SHARON, Pa. – The PIAA 2A wrestling postseason continues with the North West Regional Tournament at Sharon High School Area High School this weekend (Mar. 4-5).
Wrestling begins Friday evening (Mar. 3) at 5:15 p.m. with the preliminaries and continues through the quarterfinals.
Action resumes Saturday (Mar. 4), with the first round of consolations slated for 8:00 a.m. The semifinals, the second consolation round, and the consolation semifinals follow.
The third session is slated for later Saturday, the third and fifth place matches being wrestled starting at 3:30 p.m. The Parade of Champions commences at 5:00 p.m., after which the finals will be contested.
This year’s regional tournament features three returning 2A champions, Cole Householder of Brookville (127 pounds), Aiden Zimmerman of Johnsonburg (160 pounds), and Brock Covell of Titusville (172 pounds). In addition, with the reclassification of Saint Marys, there are two 3A regional champions from last year in the current field – Aiden Beimel (114 pounds) and Waylon Wehler (172 pounds).
Thirty-one state qualifiers from a year ago, including nine placers, will be attempting to return to Hershey.
D10 features 19 of those returning state qualifiers (including one reclassified from 3A) and seven placers. Fort LeBoeuf’s JoJo Przybycien (133 pounds) and Abe Keep (215 pounds) of Girard were the highest place winners from District 10 a year ago, both finishing fourth.
D9 returns 12 state qualifiers from last year (five reclassified from 3A), including four who placed (one reclassified from 3A). Johnsonburg’s Zimmerman was the highest finisher at the state tournament out of District 9 in 2022, earning sixth.
What follows is a brief overview of the brackets for each weight (these are not predictions). The brackets for regionals are pre-seeded – the D9 and D10 champions receiving seeds one and two, the runner-ups three and four, the third-place medalists five and six, and fourth-place finishers seven and eight.
The placement of D9 and D10 wrestlers at the respective seeds alternates from one bracket to the next.
The top four placers at each weight will advance to the state tournament in Hershey next weekend (Mar. 9-11).
(Note: The state rankings used in this preview are from PA Power Wrestling as of Wednesday, March 1. At the time of this submission, post-district rankings had not been published and, as such, those used do not reflect the results of those tournaments.)
107 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 9-1st – Dalton Wenner, Fr. (28-3) – Cranberry
District 10-1st – Sierra Chiesa, So. (31-4) – Northwestern
District 9-2nd – Andrew Coriaty, So. (18-5) – Oswayo Valley
District 10-2nd – Angelo Lomonte, So. (26-10) – Reynolds
Notes: In addition to winning last week’s District 9 tournament, Wenner, ranked third in Pennsylvania, won his weight class during the regular season at the NursePro Plus Tournament, Mid-Winter Mayhem, and Fred Bell Tournament. A freshman, this is Wenner’s regional tournament debut. Chiesa claimed her first D10 title last week after finishing fourth a year ago. Now a two-time regional qualifier, Chiesa won the D10-Section I championship this postseason. She was second at the season-opening Hickory Invitational Tournament, Bo Wood Tournament, and Fred Bell. Chiesa is ranked 14th in the state. Coriaty is a two-time regional qualifier, advancing this season as the D9 runner-up after taking third at the same tournament a year ago. He was first at the early-season St. Marys Kick-off Classic and the later Allegheny Mountain Championships. Lomonte, positioned at 23rd on the state poll, is wrestling in his first varsity postseason, doing so successfully – winning the D10-Section II title and placing second at the district tournament.
