Tickets Punched To State Tournament in South Central Regional
56 wrestlers from District 3/South Central Regional have punched their tickets to the PIAA State Tournament in two weeks at the GIANT Center. The Class AAA Tournament Finals and third place matches are set with all four wrestlers earning a spot back in Hershey at the GIANT Center.
In the semifinals several of the State’s top ranked grapplers were tested and in total the finals will include 27 matches between wrestlers both ranked Top 20 in the State. Seven of the finals bouts contested will be between two wrestlers ranked Top 10 in the State. At 106 lbs. #13 Will Betancourt (Manheim Central) came back against fellow rookie #8 Cole Wilson (Northeastern) despite giving up the first takedown. Betancourt kept his composure getting a reversal and nearfall in the second period and closed out the match with a (7-2) decision. He will face #4 Josiah Gehr (Cocalico) who clinched his second straight trip to the State Tournament with a (7-4) decision over Patrick DeMark (Cumberland Valley).
2x PIAA State Medalist #3 Chris Wright (Central Dauphin) will take on senior #8 Zurich Storm (New Oxford) who will make his fourth straight appearance at the PIAA State Tournament. One of the most entertaining semifinals was at 126 lbs. when 3x PIAA State Medalist #3 Chandler Olson (Shippensburg) edged out #5 Jake Cherry (Central Dauphin) earning a (2-1) decision. He will get a re-match with #2 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township) who cruised into the finals with a tech-fall. DeSanto defeated Olson in the Cumberland Valley Kick-Off finals when both wrestlers were competing at 132 lbs. winning (6-3). The two will be teammates next season at Drexel.
A battle of Mid-Penn rivals will take place at 132 lbs. with #4 Wyatt Long (Cumberland Valley) and #6 Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin) each far ahead of the field. The last time these two faced off was last season when Long won a (3-1) decision over Wert in a dual meet. The two each have quality wins this season over top wrestlers in the State including a win each over #5 KJ Fenstermacher (Northampton).
Take a look at the pairing below! Full results can be found on the FloArena here!
106 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#4 Josiah Gehr (Cocalico) vs. #13 Will Betancourt (Manheim Central)
Third Place:
Patrick DeMark (Cumberland Valley) vs. #8 Cole Wilson (Northeastern)
113 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#3 Dalton Rohrbaugh (Spring Grove) vs. #11 JJ Wilson (Cedar Cliff)
Third Place:
Rafael Portilla (Carlisle) vs. CJ Morton (Twin Valley)
120 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#3 Chris Wright (Central Dauphin) vs. #8 Zurich Storm (New Oxford)
Third Place:
Brandon Connor (Wilson) vs. Clay Baker (Spring Grove Area)
126 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#2 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township) vs. #3 Chandler Olson (Shippensburg)
Third Place:
#5 Jake Cherry (Central Dauphin) vs. #25 Josh McLaughlin (Cedar Cliff)
132 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#4 Wyatt Long (Cumberland Valley) vs. #6 Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin)
Third Place:
#19 TT Elhajj (Lower Dauphin) vs. Jake Meyer (Spring Grove)
138 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#18 Clayton Ulrey (Lower Dauphin) vs. Gary Clark (Garden Spot)
Third Place:
#5 Micha Hoffman (Northern York) vs. #19 Dylan Reinert (Gettysburg)
145 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#10 Tucker Brough (Big Spring) vs. #11 Cal Reichart (Cumberland Valley)
Third Place:
Connor Finkey (Garden Spot) vs. Stefahn Mayo (Muhlenberg)
152 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#5 Will Kaldes (Cumberland Valley) vs. #7 Brayden Willis (Mechanicsburg Area)
Third Place:
#14 Drake Brenize (Chambersburg) vs. #24 AJ Wilson (Solanco)
160 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#5 Jonah Barley (Penn Manor) vs. #12 Luke Nichter (Chambersburg)
Third Place:
#13 Quentin Milliken (Cumberland Valley) vs. Dylan Gurreri (Red Lion Area)
170 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#4 Tyler Bagoly (Exeter Township) vs. #5 Tommy O’Brien (Wilson)
Third Place:
#22 Ben Root (Solanco) vs. Britain Shields (Big Spring)
182 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#3 Drew Peck (Chambersburg Area) vs. #13 Ben Maack (Governor Mifflin)
Third Place:
#15 Emorson Wentz (Cedar Cliff) vs. #19 Leo Higgins (Palmyra)
195 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#8 Blake Barrick (Big Spring) vs. #16 Ben Fromm (Cocalico)
Third Place:
#5 Jake Koser (Northern York) vs. #11 Cole Forrester (Shippensburg)
220 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#3 Francis Duggan (Cedar Cliff) vs. #4 Jesse Enck (Daniel Boone)
Third Place:
#8 Bryce Shields (Dallastown Area) vs. #19 Nathan Young (Spring Grove)
285 lbs.
Championship Finals:
#5 Michael Wolfgram (Central York) vs. #6 Cameron Tinner (Shippensburg)
Third Place:
#8 Blaine Yinger (Northeastern) vs. #9 Oscar Daniels (Exeter Township)