Before the 2A tournament gets kicked off tomorrow, wanted to get some of these on record. I do not follow 2A as closely at the state level as I do 3A – I know the studs and I know the local guys, but that middle tier I’m kind of flying blind, so just picking finalists here.
Just like in 3A, there are a couple major notables not here. Ryan Crookham was on track to winning four state titles, but complications from a concussion have kept him out all season. He also transferred from Notre Dame to Saucon Valley, and presumably will hunt a third title with the Panthers next year. The Lehigh recruit is the #2 wrestler in the country at 132 and the #2 overall recruit in the junior class. Also missing is Eric Gibson, who transferred from Forest Hills to Bishop McCourt and is sitting out the postseason due to the athletic transfer rule. His younger brother will compete – he’s a freshman, so he’s not technically “transferring” from anywhere – but Eric will not be in the 145 pound field, where he’d be the favorite. The Cornell recruit has taken 3rd and 6th at the state tournament.
106: Hunter Robinson, Saegertown over Branden Wentzel, Mountoursville
Robinson is your top ranked guy in the state and my pick in the top half. Wentzel has flipped matches with Chase Burke (Benton) over the last two weeks – Burke has Wentzel in his half again and I think Wentzel, the returning state champion, flips the result back. But Robinson knocks him off the path to being a four-timer. Also, watch out for Ayden Smith (Notre Dame GP), who pushed Burke to the limit in the East Super Region finals, and had a takedown that would have won the tournament waved off in the final seconds. Smith is tiny (he won Junior High States at 77 pounds last year), but is a force going forward.
113: Jaden Pepe, Wyoming over Gavin Bradley, Athens
These two have also split matches in the last two weeks, with Bradley winning the NE Regional title and Pepe getting him back at Super Regionals. Pepe was my pick last year at 106 (he took 3rd), while Bradley has a pair of state medals. I think the result from last week holds and Pepe gets his first gold.
120: Mason Gibson, Bishop McCourt over Gary Steen, Reynolds
This is the big one. Gibson is the best freshman in the country and the next in the recent lineage of super hyped PA freshman like Ryan Crookham, Spencer Lee, and Chance Marsteller. Gibson is a monster – he’s won the high school Super 32 and is a top 5 kid in the weight class already, and he’s the favorite in the weight despite it having a two-time champ and a New Jersey champ in it. Steen is the two-timer, winning as a freshman and last season (he lost his opening round match as a sophomore – the literal first match wrestled of the tournament on Thursday, then wrestled all the way back for third). Gibson beat Steen 6-1 last week in the Super Region finals and looked awesome doing it. Steen will also have to get through Brett Ungar (Notre Dame GP) on the bottom half. Ungar, a Cornell recruit, was a New Jersey state champion as a sophomore for Hunterdon Central before transferring to Notre Dame last year and taking third in Pennsylvania – losing to Steen in semifinals in ultimate tiebreaker. Steen is 2-1 against Ungar with the win at states and in Ironman finals, while Ungar beat Steen at Team States. It’s tight every time they wrestle, but I think Steen is a slightly better scrambler, and the Penn State recruit gets it done. But Gibson is going to win four titles, and this is his first.
126: Joey Fischer, South Park over Scott Johnson, Muncy
Fischer was a state finalist as a junior (losing to Steen in SV) and took fourth as a sophomore. He’s a star – headed to Clarion next fall – and is a solid bet to win here. Johnson owns a pair of wins over the third contender here, Gable Strickland (Benton), including in the Super Region final last week which dropped Strickland into Fischer’s half.
132: Brandan Chletsos, Notre Dame (GP) over Jackson Arrington, Forest Hills
Outside of the three-man round robin at 120, this is the best final in the tournament. Chletsos and Arrington are both nationally ranked and committed to top 20 programs as juniors (Chletsos to Rutgers, Arrington to NC State). Arrington stormed to a PowerAde title this year, and looks like he has jumped a level. He was kind of a surprise state champion as a freshman, and took third last year. Chletsos has long been one of my favorites to watch – it’s tough to see improvement on Notre Dame’s limited schedule, but he’s a two-time medalist as well, taking 6th and 3rd in his career. He’s a hammer on top, and I like him to pull the minor upset and get District 11 a title (though, unfortunately, not for his hometown Easton Red Rovers).
