Girls Wrestling growing fast in PA

    The total number of girls participating in wrestling has grown nationally for 29 straight years.

    While that has included the wrestling-rich state of Pennsylvania, the past 12 months have seen the Commonwealth gain even more steam on that front, with a number of girls varsity programs having formed alongside their boys' teams.

    Early last year, a task force (of which I am part of) made up of coaches, school administrators, wrestling parents, and other wrestling representatives was formed with the ultimate goal of sanctioning the sport in Pennsylvania, meaning that the PIAA would recognize girls wrestling as an official sport and thus hold a state tournament. 

     Currently, PIAA by-laws state that 100 varsity teams must be formed to have the sport be considered for sanctioning. In mid-March of 2020, Lancaster's J.P. McCaskey became the first school to start a girls varsity program. Even with Covid-19 causing so many issues as we all know, that decision opened the gates for others to follow. In order, Easton (District 11), Executive Education Academy (District 11), North Allegheny (District 7), Central Mountain (District 6), Governor Mifflin (District 3), Annville-Cleona (District 3), Gettysburg (District 3), and Brandywine Heights (District 3) have all formed girls teams. 

     "Within the first six months of our initiative, and during a pandemic, eight teams (Brandywine Heights since) formed and many more have expressed significant interest," said Brooke Zumas, who is the chairperson of SanctionPA and a creator of the task force. "The fact that this was achieved when schools were shut down, school board meetings were virtual, and many schools halted funding speaks to the momentum and support that girls wrestling has across our state."

     Zumas, who coaches girls in wrestling at Parkland High School near Allentown, knew the effort could seem daunting at first, thus the task force was born.

     "In Pennsylvania, we saw a need to work collaboratively to continue to grow the sport and work towards sanctioning," she said. "As a group, we're focused on advocacy and education, especially educating coaches and schools about girls wrestling and helping schools to form teams."

     The idea of a girls wrestling team was an easy sell to the powers that be at Central Mountain, which announced its program was a go in early September.

     "Our school district and community were very supportive of sponsoring a girls wrestling program from the very beginning," said Wildcats' head coach Biff Walizer. "Our director of athletics, superintendent, principals, Central Mountain wrestling booster club, and school board members were all eager to have one of the first sponsored programs in the state, and to help lead the charge in getting girls wrestling officially sanctioned by the PIAA."

     Just prior to the beginning of the 2020-21 high school boys season, the task force rolled out a new initiative, #4GirlsWrestling, as a hopeful way to increase overall numbers among the girls. The goal is to get as many schools as possible to have at least four girls competing on the wrestling team. 

     But regardless of how its being done, girls wrestling is increasing exponentially. Zumas reports that 295 girls were listed on official rosters this year, including 41 freshmen that were part of a boys junior high team. That number is up from 229 last season.

     Girls tournaments across the state have taken place nearly every weekend for the last few months, and upcoming events include a PAUSAW (Pennsylvania USA Wrestling) sponsored state tournament on March 21 at the Spooky Nook complex in Lancaster.

     Locally in Bedford County, all of the school districts that have boys teams had at least one girl on a junior high or varsity roster. That includes Northern Bedford, where a strong girls wrestling club is already in place, making the Loysburg school a potential groundbreaker at some point for the first junior high or varsity girls program in this area.

     Jordyn Fouse, an eighth-grader at Northern Bedford, will be a name to know for the next few years in boys or girls wrestling on the local scene. Having competed since she was 5 years old, it didn't take long for her to love the sport.

     "I have always looked up to my brother (Alex, a three-year varsity starter, now wrestling at Shippensburg University), and when I saw that he was doing it, I knew I had to," she said. "So I quit dance after two weeks and started wrestling.

     "Wrestling is overall an awesome sport and I enjoy everything about it. A few things that stick out to me are the lessons it teaches you. You have to give it your all every single second when you are on the mat. It's also a sport that really shows if you put in the work, many amazing things come out of it. One of the best things about wrestling is all the amazing people you meet because the wrestling community is just one very big family."

     While Fouse already owned several high-level accomplishments, the current season has brought more notoriety. Among the highlights are a Powerade Junior Tournament championship, a victory in the prestigious Tulsa Nationals, and winning the Mountain Conference Tournament this past weekend and being named that event's outstanding wrestler.

     "Winning Tulsa Nationals and Mountain Conference are some of my favorites," said Fouse. "Nine years ago, I never would have thought I would be traveling to different states to do the thing I love."

     Her athletic ability aside, Fouse's comments about girls wrestling overall make her a perfect example of what the task force desires for so many all across Pennsylvania.

