Remembering Dave Musselman, Carlton Haselrig

   Wrestling offseasons continue to seem just as busy as the seasons themselves, and 2020 is no different in that respect.

   However, this week was a sobering one locally, with the loss of both Dave Musselman and Carlton Haselrig.

   Musselman was a longtime official in District 5, while Haselrig is the only six-time NCAA champion in the sport's history.

   I got to know Musselman early in my time at the Bedford Gazette. Though I don't exactly recall the date, my first encounter with him was at his full-time work as the owner of Musselman's Barber Shop in downtown Bedford. 

   Of course, during the wrestling season, I would see him at numerous dual meets, the Thomas Tournament, and the postseason events. Most of our chats though took place with "Muss" cutting my hair inside his shop. 

   Often, a copy of that day's Gazette was sitting on one of the chairs, or he would be reading the sports section whenever I came in the door. We'd talk wrestling a lot as you might expect. If it was during the season and he was reading my story from an event, he would ask my opinion on certain individuals or teams, or if there was a controversial call or something that came up, he would ask about that. 

   We would also discuss other sports and deer hunting as well. Although I have never hunted, I was always glad to hear what Dave and his family were up to in search of a big buck. He would talk about his kids or grandkids going out, too. I could tell that he was a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

   Haselrig's story is well-known. He won a PIAA wrestling championship as a high school senior at Greater Johnstown before claiming his six national titles. He won three Division II crowns at UPJ which allowed him to compete in the Division I national tournament, where he won three of those as well. Current rules do not allow for lower-level champions to compete in the Division I bracket anymore.

   Despite not playing college football, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Haselrig and he developed into a starting guard and pro-bowler before alcohol and drug problems ended his career.

   I met Haselrig on one occasion, at a clinic at Claysburg-Kimmel High School over a decade ago. It was organized by current Martinsburg Central wrestling coach Dave Marko, who was at the helm of the Bulldogs at that time. 

   Haselrig went over some football drills with members of the high school and youth teams. Myself and a couple of other media members interviewed him afterwards, and one thing I'll remember is his warm personality and openness to discuss his off-the-field issues. 

   Musselman was 73 and is survived by his wife, five children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Haselrig was 54 and is survived by his wife and eight children among others. My condolences to both families.

Third time the charm as Cassidy claims state gold

   Kaden Cassidy had already put together one of the most dominating individual wrestling seasons in Bedford County history, but those accomplishments could have rung a little hollow if the Bedford senior couldn't stand at the top of the podium on Saturday afternoon.
   That wouldn't be a problem though, as Cassidy closed his high school career in style with a 10-6 decision over Saegertown's Kenny Kiser for the Class AA 138-pound state championship at the Giant Center in Hershey.
   After finishing third as a freshman and again as a junior, Cassidy finally reached the finals and didn't squander that opportunity. Leading 8-6 late, he fended off a headlock attempt by Kiser for a takedown himself that sealed the victory.
   "It feels amazing (to win a state title) right now," said Cassidy. "It hasn't really hit me yet, but I'm sure it will feel better later."
   Cassidy is the fourth Bedford wrestler to win a state championship, joining John Heacock (1945), Ron Hamilton (1964), and Jonathan Gabriel (2015). Overall in the county, he becomes the ninth different PIAA wrestling champion.
   With his semifinal round win on Friday night, he also became just the third wrestler from the county to collect three state tournament finishes of third place or better. The others are Heacock, who was a three-time finalist, and Northern Bedford legend Jan Clark, who was a three-time champion and four-time finalist in the 1970's. Ironically, Clark is currently an assistant coach at Bedford.
   Cassidy's title also gave the county another first, with different champions in consecutive years for the first time, following Jared McGill's triumph for Chestnut Ridge last March at 170.
   The historical accomplishments don't end there. Cassidy finished the season a perfect 38-0 and won 24 of them by technical fall, which is believed to be a new state record in Class AA. That includes technical falls in 18 of his first 21 bouts. He began the state tournament with two technical falls as well.
   In the postseason, he had four technical falls and three pins, with his closest decision being the championship win against Kiser. Other than that and a 3-2 victory at the Thomas Tournament over Freedom's Kenny Duschek, who placed third in the state at the weight, Cassidy didn't have any win by less than six points.
   The George Mason University bound Cassidy finished his career with a record of 106-7.
   "I came in here with all the confidence in the world and got it done," he said. "My coaches, Jan and (Bedford head coach) Joel (Easter) have done so much for me. It feels awesome to be a state champion in my senior season, especially with all the injuries I've battled before."

