PIAA Class AAA Individual Wrestling Championship Results and Recaps

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, March 10, 2013 | 12:19 AM

After two days of the AAA PIAA tournament, the WPIAL was on fire. They had 23 wrestlers in the semi-finals and 31 of 42 wrestlers guaranteed to bring home a medal from Hershey.

The semi-finals Saturday morning did not go as well compared to the first two days of action, with only 10 of 23 WPIAL wrestlers advancing to the finals. But the WPIAL did set themselves up for an impressive night.

Of the 10 wrestlers in the finals, six would be wrestling head to head at 120, 126, and 195. At 120 pounds, sophomore Sam Krivus of Hempfield beat junior Dalton Macri of Canon McMillan 3-1 in a match that did not take place at Norwin last week. It was the first PIAA Championship for Krivus, who finished 3rd last year as a freshman.

The other two WPIAL head to head bouts were rematches of last weeks AAA WPIAL Championships. At 126 pounds, senior Connor Schram of Canon McMillan defeated sophomore Michael Kemerer of Franklin Regional for the second week in a row, this time by the score of 5-3. Schram, a Stanford recruit and 4 time PIAA finalist, won his second PIAA title (Schram last won a state championship as a freshman at 103 pounds). Meanwhile Kemerer, a sophomore, finished in second place for yet another year after finishing as a runner-up at 106 pounds last season.

The other rematch was at 195 pounds, where senior Jake Hart of Hampton once again knocked off Penn State recruit Matt McCutcheon. Hart, an Edinboro recruit, beat McCutcheon, who is a senior, in overtime 3-1 a week ago. In the rematch, Hart and McCutcheon once again kept the match close, tied 1-1 in the 3rd period. But it was Hart who hit a pair of duck-unders, one drawing a fleeing the mat penalty, the other getting a takedown and a pair of back points to give Hart a 6-1 victory. After falling short a year ago, finishing as a runner up in the state finals to Perry Hills of Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Hart was able to find the top of the podium. McCutcheon meanwhile, a returning PIAA champion, fell just short of being a two time state champion.

The other four wrestlers in the state finals were all victorious to give the WPIAL a total of 7 WPIAL wrestlers to be PIAA Champions. The list includes freshman Luke Pletcher of Latrobe, who beat Connor Sheehan of Solanco 8-2 at 106 pounds. At 132 pounds, junior Tyler Smith of Franklin Regional rebounded after a tough loss in the WPIAL finals to senior Ethan Kenney of Connellsville last week to defeat Patrick Duggan of Cumberland Valley 5-3. At 145 pounds, junior Solomon Chishko of Canon McMillan, who was only wrestling in his 11th match all season after missing the entire regular season due to an elbow injury, remained undefeated thanks to an 8-0 major decision victory over Chris Vassar of Cedar Cliff in the finals. Chishko, who finished 3rd the last two years, got the monkey off his back in winning PIAA gold. Finally at 170 pounds, senior Cody Wiercioch of Canon McMillan capped an impressive high school career by beating Joe Gartland of Penncrest 7-2. Wiercioch, a Pitt recruit, ends his high school career as a 4 time PIAA finalist and 3 time PIAA Champion. He ends his high school career with an impressive record of 164-5.

Canon McMillan led the way with 5 medalists and 3 champions. The wrestlers who made it to the podium were junior Dalton Macri (2nd at 120), senior Connor Schram (1st at 126), junior Solomon Chishko (1st at 145), senior Cody Wiercioch (1st at 170), and senior Alex Campbell (8th at 220). Franklin Regional brought home 4 medalists, including sophomore Michael Kemerer (2nd at 126), junior Tyler Smith (1st at 132), sophomore Josh Maruca (5th at 138), and sophomore Josh Shields (3rd at 145).

North Hills and North Allegheny each brought home three PIAA medalists. For North Hills it was freshman Gage Curry (4th at 106), senior Tyler Walker (3rd at 126), and senior Drew Walker (7th at 132). For North Allegheny it was junior Dom Forys (5th at 113), junior Jesse Rodgers (4th at 138), and senior Alex DeCiantis (7th at 182).

Four more schools brought home a pair of PIAA medalists. That list includes: Kiski Area, who had senior Matt McCutcheon (2nd at 195) and junior Shane Kuhn (3rd at 285). Latrobe, who had freshman Luke Pletcher (1st at 106) and junior Zack Zavatsky (3rd at 160). Greensburg Salem, who had senior Tyler Reinhart (6th at 152) and senior Zach Voytek (4th at 160). Pittsburgh Central Catholic, who had sophomore Vincenzo Joseph (3rd at 120) and junior Zach DeLuca (3rd at 220).

In addition to the WPIAL doing well, the Pittsburgh City League also had a place winner in the PIAA tournament. Senior Brian Estep of Taylor Allderdice, who used to wrestler at Hampton, placed 5th at 145 pounds. Oddly enough it was Estep who beat his former teammate, senior Kevin Synan, in the second round of consolations 11-1 to guarantee his spot on the medal podium.

Canon McMillan cruised to a 3rd straight PIAA individual team title with 99 points. Central Dauphin, who Canon McMillan beat in the finals of the PIAA team championships, was second with 75 points. Franklin Regional finished third with 68.5 points.

