Here’s a look at each Centre County wrestler competing in PIAA regional tournaments
Only two weeks remain in the high school wrestling season, and wrestlers are now just one round away from making the PIAA Championships.
Thirty-eight Centre County athletes will compete in this weekend’s PIAA Class 2A Southwest and Class 3A Northwest regional tournaments. Class 2A wrestlers need to finish in the top six to get through. Class 3A wrestlers need to finish top three.
Here’s a look at each wrestler looking to get to Hershey for the ultimate goal — PIAA gold.
Class 2A
Bald Eagle Area
Gavin Guenot, freshman, 106 pounds
Record: 27-14
District finish: Fifth
First opponent: Isaac Maccaglia, Quaker Valley, sophomore, 25-9, District 7 Third
How’d he get here: Guenot opened his first district tournament with a pin, and nearly reached the semifinals, but suffered a 6-4 defeat to Mount Union’s Mason Beatty.
In the consolation bracket, Guenot pinned his first opponent and used a 7-1 win over Philipsburg-Osceola’s Sammy McDonald to secure his regional spot. Guenot was pinned by Penns Valley’s Jack Darlington in the consolation semifinals, but rebounded with a 5-2 defeat of Forest Hills’ Isaiah Shilcosky.
Lucas Fye, sophomore, 113 pounds
Record: 27-7
District finish: Second
First opponent: Calio Zanella, Burrell, freshman, 28-13, District 7 Fifth
How’d he get here: Fye was the top seed in the district tournament, and he showed why. He pinned Forest Hills’ Brevin Michuk in 3:53 to make the semifinals after receiving a bye into the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Fye racked up a 9-0 major decision on United’s Gideon Bracken to set up a rematch with West Branch’s Landon Bainey. The pair faced off in last season’s 106 pound finals at the District 6 tournament with Bainey winning. This year’s result was the same, with Bainey topping Fye by a score of 7-5.
Coen Bainey, junior, 120 pounds
Record: 30-3
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Winner of Tristen Hawkins, Conemaugh Township, sophomore, 23-9, District 5 Third/Emanuel Gardner, Elizabeth Forward, sophomore, 18-15, District 7 Eighth
How’d he get here: Bainey dominated his way to his third straight district crown. He has had a knack for scoring bonus points too.
The junior pinned his way to the finals in just over four minutes of wrestling. In the finals, he earned a 9-1 major decision over fellow county wrestler in the Mounties’ Nick Coudriet.
Kevin Taylor, senior, 132 pounds
Record: 12-16
District finish: Fifth
First opponent: Kyle McCollum, Beth-Center, senior, 32-4, District 7 runner-up
How’d he get here: Taylor, who was the No. 9 seed in the district, topped Forest Hills’ TJ Carroll to get the top seed in Tyrone’s Ashton Sipes in the quarterfinals. Sipes racked up a 16-1 technical fall on Taylor.
Taylor opened his consolation bracket with a pin of West Branch’s Hunter Schnarr’s in 3:00. He then edged Huntingdon’s Eden Wagner, 4-3, to secure his regional spot. After suffering a 16-3 loss to Glendale’s George Campbell, Taylor ended his district tournament with a 10-1 major decision over Penn Cambria’s Anthony Coukart.
Jeffre Pifer, junior, 138 pounds
Record: 28-11
District finish: Third
First opponent: Isaac Lacinski, Burrell, freshman, 30-13, District 7 Fifth
How’d he get here: Pifer was the No. 2 seed in the district, and opened with a pin of River Valley’s Adam Blauser in 47 seconds. He used a hard-fought 6-0 win over Tyrone’s Lukas Walk to make the semifinals.
Pifer was handed a heartbreaking 3-2 loss from Marion Center’s Liam Cornetto in the semifinals. He responded with a 7-2 win over Richland’s Austin Syfert, and edged Walk for third in a 2-0 win.
Mason Reese, sophomore, 152 pounds
Record: 12-17
District finish: Sixth
First opponent: Justin Richey, Quaker Valley, Sr., 32-6, District 7 Champion
How’d he get here: Reese made the district quarterfinals with a 3-2 win over United’s Aiden Gallaher. He was kicked into the consolation bracket by suffering a 6-4 loss to River Valley’s Cole Stuchal.
Reese pinned West Branch’s John Myers to stay alive, and used an 8-3 win over Central Cambria’s Deklan Estep to secure his regional spot. He dropped his final two bouts to end his district tournament.