    "With how big girls wrestling has grown in PA and especially in my area, I take that as a huge accomplishment," she said. "When I started wrestling, there was maybe only one other girl in this area wrestling. The 2019-20 girls program at my school had about 30 girls. Knowing that they wouldn't be able to experience the amazing sport if I didn't work hard to get it going throughout the years is huge to me."

     As for SanctionPA, it's full steam ahead.

    "Participation numbers will continue to increase and one day, hopefully soon, girls wrestling will be an official sport in Pennsylvania," said Zumas. "In the meantime, the girls will continue to represent our state well within Pennsylvania and at the national level. I fully believe as we look ahead to the day that the sport is sanctioned in every state, Pennsylvania will be the best state in the country for both boys and girls wrestling."

     

McCoy earns second straight NCAA berth

    The Virginia Way is a popular hashtag phrase used by the University of Virginia's wrestling program whenever it publishes a post on Twitter.

    And for Justin McCoy, that way will land at a familiar, but not so familiar, destination next month. On Sunday, the former Chestnut Ridge star and current Cavaliers' sophomore finished as the 157-pound runner-up in the Atlantic Coast Conference championships which were held at N.C. State. Seeded second, McCoy defeated Virginia Tech's Connor Brady, 8-6, in the semifinals before dropping a 12-3 major to top-seeded and former NCAA finalist Hayden Hidlay of the host Wolfpack. As an ACC finalist, McCoy also earned all-conference honors.

    The semifinal win was good enough to take McCoy to his second straight NCAA Division I Tournament, which will be held in St. Louis in three weeks. 

    McCoy is 9-2 this season with both losses to Hidlay. He has been ranked between 15th and 20th at the weight by most publications and was 16th by Intermat prior to the conference tournament.

    "The season has gone pretty well so far," McCoy said just a couple of hours after the ACC Tournament. "It's been a little different having a shorter season, but there's some pros and cons to it. I've definitely cherished every match that I've been able to compete in just because it's a short season. I think I've wrestled well, but I'm definitely always looking to improve. I know I have to get better to beat the top kids in the country."

    Familiar in that it will be a second time in as many tries to reach college wrestling's marquee event, but not so familiar in that it will be McCoy's first time to step on one of the eight mats at the national championships. After placing fourth in the ACC tourney last year, McCoy was ready to go for the NCAA meet in Minneapolis. However, the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States forced the cancellation of most anything sports related throughout the late winter and spring. 

   Wrestling can be as much mental as physical, and McCoy hopes a better mindset in 2021 can help him get to where he wants to go.

    "An area I think I've improved is my confidence," he said. "I've realized that I can wrestle with anyone in the country, and score from any position. But that's still something I need to keep improving on, especially against the best guys. I think I've also gotten better at re-attacks off of my opponent's offense."

    With Covid-19 protocols still limiting attendance and changing the overall atmosphere of events, McCoy has taken it in stride.

    "It really has been a lot different without fans. It's a little disappointing, but I try to make the best of it. I just try to focus on myself and what I need to do."

    That will be the case in St. Louis, where crowds are expected to be capped at 25-percent of the capacity of the Enterprise Center. Nonetheless, McCoy is set to make final preparations for what he hopes could land him his first NCAA medal.

   "I think a lot of the work has already been put in," he said. "My coaches and I will likely break down a lot of film on myself and make sure I'm crisp and ready to go. I'm sure we will also break down film on my first-round opponent."

   The brackets for the NCAA Division I Tournament will be released on March 10.

   McCoy's former Chestnut Ridge teammate, Jared McGill, also competed in the ACC Tournament on Sunday. A redshirt freshman at Pitt, McGill lost a pair of close bouts to finish his collegiate season. At 174 pounds, McGill dropped an 8-6 overtime decision in the quarterfinals and then was defeated 3-1 by one of McCoy's college teammates, Vic Marcelli, in the consolation semifinals.

   

   

      

Remembering Tyler Chesney and Dick Fisher

    Two more Bedford County natives, Tyler Chesney and Dick Fisher, that I have fond memories of have passed away in the last several days and weeks. Sadly, my most recent postings to this blog are of the same variety. I apologize for the lateness on this as I have wanted to write some words about each of them, but just haven't found the time to sit down and type. That said, both Chesney and Fisher deserve my thoughts.

   Chesney is one of the more decorated wrestlers in Northern Bedford history, as he put together a varsity record of 119-21, never losing more than six bouts in any of the four years. In 2009, Chesney joined an exclusive group of District 5 wrestlers by winning his fourth district championship. 

