District 5 Duals Semifinal preview

   Here's my match breakdown for Saturday's semifinals, to be held at Chestnut Ridge at 11 a.m. The championship match will follow at 2 p.m. with the winner advancing to Hershey next week for the Class AA State Duals.

(1) Chestnut Ridge, 18-1 vs. (4) Berlin, 12-2
(Chestnut Ridge wrestlers listed first)
106 - Aaron Burkett (Fr., 20-4) vs. Emil Kiesnowski (Fr., 8-19)
113 - Sam Shank (Jr., 18-9) or Blake Dunlap (Fr., 8-2) vs. Tommy DeArmitt (Jr. 19-2)
120 - Derrick Claar (So., 26-4) vs. Joey Swank (Fr., 27-5)
126 - Trent Crouse (So., 24-4) vs. E.J. Custer (Jr., 22-8)
132 - Colby Hillegass (So., 18-10) vs. Chris Miller (Sr., 29-3)
138 - Jerimiah Zimmerman (Sr., 10-6) or Dustin Bence (Sr., 9-7) vs. Braden Fochtman (Fr., 24-8)
145 - Zimmerman or Bence vs. Eric Darr (Sr., 19-12)
152 - Kyle Winegardner (Jr., 18-10) vs. Blake Miller (Sr., 25-10)
160 - Conner Buttry (Fr., 14-8) or Teddy Albright (Sr., 3-2) vs. Bryce Fochtman (So., 28-2)
170 - Bradie Bollman (Sr., 21-4) vs. Trevor Moore (So., 13-15)
182 - Tyler Dibert (Sr., 24-3) vs. Shane Pepper (So., 14-15)
195 - Dan Albright (Sr., 23-2) or Brad Winegardner (Sr., 23-3) vs. Stew Trulick (Jr., 26-5) or Mitchell Walker (Sr., 21-7)
220 - D. Albright or B. Winegardner vs. Trulick or Walker
285 - Austin Buttry (Jr., 25-1) vs. Anthony Collins (Fr., 12-5)

Analysis: Chestnut Ridge defeated Berlin, 43-19, on January 17. If you were there, then you know that final score was not indicative of how close things were. Since then, the light and middle weights for Ridge have changed with Shank, Claar, Crouse, Hillegass, and Zimmerman all coming down a weight. Straight up in this one, I favor Chestnut Ridge at 106, 113, 126, 170, 182, and 285 with slight edges at 195 and 220. Those matchups up top could change as Walker was down at 195 in the quarterfinal win over North Star. Word is that Trulick will be back after missing some time with an injury. Berlin has the edge at 132, 138, and 160. Claar beat Swank in the consolations at the Thomas Subaru Tournament last weekend, but I'll call 120 a tossup along with 145 and 152. The teams split 145 and 152 last time.

Prediction: Chestnut Ridge, 41-25.

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(2) Bedford, 15-2 vs. (6) Northern Bedford, 10-5
(Bedford wrestlers listed first)
106 - Jonathan Gabriel (Fr., 25-1) vs. Trey Childers (So., 11-12)
113 - Jake Warren (Jr., 18-9) vs. Brandon Defibaugh (Fr., 8-10)
120 - Ryan Easter (Jr., 25-1) vs. Jared Helsley (So., 12-12)
126 - Garrett Thomas (Jr., 24-2) vs. Judah Gochnour (So., 2-11)
132 - Kenny Collins (So., 10-11) or Kyle Swindell (Sr., 1-1) vs. Mason Replogle (Sr., 18-6)
138 - Toby Brett (Jr., 20-5) vs.  Damian Corle (Sr., 19-7)
145 - Ty Zimmerman (So., 2-7) vs. Drew Gartland (Sr., 23-0)
152 - Tanner Williams (Sr., 24-4) or Niklas Wendt (Sr., 1-4) vs. Ty Bechtel (So., 10-10)
160 - Caleb Grimes (Sr., 19-8) vs. Lucas Kolinchak (Fr., 5-7)
170 - Cameron Sheeder (So., 0-6) vs. Duelin Douglas (Sr., 9-7)
182 - Michael Brett (Sr., 18-7) or Robert Minnich (Sr., 1-2) vs. Justin Brunner (Sr., 15-9) or Jesse Claar (So., 6-5)
195 - Daryl Stiffler (Jr., 6-10) vs. Derick Eichelberger (Sr., 8-9)
220 - Chance Williams (Jr., 16-9) vs. Eric Grace (Sr., 19-4) or Chase Ott (So., 9-12)
285 - Nate Shoemaker (So., 11-9) vs. Grace or Ott

Analysis: Bedford won at Northern Bedford on January 12, 44-27. With Easter and Thomas down a weight since, Bedford is heavily favored in the first four. The Bisons would also have edges at 152, 160, 182, and 285 if Shoemaker vs. Ott, and a very slight edge at 138 based on Brett's earlier win over Corle. Give Northern the advantage at 132, 145, 170, and 220 if Grace goes there. I call 195 a tossup. The Black Panthers will have to have all of those plus at least one upset and still stay off their backs where they need to if this is going to be real close.

Prediction: Bedford, 43-24.