State wrestling champions from Bedford County
1945 - John Heacock, Bedford
1964 - Ron Hamilton, Bedford
1975 - Jan Clark, Northern Bedford
1976 - Jan Clark, Northern Bedford
1977 - Jan Clark, Northern Bedford
1983 - Paul Clark, Everett
2008 - Gary Pfahler, Chestnut Ridge
2015 - Jonathan Gabriel, Bedford
2017 - Justin McCoy, Chestnut Ridge
2019 - Jared McGill, Chestnut Ridge
2020 - Kaden Cassidy, Bedford

Kaden Cassidy, seen here in control of Freedom's Kenny Duschek at the Thomas Chevolet Tournament in January, became Bedford's fourth-ever state champion on Saturday.

Class AA State Tournament Preview, Picks

   The 2020 PIAA Class AA and Class AAA state tournaments begin on Thursday in Hershey. With official brackets released earlier today, here's my look at each of the 14 weights in Class AA. Reynolds and Saucon Valley have the most wrestlers in the field with nine each, while Chestnut Ridge and Southern Columbia are sending eight apiece.

106 Pounds - This to me seems like a very wide open bracket, where I could see five or six different wrestlers finding their way to the top of the podium. That includes Chestnut Ridge freshman Calan Bollman. I said in my last blog posting regarding the Lions team success again that Bollman is probably his school's next superstar, and he could certainly cement that status next weekend. Also in the top half of the draw with Bollman are Wyoming Area freshman Jaden Pepe and Notre Dame sophomore Evan Maag. Montoursville freshman Branden Wentzel and Brookville's Cayden Walter, a junior, are the regional champions on the bottom side of the bracket. Bollman owns a 7-3 win over Walter from earlier in the season.
   Darkhorse - Catasauqua's Jaryn Hartranft.
   Spring's Pick - Wentzel.

Chestnut Ridge's Calan Bollman, 106 pounds

113 - The top half of this bracket will draw a lot of attention up until and throughout the tournament, with a pair of state champions in Reynolds junior Gary Steen and Notre Dame junior Brett Ungar among the competitors. If both were defending champs from the same state, the PIAA would have separated the two from meeting until the finals. But this isn't the case either way, as Steen won his title two years ago while Ungar was a New Jersey champion last winter before transferring across the river. They have met twice this season. Steen won 6-4 at the Ironman Tournament in December, and Ungar scored a 3-1 overtime win at the state duals. Other notables here include Chestnut Ridge junior Kai Burkett, Muncy freshman Scott Johnson, South Park junior Joey Fischer, and Athens sophomore Gavin Bradley.
   Darkhorse - Johnson.
   Spring's Pick - Steen.

120 - Troy senior Sheldon Seymour is a defending state champion and the favorite from at least the top half of this bracket. His lone loss is to Benton junior Gable Strickland, 8-5 last week. Strickland is in the bottom half with a wealth of other talent that includes Elizabeth Forward senior Ryan Michaels, Southern Columbia sophomore Kole Biscoe, and Notre Dame sophomore Brandon Chletsos.
   Darkhorse - Bishop McDevitt's Nate Smith.
   Spring's Pick - Seymour.

126 - A pair of defending champions highlight 126 pounds. Notre Dame sophomore Ryan Crookham won at 120 last year, while Forest Hills sophomore Jackson Arrington was the 113 champ. The other two regional champions are Tunkhannock senior Dave Evans and Harbor Creek sophomore Connor Pierce, who are a combined 82-3 this season.
   Darkhorse - Biglerville's Levi Haines.
   Spring's Pick - Crookham.

132 - Glendale's Brock McMillen became his school's first ever state champion last March and now the junior will look to repeat. The bottom of the draw features Burrell junior Ian Oswalt, Brockway senior Anthony Glasl, and East Pennsboro senior Adam Jacob. McMillen beat Oswalt 3-1 in overtime for the Southwest Regional title.
   Darkhorse - Reynolds' Kaeden Berger.
   Spring's Pick - Oswalt.

