The PIAA State Wrestling Championships start this Thursday March 8th, 2012 with the AA preliminary matches beginning at 9am inside the Giant Center in Hershey.
Dallas junior Dominic DeGraba starts things off at 106lbs and his (42-8) record against Jaryd Flank from Wilson. Colin Mashack the Tamaqua sophomore also goes at 106lbs and he will face Josh Brown from Claysburg-Kimmel.
A total of 52 wrestlers in AA from the WNEP area head to the Giant Center and a great set of wrestlers go at 113lbs with David Sheesley from Mifflinburg, Matt Welliver- Benton, Josh Evans-Palmerton and Vito Pasone-Meyers. This should be interesting with Sheesley and Welliver meeting in the semifinals.
At 126 Lake Lehman’s Austin Harry takes his (37-1) record into his first preliminary match, while Jared Watson (38-3) the senior from Warrior Run waits on the lower bracket for a shot at Harry.
132lbs we see Benton’s Colt Cotten the District 4 Champion and his (33-2) record waiting until the finals to face either Seth Lansberry (38-4) from Line Mountain or Andrew Schutz (30-3) out of Wyoming Area.
Two wrestlers at 138lbs could win state titles. David Batkowski (37-1) Montoursville faces Blake Bowman fromTri-Valleyin the prelims while Zach Green from Northeast Bradford looks to make it to the finals for a re-match with Batkowski..Batman vs The Green Machine-make up your t-shirts now.
Kyle Barnes (37-0) and only a junior from Hughesville might take top honors for outstanding wrestler if he can have 4 good matches. Kritzer, Stucker and Brill might have something to say about that.
Zack Ripic from Towanda at 152lbs. and his (37-3) record could face (41-0) Cody Copeland from Greenville in the semi-finals.
Kurt Meske (37-0) Central Columbia senior might meet up with Tri-Valley’s Sam Scheib (38-3) in the semifinals. Meske has wrestled great all season.
Troy Hembury the junior from Muncy at (39-1) might see Dustin Conti from Jefferson-Morgan in the 170lbs finals.
At 182lbs. Jake Mankey sits on the bottom of the bracket with his (38-1) record. Dakota DesLauriers from Burrell waits in the wings with his (42-0) record. This could be the final match at 182.
Ryan Solomon the Milton junior at (31-1) comes into the State tournament as the NorthEast Regional champion.
Eric Laytos looks to get back to the top of the podium on Saturday the same place he was two years ago winning the State Title. Laytos at (35-0) has his form back from two years ago.