138: Brock McMillen, Glendale over Ian Oswalt, Burrell
Brock McMillen is trying to finish his career the quietest three-time state champion and four-time finalist ever. The Pitt recruit is solid in every aspect and is one of the bigger favorites in the tournament. This would be a rematch of last year’s state final, where McMillen beat Oswalt in tiebreakers. He’s won five straight against Oswalt, including a 5-1 last week in the Super Regional and 5-2 two weeks ago in the WPIAL finals. Make it three in a row (in more ways than one).
145: Levi Haines, Biglerville over Kaeden Berger, Reynolds
Haines is a two-time state finalist – he knocked off Jackson Arrington in semis last year to deny him a second title before falling to Ryan Crookham in finals. He’s the pick to get it done here against Berger, who (along with Steen) will be looking to give Reynolds its 30th state champ – which would be the first 2A school to accomplish the feat (Clearfield, Easton, and Waynesburg are the current members, with Reynolds and Bethlehem Catholic both possibly joining this weekend with a champ).
152: Grant MacKay, Laurel over Dalton Gimbor, Hamburg
MacKay was a state qualifier as a freshman last year for North Allegheny and one of the most anticipated freshmen in last year’s class. This year, he’s dominated his way to the top ranking in the state and looks like he’s separated from the field. Gimbor, the only returning state medalist in the bracket, will have to flip the result against Devon Deem (Montgomery) in semis from their semifinal last week at Supers. But MacKay is my pick over whoever comes out.
160: Holden Garcia, Notre Dame (GP) over AJ Corrado, Burrell
Holden Garcia announced his presence with authority last week, beating Nolan Lear (Benton) and Bailey Gimbor (Hamburg) to take the East Super Regional title. Gimbor and Lear now have seven state tournament trips and three medals between them, and the 10th grader from Phillipsburg (NJ) took them both apart in back-to-back matches. Garcia was a state qualifier last year, but dropped a blood round match to stay off of the medal stand. Corrado ws a state finalist last year, losing to Caleb Dowling at 152, and has three other state medals to his name. The Brown commit is a slight favorite, but I’m betting on Garcia really having jumped levels and getting a title. Avery Bassett (Mid-West) is the other name to watch here and he’ll see Garcia in the semifinal.
172: Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia over Rune Lawrence, Frazier
Yet another football standout Garcia brother who is a national caliber wrestler. Gavin was 4th as a freshman and 3rd last season, putting him almost on the exact same track as Gaige (who went 5-3-1-1 for Southern Columbia). He won’t catch his father’s three state titles, but he is a good bet here in a deep field. Malachi Duvall will be a tough semi, but I think Garcia gets through. On the bottom, Rune Lawrence is yet another star in a deep 2A freshman class. His older brother Thayne, now at Lehigh, was a two-time champ and three time finalist, and Rune looks to be on that pace. He beat Duvall in sudden victory last week (his second win over him), but will have to get by Ben Haubert (Palisades), who pushed Garcia in a 5-3 East final. But I think we get Garcia-Lawrence in the finals, and while in a lot of years Rune Lawrence wins a first title, it’s Gavin Garcia’s time.
189: Cael Crebs, Montoursville over Wesley Barnes, Southern Colubmia
Why not make it four weeks in a row? These two have met for the District 4, Northeast Regional, and Super Regional titles with Crebs taking all four by a combined 11-1 score. I’m very high on Wesley Barnes, and like him to take out Ethan Finch (Sheffield) in semis to get a rematch, but the sophomore will have to wait another year for a state title because it looks like Crebs owns this one.
215: Dayton Pitzer, Mount Pleasant over Dylan Bennett, Montoursville
Pitzer stormed to a state title at 182 as a freshman before missing his entire sophomore season with an injury. He’d otherwise be a great bet for the four-timers club because nobody is going to beat him here. He’s a tall, lanky 215 who is excellent from top and athletic enough to give just about everybody problems. Bennett is a worthy challenger – he was a state finalist last year at 182 and is a Pitt signee – but he’s not quite on Pitzer’s level.
285: Jalen Stephens, Meyersdale over Nathan Taylor, Brookville
This is a talent pick. Stephens is the best guy in the bracket, but he battled health issues in February that nearly knocked him out for the season. He’s been back, but hasn’t looked totally like himself, including taking fourth in his Super Regional last week. If he can put together three matches, he’s the best guy in the field, but that may be a tall order. Taylor dominated the field last week, going Fall, Fall, major; so if Stephens isn’t quite right, Taylor is the pick.