138 - Bedford senior Kaden Cassidy is hoping the third time is the charm to put a cap on a strong high school career. Cassidy is in his third state tournament and has finished third in each of his previous appearances, having lost in the semifinals both times. This year's path could have the Bison standout looking to exact some revenge on the Jones family from Saucon Valley, as the semifinal on top here looks like Cassidy vs. freshman Jacob Jones. Last year, Josh Jones beat Cassidy on his way to the title at 132. The elder Jones is now at George Mason, where Cassidy will become his teammate next season. The bottom half of 138 is a minefield of talent, with Saegertown senior Kenny Kiser, Trinity senior Patrick DeMark, Southern Columbia junior Patrick Edmonson, and St. Joseph's junior Zack Witmer among the main players.
   Darkhorse - Notre Dame's Holden Garcia. I'll make a note here because this is one weight where I think a regional fifth-placer could be a title contender. Garcia had a stellar grade school career in New Jersey (I went to elementary school and high school with his dad) before joining Notre Dame's squad as a freshman this year. He's 1-2 against Jones this season, but he beat him 5-0 for the District 11 title two weekends ago.
   Spring's Pick - Cassidy.

145 - There's two unbeaten wrestlers, Sullivan County junior Nate Higley and Redbank Valley senior Ethan Wiant, in this weight but I'm not sure either would be the favorite. That distinction likely lies with others such as Bald Eagle Area senior Gage McClenahan, Forest Hills sophomore Erik Gibson, and Saucon Valley senior Thomas Spirk. Also not to be discounted is Berlin senior Tristan Pugh, and I think a Pugh-Gibson semifinal is possible on the bottom side of the draw. Gibson and McClenahan have split their matchups in the district and regional finals recently.M
   Darkhorse - Midd-West's Avery Bassett.
   Spring's Pick - Gibson.

152 - St. Joseph's senior Caleb Dowling has finished no worse than fourth at any of his three state tournaments but is still seeking his first title. Other likely contenders here are Palisades junior Ben Haubert, Burrell junior A.J. Corrado, and Southern Columbia freshman Wes Barnes.
   Darkhorse - Bishop McDevitt's Tyler Martin.
   Spring's Pick - Dowling.

160 - Like 126, there are two returning champions in the fold at 160 pounds with Frazier senior Thayne Lawrence and Notre Dame senior Andrew Cerniglia. Lawrence is a two-time champion but maybe doesn't get as much talk as that would suggest around the state, for whatever reason. Bottom line to me is he's not flashy but gets the job done. Cerniglia is also well-regarded. Both are Division I recruits, Lawrence to Lehigh and Cerniglia at the Naval Academy.
   Darkhorse - Benton's Nolan Lear.
   Spring's Pick - Cerniglia.

170 - This is a sneaky good weight with three wrestlers (St. Joseph's Tyler Stoltzfus, Freedom's Trent Schulteis, and Saucon Valley's Matt Arciuolo) all in the national rankings by at least one publication. Stoltzfus beat Schulteis in overtime for the Southwest Regional title last week.
   Darkhorse - Montoursville's Cael Crebs.
   Spring's Pick - Stoltzfus.

182 - In my opinion, this bracket will come down to the four regional champions. Ellwood City senior Austin Walley, Reynolds senior Bryce McCloskey, Saucon Valley senior Dane Csencsits, and Montoursville junior Dylan Bennett are those talked about.
   Darkhorse - Kane's Cameron Whisner.
   Spring's Pick - Walley.

195 - If you're selecting confidence picks this week, as in who's most likely to win a certain weight, Southern Columbia senior Gaige Garcia almost has to be that pick in my eyes. Garcia has pinned his way through the postseason so far, and I wouldn't be surprised if he adds four more on his way to a repeat title in Hershey.
   Darkhorse - Brockway's Eric Johnson.
   Spring's Pick - Garcia.

220 - This is a strong weight with a number of options for the title. Chestnut Ridge senior Duane Knisely is one of them after beating Mount Union's Jake Ryan and Glendale's Cory Johnston back to back for the Southwest Regional crown. Also in the conversation should be Montoursville's Cameron Wood, Brookville's Nathan Taylor, and Wilson's Kolby Flank. Ryan, Johnston, Wood, and Taylor are all in the top half, with Knisely and Flank a potential semifinal meeting on the bottom.
   Darkhorse - Eisenhower's Cael Black.
   Spring's Pick - Ryan.