   That senior postseason for Chesney is something I remember most about him. In my years of covering the sport, the 125-pound bracket for the District 5 Tournament at Windber Area High School was as good as I've seen on paper. Chesney was the top seed, followed by Bedford's Devin Cook, North Star's Joey Lascari, and Hyndman's Levi Hosselrode in that order. For perspective, Chesney was a two-time state qualifier and a state medalist, while Cook and Lascari would each win two state medals in their careers. And Hosselrode was perhaps a step below those three, but still a tough competitor. The semifinal round went as expected with Chesney meeting Hosselrode and Cook drawing Lascari. 

   Right off the opening whistle, Chesney caught Hosselrode with an ankle pick and converted it for a quick takedown on his way to a 10-3 decision that I thought was a closer matchup that what that score ended up. Cook defeated Lascari on the other mat to set up the final. After the semifinal round was over, I said to WAYC Sports color commentator John Topper that I loved Chesney's aggressiveness from the start. That wasn't normally Chesney's style from my point of view, but he set the tone right away. He parlayed that into a 3-1 victory over Cook for the history-making achievement. 

   After a regional runner-up finish, Chesney eyed his first state medal the next weekend in Hershey. But he lost his first-round match and now had to battle just to have a shot at the podium. Chesney reeled off five consecutive victories, which is no easy thing to do. That included a 1-0 win over Cook in the consolations before avenging his regional final loss to Tyrone's Ronnie Garbinsky, 12-7 for third place in the state. As aforementioned, Chesney was almost always the winner on the mat and those last days in a Northern Bedford singlet cemented that status.

   Fisher had retired as athletic director at Chestnut Ridge just prior to my time at the Bedford Gazette, but I got to know him a little bit in seeing him at any number of Lions' sporting events as well as the annual Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame banquets. Fisher was inducted to the Hall in 2019. While I didn't know Fisher well, many of the remembrances I've seen of him this past week echo the same thoughts I have about him - a warm and engaging personality, professional, doing what's best for the athletes. 

   Whenever we chatted, those types of qualities stood out. Former Chestnut Ridge volleyball coach Wendy Miller called Fisher "one of the good guys," and I would say that certainly rings true.

Remembering Kai Burkett

    The local wrestling community suffered another tough round of news with the tragic loss of Chestnut Ridge's Kai Burkett last night.

    A senior, Burkett was pronounced dead on the scene of a two-car accident late Friday in Napier Township. State police in Bedford reported that Burkett swerved to avoid debris in the roadway before losing control of his vehicle and being struck by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries. All three involved were wearing seat belts.

   Burkett had put together a stellar three-year varsity wrestling career with the Lions, including three District 5 individual championships and a pair of state medals, fifth place in both his sophomore and junior seasons. He had a 106-22 record, and was a key member of Chestnut Ridge's last three teams that all earned medals at the PIAA Class AA Duals. Burkett was also a member of the school's golf team.

   One word that I've used to describe Burkett's wrestling is consistent. I felt like every time I watched him, I knew what I would see from him, win or lose. He wrestled smart, stayed in good position, and he had one of the best tilts in the area. Even if opponents saw it coming, he'd hit it and often for multiple sets of nearfalls.

   Similar to his older brother Aaron, Burkett displayed a quiet demeanor around the mat. But on the couple of occasions I interviewed him, he was very personable and knowledgeable about the sport. 

   Though I hadn't spoken to Kai recently, both my family and the Burkett family attend the same church. But his name, as expected, came up in an informal conversation I had a few weeks ago with Chestnut Ridge head coach Josh Deputy, who is also Burkett's uncle. I asked the question about incoming prospects to the varsity team, so we chatted about the Lions' vaunted lightweights and where wrestlers might fit in. Of course, that included Burkett front and center.

   News of Burkett's passing spread quickly across social media. A number of former and current teammates as well as numerous other wrestlers along with several regional wrestling programs offered their condolences.

   Below are a few from Twitter:

   From Nathan Holderbaum, three-year varsity teammate who also posted a photo of he and Burkett warming up before wrestling: "I can't express the amount of pain I feel. Fly high Kai, love you brother."

   From Dave Marko, Central coach: "Prayers go out to the Chestnut Ridge wrestling family and the Burkett's from both my family and the Central Dragon wrestling family. Words can't express the sadness for your loss." 

   From Hannah Hutzell, Chestnut Ridge graduate and wrestling fan: "The Burkett's are some of the most selfless, humble, genuine, and kind people on the face of the Earth... my heart breaks for them... they always rally around community members in need... now it's OUR TURN to support them."

   Unfortunately, a senior season with so much potential for Burkett won't happen. My heartfelt prayers and sympathies go out to the Burkett's, the Deputy's, and the entire Chestnut Ridge wrestling family.

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.