Others of Note:
PA#22 – Cash Diehl, Fr. (26-10) – Clearfield
PA#27 – Kyle Lantz, Sr. (27-10) – Cochranton
114 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 10-1st – Carter Beck, So. (32-2) – Saegertown
District 9-1st – Weston Pisarchick, Jr. (24-0) – Brockway
District 10-2nd – Rocky Kowle, Fr. (24-7) – North East
District 9-2nd – Aiden Beimel, So. (22-7) – Saint Marys
Notes: Beck is now a two-time district champion, winning at 106 pounds last season on his path to sixth at the state tournament. He will be looking to improve upon his runner-up finish in last year’s regional tournament. In addition to capturing the postseason D10-Section II title, Beck ranked fourth in the state, was first at the Tool City Tournament. A returning state qualifier, Pisarchick won his third district championship last week at his third different weight – accomplishing the feat at 113 pounds in 2022 and 106 pounds in 2022. Pisarchick was second at regionals last year after failing to place previously. The so far undefeated Pisarchick, ranked eighth in Pennsylvania, has won the Darren Klingerman Invitational competing as a 121-pounder and Mid-Winter Mayhem at this weight. Of the top four, Kowle is the most inexperienced, this being his first varsity-level postseason. Kowle is the D10-Section I champion. As a freshman last season, Beimel won districts and regionals at 106 pounds along the way to the 3A state tournament. Currently 17th in the state poll, Beimel was second at this year’s Fred Bell.
Others of Note:
PA#20 – Hunter Geibel, Sr. (28-12) – Commodore Perry
PA#26 – Bryndin Chamberlain, Fr. (21-14) – Clearfield
121 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 9-1st – Evan Davis, Sr. (25-8) – Clearfield
District 10-1st – Jake Bennett, Jr. (34-11) – Fort LeBoeuf
District 9-2nd – Elijah Brosius, So. (27-9) – Cranberry
District 10-2nd – Hudson Hohman, Fr. (28-7) – Grove City
Notes: A 3A state qualifier in 2022, Davis won his first district title a week ago after three consecutive runner-up finishes. He earned his first regional tournament placement a year ago, third, after failing to finish on the podium in his two previous trips. Ranked 15th in the state, Davis placed in one tournament this season, a second at the Thomas Automotive Tournament. Bennett, the state’s 14th-ranked 121-pounder, is also a first-time district champion, having finished fourth the previous two seasons; at 113 pounds as a freshman and 120 pounds as a sophomore. Though he missed qualifying for states last season, he accomplished that as a freshman after placing third at regionals. Bennett opened the current campaign with a second at the Hickory Invitational and claimed the D10-Section 11 title to start this year’s postseason. Brosius, competing at 106 pounds last postseason, won districts, was third at regionals, and eighth at states. This year he’s finished first at three tournaments – the NursePro Plus, Howland Invitational, and Fred Bell. He enters this regional tournament at 16th in the statewide poll. Hohman, the D10- Section II champ, won his weight class at the Burgettstown Invitational and was fourth at Fred Bell. He is ranked 19th statewide.
Others of Note:
PA#18 – Sebastian Chiesa, Sr. (29-7) – Northwestern
127 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 10-1st – Hunter Gould, Jr. (34-2) – Conneaut Area
District 9-1st – Cole Householder, So. (32-5) – Brookville
District 10-2nd – Cyrus Hurd, So. (18-3) – North East
District 9-2nd – Cole Neil, Sr. (16-9) – Saint Marys
Notes: Gould, ranked fifth in Pennsylvania, won his second consecutive D10 championship last week, repeating his accomplishment from a year ago at 120 pounds. A two-time state qualifier, he placed for the first time last season, taking sixth. Gould, the reigning D10-Section II champion, will be looking to claim his first regional championship this weekend, having finished third as a freshman and second last year as a sophomore. During the regular season, he won both the Hickory Invitation and Tool City while placing second at the Burgettstown Invitational and Fred Bell. Householder, now a two-time District 9 champion, won regionals last season and went on to seventh place at 120 pounds in Hershey. Ranked fourth statewide, he placed second at this year’s Mid-Winter Mayhem. Hurd was the 3A 120-pound D10 champion last year competing for Cathedral Prep. He ended 2022-2023 with a fourth at regionals. In addition to claiming this season’s D10-Section I title, he also won the Ripley Invitational. Hurd enters regionals as the state’s 15th-ranked 127-pounder. Neil was second at the 3A district tournament in 2022, qualifying for regionals as a 120-pounder.