285 - Brookville senior Colby Whitehill is a defending champion and the favorite, but there are some other top contenders for the big boys. They include Meyersdale junior Jalen Stephens, Southern Columbia senior Lear Quinton, Saucon Valley senior Nick Warnke, Reynolds junior Guy Rocco John-Daniello, and Tamaqua senior Bronson Strouse.
   Darkhorse - Laurel's Mitch Miles.
   Spring's Pick - Whitehill.

Lions continue to thrive on statewide stage

   A bunch of smiles stood out as Chestnut Ridge once again posed for team pictures following Saturday's conclusion of the PIAA state dual meet championships.
   That's become the norm with the Lions, who found themselves with another round of medals and a team trophy before they departed Hershey's Giant Center.
   Chestnut Ridge finished third in Class AA for the third straight season, and earned its fifth medal overall from the team tournament. The Lions have the three third places along with a runner-up finish in 2015 and a fourth-place effort in 2013.
   In eight short years, Chestnut Ridge has transformed itself from one of the stronger programs in the region to among the top two or three on the state's small school level. Only Reynolds, which won its fourth consecutive championship and has medaled in each of the past eight years, has more hardware than the Lions over this time period.
   Certainly, there are a number of factors for it that have been well-chronicled before.
   A really strong feeder program, a top-notch coaching staff, and a brutal regular season schedule are just a few of them.
   But some teams just know how to compete on the big stages, and Chestnut Ridge is one of them. The Lions have found themselves in several big situations in Hershey over the years, and have delivered on more occasions than not.
   That's why there's five team trophies sitting in the school right now, and that's why the top teams know when the Lions are standing on the other side of the mat, it's likely going to be a heavyweight fight for every team point available.
   It's no secret that success breeds success, and that rings true at Chestnut Ridge, where the wrestling bloodlines often run deeper than the family bloodlines.
   I spoke to Calan Bollman after he won the 106-pound title at the Thomas Chevrolet Tournament at Bedford two weeks ago. I asked the talented freshman what he may have learned or seen from previous wrestlers at Chestnut Ridge.
   Here was his response: "My (assistant) coach right there (was standing nearby), Tyler Dibert, the Buttry boys (Austin and Conner), they have all helped me. And even Jared (McGill) and Justin (McCoy). I remember watching all of them when I was like six or seven years old, and we would go to tournaments on the weekends. They've just helped a lot with the program and they're giving back to it now."
   In that answer, Bollman rattled off a who's who of some of Chestnut Ridge's most decorated wrestlers in its history. Among other things, all that group did was win 12 state medals collectively, including state titles for McCoy (2017) and McGill (2019).
   Like many of them, Bollman came to the varsity ranks highly decorated and expected to do big things. And whatever he may have picked up in the past, he's putting to good use with a 30-3 record to date as perhaps the next superstar for the Lions.
   That’s just one example of current wrestlers taking a page from those before them. It’s not exclusive to Chestnut Ridge at all, but in this day, the Lion program is taking full advantage of it.
   That said, in a team concept, you need everyone to contribute. And Chestnut Ridge gets that too, whether it's an upset win or just staying away from getting pinned or surrendering major bonus points.
   Just this weekend, look at Duane Knisely moving up to heavyweight twice and beating a pair of really good kids (Southern Columbia's Lear Quinton and Saucon Valley's Nick Warnke). Or how about Luke Moore's win over Saucon's Thomas Spirk, who was a state medalist last year.
   Those are the kind of things that have to happen to do what Chestnut Ridge is doing.
   That's what Reynolds does, and if you want to be where the Raiders are, that's what you do.
   Honestly, if I had to bet money this past weekend, I would have said I thought this was Southern Columbia's year. But yet again, Reynolds is Reynolds as I've heard so many say in the confines of the Giant Center.
   As for the near future, Reynolds will be of course there, Southern Columbia will have a strong group back, Saucon Valley is a mainstay in the medal hunt, Notre Dame wants what it doesn't have yet, and Forest Hills is coming on fast with a young group of high talent already with more on the way.
   But don't forget about Chestnut Ridge. Yes, I'd bet on that too.
 
 
 
 
 

Northern Bedford girls program continues to grow

 

Jared Mellott, left, discusses a drill during Monday's girls wrestling practice at Northern Bedford.

   The back of one shirt at a recent girls wrestling practice at Northern Bedford County High School read "Don't be fooled by the ponytail."

