PIAA wrestling kicks off as part of Thursday’s 3 things to watch

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 | 9:18 PM

The top scholastic wrestlers in Pennsylvania have made their way to Hershey for the three-day PIAA wrestling championships at the Giant Center. Action begins on Thursday.

The Class 2A preliminaries and first-round bouts begin the day at 9 a.m. The Class 3A preliminaries and first round starts at 4 p.m.

Fifty-six WPIAL wrestlers will compete in the Class 3A bracket while 40 will fight for state gold in Class 2A. One of those wrestlers who will garner a lot of attention is Jefferson-Morgan senior Gavin Teasdale. Three weeks after winning his fourth WPIAL wrestling crown, he will attempt to become the 13th four-time champ in the PIAA.

Sam Hillegas could eventually join that club. The North Hills sophomore is trying to win his second state championship in Class 3A.

Coverage of all three days from Hershey begins at 9 a.m. and can be heard on the TribLive High School Sports Network.

Class 3A and 2A frozen quarters

The Class 3A and 2A Final Four in PIHL hockey will be set after three more quarterfinal games Thursday.

In 3A, Mt. Lebanon (8-10) heads north to Erie to clash with Cathedral Prep (12-6) at the Mercyhurst Ice Arena. The Blue Devils swept the season series, beating the Ramblers in Erie, 5-4, in overtime in November and then winning at home in January, 8-1.

There are two games in Class 2A on Thursday. Last year's Class A champ Franklin Regional (12-8) takes on Armstrong (16-3) at the Belmont Ice Complex in Kittanning, and Hampton (9-10) battles Upper St. Clair (11-8) at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon. Both games can be heard on the TribLive High School Sports Network. The Panthers fell to the River Hawks, 4-3, in their regular-season meeting. The Talbots cruised to a 6-3 win over USC in the only meeting this season.

PIHL Class A quarterfinals

All four Class A quarterfinals will take place Thursday as the top four seeds hit the ice for the first time in the postseason while their opponents already have a playoff win under their belts.

No. 1 Bishop McCort hosts Sewickley Academy, No. 2 Meadville welcomes Westmont-Hilltop, No. 3 Thomas Jefferson faces South Fayette and No. 4 West Allegheny takes on Indiana.

The four visitors won close games to reach Round 2 earlier this week. Sewickley Academy won a shootout over Fox Chapel, 6-4; Westmont-Hilltop needed overtime to edge South Park, 4-3; South Fayette was tied with Chartiers Valley late in the game when three goals in the final four minutes gave them a 6-3 triumph; and Indiana bested Kiski Area, 5-4.

Don Rebel is a TribLive High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Armstrong, Franklin Regional, Hampton, Indiana, Jefferson-Morgan, Mt. lebanon, North Hills, Sewickley Academy, Thomas Jefferson, Upper St. Clair, West Allegheny