Others of Note:
PA#14 – Alex Rueberge, Jr. (33-9) – Sharpsville
PA#25 – Noah Cuic, So. (29-20) – Fort LeBoeuf
PA#29 – Colton Ryan, Fr. (21-13) – Clearfield
133 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 9-1st – Parker Pisarchick, So. (30-5) – Brockway
District 10-1st – JoJo Przybycien, Jr. (38-6) – Fort LeBoeuf
District 9-2nd – Conner Reszkowski, So. (27-9) – Cranberry
District 10-2nd – Chase Bell, Jr. (27-10) – Reynolds
Notes: Pisarchick, a first-time District 9 champion, is ranked 12th in the state. Last season he qualified for states at 132 pounds after finishing second at districts and fourth at regionals. This season the undefeated Pisarchick took first at the Darren Klingerman Invitational. Przybycien just won his second consecutive D10 championship, last year’s coming at 126 pounds. He was runner-up at 120 pounds in 2021. Przybycien has qualified for states at the end of each of his varsity seasons, placing both times – fourth in 2022 and sixth in 2021. He’ll be looking for his first regional tournament title after taking third as a freshman and second as a sophomore. The D10-Section I champion, he was runner-up at both the Hickory Invitational and Mid-Winter Mayhem. He’ll enter the weekend sixth in the state poll. Reszkowski was a regional qualifier a year ago at 120 pounds after finishing fourth at districts. In addition to being this season’s D9 runner-up, he was third at the Nursing ProPlus and won his weight class at the Howland Invitational. This postseason marks the third consecutive year Bell has finished as the D10 runner-up, doing so at 120 pounds in 2022 and 113 pounds in 2021. He qualified for states in both of those seasons, placing after second at regionals as a freshman and third as a sophomore. Bell, Pennsylvania’s 15th-ranked 133-pounder, won the D10-Section II postseason tournament.
Others of Note:
PA#29 – Brody Beck, Jr. (30-8) – Cambridge Springs
139 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 10-1st – Wyatt Lazzar, Jr. (34-4) – Commodore Perry
District 9-1st – Brady Collins, So. (32-3) – Clearfield
District 10-2nd – Rudy Gentile, Fr. (29-10) – Greenville
District 9-2nd – Ben Reynolds, So. (14-9) – Saint Marys
Notes: Lazzar improved upon his runner-up finish a year ago at 132 pounds, by capturing this season’s D10 championship. He’ll be looking to qualify for states once again, having earned a trip to Hershey last season as a third-place finisher at this tournament. Lazzar, the D10-Section II champion, began his season with a first at the Hickory Invitational competing as a 145-pounder, and then later was the 139-pound runner-up at the WSAZ Invitational. He is ranked fourth in the state. A 3A state qualifier a year ago at 126 pounds, Collins won his second consecutive district title last week. He’ll be looking to improve upon his third-place finish at the 2022 regional tournament. This season Collins, third statewide, was runner-up at the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat and Thomas Automotive tournaments while finishing third at Mid-Winter Mayhem. Gentile and Reynolds are in the midst of their first varsity-level postseasons. Reynolds was runner-up in the 145-pound class at this season’s St. Marys Kick-off Classic.
Others of Note:
PA#5 – Dane Wenner, So. (31-8) – Cranberry
D10-Section II titlist – Nate Stearns, Jr. (26-9) – Titusville
145 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 9-1st – Jaden Wehler, So. (24-9) – Saint Marys
District 10-1st – Cody Hamilton, So. (32-2) – Grove City
District 9-2nd – Ty Aveni, So. (22-10) – Clearfield
District 10-2nd – Tino Gentile, Sr. (27-12) – Reynolds
Notes: Wehler certainly improved upon his experience last postseason, when he did not advance past the 3A district tournament competing as a 138-pounder. Now a district champion, Wheler, ranked 21st in Pennsylvania, took first at the St. Mary’s Kick-off Classic that opened this season. Hamilton is also a first-time district champion, having placed fourth a year ago in the 138-pound class. That fourth-place finish, however, propelled him to a third at regionals and then a trip to the state tournament. Hamilton, 11th in the statewide poll, was first at the Pin City Tournament and Burgettstown Invitational. Aveni qualified for regionals last year at this weight after a fourth-place finish at the 3A district tournament. Gentile was a regional qualifier in 2022 after a seventh-place performance at districts.