   These days, there's no fooling around about one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Girls wrestling continues to fly high, and it's thriving locally at Northern Bedford.

   According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) website, there were well over 16,000 girls wrestling in American high schools in 2018, compared to about only 800 in 1994.

   Girls from across Bedford County and even as far away as West Virginia have attended practices this season at Northern Bedford. 

   This isn't the first year for the program, as it was started a few years ago by the Fouse family. Currently, it is run by former Northern Bedford standout Jared Mellott, who won 101 bouts and was a two-time regional qualifier. One of his main assistants is Shane Suter, who was a district champion with the Black Panthers. Both Mellott and Suter have daughters that are wrestling in the program.

   The girls practice during the week and will also compete in tournaments. This past weekend, they took part in the Christmas Tree Capital Round Robin at IUP's Kovalchick Center, where eight girls finished fourth or higher in their respective weight classes. 

   There were over 25 girls at practice on Monday night, and local wrestling fans can expect more and more female names to show up in box scores alongside their boys counterparts. 

             Girls work on wrestling drills during their practice at Northern Bedford earlier this week.

   One of the products of Northern Bedford's program, Jordyn Fouse, is a starter on the Panthers' junior high team. She won on Tuesday by riding out her opponent in the ultimate tiebreaker, and received as much of an ovation in the Northern Bedford gym as some of the varsity wrestlers did for their efforts later on in the night.

   Fouse also finished fifth against the boys at 101 pounds in Saturday's Bearcat Classic.

   Around the nation in recent years, a number of states have sanctioned an official high school state championship event in girls wrestling. Pennsylvania, long regarded as one of the top states for boys wrestling, does not have an official girls state championship as of yet. 

   But the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), which presides over state championships in all sports, continues to face mounting pressure from the outside to join with bordering states Maryland, New Jersey, and more than a dozen others around the country in holding an official state event for the female contingent.

   While that is the eventual hope, opportunities elsewhere for girls who wrestle are becoming more available. Over 60 colleges sponsor varsity women's programs, while women's wrestling became a recognized Olympic sport in 2004.

   Another local opportunity recently opened as well, with Chestnut Ridge varsity coach Josh Deputy teaming with Young Guns leader Jody Strittmatter to form the The Orchard Girls Wrestling Club. Practices for that club will be based out of Deputy's The Compound Ridge near his home in New Paris.

   

   

 

2019-20 Season Preview

   Yes, another wrestling season is upon us.
   A few dual meets and tournaments dot the calendar for this Friday and Saturday, while the new year gets underway for everyone by sometime next week.
   I wrote season previews for the six teams in the Bedford Gazette's coverage area, which releases its overall winter issue for Friday's edition.
   The Altoona Mirror's "Winter Heat" came out today, and there are capsule previews of all of its area squads in those pages.
   Aside from that, here's what I'm looking at as the first whistle gets closer.

The Big Three
   While there is plenty of returning talent across Bedford County, there are three state placewinners from March back on the local mats — Bedford's Kaden Cassidy, and Chestnut Ridge teammates Kai Burkett and Nate Holderbaum.
   Cassidy is a two-time medalist in Hershey, taking third in both his freshman and junior years. The George Mason recruit would enjoy nothing more than to climb that final step to the top of the podium this season, likely at either 132 or 138 pounds. Cassidy posted a 37-2 mark last winter. He has the most wins from a season ago of any returning wrestler in the county.
   Burkett turned a solid freshman year at 106 into a better one at the same weight as a sophomore. He posted a 35-6 record and finished fifth in the state tournament after reaching the Class AA semifinals.
   Holderbaum closed out last season as one of the strongest performers in the area, gaining fourth-place honors at the Giant Center following three straight wins from a pigtail spot in the 113-pound bracket.

Others to Watch
   Aside from that trio, Chestnut Ridge's Duane Knisely and Northern Bedford's Ian Sherlock are also returning district champions. Also to keep an eye on, in no particular order, are Bedford's Mathew Emerick, Chestnut Ridge's Ross Dull, Gryphon Callihan, and Trevor Weyandt, Claysburg-Kimmel's Kobe Harr, Everett's Lane Younker and Logan Propst, Northern Bedford's Colby Imler, and Tussey Mountain's Trevor Husick and Matthew Watkins.
   One of those I'll single out is Callihan, who was 22-16 last season but lost some close bouts against a number of top-notch wrestlers from around the state.
   The Lions held an open intrasquad scrimmage last night, which I attended. Yes, it's a scrimmage, but from seeing him in person and a brief chat with Ridge coach Josh Deputy on the subject, Callihan looks like he could be a tough out this season.

