Carson: Cunningham nails gold medal! Complete rundown of PIAA wrestling

BY BRIAN CARSON

HERSHEY—State College 160-pounder Asher Cunningham secured the first state gold medal of his high school career at the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey on Saturday. The junior defeated Central Dauphin’s Ryan Garvick by decision, 2-0, earning a reversal in the third period to secure the match’s only points.

Cunningham’s victory highlighted a successful weekend for the area wrestlers, with nine grapplers earning medals across the Class AAA and AA tournaments, as well as the girls’competition. However, several local wrestlers fell short of placing despite their best efforts.

In Class AAA, State College finished third in the team standings with 71.5 points. Along with Cunningham’s title, Pierson Manville (145 pounds) claimed second place, falling to Central Mountain’s Luke Simcox by a 4-1 decision in the tiebreakers.

Nick Pavlechko (285) took third, earning a 3-1 decision over Spring Grove’s Michael Hershey. The senior lost his bid to make it to another state final, with a 1-0 loss to Dean Bechtold of Owen J. Roberts in the semifinals. Noah Young (107) and James Whitbred (133) were eliminated from the tournament on Friday and Thursday, respectively.

Manville lost in the Ultimate Tiebreaker to Simcox at the Northwest Regional two weeks ago, and the PIAA final saw more of the same.

After a scoreless first period, Simcox chose bottom and escaped to make it 1-0. The Little Lion senior returned the favor with an escape in the third to send it into overtime. The sudden victory minute solved nothing, forcing the tiebreakers.

Manville won the toss, chose down, and failed to get out from the ride of the Wildcat senior. Simcox took down to start the second rideout and escaped with 20 seconds left to make it 2-1. Manville took a desperation shot in the waning seconds, and Simcox came around for the takedown.

Simcox won his second PIAA title, while Manville finished his high school career as a three-time finalist, winning a state title in 2022.

Mifflin County had six wrestlers compete in Class AAA, but none could secure a medal. Andrew Alexander (107), Colby Seiler (145), Parker Kearns (152), Deakon Schaeffer (160), Avery Aurand (172), and Gavin Mickey (189) were all eliminated from the tournament.

Bald Eagle Area led the way in Class AA for the area wrestlers. Tanner Guenot (107) finished fifth, securing a fall in 2:47 over Burrell’s Cam Baker. Caden Judice (114) placed seventh with a hard-fought 5-4 decision over Saegertown’s Carter Beck, while Caleb Close (189) captured third, shutting out Bishop McDevitt’s Lucas Lawler 6-0 in the consolation finals.

Close, the top seed, dropped a 5-3 decision to Southern Columbia’s Garrett Garcia in the semis. Garcia scored the winning takedown with 42 seconds left in regulation.

Penns Valley’s Ty Watson (152) earned eighth place, falling to Penn Cambria’s Trent Hoover in a close 3-2 bout. The Penn State commit ends his career as a three-time PIAA placewinner, tying Malachi Duvall for the rams record. Erik Carlile (114), Colten Shunk (133), and Ethan Fetterolf (160) did not place.

Philipsburg-Osceola’s Marcus Gable (139) claimed seventh, extending his school record for all-time wins to 120 with a dominant victory over Camp Hill’s Noah Doi, 7-0. Caleb Hummel (107) was eliminated after going 2-2 in the tournament.

Bellefonte’s Ezra Swisher (139) was eliminated from the tournament after going 0-2.

In the girls’ tournament, Philipsburg-Osceola’s Isabella DuVall made history, becoming the first girl in Centre County to secure a PIAA medal. DuVall finished third at 124 pounds, defeating Plum’s Saphia Davis 4-1 in the consolation finals.

Bald Eagle Area’s Grace Crestani (190) placed eighth, falling to Central Dauphin’s Aaliyah Armstrong. Eden Eveleth (106) and Angie Grieb (148) failed to reach the podium.

Frazier’s Rune Lawrence made history, becoming only the 14thwrestler in PIAA history to win four state titles. Lawrence defeated the defending PIAA champ Austin Johnson of Muncy by a 6-3 decision at 215.

Faith Christian won the Class AA title with 167 points. Bethlehem Catholic won the Class AAA crown with 95.5 points. Canon-McMillan captured the first PIAA girls’ title with 93 points.

