26th ANNUAL PIAA TEAM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Courtesy of the PIAA
MECHANICSBURG – The 2024 PIAA Team Wrestling Championships took place in the sweetest place on
Earth in Hershey, Pa. Thirty-two teams took to the mats in Chocolatetown, vying for state gold. It was
indeed a sweet weekend for two teams, leaving Giant Center with PIAA gold.
The Road to the Championship Round
2A TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
In the rounds leading to the finals, Bishop McCort HS had convincing wins, only allowing 27 points.
McCort had 16 pins in the first three rounds and beat Chestnut Ridge HS 64-6 to move to the final
round.
In the round of 16, the defending 2A champions, Faith Christian Academy HS, denied the winningest
team in 2A, Reynolds HS, a chance at another title. Faith Christian had 12 falls leading up to qualifying
for the finals. They had to come back from a 21 to 6 deficit to Bishop McDevitt. Faith Christian
outscored McDevitt 37-3 the rest of the match to punch their ticket to the 2A finals with a 43-24 win.
In the 2A finals, Faith Christian started hot with a pin right off the bat by, one of the top wrestlers in
the nation, Joey Bachmann in the 107-weight class. Faith Christian then took the next two weight
classes. Bishop McCort was not going out easy, they won the next three, 127, 133 and 139 weight
classes. To close out the championship, Faith Christian ended with three pins by Nick Singer, Adam
Waters and Jake Singer to win their second 2A PIAA Team Wrestling Championship in a row.
In the consolation final, Norte Dame Green Pond beat Reynolds for the third-place match.
Since the start of the 2A PIAA Team Wrestling Championships in 1999, the championships have had 13
different champions. Reynolds HS has the most winning eight PIAA team titles (2006-2007, 2009, 2017-
2021).
3A TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
It was a dog fight to name the finalists in the 3A semifinals. First between Bethlehem Catholic HS and
Central Mountain HS. Both teams went pound for pound, not allowing either team to get more than a
score ahead. Coming down to the last three wrestlers, Becahi won the 114-weight class to first go
ahead one point. Becahi then won the last two weight classes, with a pin by Keanu Dillard in 121 and a
5-2 decision by Ryder Campbell in 127, to secure another trip to the finals.
Mat four, which was home to the other 3A semifinal match, also came down to the wire. The largest
gap between Easton HS and Pennridge HS was only three points. It doesn’t get any closer then this.
Pennridge had a pin at 114 by Colby Martinelli and Cole Coffin at 121 pounds to take the match down
to the final wrestler. Easton went out in style with a pin at 127 pounds by Christopher Kelly to send
Easton back to the finals for the first time since 2011.
In the finals, it was a dual between two District XI foes. The returning champs, Bethlehem Catholic
faced Easton Area on mat three for the title. It was a give and take match until Becahi was able to
create enough space in the final few wrestlers to secure their third 3A PIAA Team Wrestling title in a
row.
In the past 25 years, between 2A and 3A, the Golden Hawks have won 10-PIAA Team Wrestling Titles in
16 appearances at PIAA Championships.
Since 1999, the 3A Team Championships have had 11 different champions with Bethlehem Catholic HS
leading the way (2016, 2018-2019, 2022-2024). Central Dauphin HS and Easton Area HS have been the
only 3A teams that have won four team titles in a row (2008-2011).
In the 3A consolation finals, another close match coming down to the final bout. Central Mountain HS
beat Pennridge HS 28-24 for third place.
For a full list of any previous championship results, follow this link:
http://www.piaa.org/news/details.aspx?ID=1121