Cameron Dubbs, sophomore, 160 pounds
Record: 21-15
District finish: Fifth
First opponent: Trevor Pettit, Beth-Center, Sr., 33-4, District 7 runner-up
How’d he get here: Dubbs came up just shy of making the district semifinals by suffering a 2-1 loss to Penn Cambria’s Austin McCloskey in ultimate tie-breaker No. 2. He then took out fellow county wrestlers to secure his regional spot.
Dubbs first topped P-O’s Jimmy Richscheit, 3-0. Then, the sophomore pinned Penns Valley’s Micah Fetterolf, but a loss in the consolation semifinals sent him to the fifth-place match. Dubbs ended the district tournament on a high note with a 3-2 win over Mount Union’s Jayce Reck.
Caleb Close, freshman, 172 pounds
Record: 34-9
District finish: Second
First opponent: Jacob Noyes, Burgettstown, junior, 25-17, District 7 Sixth
How’d he get here: Close has had a stellar freshman campaign at an upper weight class. He made the district quarterfinals with a pin in 1:36.
Close used a pair of two-point wins to make the finals, 2-0 over Forest Hills’ Tye Templeton and 6-4 over Marion Center’s Gavin Stewart in the semifinals. In the finals, Close was pinned by Glendale’s Suds Dubler in 5:14.
Noah Foltz, senior, 189 pounds
Record: 27-7
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Chase Tinstman, Laurel, junior, 20-17, District 7 Seventh
How’d he get here: Foltz was the No. 1 seed in the district tournament and took just 30 seconds to secure his regional spot with a fall in the quarterfinals. He topped Penns Valley’s Hunter Lyons, 7-4 to make the finals.
In the finals, Foltz shutout the No. 2 seed in Central Cambria’s Ethan Kubat, 4-0, for his lone district crown.
Penns Valley
Jack Darlington, Soph., 106 pounds
Record: 29-6
District finish: Fourth
First opponent: Shawn Robertson, Fort Cherry, freshman, 30-8, District 7 runner up
How’d he get here: Darlington secured his regional spot on the first day of the district tournament by reaching the semifinals. He had a pin in his district opener, and beat the No. 4 seed in Shilcosky, 6-2, to make the semifinals.
Darlington was pinned by the top seed in Tyrone’s Korry Walls to get kicked into the consolation bracket. Darlington pinned Guenot in 3:54 to make the consolation finals, where he suffered a 14-1 major decision loss to Beatty.
Colten Shunk, sophomore, 120 pounds
Record: 24-11
District finish: Fourth
First opponent: Cooper Hornack, Burrell, sophomore., 34-7, District 7 runner-up
How’d he get here: Shunk was the No. 3 seed at the district tournament. With a bye to the quarterfinals, he pinned Mount Union’s AJ Chilcote in 3:51 to make the semifinals.
Shunk, who was leading 2-0 at the time, was pinned by Coudriet in 3:03 to be sent to the consolation bracket. He used a 4-0 shutout of Marion Center’s Cam Stewart to make the consolation finals. Chilcote got revenge on Shunk with a 4-3 win.
Ty Watson, sophomore, 145 pounds
Record: 33-0
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Winner of Chase Brandebura, Carlynton, junior, 28-9, District 7 Eighth/Ryan Thomas, Conemaugh Township, Jr., 21-7, District 5 Third
How’d he get here: Watson has done nothing but dominate all year long. He is one of two undefeated wrestlers in this regional tournament.
Watson bonused his way to the finals with a major decision sandwiched between a pair of pins. He opened with a pin of Moshannon Valley’s Jalen Kurten, hung an 11-2 major decision on Westmont Hilltop’s David Ray, and pinned P-O’s Austin Foster in the semifinals. In the finals, Watson used a late takedown to top Forest Hills’ Noah Teeter, 4-2.
Cole Felker, senior, 172 pounds
Record: 29-8
District finish: Fifth
First opponent: Mason Diemert, Quaker Valley, senior, 31-6, District 7 runner-up
How’d he get here: Felker opened his final district tournament with a fall, before suffering a 10-6 loss to Southern Huntingdon’s Tommy Cohenour in the quarterfinals. He pinned River Valley’s Chase Stuchal to remain alive.
In the consolation quarterfinals, the Rams wrestler got an injury default win over Central Cambria’s Jon Hajzus to secure his regional spot. After suffering a 4-0 loss to Gavin Stewart, Felker ended his district tournament with a 12-0 major decision over Templeton.
