2019-20 Pennsylvania High School Rankings - AA

PIAA: AA P4P

The PIAA State Championships wrapped up three months ago. Unfortunately, it was one of the last events prior to the country shutting down. The bow never got wrapped on the 2019-20 season with the PIAA rankings. This final edition will lay the groundwork for the 2020-21 preseason rankings. In addition to a final ranking at each weight class a pound for pound ranking has been added to spur your debates. Rankings reflect the placement in Hershey with subjective rankings starting after the medalists.

Introducing the pound for pound at the end of the season is both good and bad. You have the most amount of data points possible, but you weren’t critiquing and adjusting every match throughout the season. 

#1 Gaige Garcia (Southern Columbia) came out on top as he ran off back-to-back undefeated seasons. He didn’t face the national schedule that Cerniglia, Crookham, or Stoltzfus did, but made the most of his opportunities. He defeated nationally ranked Nicholas Feldman (Malvern Prep) to take home the title from Escape the Rock, and pinned 220lb state champion Cameron Wood (Montoursville) at district duals.

#2 Andrew Cerniglia (Notre Dame) and #3 Ryan Crookham (Notre Dame) have very similar resumes and could post a strong argument to be at the top of the board. Cerniglia defeated #4 Thayne Lawrence (Frazier) in a wild final. He also defeated both AAA finalists at his weight handily during the season. His only loss came to Paddy Gallagher (St. Ed, OH) in the Ironman finals.

Crookham didn’t face anyone in state with the resume of Lawrence, but Levi Haines (Biglerville) has made two finals in two appearances in Hershey. Crookham’s only loss of the season came on a late reversal to Nic Bouzkis (Wyoming Seminary) in the Ironman finals. 

If you list any of the three at the top of your board I would load you up with ammunition to defend your pick. Garcia going unblemished the final two seasons of his career is what landed him at the top of our board. 

Resumes speak for themselves down through the board until you get to #13 Brett Ungar (Notre Dame). He finished third at 113lbs. I mentioned in the 113lb blurb that Ungar and Fischer could be debated round and round. Fischer’s losses were at 120lbs, and both lost to Steen in similar fashion. I gave the nod to Ungar here as he made the finals at Ironman and Beast of the East. He also took home the title from Escape the Rock. When you make the finals in three majors and then lose a razor thin semifinal to #6 Gary Steen (Reynolds), you deserve to make the pound for pound board. Keep in mind that Ungar also won the dual match at the Team Championships over Steen in February.

Please email any feedback to Brock Hite at hitebrock@gmail.com or DM @RankingsBrock on Twitter.