Others of Note:
PA#10/D10-Section II titlist – Gunnar Gage, Sr. (23-5) – Cambridge Springs
PA#19 – Avery Bittler, Fr. (26-11) – Johnsonburg
PA#24 – Nik Fegert, Sr. (26-11) – Curwensville
PA#26/D10-Section I titlist – Hudson Spires, So. (29-13) – General McLane
152 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 10-1st – Story Buchanan, Jr. (35-0) – Girard
District 9-1st – Reece Bechakas, Jr. (30-5) – Kane
District 10-2nd – Steffan Lynch, Sr. (26-5) – North East
District 9-2nd – Mason Gourley, So. (29-5) – Clarion
Notes: After not placing at districts in 2021 and finishing as runner-up in 2022, Buchanan, undefeated so far this year, finally nabbed his first D10 champion a week ago. Last season, wrestling at 145 pounds, he qualified for states after a runner-up performance at regionals. In addition to winning the D10-Section I tournament, Buchanan was first at both the Hickory Invitational and Tool City. He’s currently ranked third in Pennsylvania. Bechakas is a repeat district champion, winning at 145 pounds in 2022. He was third at regionals a year ago, so he’ll be looking to secure his second consecutive state berth this weekend. Ranked 21st in the state poll, Bechakas’s 2022-2023 individual accolades include second at the Hickory Invitational, with firsts at the Patrick J. Morales Memorial and Allegheny Mountain Championships. Lynch is a two-time district champion, winning 3A titles in 2022 (145 pounds) and 2020 (132 pounds) while wrestling for Cathedral Prep. Like this year, he was the district runner-up in 2021 when he competed at 145 pounds. Second at this season’s Fred Bell, Lynch will be looking to make his first trip to the state tournament. Lynch is ranked sixth in the state. Like a year ago at 145 pounds, Gourley was runner-up to Bechakas at the D9 tournament. Now a two-time regional qualifier, Gourley, ranked 20th statewide, was third at the Patrick J. Morales Memorial and first at the Mercer VFW tournaments this season.
Others of Note:
PA#22 – Andrew Wolfanger, Jr. (34-9) – Saint Marys
PA#23/D10-Section II titlist – Caullin Summers, Jr. (32-7) – Sharpsville
PA#29 – Kyle Cousins, Sr. (30-13) – General McLane
160 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 9-1st – Aiden Zimmerman, Sr. (29-5) – Johnsonburg
District 10-1st – Hunter Hohman, Jr. (36-1) – Grove City
District 9-2nd – Luke Ely, Sr. (26-11) – Kane
District 10-2nd – Colin Hearn, Sr. (32-4) – Conneaut Area
Notes: Now a three-time District 9 champ, Zimmerman is a two-time state qualifier, placing sixth last year at this weight. Zimmerman’s first trip to Hershey came at 152 pounds as a sophomore and then at 160 pounds as a junior. He was the regional champion in 2022 and runner-up in 2021. Zimmerman opened the season at 172 pounds with a runner-up finish at the Hickory Invitational, took second at the Panther Holiday Classic (also at 172 pounds), and then wrestled as a 160-pounder at the Ultimate Warrior Tournament, finishing third. He enters the regional tournament ranked 15th in Pennsylvania. Hohman has now won two consecutive district championships, last season at 152 pounds. He was third at districts as a 138-pounder in 2021. A two-time regional qualifier, he parlayed a runner-up finish at last year’s regional tournament into seventh place at states. The D10-Section II champion, Hohman was first at Pin City, first at the Burgettstown Invitational, and second at Fred Bell during the regular season. He is in the second position on the statewide poll. Ely, ranked 16th in the state, is a four-time regional qualifier at three different weights – 160 pounds this season and in 2022, 152 pounds in 2021, and 138 pounds in 2020. He was runner-up at districts the past two years after coming in third as a sophomore and fourth as a freshman. Ely finished fourth at the Hickory Invitational, second at the Patrick J. Morales Memorial, and was runner-up at the Allegheny Mountain Championship. Hearn is a two-time state qualifier, in 2022 at this weight and at 152 pounds in 2021. He won a district title last season and was second at regionals, while in 2021 he was third at both district and regionals. Hearn, who holds a statewide ranking of seventh, won his weight class at both the Hickory Invitational and Tool City, was second at the Burgettstown Invitational, and third at Fred Bell.