Hunter Lyons, Jr., 189 pounds
Record: 24-11
District finish: Third
First opponent: Anthony Salvini, Fort Cherry, sophomore, 25-16, District 7 Fifth
How’d he get here: Lyons pinned his way to the district semifinals in just over three minutes of wrestling. He was sent to the consolation bracket with the loss to Foltz.
Lyons pinned P-O’s Dom Shaw in the consolation semifinals in 2:09. In the consolation finals, the junior topped Moshannon Valley’s Niko Smeal, 7-3.
Philipsburg-Osceola
Nick Coudriet, senior, 120 pounds
Record: 21-5
District finish: Second
First opponent: Logan Richey, Quaker Valley, junior, 31-9, District 7 Fourth
How’d he get here: Coudriet was the No. 2 seed in his final district tournament. Before pinning Shunk in the semifinals, he pinned United’s Michael Monty in 47 seconds of their quarterfinals match.
Coudriet suffered the previous mentioned loss to Bainey in the finals.
Scotty Frantz, senior, 126 pounds
Record: 16-15
District finish: Third
First opponent: Davis Stepp, Beth-Center, senior, 27-15, District 7 Fourth
How’d he get here: Frantz secured his regional spot on the first day of the district tournament by reaching the semifinals as the No. 5 seed. He pinned his way there over Richland’s Caden Milne and Mount Union’s Caden Chilcote (quarterfinals).
Frantz was then pinned by the top seed in Penn Cambria’s Trent Hoover to be kicked into the consolation bracket. The senior used a 9-0 major decision to reach the consolation finals, where he upset the No. 3 seed in Huntingdon’s Landon Dunsmore, 7-5.
Marcus Gable, sophomore, 132 pounds
Record: 30-6
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Ryder Goe, South Side Beaver, freshman, 9-5, District 7 Seventh
How’d he get here: Gable was the No. 2 seed at the district tournament and bonused his way to the semifinals. He pinned Juniata Valley’s Nick Morningstar in 3:03 to make the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Gable racked up a 13-4 major decision on Penns Valley’s Nate Long. He made the finals by topping Campbell, 6-2. In the finals, Gable edged the top seed in Sipes, 5-3.
Austin Foster, Sr., 145 pounds
Record: 24-9
District finish: Fifth
First opponent: Ryan Celaschi, Frazier, freshman, 27-9, District 7 Third
How’d he get here: Foster pinned his way to the semifinals with wins over the Eagles’ Tayten Yoder and Huntingdon’s Devin Grubb. Foster’s quickest win was over Grubb in 50 seconds of their quarterfinals match.
The senior suffered the loss to Watson in the semifinals, and was dropped into the fifth-place match with a 4-1 loss to Tyrone’s Reese Wood. In the fifth-place match, Foster again pinned Grubb in 50 seconds.
Luke Hughes, Sr., 152 pounds
Record: 19-14
District finish: Fifth
First opponent: Joey Boughton, Avonworth, senior, 27-8, District 7 Third
How’d he get here: Hughes was the No. 2 seed at the district tournament, but wasn’t as dominant as one might expect out of a top seed. However, he did what he had to do by reaching the semifinals on the first day to secure his regional spot.
Hughes topped Moshannon Valley’s Austin Shoff, 3-1, in the second round. In the quarterfinals, he used a third period escape hold up in a 1-0 win over Westmont Hilltop’s Stephen Hanley. Hughes suffered a 3-2 loss to Stuchal in the semifinals. He was kicked into the fifth-place match after being pinned by Bellwood-Antis’ Xander Shank, and ended with a 2-1 win over Reese.
Dom Shaw, senior, 189 pounds
Record: 15-15
District finish: Fifth
First opponent: Noah Gnibus, Mount Pleasant, senior, 13-2, District 7 runner-up
How’d he get here: Shaw edged Forest Hills’ Kory Marsalko, 9-8, to make the quarterfinals, where he suffered an 8-0 loss to Penn Cambria’s Austin Wagner. Shaw used a 7-2 win over Bellwood-Antis’ Jason Pluebell to stay alive.
Shaw secured his regional spot with a 7-4 win over Mount Union’s Josh Ryan. After suffering the loss to Lyons, Shaw had his district tournament end with a medical forfeit win over Wagner.
Chase Klinger, senior, 285 pounds
Record: 19-11
District finish: Fourth
First opponent: Coltin Hill, Laurel, junior, 29-7, District 7 Third
How’d he get here: Klinger pinned his way to the semifinals as the No. 4 seed in just over five minutes of wrestling. In the semifinals, he was pinned by the top seed in Huntingdon’s Gunner Singleton.