New Faces
   There's always a few newcomers, whether they are freshmen or others who are on rosters. Two that jump out right away are Chestnut Ridge freshman Calan Bollman, and Claysburg-Kimmel freshman Cole Claycomb.
   Bollman headlines a crop of young talented Lions ready to keep them at the top of the district's pecking order. A Mountain Conference junior high champion last year and a Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling (PJW) fifth-place state medalist two seasons ago, Bollman drew my eye on Tuesday night.
   Again, it's a preseason scrimmage, but Bollman gave Holderbaum (three years his senior and a high school state medalist as mentioned) everything he wanted in a tight six-plus minute battle.

   Chestnut Ridge teammates Nate Holderbaum, left, and Calan Bollman work for position during Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage.

   Claysburg will have lower numbers this year overall, but Claycomb is likely to make an impact in his first varsity season. Claycomb finished seventh in the state at PJW's last winter and should team with Harr to give the Bulldogs cheering options well into the postseason.

Chasing the Lions

  Chestnut Ridge is once again a prohibitive favorite to lay claim to top billing in District 5. Outside of that, who can knock the Lions off? The biggest challenges in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference should come from Forest Hills and Westmont Hilltop. 

   The Rangers have a strong core of talent returning, including state champ Jackson Arrington and high placer Erik Gibson. And Westmont may not have a lot of "jump off the page" names on its roster, but the Hilltoppers have almost everyone back from a year ago.

   In terms of the Lions, there won't be very many "weak" spots from 106 to the 170-182 range. Throw in Knisely up top, and beating Chestnut Ridge is going to take a strong effort from anybody. Forest Hills came close last December (35-28). The Rangers host the Lions on December 17.

The Men in Stripes

   This is a shoutout to local officials Mike Eichelberger and Randy Jarrett, who worked Chestnut Ridge's scrimmage. 

   While there are understandable reasons that many officials in all sports are getting out of the business, Eichelberger and Jarrett showed why they're two of the best and most respected (in my opinion) among wrestling referees in both the area and state. 

   Before the scrimmage started, the pair took a good 10-15 minutes to explain, and demonstrate, to the wrestlers the new rules and points of emphasis regarding stalling and the penalty point structure. They're not just looking to collect some extra money, they have a genuine interest in the athletes.

   Often times, officials are on the other end of things in regards to negative attention, whether it may be warranted or not. 

   Myself included, I think we can all do a little better in giving these men and women a hand and a thank you for allowing us to keep enjoying high school athletics.

   

 

Top wrestling talent ready for The Surge

Press Release per Eric Knopsnyder of PA Power Wrestling

   More than 200 of Pennsylvania’s top wrestlers will come together in Johnstown on Sunday (Nov. 3) for The Surge preseason tournament.

   The tournament, which is produced by PA Power Wrestling, had a star-studded field in its debut a year ago. Last year’s event featured 74 wrestlers who qualified for the PIAA tournament in 2019, 35 who won state medals and four PIAA champions. Franklin Regional’s Carter Dibert, Forest Hills’ Jackson Arrington, Seneca Valley’s Alejandro Herrera-Rondon and Hopewell’s Jacob Ealy each took to the mats at the University of Pittsburgh four months before finding PIAA glory in Hershey.    Amazingly, only two of those – Herrera-Rondon and Ealy – took home the hammer as The Surge champion.

   Waynesburg Central’s Rocco Welsh, who wrestled in The Surge as an eighth-grader before going on to claim a Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling title in Johnstown four months later, is scheduled to return, as is Malvern Prep’s Dayton Delviscio, who was a National Preps finalist.

   “We all know that Pennsylvania is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, state for wrestling in the country,” said PA Power Wrestling founder Jeff Upson. “And who wouldn’t want to be known as the best in the Keystone State? That’s why we’re thrilled to have so many of them ready to come prove it at The Surge.”

   In addition to wrestlers from acorss Pennsylvania, athletes from Ohio and Maryland have registered to compete.

   The tournament is open to wrestlers in grades 8 through 12, with varsity weight classes plus 4 pounds. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. Registration is open at arena.flowrestling.org.