Others of Note:
PA#17 – Coyha Brown, Sr. (27-10) – Brookville
PA#20 – Logan Augenbaugh, Jr. (30-9) – Curwensville
PA#24 – Nik Fegert, Sr. (26-11) – Curwensville
D10-Section I titlist – Tucker Lindell, Jr. (26-9) – Eisenhower
172 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 10-1st – Jalen Wagner, Sr. (31-3) – Reynolds
District 9-1st – Waylon Wehler, Sr. (32-3) – Saint Marys
District 10-2nd – Conner McChesney, Jr. (37-7) – Fort LeBoeuf
District 9-2nd – Aiden Bliss, Fr. (19-12) – Port Allegany
Notes: A three-time regional qualifier, Wagner has made the trip to the state tournament twice. He is a two-time district champion, winning this year and in 2021. His best finish at regionals was second, coming during his sophomore season. He was third a year ago. The D10-Section II champion, Wagner was first at the Ultimate Warrior Tournament. He’s ranked fifth in the state. Wehler, a three-time district champion, was a 3A state qualifier in 2022 after winning regionals at this weight. The year prior, he won the 3A district tournament in the 189-pound weight class. This season, he’s had firsts at the St. Mary’s Kick-off Classic (189 pounds) and Panther Holiday Classic, with thirds at Mid-Winter Mayhem and Fred Bell. Wehler holds a statewide ranking of ninth. McChesney, ranked seventh statewide, was fourth at districts in 2021 and 2022 before finishing as a runner-up this season. He was third at last year’s regional tournament competing as a 152-pounder, earning his first trip to states. The current D10-Section I champion, he took firsts at the Hickory Invitational and Mid-Winter Mayhem. Bliss is competing in his first varsity-level postseason.
Others of Note:
PA#10 – Brock Covell, Sr. (32-6) – Titusville
PA#20 – Rayce Milliard, Sr. (33-10) – Johnsonburg
PA#22 – Josh Divens, Jr. (25-8) – Sharpsville
PA#23 – Danick Hinkson, Jr. (32-12) – Commodore Perry
189 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 9-1st – Jackson Zimmerman, Sr. (32-4) – Brookville
District 10-1st – Magnus Lloyd, Jr. (27-7) – General McLane
District 9-2nd – Carter Chamberlain, Jr. (32-5) – Clearfield
District 10-2nd – Ethyn Allen, Sr. (35-9) – Corry Area
Notes: After finishing as the runner-up the previous two seasons, Zimmerman finally broke through and won his first district title this year. He advanced to states at this weight last season, following a third-place performance at regionals. Ranked sixth in the state, Zimmerman finished second at Mid-Winter Mayhem and took third at the King of the Mountain Tournament. Lloyd won his third consecutive district title this year, his previous two coming at 172 pounds while competing in 3A. He will be looking to advance past regionals for the first time in his career. Lloyd, who enters regionals eighth in the state poll, was first at the Chartiers-Houston Invitational and fourth at Mid-Winter Mayhem. Chamberlain finished eighth in the 3A state tournament last season at 189 pounds, following up a district championship and second place at regionals. He was the district runner-up at 172 pounds in 2021, qualifying for regionals. Chamberlain, ranked ninth statewide, was third at the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat and Thomas Automotive tournaments. This is Allen’s second varsity postseason. His runner-up finish at districts was an improvement from a year ago when he was fourth at this weight. The D10-Section I titlist, Allen was third at the Southmoreland Holiday Classic and fourth at the Patrick J. Morales Memorial. He’s the seventh-ranked 189-pounder in Pennsylvania.
