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York-Adams Wrestle Weekly: Previewing the PIAA Tournament

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It’s hard to believe that high school wrestling has just three days remaining in its 2015 season. Can the YAIAA follow-up last year’s incredible postseason that was capped with three PIAA Champions?  It will be a tall order. But are there threats for a PIAA champ or two? Absolutely.

Let’s take a look at each YAIAA competitor’s preliminary or first-round matchup with a predicted finish for each, beginning with Class AAA.

Spring Grove's Dalton Rohrbaugh takes on Brady Serina, of Mechanicsburg in the first round of AAA District 3 wrestling at the Hershey Arena in Hershey, Friday, February 20. Michael K. Dakota - GameTimePA

Spring Grove’s Dalton Rohrbaugh takes on Brady Serina, of Mechanicsburg in the first round of AAA District 3 wrestling at the Hershey Arena in Hershey, Friday, February 20. Michael K. Dakota – GameTimePA

106 – Spring Grove freshman Dalton Rohrbaugh (31-4): The most successful freshman in Rockets history will open against Southeast No. 2 seed, Aiden Burke of Council Rock South (31-8), in the first round. Based on bracket draw, Rohrbaugh has a very good shot at meeting Altoona’s Cole Manley in a semifinal. Predicted finish: Fifth.

113 – New Oxford sophomore Zurich Storm (33-4): Storm will open against a Council Rock South wrestler as well – freshman Ben Radner (27-9) – in a preliminary round match. The winner gets Liberty’s KJ Fenstermacher (35-4). Storm should win his opening bout and could give Fenstermacher a run for his money. Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

120 – South Western’s Derek Wilson (32-11): After a slow start, thanks in large part to the Mustangs wrestling in high profile tournaments, Wilson has been wrestling as good as anyone in District 3 and should make it through his preliminary bout against Laurel Highlands’ Zeke Beatty (21-9). He’d likely then run into Central Mountain’s Keanan Bottorf (31-7). That’s a match that’s very winnable for Wilson. Predicted finish: Seventh.

126 – South Western’s Owen Wherley (37-5): Wherley’s got a tough first-round matchup against Council Rock South’s Zack Trampe (42-4). If he takes that matchup he could possibly face the WPIAL Champ, Greater Latrobe’s Ethan McCoy (23-4). Tough draw for the junior, who notched his 100th-career victory last week. Predicted finish: Just off the medal stand.

132 – Spring Grove’s Levi Witmer (32-7): The Rockets senior made an impressive run in the District 3 tournament, and for that run he gets WPIAL runner-up and already two-time PIAA Champion, Greater Latrobe’s Luke Pletcher (36-1). Witmer really couldn’t have gotten a worse draw. Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

138 – Central York’s Dylan Chatterton (32-1): The Panther will open the tournament against Mifflin County freshman Trent Hidlay (33-8). It’ll be a tough matchup, but I expect Chatterton to advance and face a former PIAA champ in Hempfield Area’s (WPIAL) Sam Krivus (39-0). Predicted finish: Seventh.

Dallastown's Nick Shields will be looking for a PIAA medal to cap his career. (Submitted)

Dallastown’s Nick Shields will be looking for a PIAA medal to cap his career. (Submitted)

145 – Dallastown’s Nicholas Shields (34-1). Shields will participate in arguably the best first-round matchup, as he’ll face Mifflin County’s Hayden Hidlay (38-1). The winner of that match will get unbeaten Franklin Regional wrestler, Michael Kemerer (37-0). Yikes. Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

152 – West York’s Garrett Stauffer (31-5): Stauffer opens against Greater Latrobe’s Ethan Smith (38-7) with the winner getting Council Rock South’s Dylan Schwartz (41-5). Stauffer could lose and be done or he could win two matches. Tough to predict here. Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

160 – Spring Grove’s Marcus Kehr (34-6): The Rocket will face Upper Moreland’s Dominic DeLaurentis (35-6) in a preliminary contest, with the winner getting Franklin Regional’s Josh Shields (37-0). Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

220 – South Western’s Seth Janney (38-2): Janney will meet either Pennridge’ Ezra Outlaw (41-9) or Hopewell’s Stephon Peake (35-4) in the first round. With a win, Janney could face Selinsgrove’s Andrew Boob (33-2). I expect Janney to reach the semifinals against Kiski’s Tyler Worthing (17-0) or even the Championship against Boyertown’s Jordan Wood (16-0). Wood is the favorite to win this weight class after falling just short the last two years. Predicted finish: Top four.

With the AAA portion previewed, we’ll now move onto Class AA.

120 – Bermudian Springs’ Austin Clabaugh (40-7): Clabaugh will meet Lake-Lehman’s RJ Driscoll (23-16) in the preliminary round, with the winner meeting Brookville’s Taylor Ortiz (37-2). I see Clabaugh taking the first bout before falling to Ortiz. Predicted finish: Off medal stand.