Klinger pinned River Valley’s Brad Miller in 1:29 to reach the consolation finals. In the consolation finals, Klinger suffered a 4-2 loss to Central Cambria’s Karter Quick.
Class 3A
Bellefonte
Cameron Garcia, freshman, 106 pounds
Record: 15-15
District finish: Second
First opponent: Aubree Donahue, DuBois, junior, 9-13, District 4/9 Fourth
How’d he get here: Garcia made a surprise run to the district finals. He had a pin in the quarterfinals in 3:45.
In the semifinals, Garcia shutout the No. 2 seed in Juniata’s Joey Bomberger, 8-0. In the finals, Altoona senior Luke Hileman made short work of the rookie in 29 seconds.
Garrett Choates, senior, 113 pounds
Record: 27-9
District finish: Second
First opponent: Winner of Alex Reed, Shikellamy, sophomore, 27-10, District 4/9 Fourth/Jaidon Jones, Carrick, freshman, 16-7, District 8 Champion
How’d he get here: As the No. 2 seed, Choates was automatically into the semifinals, where he racked up a 14-0 major decision on Central Mountain’s Clayton Foster. In the finals, he was pinned by Mifflin County’s Nic Allison in 32 seconds.
Noah Weaver, freshman, 126 pounds
Record: 18-13
District finish: Fourth
First opponent: Brady Collins, Clearfield, freshman, 30-3, District 4/9 Champion
How’d he get here: Weaver made the district semifinals in his first postseason with a 7-1 win over Hollidaysburg’s Mason Schenck. In the semifinals, Juniata’s Taylor Smith sent the freshman to the consolations with a 19-8 loss.
Weaver topped Altoona’s Jordan Carlucci 6-0 in the consolation semifinals, before being beat by State College’s Jacob Campbell, 13-4.
Aidan O’Shea, senior, 132 pounds
Record: 30-6
District finish: Second
First opponent: Ben Watkins, General McLane, sophomore, 8-12, District 10 Third
How’d he get here: Being the No. 2 seed, O’Shea was in the semifinals to start. He hung a 15-3 major decision on Mifflin County’s Blake Aumiller to reach the finals.
In the finals, O’Shea suffered a 7-1 loss to Central Mountain’s Luke Simcox.
Gage Long, junior, 138 pounds
Record: 22-11
District finish: Third
First opponent: Arad Shahandeh, Allderdice, freshman, 0-5, District 8 runner-up
How’d he get here: Long opened the district tournament with a fall in 5:20 over Altoona’s Wyatt Young. In the semifinals, Long was pinned by Central Mountain’s Taylor Weaver in 1:32.
Long closed the district tournament out with a pair of bonus point victories — technical fall and major decision.
Jude Swisher, senior, 145 pounds
Record: 35-1
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Winner of Connor Wetzel, Shikellamy, freshman, 24-15, District 4/9 Third/Kyle Cousins, General McLane, Jr., 20-18, District 10 runner-up
How’d he get here: Swisher cruised to his second district title in his final tournament. He opened by pinning Altoona’s Will Young in 2:21.
In the finals, the Penn commit secured a 10-0 major decision over Central Mountain’s Griffin Walizer.
Nate Smith, senior, 152 pounds
Record: 13-9
District finish: Fourth
First opponent: Jermaine Williams, Brashear, senior, 12-2, District 8 Champion
How’d he get here: Smith had only four guys at his weight for the district tournament, so his regional spot was secure before the tournament began.
He suffered two losses to finish fourth, but still advanced.
Tyler Putnam, senior, 285 pounds
Record: 24-14
District finish: Fourth
First opponent: Oliver Billotte, Clearfield, senior, 26-2, District 4/9 runner-up
How’d he get here: Putnam made the district semifinals with a pin of Johnstown’s Charles Yingling in 1:16. He nearly made the finals, but suffered a 2-1 ultimate tiebreaker No. 2 loss to Central Mountain’s Brayden Blackwell.
Putnam pinned Altoona’s Michael Riccio in 1:29 of their consolation semifinals bout. In the consolation finals, he suffered a 2-1 loss to State College’s Shane Focht, again in ultimate tiebreaker No. 2.
State College
Jonathan Coates, freshman, 106 pounds
Record: 8-11
District finish: Third
First opponent: Jakari King, Allderdice, freshman, 6-7, District 8 runner-up
How’d he get here: Coates was sent to the consolation bracket early as he was pinned by Hollidaysburg’s Carson Krupka in the quarterfinals. He used a 5-0 win over Bomberger to secure his regional spot.
