I've been feeling a little under the weather the past few days and haven't been able to do much at all here. But I'm getting recharged for another big wrestling weekend as the PIAA team tournaments are on deck for the Giant Center in Hershey on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
With Monday's wrestling in the books, the 16 teams that will comprise the Hershey portion of the Class AA bracket are set. In the latest Off the Mat rankings, 14 of them are ranked in the top 16. The only exceptions are #11 Biglerville, who was the odd team out in a tough District 3 this season that includes last year's finalist Boiling Springs and perennial power Bermudian Springs. The other is District 9 runner-up Brookville, which was ranked #15 but lost to #14 Saegertown in a play-in match. Brookville beat Saegertown, 32-29, in a dual earlier this season. Last night, Saegertown, District 10's third place unit, returned the favor by prevailing 33-29, a key win coming at 138 as Matt Humes upset Daulton Zimmerman in overtime. Brookville's Zimmerman came in ranked seventh in the state at the weight.
In the other play-in's, Bermudian Springs beat Mount Union, Saucon Valley defeated Hughesville, and Fort LeBoeuf won over Chartiers-Houston. In the Saucon Valley victory, its 152-pounder Travis Buddock scored a 14-5 major decision over Hughesville's Kyle Barnes, a state finalist last year.
The two teams in the field that are not ranked in the top 16 are District 1 champion Lower Moreland and District 2 champion Western Wayne. Off the Mat has neither ranked, while Western Wayne is listed 19th by PA Power Wrestling.
District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge will wrestle the District 4 second place team, Benton. Ridge is ranked second by Off the Mat and eighth by PA Power. Benton is 16th in the latest edition of both polls. While I like Chestnut Ridge here based on balance and depth (see my breakdown below), the Tigers have some very notable names. Aside from some video clips, I haven't seen Zain Retherford wrestle since the individual state tournament two years ago. Retherford was ineligible last season after transferring from nearby Line Mountain. He is not only ranked first in the state, he's first in the country at 138 pounds. Retherford is a Penn State recruit. Also of note, Benton has state placewinners Matt Welliver (120), Colt Cotten (145) and Jeric Kasunic (160) in its lineup.
Here's my take on Thursday's opener for Chestnut Ridge. To view Eric Knopsnyder's at Knop's Knotes, go here.
(5-1) Chestnut Ridge vs. (4-2) Benton
(Chestnut Ridge wrestlers listed first)
106 - Aaron Burkett (Fr., 21-5) vs. Alan Diltz (Fr., 11-13)
113 - Sam Shank (Jr., 19-10) vs. No entry
120 - Derrick Claar (So., 26-6) vs. Matt Welliver (Sr., 24-8)
126 - Trent Crouse (So., 26-4) vs. Ronald Flick (Fr., 11-13)
132 - Colby Hillegass (So., 18-11) vs. Joe Smith (So., 0-6)
138 - Jerimiah Zimmerman (Sr., 11-7) or Dustin Bence (Sr., 9-9) vs. Zain Retherford (Sr., 31-0)
145 - Zimmerman or Bence vs. Colt Cotten (Sr., 28-5) or Russ Ramsey (Jr., 7-3)
152 - Kyle Winegardner (Jr., 18-12) vs. Dominic Vitale (So., 16-7)
160 - Conner Buttry (Fr., 14-10) or Teddy Albright (Sr., 3-2) vs. Jeric Kasunic (Jr., 22-6) or Brandon Lontz (Sr. 13-2)
170 - Bradie Bollman (Sr., 23-4) vs. Brad Miccio (Jr., 12-10)
182 - Tyler Dibert (Sr., 26-3) vs. Logan Womelsdorf (So., 18-10)
195 - Dan Albright (Sr., 25-2) or Brad Winegardner (Sr., 25-3) vs. Luke Bogart (Sr., 5-15)
220 - Albright or Winegardner vs. Marcus Welliver (So., 6-10)
285 - Austin Buttry (Jr., 27-1) vs. Anthony Davis (Sr., 2-0)
Analysis: Chestnut Ridge is favored at 106, 126, 132, plus the likely forfeit down low. The Lions also have a decided edge at 195, 220, and 285. I expect the locals to get some bonus points in at least a few of these bouts. Benton did go to the Ironman and Powerade Tournaments this year, so records can be a bit deceiving. That said, the Tigers don't have the flexibility and depth in their lineup that the Lions do. Sources are telling me that Chestnut Ridge could have a little different look at weigh-ins with Kyle Winegardner at 145, Conner Buttry at 152, and Bradie Bollman at 160. That shouldn't mean much in this one, as I think Ridge has too much power, but it could play a factor in the rest of the tournament as matchups dictate.
Prediction: Chestnut Ridge, 44-26.
Other predicted first round winners:
Bermudian Springs over Burrell
Redbank Valley over Western Wayne
Bethlehem Catholic over Lower Moreland
Fort LeBoeuf over Central Columbia
Reynolds over Saucon Valley
West Branch over South Fayette
Boiling Springs over Saegertown
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