Others of Note:
PA#16/D10-Section II titlist – Teague Calvin, So. (32-11) – Greenville
PA#17 – Brayden McCloskey, Sr. (31-12) – Reynolds
PA#20 – Ryan Welka, Jr. (18-8) – Fort LeBoeuf
PA#25 – Ryan Miller, Sr. (19-7) – Seneca
215 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 10-1st – Abe Keep, Sr. (33-2) – Girard
District 9-1st – Brayden McFetridge, Sr. (32-4) – Cranberry
District 10-2nd – Danny Church, Sr. (38-6) – Fort LeBoeuf
District 9-2nd – Gavyn Ayers, Jr. (17-3) – Coudersport
Notes: Keep qualified for states at this weight a year ago after finishing second at districts and third at regionals. He’s now a four-time regional qualifier, also qualifying in 2021 (at 172 pounds after a fifth at districts) and 2020 (at 160 pounds after a third at districts). The D10-Section I champion, Keep was third at the season-opening Hickory Invitational and first at Tool City. He is second in the state poll. Like Keep, McFetridge won his first district tournament this season. He qualified for his first regional tournament a year ago, going to Sharon as the district runner-up. McFetridge ranked 19th in Pennsylvania, actually failed to place at districts his first two varsity seasons. He has a pair of first place tournament finishes – at the Howland Invitational and Fred Bell. Church is a three-time regional qualifier, as a 189-pounder in 2022 and 2021 and at 170 pounds in 2020. A state qualifier as a sophomore, Church was also district runner-up that year and placed third at regionals. He was third at districts as a junior. Church, ranked third statewide, was first at the Hickory Invitational and second at Mid-Winter Mayhem. Ayers is ranked 15th in the state. A winner at this year’s Mercer VFW and Allegheny Mountain Championships, Ayers finished fourth at districts last season at this weight. This will be his second regional tournament appearance.
Others of Note:
PA#16 – Miska Young, Jr. (27-4) – Port Allegany
PA#23/D10-Section II titlist – Porter Brooks, Jr. (28-10) – Saegertown
285 Pounds – Top of the Bracket
District 9-1st – Carson Neely, So. (30-0) – Port Allegany
District 10-1st – Mike Mazurek, Sr. (30-1) – Sharon
District 9-2nd – Gavin Thompson, Sr. (30-6) – Brockway
District 10-2nd – Wilson Spires, Sr. (22-6) – General McLane
Notes: Neely, undefeated this season, won his first district title last week after going 4-9 in 2021-2022. Ranked fifth in the state, he won his weight class at Ultimate Warrior. Mazurek, the D10-Section II champion, qualified for states at this weight last year after fourths at both districts and regionals. This is his second regional tournament. Mazurek, ranked 21st statewide, won the Hickory Invitational, Bo Wood, and Mercer VFW tournaments. Thompson was second at this year’s district tournament after having to default due to injury in the finals. Now a two-time regional qualifier, he won districts at this weight last season and was district runner-up in 2020, qualifying for regionals. Positioned at seventh in the statewide poll, Thompson was second at this season’s Mid-Winter Mayhem and third at Ultimate Warrior. Like Thompson, Spires was a district champ at this weight last season, a campaign that saw him finish third at regionals to qualify for 3A states. He has qualified for regionals two other times, in 2021 after a runner-up finish at districts (285 pounds) and in 2020 after taking fourth at the D10 tournament (220 pounds). Spires, ranked twelfth in Pennsylvania, won this year’s D10-Section I tournament.
Others of Note:
Zachary Baldwin, Sr. (31-7) – Girard
