5 WPIAL wrestlers advance to the PIAA Class AAA finals in upper weights
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Saturday, March 13, 2021 | 3:44 PM
Hampton’s Justin Hart celebrates his win over Bellefonte Area’s Ethan Rossman in the 189-pound class AAA semifinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Greensburg Salem’s Billy McChesney paces outside the mat before competing in the heavyweight class AAA semifinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Pine-Richland’s Cole Spencer wrestles Spring-Ford’s Jack McGill in 160-pound class AAA semifinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Kiski Area’s Sammy Starr gets up after losing against Mifflin County’s Trey Kibe in the 172-pound class AAA semifinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Greensburg Salem’s Billy McChesney is brought down by opponent Nate Schon of Selinsgrove in the heavyweight class AAA semifinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Hempfield’s Isaiah Vance rests after losing in the heavyweight class AAA semifinal against Sean Kinney of Nazareth during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Kiski Area’s Sammy Starr clashes on the mat with Sonny Sasso of Nazareth in the 172-pound class AAA quarterfinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Hempfield’s Isaiah Vance takes on Upper Darby’s Julien Laventure in the heavyweight class AAA quarterfinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Norwin’s John Altieri is seen through the legs of another wrestler as he controls opponent William Morrow of North Penn in the 145-pound class AAA quarterfinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Norwin’s Chase Kranitz wrestles Northampton’s Jagger Condomitti in the 160-pound class AAA quarterfinal during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Hempfield’s Ty Linsenbigler removes his gear after being defeated in the 145-pound class AAA quarterfinal by W.C Henderson’s Sam McMonagle during PIAA wrestling championships on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
HERSHEY — The finals are set in the upper weights at the PIAA Class AAA wrestling championships Saturday at the Giant Center, and the WPIAL will be represented in four of the seven weight classes.
There will be all-WPIAL finals at 145 and 152 pounds.
Waynesburg had three more wrestlers advance to the finals, giving them five for the day. The Raiders have already wrapped up the PIAA team title.
Moving on were Wyatt Henson (145 pounds), Rocco Welsh (152) and Luca Augustine (172). They join Mac Church (120) and Cole Homet (138) from the lower weights.
Henson used an unbelievable comeback in the quarterfinals to move on. He trailed Northampton’s Dagen Condomitti 7-1 in the second period and rallied for an 11-9 win in overtime.
Henson will face Norwin senior John Altieri in the finals at 145. Altieri rallied for wins in both of his matches. He was the West Super Region champion when Henson slammed him and was disqualified at Altoona.
The other rematch in the upper weights is at 152 where two-time champion Alejandro Herrera-Rondon from Seneca Valley will face Welsh.
Hampton senior Justin Hart also advanced to the finals at 189 pounds.
Hempfield senior heavyweight Isaiah Vance, ranked No. 1 in the state, lost in the semifinals to Nazareth freshman Sean Kinney, 6-3. Greensburg Salem junior heavyweight Billy McChesney fell in the semifinals to Selinsgrove senior Nate Schon, 6-4.
Also losing in the semifinals were Connellsville junior Jared Keslar, who dropped an 8-6 overtime decision to Walsh; Pine-Richland senior Cole Spencer, who fell 5-2 to Jack McGill of Spring-Ford at 160; Kiski Area senior Sammy Starr who fell to Mifflin County’s Trey Kibe, 4-2, at 172; and Armstrong senior Logan Harmon, who lost 3-1 in overtime to Wilson (District 3) senior Josh Harkless at 215.
The finals will begin at 8 p.m.
Listen to the finals and consolation finals on the TribLive High School Sports Network.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
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