Just like in 3A, there are a couple major notables not here. Ryan Crookham was on track to winning four state titles, but complications from a concussion have kept him out all season. He also transferred from Notre Dame to Saucon Valley, and presumably will hunt a third title with the Panthers next year. The Lehigh recruit is the #2 wrestler in the country at 132 and the #2 overall recruit in the junior class. Also missing is Eric Gibson, who transferred from Forest Hills to Bishop McCourt and is sitting out the postseason due to the athletic transfer rule. His younger brother will compete – he’s a freshman, so he’s not technically “transferring” from anywhere – but Eric will not be in the 145 pound field, where he’d be the favorite. The Cornell recruit has taken 3rd and 6th at the state tournament.
106: Hunter Robinson, Saegertown over Branden Wentzel, Mountoursville
Robinson is your top ranked guy in the state and my pick in the top half. Wentzel has flipped matches with Chase Burke (Benton) over the last two weeks – Burke has Wentzel in his half again and I think Wentzel, the returning state champion, flips the result back. But Robinson knocks him off the path to being a four-timer. Also, watch out for Ayden Smith (Notre Dame GP), who pushed Burke to the limit in the East Super Region finals, and had a takedown that would have won the tournament waved off in the final seconds. Smith is tiny (he won Junior High States at 77 pounds last year), but is a force going forward.
113: Jaden Pepe, Wyoming over Gavin Bradley, Athens
These two have also split matches in the last two weeks, with Bradley winning the NE Regional title and Pepe getting him back at Super Regionals. Pepe was my pick last year at 106 (he took 3rd), while Bradley has a pair of state medals. I think the result from last week holds and Pepe gets his first gold.
120: Mason Gibson, Bishop McCourt over Gary Steen, Reynolds
This is the big one. Gibson is the best freshman in the country and the next in the recent lineage of super hyped PA freshman like Ryan Crookham, Spencer Lee, and Chance Marsteller. Gibson is a monster – he’s won the high school Super 32 and is a top 5 kid in the weight class already, and he’s the favorite in the weight despite it having a two-time champ and a New Jersey champ in it. Steen is the two-timer, winning as a freshman and last season (he lost his opening round match as a sophomore – the literal first match wrestled of the tournament on Thursday, then wrestled all the way back for third). Gibson beat Steen 6-1 last week in the Super Region finals and looked awesome doing it. Steen will also have to get through Brett Ungar (Notre Dame GP) on the bottom half. Ungar, a Cornell recruit, was a New Jersey state champion as a sophomore for Hunterdon Central before transferring to Notre Dame last year and taking third in Pennsylvania – losing to Steen in semifinals in ultimate tiebreaker. Steen is 2-1 against Ungar with the win at states and in Ironman finals, while Ungar beat Steen at Team States. It’s tight every time they wrestle, but I think Steen is a slightly better scrambler, and the Penn State recruit gets it done. But Gibson is going to win four titles, and this is his first.
126: Joey Fischer, South Park over Scott Johnson, Muncy
Fischer was a state finalist as a junior (losing to Steen in SV) and took fourth as a sophomore. He’s a star – headed to Clarion next fall – and is a solid bet to win here. Johnson owns a pair of wins over the third contender here, Gable Strickland (Benton), including in the Super Region final last week which dropped Strickland into Fischer’s half.
132: Brandan Chletsos, Notre Dame (GP) over Jackson Arrington, Forest Hills
Outside of the three-man round robin at 120, this is the best final in the tournament. Chletsos and Arrington are both nationally ranked and committed to top 20 programs as juniors (Chletsos to Rutgers, Arrington to NC State). Arrington stormed to a PowerAde title this year, and looks like he has jumped a level. He was kind of a surprise state champion as a freshman, and took third last year. Chletsos has long been one of my favorites to watch – it’s tough to see improvement on Notre Dame’s limited schedule, but he’s a two-time medalist as well, taking 6th and 3rd in his career. He’s a hammer on top, and I like him to pull the minor upset and get District 11 a title (though, unfortunately, not for his hometown Easton Red Rovers).