PIAA Class AAA Championships

Team Standings

(1) Bethlehem Catholic 95.5, (2) Nazareth 78.5, (3) State College 71.5, (4) Quakertown 67.0, (5) Owen J. Roberts 66.5, (6) Central Mountain 59.0, (7) Pennridge 53.5, (8) Daniel Boone 52.5, (9) Thomas Jefferson 48.5, (10) Abington Heights 46.0, (11) Council Rock North 43.5, (12) Central Dauphin 42.5, (13) Northampton 42.0, (14) Norwin 39.0, (15) Connellsville 37.0, (16) Franklin Regional 32.0, (17) Pine-Richland 31.5, (18) Trinity 30.0, (18) West Scranton 30.0, (20) Greater Latrobe 29.5, (21) Canon-McMillan 29.0, (21) Council Rock South 29.0, (23) Central Bucks West 28.5, (24) Hatboro-Horsham 27.0, (25) Cedar Cliff 26.0, (25) Selinsgrove 26.0, (25) Shikellamy 26.0, (25) Wilson (West Lawn) 26.0, (29) Northern York 25.5, (30) Altoona 25.0, (31) Central York 24.0, (31) Easton 24.0, (33) Ridley 23.5, (34) Kennett 23.0, (35) York Suburban 22.0, (36) Baldwin 20.0, (36) Chambersburg 20.0, (38) Pottsville 19.5, (39) Hempfield 19.0, (39) Hempfield Area 19.0, (41) Bethel Park 18.0, (41) Ringgold 18.0, (43) Bethlehem Freedom 16.0, (44) Emmaus 15.0, (44) North Allegheny 15.0, (44) St. Joseph’s Prep 15.0, (47) Manheim Township 14.0, (47) Perkiomen Valley 14.0, (47) Spring Grove 14.0, (50) Butler 12.0, (51) Downingtown West 11.5, (52) Boyertown 11.0, (52) Kiski Area 11.0, (52) Pocono Mountain West 11.0, (52) Wallenpaupack 11.0, (56) Hickory 9.0, (56) Penn Manor 9.0, (56) Penn Trafford 9.0, (56) Peters Township 9.0, (56) Pocono Mountain East 9.0, (56) Sun Valley 9.0, (56) Waynesburg Central 9.0, (63) Lower Dauphin 8.0, (63) Manheim Central 8.0, (63) Pittsburgh Central Catholic 8.0, (63) Strath Haven 8.0, (63) Whitehall 8.0, (68) LaSalle 7.0, (68) Seneca Valley 7.0, (70) Central Bucks East 6.0, (70) Downingtown East 6.0, (70) Harriton 6.0, (70) Twin Valley 6.0, (74) Bethlehem Liberty 5.0, (74) Mifflin County 5.0, (74) Northeastern 5.0, (77) Avon Grove 4.0, (77) Conestoga Valley 4.0, (77) Cumberland Valley 4.0, (77) DuBois 4.0, (77) Hershey 4.0, (77) Jersey Shore 4.0, (77) Meadville 4.0, (77) Mount Lebanon 4.0, (77) Neshaminy 4.0, (77) Radnor 4.0, (77) Souderton 4.0, (77) Upper Perkiomen 4.0, (77) Williamsport 4.0, (90) Gettysburg 3.5, (91) Plymouth Whitemarsh 3.0, (91) Spring-Ford 3.0, (93) Conestoga 2.0, (93) Dallas 2.0, (93) Dallastown 2.0, (93) Donegal 2.0, (93) Erie Cathedral Prep 2.0, (93) Plum 2.0, (93) Red Lion 2.0, (93) West Allegheny 2.0, (101) Bangor 0.0, (101) Boiling Springs 0.0, (101) Carlisle 0.0, (101) Cheltenham 0.0, (101) Coatesville 0.0, (101) Delaware Valley 0.0, (101) Garnet Valley 0.0, (101) Harrisburg 0.0, (101) Hollidaysburg 0.0, (101) New Oxford 0.0, (101) Parkland 0.0, (101) Pittston Area 0.0, (101) Punxsutawney 0.0, (101) Red Land 0.0, (101) South Fayette 0.0, (101) Unionville 0.0, (101) Upper Dublin 0.0

Seventh Place

107 – ​Wilmont Kai (Whitehall) major dec. Nicholas Salamone (Easton), 14-4

114 – ​Travis Clawson (Penn Manor) dec. Leo Joseph (Greater Latrobe), 6-2

121 – ​Mason Whitney (Abington Heights) dec. Connor Smith (Seneca Valley), 7-1

127 – ​Cael Rossi (Lower Dauphin) dec. Brady Slicker (Hickory), 6-2

133 – ​James Garcia (Wilson (West Lawn)) dec. C.J. Ferree (Central Dauphin), 4-2

139 – ​Michael Turi (West Scranton) dec. Kam Abboud (Bethlehem Liberty), 4-2 SV

145 – ​Gavin Reynolds (Central Dauphin) dec. Hayden Coy (Penn Trafford), 4-0

152 – ​Keegan Demarest (Pocono Mountain East) pinned Nadav Nafshi (Harriton), 0:47

160 – ​Carter Davis (Central York) dec. Gavin Cole (Council Rock South), 4-3

172 – ​Talan Hogan (Pennridge) won by forfeit over Bekhruz Sadriddinov (Council Rock South)