In the consolation finals, Coates got revenge on Krupka with a 4-2 win.
Asher Cunningham, freshman, 120 pounds
Record: 29-6
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Winner of Adam Rougeux, Clearfield, sophomore, 13-13, District 4/9 Third/Logan Sallot, McDowell, Jr., 16-5, District 10 runner-up
How’d he get here: In his first district tournament, Cunningham was tested in his first bout. He used an early second period reversal as the winning points in a 5-4 win over Mifflin County’s Hunter Johnson.
In the finals, Cunningham took care of business and held of Juniata junior Casey Smith for a 4-1 win.
Jacob Campbell, sophomore, 126 pounds
Record: 13-12
District finish: Third
First opponent: Devin Harris, Williamsport, sophomore, 12-14, District 4/9 runner-up
How’d he get here: Campbell opened with a fall in his district tournament. He was sent to the consolations in the semifinals as Central Mountain’s freshman phenom Dalton Perry hung a 15-0 technical fall on Campbell in 4:00.
Campbell finished out with a pair of bonus point victories for his district finish.
Pierson Manville, sophomore, 138 pounds
Record: 31-3
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Winner of Charles Keener, Shikellamy, sophomore, 27-14, District 4/9 Third/Hudson Spires, General McLane, Fr., 22-16, District 10 runner-up
How’d he get here: Manville had no problems winning his second consecutive district crown. He opened with a of Mifflin County’s Jake Cunningham in 1:50.
In the finals, Manville racked up an 18-1 technical fall on Weaver in 4:20.
Josh Hershbine, senior, 160 pounds
Record: 11-15
District finish: Third
First opponent: Clay Mallory, Cathedral Prep, sophomore, 22-5, District 10 runner-up
How’d he get here: Hershbine opened with a fall to make the semifinals, where he was pinned by the district top seed in Mifflin County’s Kyler Everly. The senior topped fellow county wrestler in Bellefonte’s Grady Garrison, 8-2, to secure his regional spot.
In the consolation finals, Hershbine edged Juniata’s Josh Bomberger, 4-3.
Braden Newby, senior, 172 pounds
Record: 19-13
District finish: Second
First opponent: Ty Tidball, Meadville, sophomore, 13-13, District 10 Third
How’d he get here: Newby has practically come out of nowhere this season. He was the No. 2 seed in the district tournament, and reached the finals.
He opened with a 20-5 technical fall in 5:57 over Juniata’s Harrison Mummah. Then, Newby edged Central Mountain’s Jacob Weaver, 3-0, to make the finals. In the finals, Newby suffered a 1-0 loss to Hollidaysburg’s Aaron Sleeth.
Carter Weaverling, junior, 189 pounds
Record: 20-14
District finish: Second
First opponent: Toa Mata’afa-Grove, Erie, sophomore, 13-10, District 10 Third
How’d he get here: Weaverling opened with a pin of Hollidaysburg’s Luke Onkst in 34 seconds of the district tournament. He then made the finals with a 3-2 win over Central Mountain’s Damien Galentine.
In the finals, Weaverling was pinned by the top seed in Mifflin County’s Trey Shoemaker in 1:41.
Nick Pavlechko, sophomore, 215 pounds
Record: 25-3
District finish: Champion
First opponent: Winner of Mason Rebuck, Shikellamy, junior, 21-9, District 4/9 Third/Russell Wismer, General McLane, 11-17, District 10 runner-up
How’d he get here: Pavlechko bonused his way to his first district crown after missing the postseason last year. He built up giant leads on his quarterfinals and semifinals opponents before pinning them.
In the finals, Pavlechko had no problems securing a 14-5 major decision on Mifflin County’s Anson Wagner.
Shane Focht, senior, 285 pounds
Record: 15-11
District finish: Third
First opponent: Jack Sroka, McDowell, Jr., 19-13, District 10 runner-up
How’d he get here: Focht picked up a pin in his first district tournament to make the semifinals. In the semifinals, he was pinned by the top seed in Mifflin County’s Jaxson Pupo.
Focht made the consolation finals with a 7-1 defeat of Hollidaysburg’s Rally Hoover. In that consolation finals match, Focht edged Putnam.
PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional
When: 4:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Peters Township High School, McMurray
Tickets: Online only, $8 per round or $24 for entire championships
Brackets: FloArena
PIAA Class 3A Northwest Regional
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday
Where: Fieldhouse, Altoona
Tickets: Online only, $8 per round pr $24 for entire championships
Brackets: FloArena
