G Photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for galleries of the state tournament: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f933726263
SOL GRAPPLERS GO FOR GOLD
H-H’s Morrison & Quakertown’s Collin Gaj 2024 PIAA AAA Wrestling Finalist
by Glenn Kaiser
Hershey, PA-Hatboro-Horsham’s Dominick Morrison is a PIAA finalist in his freshmen year. He becomes H-H’s first freshman finalist and looks to join Dennis Merriam as H-H’s second-ever state champ. Morrison has been up to every challenge in his first year of scholastic wrestling at 107-pounds. I asked him to sum it up in one sentence,
and all he said was “Confidence is key.” Morrison will face Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon, another freshman, who pinned District One’s Max Tancini (Perkiomen Valley) with a defensive fall. Quakertown’s Collin Gaj advanced to the 152-pound finals for his second finals appearance. Gaj was the 145-pound champion in 2023 and is primed to capture his second gold medal from Hershey and become a two-timer.
Gaj will now face Bethlehem Catholic’s Kollin Rath who himself is a returning champ. These two know each other well, and it will be a battle of titans tomorrow afternoon. Rath won a questionable one over Gaj at the Beast of the East in overtime 2-1 TB-1, and I am sure it has motivated Gaj since that moment leading up to this one. Gaj was a perfect 49-0 last season winning over two-time state champion Mac Church from Waynesburg Central handily 7-1. Gaj knows how to turn up the volume when he needs to, so this will not be an unfamiliar place for him. I say he does it again. As for the young Morrison, he gets it done too, as he has what it takes as wrestler to shine on the big stage here at the Giant Center.
All three state championship bouts will be conducted simultaneously Saturday afternoon. At 4:00pm. The PIAA, so far, has pulled it off with the Girls, AA & AAA boys so congrats to them hosting the greatest show on Earth. I hope the fans are enjoying it just as much as I am, besides you can also watch on FLO…if you pay.
Many other SOL Wrestlers remain in the hunt for bronze and will medal regardless of how their wrestle-backs go. CR North’s Alex Diaz looks to be headed that way after winning his fourth consi-match and will take on Perk Valley’s Max Tancini, who he beat earlier this season. Connor Lenahan from CRS is also in the same
position at 114-pounds. Cole Coffin (Pennridge) and Mason Ziegler (Q-town) look to be on a collision course yet again for third-place at 121-pounds. Eren Sement will look for his third third place finish at 127. Sement and Quinn McBride (Pennridge) are on the same path to meet again.
Central Bucks West workout partners Chris Dennis (133) and Patrick Kelly at 139 will both medal as well. Kelly lost his semifinal but has had a great run in the postseason. Quakertown will keep scoring points with Gavin Carroll at 145 along with big Calvin Lachman at 285. Pennridge will tally more with Sam Kuhns (152) and Talan Hogan, as both Q-town and the ‘Ridge are in the top-10 of the team standings. Bek Sadriddinov continues on, despite his injuries, and will medal to cap off a tremendous career for the Golden Hawks. Unfortunately, for CB East’s Joe Collins, he will have to leave Hershey without hardware as Lachman beat him 3-2 in a second-round consi-match.
Quakertown was in contention in the team title prior to the semis, but their odds were reduced with Ziegler’s semi loss, but they sit in fourth with 56-points. Bethlehem Catholic leads with 77.5-points followed by Lehigh Valley foe Nazareth (67 pts.), and State College in third with 59.5. Pennridge remained in the top-10 with the strength of their wrestle-back effort, and are tied for seventh with 48.5-points.
Consolation semifinals begin at 9:30am, stay tuned…
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