189 – ​James Deluise (Bethlehem Catholic) won by forfeit over Michael Spielman (Strath Haven)

215 – ​Brandon Stiehler (Pocono Mountain West) pinned Ryan McMillan (Wilson (West Lawn)), 2:48

285 – ​Andrew Brennan (LaSalle) dec. Calvin Lachman (Quakertown), 5-0

Fifth Place

107 – ​Max Tancini (Perkiomen Valley) dec. Nicholas McGarrity (Peters Township), 4-1

114 – ​Connor Lenahan (Council Rock South) dec. Santino Sloboda (Butler), 2-0 SV

121 – ​Luke Willochell (Greater Latrobe) dec. Cole Coffin (Pennridge), 8-1

127 – ​McKaden Speece (Wilson (West Lawn)) major dec. Quinn McBride (Pennridge), 10-1

133 – ​Gavin Sheridan (Boyertown) dec. Chris Dennis (Central Bucks West), 5-4

139 – ​Jack Campbell (Nazareth) dec. Marco Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic), 6-4

145 – ​Gavin Carroll (Quakertown) won by forfeit over Elias Long (Central York)

152 – ​Sam Kuhns (Pennridge) dec. Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain), 4-2 SV

160 – ​Lonzy Vielma (Connellsville) dec. Gunnar Myers (Wallenpaupack), 8-2

172 – ​Brian Heard (Abington Heights) major dec. Hunter Snyder (Greater Latrobe), 9-0

189 – ​Nathan Campbell (Norwin) dec. Cooper Roscosky (Kiski Area), 3-1

215 – ​Juliano Marion (Franklin Regional) dec. Aidan Buggey (North Allegheny), 3-1

285 – ​John Pardo (Kennett) dec. Maxwell Roy (St. Joseph’s Prep), 6-2

Third Place

107 – ​Alexander Diaz (Council Rock North) dec. Emilio Albanese (Emmaus), 8-1

114 – ​Kaedyn Williams (Manheim Township) dec. Gabriel Ballard (Northampton), 8-3

121 – ​Mason Ziegler (Quakertown) dec. Tyson Cook (West Scranton), 3-1

127 – ​Eren Sement (Council Rock North) won by inj. default over Andrew Binni (Canon-McMillan), 9-1 4:49

133 – ​Mason Kernan (Bethel Park) dec. Ramil Islamov (Baldwin), 4-0

139 – ​Seamus Mack (Hempfield) dec. Patrick Kelly (Central Bucks West), 6-1

145 – ​Evan Petrovich (Connellsville) dec. Shane McFillin (Bethlehem Catholic), 2-1

152 – ​Eli Carr (Hempfield Area) dec. Luke Sipes (Altoona), 3-2

160 – ​Bode Marlow (Thomas Jefferson) dec. Nick Kunstek (Pottsville), 3-1 SV

172 – ​Sam Gautreau (Owen J. Roberts) dec. Connor Wetzel (Shikellamy), 5-4

189 – ​Tucker Teats (Selinsgrove) pinned Jared Karabinus (Bethlehem Freedom), 1:37

215 – ​Aiden Hight (Chambersburg) pinned Jake Conroy (Ringgold), 1:27

285 – ​Nick Pavlechko (State College) dec. Michael Hershey (Spring Grove), 3-1

Championship Finals

107 – ​Dominick Morrison (Hatboro-Horsham) dec. Aiden Herndon (Cedar Cliff), 2-1

114 – ​Landon Sidun (Norwin) dec. Curtis Nelson (Ridley), 6-3

121 – ​Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic) dec. Tyler Kapusta (Franklin Regional), 3-1 SV

127 – ​Trey Wagner (Northampton) dec. Dean Houser (Daniel Boone), 5-1

133 – ​Tahir Parkins (Nazareth) dec. Tyler Adams (York Suburban), 9-2

139 – ​Maddox Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) dec. Dalton Perry (Central Mountain), 3-1 SV

145 – ​Luke Simcox (Central Mountain) dec. Pierson Manville (State College), 4-1 TB2

152 – ​Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic) dec. Collin Gaj (Quakertown), 3-2

160 – ​Asher Cunningham (State College) dec. Ryan Garvick (Central Dauphin), 2-0

172 – ​Vaughn Spencer (Pine-Richland) dec. Bodie Morgan (Trinity), 8-4

189 – ​Tucker Hogan (Daniel Boone) dec. Cole Bartram (Northern York), 5-2

215 – ​Dillon Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts) pinned Caleb Marzolino (Abington Heights), 3:57

285 – ​Sean Kinney (Nazareth) won by tech. fall over Dean Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts), 15-0 4:08

