Escape The Rock Finals to Feature 15 Nationally Ranked Wrestlers
Buckle up the ETR Finals have arrived and they will be some of the best matches of the season as Pennsylvania and the Nation’s top wrestlers will put it on the line for a Championship Belt. Below is a look at the matchups in the 2017 ETR Finals with coverage starting at 3:30. Visit the FloArena for updates!
106: Kurt McHenry (St. Paul’s, MD) vs. Samuel Alverez (St Joseph Regional, NJ)
The #2 ranked wrestler in the Nation by both Intermat and Flo, Kurt McHenry will look for his first career ETR Championship belt after finishing fifth here a season ago. The 2016 POWERade Champion will face Sam Alverez a sophomore from New Jersey.
113: #1 Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia) vs. Shane Hanson-Ashworth (Malvern Prep)
These two top light-weights were second and third last season at the ETR with Jaret Lane being a runner-up and Shane Hanson-Ashworth third. The pair did not meet last year but both were top performers Lane a PIAA State Runner-up and Hanson-Ashworth a National Prep Runner-up.
120: Patrick Glory (Delbarton, NJ) vs. #2 Matt Parker (Pennridge)
The #2 ranked wrestler in the Nation at 120 lbs. by both Flo and Intermat is New Jersey stud Patrick Glory of Delbarton. He is a 2015 POWERade Runner-up, a 2016 Super 32 Champion, and most recently won the Beast of the East Championship. The two have not crossed paths yet this season but are no strangers. Parker is ranked #8 in the Nation by Flo and #12 by Intermat.
126: #2 Julian Chlebove (Northampton) vs. Nicky Raimo (Hanover Park, NJ)
It will be a Beast of the East rematch at 126 lbs. as returning ETR Champion and PIAA State Champion Julian Chlebove looks to make it two in a row against Nicky Raimo. The pair, ranked #5 and #6 in the Nation by Flo respectively, met in the Beast of The East finals last month with Chlebove coming out on top (3-2). Both had tough semifinals and will likely put on a show for fans.
132: #1 Brian Courtney (Athens Area) vs. #4 KJ Fenstermacher (Northampton Area)
PIAA State Champion Brian Courtney is ranked #3 in the Nation by Intermat and #4 by Flo and is in search of his first ETR Championship title. Courtney takes on PIAA State Medalist KJ Fenstermacher who improved against Jakob Campbell earning a (8-1) win over the Boyertown senior a week after defeating him (1-0). This will be an intriguing match-up of contrasting styles in two of the State’s elite grapplers.
138: PJ Crane (Malvern Prep) vs. #17 Zach Stedeford (North Allegheny)
Not many people would have predicted a PJ Crane vs. Zach Stedeford finals match but these are the two lone survivors of a weight without top seed Zack Trampe (Council Rock South) who is out with an injury. Crane, a junior from Malvern Prep, outlasted a stout Dan Moran (Northampton Area) in UTB earning an escape to win it (3-2). Stedford himself hung onto a (1-0) win over St. Paul’s Imran Heard in the semifinals. Not a blockbuster match-up but still an interesting one.
145: #2 John Pipa (Bishop McDevitt) vs. #4 Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny)
These two are top wrestlers in the State and a re-match of the POWERade consolation finals from this season. In December Pipa won (6-3) over Hinkson to finish in third place at the POWERade. Pipa is a 2x PIAA State Runner-up and was fifth at the ETR a season ago. Hinkson, a 2x PIAA State Medalist, defeated a very tough Todd Lane (Southern Columbia Area) in the semifinals to set up the meeting with Pipa.
152: #9 Kaidon Winters (Athens Area) vs. #5 Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan)
Super freshman Gerrit Nijenhuis continues to impress as he again defeated Brock Godzin to advance into the Championship finals against senior Kaidon Winters. Nijenhuis has been stellar his first year winning the Cumberland Valley Kick-Off Classic and placing fifth at the POWERade. Winters is a 2x Regional Fifth Place medalist who made headlines when he upset top seed Riley Palmer (Council Rock South) in the quarterfinals.
160: #1 Eric Hong (North Allegheny) vs. #2 Josh Stillings (Pennridge)
The top two ranked wrestlers in the State will clash at 160 lbs. as senior Eric Hong looks to retake his spot on top of the ETR podium. Hong was a Champion in 2015 and a Runner-up in 2016 here in Holland, PA but now back on the mat after being ruled eligible by the PIAA he will face Josh Stillings in a marquee bout. Stillings defeated #3 Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area) in the semifinals late to earn a spot in the Finals against top seed Hong. Expect it to be a showcase bout.
170: #1 Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon) vs. Dale Tiongson (St. Paul’s School, MD)
PIAA State Champion Jacob Oliver continues to roll through looking solid in the semifinals to advance into his second straight ETR finals. Last year he was forced to default after a shoulder injury. He will take on POWERade Runner-up Dale Tiongson of St. Paul’s. Oliver enters ranked #10 in the Nation by Intermat.
182: Michael Beard (Malvern Prep) vs. #3 Drew Peck (Chambersburg Area)
In a rematch of the Beast of the East Semifinals in which Michael Beard, the #1 Ranked wrestler in the Nation, earned a tech-fall over senior Drew Peck (18-0). Beard is on another level as he hopes to earn his second straight ETR Championship. Peck improved from a season ago when he placed fifth at the ETR.
195: John Borst (Sherando, VA) vs. #1 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny)
The #2 vs. #4 ranked wrestlers in the Nation according to Intermat will do battle at 195 lbs. with PIAA State Champion Jake Woodley taking on Virginia Tech recruit John Borst or Virginia. Borst is a Fargo National Freestyle Runner-up while Woodley himself is a 2x Fargo All-American. The pair of seniors are top in their class with Woodley earning a solid (3-1) win over fellow PIAA State Champion Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt) in the semifinals.
220: #1 Josiah Jones (Bishop McCort) vs. #3 Joe Doyle (Council Rock South)
PIAA State Runner-up Josiah Jones is the top seed as he faces hometown wrestler and second seed Joey Doyle in the 220 lbs. finals. Both wrestlers fell to #1 Brian Kennerly (Upper Darby) in the King of The Mountain this season as Jones was also a POWERade Runner-up. The two are both evenly matched.
285: Seth Janney (Malvern Prep) vs. #2 Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan)
Seniors Seth Janney and Brendan Furman are both far ahead of the ETR field and neither have been pushed up until this point. Janney is a Beast of the East Champion while Furman was fifth. The National Prep Champion Janney was an ETR Runner-up last season while Furman was a POWERade Champion last month. Janney is ranked #8 and Furman #17 in the Nation by Flo.