Class AA Semifinals Set as Gould Downs State Champ Phillippi

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Sophomore Joey Gould (Bethlehem Catholic) defeats returning PIAA State Champion George Phillippi (Derry Area) at 120 lbs.

Sophomore Joey Gould (Bethlehem Catholic) defeats returning PIAA State Champion George Phillippi (Derry Area) at 120 lbs.

The top Class AA wrestlers are beginning to pull away from the pack and some new names are surfacing.

Check out the Tournament schedule here and the live updated brackets here.

At 106 lbs. Bishop McDevitt freshman #3 John Pipa cruised into the semis with a (9-0) major decision over #6 Alan Diltz (Benton Area). Pipa will face #1 Max Murin (Central Cambria) in the semifinals. On the top half of 106 lbs. #12 Jake Reigel (Bethlehem Catholic) continued to improve as he defeated fellow South East Regional wrestler #4 Sammy Hepler (Tri-Valley) and advanced to the semifinals (8-3). Chestnut Ridge sophomore #10 Aaron Burkett came from behind and scored a late takedown to down #5 Joe Lobeck (Lancaster Catholic) by a narrow (8-7) score.

Sophomore #7 Taylor Ortz (Brookville) dominated Montgomery’s #13 Kyle Drick picking up a fall in (3:32). Ortz will face #1 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic) in the semifinals. The returning PIAA State runner-up had no issues with #4 Austin McDermitt (Burgettstown) winning (7-1). On the bottom half #14 Seth Houge (Reynolds) had an impressive overtime victory over Southmoreland’s #3 Austin Griffths (2-0 SV). Houge will face #8 Jon Gabriel (Bedford) in the semifinals who cruised to a technical fall in the quarterfinals over #9 Farsi Messai (Jamestown) score (23-8) in (6:00).

In the biggest surprise of the quarterfinals, returning PIAA State Champion #1 George Phillippi (Derry Area) was upset by #7 Joey Gould (Bethlehem Catholic). The sophomore earned two back points and an escape to pull ahead (3-0) over the State Champ. Gould will face talented freshman #3 Todd Lane (Southern Columbia Area) in the semifinals who shut out #6 Willie Gruver (Redbank Valley) score (6-0). Yet another surprise semifinalist, Benton Area freshman #14 Mike Stuart, scored wild (11-10) decision over #5 Jarret Carter (Fort LeBoeuf). Stuart will take on former PIAA State runner-up and 2x PIAA State Medalist #2 Korbin Myers (Boiling Springs) in the semifinals. Myers eared a (7-2) decision over # Tristan Law (Forest Hills) to advance into his third straight PIAA State Semifinals.

A pair of undefeated wrestlers will meet at 126 lbs. when #1 Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic) takes on #2 John Demaske (Jefferson Morgan) in the semifinals. On the bottom half of 126 lbs. South East Regional wrestlers #3 Grant Bond (Boiling Springs) and #9 Josh Giorgio (Schuylkill Valley) will meet in a re-match from last week’s regional consolation semifinals in which Bond was the winner (8-2).

Hanover senior #1 Ian Brown had no trouble getting by returning PIAA State runner-up #7 Ryan Easter (Bedford) to advance into the semifinals (9-1). Brown will face Lake Lehman senior #4 Austin Harry in the semifinals who rolled to a (10-1) win in the quarterfinals over #10 Dalton Zimmerman (Brookville Area). On the bottom half the #2 and #3 State ranked wrestler met in an early round match as #2 Michael Carr (South Fayette) suffered his first defeat of the season falling to #3 Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs) score (6-4). Shoop will face North West Regional Champion #5 Tyler Vath (Saegertown) in the semifinals.

At 138 bs. #1 Brock Zacherl (Brookville Area) rolled to a (14-2) win to advance into the semifinals against Palmerton Area senior #3 Josh Evans. Rounding out a loaded 138 lbs. bracket returning PIAA State Medalist sophomore #2 Jake Wentzel (South Park) will take on #7 Kent Lane (Southern Columbia Area). 2x State Champion #1 Jason Nolf (Kittanning) continued his dominance over the rest of the field advancing into the semifinals with a (16-4) major decision over #4 Zach Vronman (Brookville Area). Nolf will take on #12 Dakota Nixon (Muncy) in the semifinals. Undefeated junior #2 Billy Barnes (Hughesville Area) will meet Burrell senior and surprise semifinalist #7 Corey Falleroni. #1 Steve Edwards (Burrell) earned a hard fought (10-6) decision over senior #11 Brad Malinowski (Fort LeBoeuf) to advance into the semifinals. Edwards will face #2 Cole Walter (Mifflinburg Area) in the semifinals. On the bottom half sophomore #4 Blake Marks (Southern Columbia Are) will face #8 Richie Cerebe (Calvary Christian Academy) in the semifinals. Cerebe earned a narrow win over #3 Andrew Doak (Blairsville) in the quarterfinals.

Undefeated senior #1 Kyle Bova (Coudersport) needed overtime to get by #3 Jeric Kasunic (Benton Area) score (3-1 SV). Bova will face #5 Briton Shelton (Bermudian Springs) in the semifinals. #4 Jared Walker (South Fayette) will face #2 Ryan Preisch (Milton Area) in the semifinals at 160 lbs. #7 Nico Pecora (Richland) earned an overtime win over #2 Nick Cortopassi (Bethlehem Catholic) at 170 lbs. (7-5 SV). Sophomore #10 Garrett Hoffman (Montoursville Area) won (5-4) over #4 Bill Bowlen (Jefferson Morgan) to advance into the semifinals where he will face Pecora. On the bottom half #3 Corey Hazel (Penns Valley) takes on undefeated senior and #1 ranked Evan Delong (Kane Area) in the semifinals. #1 Dylan Reynolds (Saegertown) will face undefeated senior #2 Stephen Loiseau (Lancaster Catholic) in a battle of the two top wrestlers at 182 lbs. #5 Jose Ortiz (Bethlehem Catholic) earned a narrow (2-1) decision over #3 Terrell Fields (Valley) to advance into the semifinals where he will face #10 Isaiah Bobotas (Montgomery Area).

Undefeated senior #1 Tristan Sponseller (Bermudian Springs) cruised into the semifinals at 195 lbs. where he will take on the #2 ranked wrestler Garrett Wesneski (Canton Area). On the bottom half #7 Kyle Taylor (Boiling Springs) meets #9 Ryan Morris (Corry Area). In yet another #1 vs. #2 taking place in the semifinals junior #2 Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic) will take on undefeated senipr #1 Jake Temple (Avella Area). On the bottom half #5 Jake Robb (Kittanning) will meet #3 Reynold Maines (West Branch).  At 285 lbs. #6 Brady Mutton used an overtime win over #7 Ben Carrillo (Redbank Valley) score (3-1) SV). #3 Jake Beistel (Southmoreland) posted a narrow win past #16 Wes Bankus (ELCO) score (4-3). #2 Alan Beattie (Burrell) and #1 Sam Breese (Lakeview) both had first period pins to advance into the semifinals where the top two wrestlers will meet.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Leave a Comment