138: Brock McMillen, Glendale over Ian Oswalt, Burrell
Brock McMillen is trying to finish his career the quietest three-time state champion and four-time finalist ever. The Pitt recruit is solid in every aspect and is one of the bigger favorites in the tournament. This would be a rematch of last year’s state final, where McMillen beat Oswalt in tiebreakers. He’s won five straight against Oswalt, including a 5-1 last week in the Super Regional and 5-2 two weeks ago in the WPIAL finals. Make it three in a row (in more ways than one).
145: Levi Haines, Biglerville over Kaeden Berger, Reynolds
Haines is a two-time state finalist – he knocked off Jackson Arrington in semis last year to deny him a second title before falling to Ryan Crookham in finals. He’s the pick to get it done here against Berger, who (along with Steen) will be looking to give Reynolds its 30th state champ – which would be the first 2A school to accomplish the feat (Clearfield, Easton, and Waynesburg are the current members, with Reynolds and Bethlehem Catholic both possibly joining this weekend with a champ).
152: Grant MacKay, Laurel over Dalton Gimbor, Hamburg
MacKay was a state qualifier as a freshman last year for North Allegheny and one of the most anticipated freshmen in last year’s class. This year, he’s dominated his way to the top ranking in the state and looks like he’s separated from the field. Gimbor, the only returning state medalist in the bracket, will have to flip the result against Devon Deem (Montgomery) in semis from their semifinal last week at Supers. But MacKay is my pick over whoever comes out.
160: Holden Garcia, Notre Dame (GP) over AJ Corrado, Burrell
Holden Garcia announced his presence with authority last week, beating Nolan Lear (Benton) and Bailey Gimbor (Hamburg) to take the East Super Regional title. Gimbor and Lear now have seven state tournament trips and three medals between them, and the 10th grader from Phillipsburg (NJ) took them both apart in back-to-back matches. Garcia was a state qualifier last year, but dropped a blood round match to stay off of the medal stand. Corrado ws a state finalist last year, losing to Caleb Dowling at 152, and has three other state medals to his name. The Brown commit is a slight favorite, but I’m betting on Garcia really having jumped levels and getting a title. Avery Bassett (Mid-West) is the other name to watch here and he’ll see Garcia in the semifinal.
172: Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia over Rune Lawrence, Frazier
Yet another football standout Garcia brother who is a national caliber wrestler. Gavin was 4th as a freshman and 3rd last season, putting him almost on the exact same track as Gaige (who went 5-3-1-1 for Southern Columbia). He won’t catch his father’s three state titles, but he is a good bet here in a deep field. Malachi Duvall will be a tough semi, but I think Garcia gets through. On the bottom, Rune Lawrence is yet another star in a deep 2A freshman class. His older brother Thayne, now at Lehigh, was a two-time champ and three time finalist, and Rune looks to be on that pace. He beat Duvall in sudden victory last week (his second win over him), but will have to get by Ben Haubert (Palisades), who pushed Garcia in a 5-3 East final. But I think we get Garcia-Lawrence in the finals, and while in a lot of years Rune Lawrence wins a first title, it’s Gavin Garcia’s time.
189: Cael Crebs, Montoursville over Wesley Barnes, Southern Colubmia
Why not make it four weeks in a row? These two have met for the District 4, Northeast Regional, and Super Regional titles with Crebs taking all four by a combined 11-1 score. I’m very high on Wesley Barnes, and like him to take out Ethan Finch (Sheffield) in semis to get a rematch, but the sophomore will have to wait another year for a state title because it looks like Crebs owns this one.
215: Dayton Pitzer, Mount Pleasant over Dylan Bennett, Montoursville
Pitzer stormed to a state title at 182 as a freshman before missing his entire sophomore season with an injury. He’d otherwise be a great bet for the four-timers club because nobody is going to beat him here. He’s a tall, lanky 215 who is excellent from top and athletic enough to give just about everybody problems. Bennett is a worthy challenger – he was a state finalist last year at 182 and is a Pitt signee – but he’s not quite on Pitzer’s level.
285: Jalen Stephens, Meyersdale over Nathan Taylor, Brookville
This is a talent pick. Stephens is the best guy in the bracket, but he battled health issues in February that nearly knocked him out for the season. He’s been back, but hasn’t looked totally like himself, including taking fourth in his Super Regional last week. If he can put together three matches, he’s the best guy in the field, but that may be a tall order. Taylor dominated the field last week, going Fall, Fall, major; so if Stephens isn’t quite right, Taylor is the pick.
