IT’S GO TIME IN HERSHEY
SOL Ready to Rumble at the Giant Center
by Glenn Kaiser
Hershey, PA-On the eve of the PIAA (AAA) Individual Wrestling Championships, wrestlers wrap up their final preparations for a 3-day extravaganza on the mats in the Giant Center. New traditions bring teams from around the state of Pennsylvania to the floor of the Giant Center in Chocolate Town, USA, for one more workout. This one is to stay loose, familiarize yourself with your surroundings, shake off any cobwebs or fears and enjoy the moment. For some, it is a first-time experience, one in which they may be in awe of something they dreamed about when they first stepped on the line as a youth wrestler, and for others it is all business with just one goal, Hershey gold.
The Suburban One League is well represented here in Hershey with several grapplers poised to stand high upon the podium. Here is a look at all the SOL wrestlers that are entered in the AAA brackets.
107-pounds: Pennridge SE Regional Champion Colby Martinelli is peaking at the right time as he is in a stacked super-lightweight class here at 107. Martinelli is in a good spot to medal separated from top guns Keanu Dillard (BECA) and Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights). A semifinal with Sirianni is looming if he remains hot in the top half of the bracket and can get by CD freshman Thunder Beard. Dillard is down below. Connor Lenahan (CR South) will have a pigtail bout to get in and face Dillard and will most likely have to wrestle-back in a grueling consolation bracket.
114-pounds: Four SOL wrestlers are in the bracket, and freshmen phenom Chris Dennis from CB West is looking real good in another loaded weight class. Pennridge’s Cole Coffin is looking to medal and was businesslike, winning the consi-bracket at regionals, which could very well help him to get on to the podium. Quakertown’s Issac Williams is the first of six Panthers to take the mats at the Giant Center and will look to post some points for the team. Luke Reitter (CRS) is no stranger here medaling (8th) in 2022. It will be a grind for medals here, but look for some hardware to come home at 114. BECA’s Nathan Desmond is the favorite and an undefeated Kaedyn Williams (Manhiem Twp) will look to challenge.
121-pounds: Q-town’s Mason Ziegler continues his quest to win state gold and is seeded well, down below in the bracket, away from several of his biggest challengers, Cael Nasdeo (Williamsport), CJ Horvath (Freedom) and Wilson West Lawn’s James Garcia. He will need a victory in the semis against Daniel Boone’s Dean Houser to get his chance at a state title. Quinn McBride (Pennridge) has Garcia up first and will need to remain on top of his game for a medal.
127-pounds: CR North’s Eren Sement was not at his best winning a SE Region title, but it may have come at the right time, as a win is a win, and he has had plenty of big ones this season. He remains one of the favorites to win a state championship here as top-gun Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe) and Hayden Cunningham (State College) both live on top of the bracket and are his greatest threats.
133-pounds: Ben Brillhart from CR South is the lone SOL grappler here and has a pigtail match early and will need perform at his best to medal in a deep weight-class.
139-pounds: Pennridge’s Sam Kuhns was the SE champ but is a long shot to medal despite his favorable placement in the bracket. CB South’s Jake Neill will be looking for some breaks and some revenge here. Quakertown’s Gavin Carroll has been nothing short of spectacular since his late return to the mats for the Panthers. All three will need to be on top of their games to get some hardware.
145-pounds: Collin Gaj (Quakertown) arrives in Hershey undefeated at 45-0 with only one goal - win gold. If Gaj can take out Matthew Repos (Central Dauphin) in the semis, he will get his chance against Waynesburg’s Mac Church. Neshaminy’s Beknazar Baiyshbekov is at his first big dance and has a pigtail to win for a match with Repos.
152-pounds: Q-town’s middle-weight trio includes Zach Borzio here. Joining him is Neshaminy’s Dan Hansbury and the Golden Hawks Gavin Cole. Cole may see Borzio early in this tournament, and if he can recapture some of his early season magic, he could position himself for a medal. This is an extremely experienced and decorated weight class, thus all three will need to be on point for each match. Number one seed West Allegheny’s Ty Watters is undefeated, CD’s Ryan Garvick and Northampton’s Dagen Condomitti are the top-three wrestlers at 152.
160-ppunds: CR South’s Bek Sadriddinov is looking to stand on the podium as a junior. He should be right there as he has been all season with the best-of-the best. Pennsbury’s Shane McGurrin is looking to make some noise, and will be tested in the Giant Center.
172-pounds: Waynesburg Central’s Rocco Welsh is the man here at 39-0. Both Talan Hogan (Pennridge) and Souderton’s Ben Beckett will need to have peak performances to medal. Hogan garnered some great experience and knowledge wrestling in the Giant Center in the state duals, and he will be dangerous and a tough out for anyone.
215-pounds: Calvin Lachman (Quakertown) has not fared will against Owen J Roberts’ Dillon Bechtold in the postseason, losing twice to him in the D1 duals and SE Regional final. Nonetheless, he, along with Bechtold, will be Sonny Sasso’s (Nazareth) biggest challengers to win a title here. Lachman is up-top with Sasso in the bracket, and they will meet early in a quarterfinal match. Lachman will stand high on the bottom and bolster Q-town’s chances in the team race.
285-pounds: CB East’s Joe Collins will look to get some hardware in Hershey. He loves the pressure of close matches and has the grit and style to medal. Nazareth’s Sean Kinney is the fav to win the big-man title, but he will be challenged by an experienced field of heavyweights.
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