Hanover's Caleb Garland tries to put down Fort LeBoeuf's Jarrette Carter in the 120 lbs class bout in the AA wrestling preliminaries on Thursday March 6, 2014 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Garland lost his bout against with a takedown by Carter. Shane Dunlap - GameTimePA.com

Hanover’s Caleb Garland tries to put down Fort LeBoeuf’s Jarrette Carter in the 120 lbs class bout in the AA wrestling preliminaries on Thursday March 6, 2014 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Garland lost his bout against with a takedown by Carter. Shane Dunlap – GameTimePA.com

120 – Hanover’s Caleb Garland (37-6): Garland enters as a bit of a darkhorse, wrestling District 3 and the Southeast Regional’s best to tight matches. He’ll get Derry Area’s Cole Wano (32-13) in the preliminary before possibly facing Huntingdon’s Collin Glorioso (39-2). Getting Glorioso in a first-round matchup is not ideal. Predicted finish: eighth.

145 – Biglerville’s Nate Newberry (35-2): Not many are wrestling as well as Newberry right now. The Canner junior will face either Bloomsburg’s Cody Klinger (25-9) or Mount Pleasant’s Austin Mears (38-10) in the first round. It’s reasonable to expect the Canner to reach the semifinals, where he’d face a stiff test in Southern Columbia’s Kent Lane (40-1). Predicted finish: Third.

152 – Littlestown’s Jordan Matthews (28-13): Matthews has snuck through the District 3 tournament before doing the same in the regional tournament. Impressive season for the Thunderbolt senior. He will face Mount Pleasant senior Ethan Charlesworth (39-9) in the preliminaries. Winner gets Pius X unbeaten Michael Comunale (31-0). Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

152 – Eastern York’s Dakota Mackley (33-9): Mackley’s had an impressive postseason run and will face South Allegheny’s Cody Jenkins (37-9) in the first round. Winner will get South Park’s Jake Wentzel (36-1). Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

160 – Bermudian Springs’ Noah Fleshman (28-11): The Eagle sophomore will face Greenville’s Colton Shilling (12-6) in the preliminary round with the winner facing Mifflinburg’s Cole Walter (37-1). Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

Bermudian Springs' Briton Shelton shown above as he picked up his 100th career win is one of the favorites to win 170-pounds this weekend. Shane Dunlap - GameTimePA.com

Bermudian Springs’ Briton Shelton shown above as he picked up his 100th career win is one of the favorites to win 170-pounds this weekend. Shane Dunlap – GameTimePA.com

170 – Bermudian Springs’ Briton Shelton (37-3): Shelton had a great run in the PIAA tournament last year, reaching the semifinal and eventually finishing in fourth. Shelton will face either Milton’s Brandon Stokes (32-11) or West Branch’s Luke Slippey (37-6) in the first round this year. Shelton should advance to the semifinals again where he’ll face Troy’s Nick Stephani (37-0). Predicted finish: Third.

182 – Bermudian Springs’ Colton Dull (35-1): The Eagle senior finally overcame Lehighton’s Connor Frey last week and will enter as a favorite for the 182-pound title. He’ll face either Beth-Center’s Nico Brown (35-10) or Palmerton’s Jarred Mooney (28-13) in the first round. A potential semifinal showdown looms with Dull or Penns Valley’s Corey Hazel (35-1). Predicted finish: 182-pound Champion.

Eastern York's Lucas Barshinger, takes control of Schuylkill Valley's Jonathan Tindall, during their 195 pound match in the District 3 2A finals at Hersheypark Arena Saturday February 21, 2015. Chris Knight - GametimePa.com

Eastern York’s Lucas Barshinger, takes control of Schuylkill Valley’s Jonathan Tindall, during their 195 pound match in the District 3 2A finals at Hersheypark Arena Saturday February 21, 2015. Chris Knight – GametimePa.com

195 – Eastern York’s Lucas Barshinger (30-1): Barshinger recorded his first loss last week in the southeast regional final, as he was pinned by North Schuylkill’s Alek Hummel late in the match despite a tie score. Barshinger will face Clarion’s Zach Sintobin (29-7) in the first round and with a win will likely face Blairsville’s Scott Thompson (37-0). Tough draw. Predicted finish: Fifth.

220 – Bermudian Springs’ Sam McCollum (39-0): McCollum won his 100th career match last week and will enter as the favorite to get out of the top-half of the bracket. He’ll face either Redbank Valley’s Cal Haines (28-11) or Yough’s Tom Sever (30-7) in the first round. A potential semifinal against Scranton Prep’s Thor Balavage (39-2) awaits. Predicted finish: Runner-up.

220 – Biglerville’s Nate Mentzer (31-11): A locked-hands call in the fifth-place match in the District 3 tournament is all that separated Mentzer from a career-ending defeat and now a PIAA berth. He’ll meet South Allegheny’s Seth Hitchens (37-4) in the preliminaries. Winner gets West Branch’s Reynold Maines (38-0).

285 – Littlestown’s Zach MacLeod (29-13): MacLeod will face Bloomsburg’s Jordan Troup (34-5) in a preliminary bout with the winner getting 285-pound favorite Al Beattie (44-1) of Burrell. Predicted finish: Off the medal stand.

285- Bermudian Springs’ Brady Linebaugh (36-2): Linebaugh will meet Reynolds’ Gene Ringer (38-8) in the first round and is my pick to win that bout. He’ll then likely meet Beattie in the quarterfinals. Very, very tough draw. Predicted finish: Sixth.

Stay tuned to GameTimePA.com and follow me on twitter @ameaseYDR for updates from the Giant Center all weekend. Wrestling begins Thursday.


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