournament, Evan Maag failed to qualify for the state tournament last season. The George Mason commit is looking to get himself back on the podium in his final season for Notre Dame Green-Pond. In his way, however, is a stud sophomore in Ty Watson. Watson is 37-0 this season with 28 pins! Expect there to be fireworks in this match and don’t be surprised if it ends in a fall.
172: #1 Rune Lawrence vs #4 Nolan Lear
Lawrence won a state title last year as a freshman. Lear is a savvy senior with two state medals of his own. These two met in the consolation quarterfinals of Powerade in which Lawrence was able to come away with the quick fall. Lear has bounced back and has only lost two matches since the Powerade, both coming at the hands of Garrett Garcia the last two weekends. With that in mind, expect this one to look a lot different.
285 #1 Riley Robell vs #3 Emmanuel Ulrich
These two met in the semi finals of last year’s state tournament, in which Robell was able to pick up a second period fall on his way to a runner-up finish while Ulrich finished fifth. Robell and Ulrich also met last spring in the NHSCA Sophomore division finals, where Robell came out on top of that one in a very tight 1-0 bout. You better believe Ulrich will look to flip the switch on those results to get himself in the semifinals.
AAA
120: #1 Mason Leiphart vs #3 Troy Hohman
Both of these senior studs are trying to end their careers atop the podium, something they have yet to do. Despite being the higher seed and ranked higher in the state rankings, Troy Hohman’s national level success has him up at #13 in the national rankings. This quarter is huge as the winner will be favored in the semifinal.
126: #3 Karl Shindledecker vs #8 Maddox Shaw
Similar to Hohman at 120, Maddox Shaw is lower than Karl Shindledecker in the state rankings, but higher in the national rankings. Shaw is having a great freshman year. He spent most of the season up at 132 before dropping down for the post season. A returning finalist, Shindledecker is the real deal. His only loss this year is to Michael Pizzuto, who is from out of state.
132: #1 Mac Church vs #4 Braden Bower
Mac Church has been dominant all season long after winning a state title last year at 120 pounds. Braden Bower, a Bucknell commit, is still looking to earn his first state medal in Hershey in his senior season. These two were #1 and #2 at 132 pounds for the majority of the year before Bower dropped his Northwest Region final to Luke Simcox last week. These two hit in the Powerade quarter finals where Church was able to come away with the 13-5 major decision. Expect this one to be a lot more competitive with Bower in his last state tournament.
#6 Collin Gaj vs. #5 Kollin Rath
Two stud freshmen will take each other on in this one with a spot in the PIAA state semifinals on the line. What these two lack in high school experience, they make up for in wrestling ability. Expect these guys to not let the lights affect them and let it fly.
145: #2 Finn Solomon vs #4 Riley Bower
Finn Solomon got himself back to #2 in the state at 145 pounds after avenging a loss to Ty Watters last weekend in the Southwest Region final. Solomon is on a mission to win his second straight state title this weekend, but not if Braden Bower has anything to say about it. Bower was a sixth place state medalist last season and will be joining his brother next year at Bucknell. This one could be decided by mat wrestling.
160: #1 Jared Keslar vs #3 Matt Colajezzi
Two returning fourth place finishers here, Jared Keslar at 152 and Matt Colajezzi at 160. Keslar is going to be a slight favorite. AFter taking a couple losses in the first half of the year, Keslar has looked stellar since the New Year. A senior going to Navy, Colajezzi is capable of big wins, and this one could be the biggest of his career.