Championships

106 Luke Pletcher, Latrobe dec. Connor Sheehan, Solanco, 8-2

113 Ethan Lizak, Parkland dec. Zack Fuentes, Norristown, 3-1

120 Sam Krivus, Hempfield dec. Dalton Macri, Canon McMillan, 3-1

126 Connor Schram, Canon-McMillan dec. Michael Kemerer, Franklin Regional, 5-3

132 Tyler Smith, Franklin Regional dec. Patrick Duggan, Cumberland Valley, 5-3

138 Joe Galasso, Father Judge dec. Tyson Dippery, Central Dauphin, 3-1 OT

145 Solomon Chishko, Canon-McMillan maj. dec. Chris Vassar, Cedar Cliff, 8-0

152 Garett Hammond, Chambersburg dec. TC Warner, Cumberland Valley, 8-5

160 Chance Marsteller, Kennard Dale maj. dec. Garrett Peppelman, Central Dauphin 17-5

170 Cody Wiercioch, Canon-McMillan dec. Joe Gartland, Penncrest, 7-2

182 Jacob Taylor, Bald Eagle dec. Brett Harner, Norristown 2-1 OT UTB

195 Jacob Hart, Hampton dec. Matt McCutcheon, Kiski Area, 6-1

220 Thomas Haines, Solanco dec. Jordan Wood, Boyertown, 7-2

285 Aaron Bradley, Nazareth fall Andrew Welton, Central Tech, 5:04

3rd Place

106 Tyrone Klump, Nazareth dec. Gage Curry, North Hills 3-1 OT TB

113 Scott Parker, Pennridge dec. Jake Gromacki, Cathedral Prep, 1-0

120 Vincenzo Joseph, Pittsburgh Central Catholic dec. Zach Valley, Northampton 5-4

126 Tyler Walker, North HIlls dec. Kyle Krasavage, Wyoming Valley West, 8-4

132 Ethan Kenney, Connellsville dec. Bryce Killian, Middletown, 3-1 OT TB

138 John Dutrow, Council Rock North dec. Jesse Rodgers, North Allegheny, 4-2

145 Josh Shields, Franklin Regional dec. Nolan Barger, Clearfield, 5-2

152 Raymond Nicosia, Poc. Mt. East dec. Heath Coles, Norwin, 3-0

160 Zack Zavatsky, Latrobe injury default Zach Voytek, Greensburg Salem 0:51

170 Tom Sleigh, DuBois dec. Colton Peppelman, Central Dauphin, 5-3

182 Tyler Greene, Easton dec. Marcus Johnson, Governor Mifflin, 8-5

195 Jan Johnson, Governor Mifflin dec. Landon Hanna, DuBois, 4-3

220 Michael Boykins, Coatesville dec. Tyler Callender, Council Rock North, 5-3

285 Shane Kuhn, Kiski Area dec. Brad Emerick, James Coughlin, 3-0

5th Place

106 Dylan Chatterton, Central York dec. Zach Elvin, Central Dauphin, 2-1

113 Dom Forys, North Allegheny fall A.C. Headlee, Waynesburg, 1:18

120 Ben Ross, Pennridge dec. Michael Marino, Garnet Vally, 3-1 OT TB

126 Rodney Sunday, Dallastown dec. Chase Zemenak, Nazareth, 9-4

132 Francesco Fabozzi, Central Bucks East dec. Robert Rizzolino, Easton, 7-2

138 Josh Maruca, Franklin Regional, dec. T.J. Brandt, Altoona, 12-7

145 Brian Estep, Taylor Allderdice dec. Adam Smith, Manheim Township, 8-4

152 Austin Rose, Central Dauphin maj. dec. Tyler Reinhart, Greensburg Salem, 10-0

160 Tyree Spearman, McDowell dec. Bobby Fehr, Northampton, 3-2

170 Jake Young, Freedom dec. Noah Wilps, Chartiers Valley, 11-5

182 Adam Nickelson, Belle Vernon maj. dec. Martin Strenk, Delaware Valley 12-2

195 PJ Steinmetz, Council Rock South dec. Jovon Reyes, Dieruff, 5-4

220 Evan Kauffman, Freedom dec. Zach DeLuca, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 7-5

285 Tom Devenney, Warwick dec. Tracey Green, Methacton, 2-0

7th Place

106 Michael Scheetz, Northampton dec. Edgar Garcia, Avon Grove, 3-1

113 Tanner Shoap, Chambersburg dec. Derek Gulotta, Owen J. Roberts, 1-0

120 Ronnie Perry, Solanco dec. Joey Fick, Oley Valley, 5-2

126 Dustin Rook, Big Spring fall Colby Frank, Owen J. Roberts, 3:19

132 Drew Walker, North Hills maj. dec. Jalen Palmer, Delaware Valley, 10-0

138 Chad Wickard, Big Spring dec. Josh Ortman, Parkland, 3-2

145 Mason Bentzel, Spring Grove dec. Matt Hammerstone, Crestwood, 3-2

152 Brendan Burnham, Pine Richland forfeit Dan Krysiak, Cathedral Prep

160 Justin Staudenmayer, Plymouth Whitemarsh dec. Ossie Bowers, General McLane, 2-1

170 Dominic Rigous, Central Bucks South dec. Nicolino Sevi, Nazareth, 7-2

182 Alex DeCiantis, North Allegheny dec. Gordon Bolig, Owen J. Roberts, 3-2

195 Tommy Rayhart, Big Spring dec. Alex Cooley, Eastern York, 7-6

220 Nathan Sharkey, Bald Eagle forfeit Alex Campbell, Canon McMillan

285 Cary Hess, Shippensburg dec. Austin Rosenberry, Altoona, 2-1