PIAA Class AA Championships

Team Standings

(1) Faith Christian Academy 167.0, (2) Bishop McCort 151.5, (3) Bishop McDevitt 81.5, (4) Montgomery 61.0, (5) Notre Dame-Green Pond 60.0, (6) Conwell-Egan 54.0, (7) Reynolds 51.0, (8) Frazier 48.0, (9) Northern Lebanon 45.5, (10) Southern Columbia 45.0, (11) Grove City 40.0, (12) Bentworth 39.5, (13) Warrior Run 39.0, (14) Bald Eagle Area 38.0, (14) Berks Catholic 38.0, (14) Chestnut Ridge 38.0, (17) Central Valley 36.0, (18) Trinity 34.0, (19) Clearfield 32.5, (20) Huntingdon 28.0, (21) United 27.0, (22) Montoursville 26.0, (23) Burgettstown 25.5, (24) West Perry 24.5, (25) Muncy 23.5, (26) Brookville 23.0, (27) Northwestern Lehigh 22.0, (28) Burrell 20.0, (28) Line Mountain 20.0, (28) Littlestown 20.0, (31) Mount Pleasant 19.0, (32) Derry Area 18.0, (32) Indiana 18.0, (32) Somerset 18.0, (35) North East 17.0, (35) Port Allegany 17.0, (37) Penns Valley 16.0, (38) Midd-West 14.0, (39) Brockway 13.0, (39) Cranberry 13.0, (39) Girard 13.0, (39) Saucon Valley 13.0, (39) Tyrone 13.0, (44) Chartiers-Houston 12.0, (44) Mifflinburg 12.0, (44) Towanda 12.0, (47) Fort Cherry 11.0, (47) Quaker Valley 11.0, (49) Catasauqua 10.0, (49) General McLane 10.0, (49) Greenville 10.0, (49) Hopewell 10.0, (49) Penn Cambria 10.0, (49) Philipsburg-Osceola 10.0, (49) Sharpsville 10.0, (56) Belle Vernon 9.0, (56) Big Spring 9.0, (56) Sullivan County 9.0, (59) Conneaut Area 8.0, (59) Tussey Mountain 8.0, (61) Bermudian Springs 7.5, (62) Canton 7.0, (63) Biglerville 6.0, (63) Delone Catholic 6.0, (63) Elizabeth Forward 6.0, (63) Hamburg 6.0, (63) Montour 6.0, (63) Northern Bedford 6.0, (69) Commodore Perry 5.5, (70) McGuffey 5.0, (70) Saegertown 5.0, (70) Upper Dauphin 5.0, (70) West Branch 5.0, (74) Blue Ridge 4.0, (74) Camp Hill 4.0, (74) Corry Area 4.0, (74) Fort LeBoeuf 4.0, (74) Honesdale 4.0, (74) Hughesville 4.0, (74) Jefferson Morgan 4.0, (74) Kane 4.0, (74) Mount Union 4.0, (74) Northwestern 4.0, (74) Schuylkill Haven 4.0, (74) Valley 4.0, (74) West Greene 4.0, (87) Beth-Center 3.0, (87) Bloomsburg 3.0, (87) Halifax 3.0, (87) Milton 3.0, (87) Palisades 3.0, (87) Wyomissing 3.0, (93) Cambridge Springs 2.0, (93) Glendale 2.0, (93) Lancaster Catholic 2.0, (93) Loyalsock 2.0, (93) Mid Valley 2.0, (93) North Penn-Liberty 2.0, (93) River Valley 2.0, (93) St. Mary’s 2.0, (93) Tulpehocken 2.0, (93) Wilson Area 2.0, (103) Central Columbia 1.0, (104) Athens 0.0, (104) Bellefonte 0.0, (104) Blue Mountain 0.0, (104) Central Clarion 0.0, (104) Hanover Area 0.0, (104) Harbor Creek 0.0, (104) Lehighton 0.0, (104) Lewisburg 0.0, (104) Mahanoy 0.0, (104) North Schuylkill 0.0, (104) Scranton Prep 0.0, (104) South Williamsport 0.0, (104) Susquenita 0.0, (104) Tri Valley 0.0, (104) Western Wayne 0.0, (104) Westmont Hilltop 0.0

Seventh Place

107 – ​Jordan Manyette (Trinity) dec. Dakota Santamaria (Tussey Mountain), 4-3

114 – ​Caden Judice (Bald Eagle Area) dec. Carter Beck (Saegertown), 5-4

121 – ​Bradley Wagner (Mifflinburg) dec. Colton Wade (Sullivan County), 6-2

127 – ​Jackson Rush (West Perry) major dec. Jonah Peterson (Upper Dauphin), 13-2

133 – ​Hunter Gould (Conneaut Area) dec. Hudson Hohman (Grove City), 3-2

139 – ​Marcus Gable (Philipsburg-Osceola) dec. Noah Doi (Camp Hill), 7-0

145 – ​Jackson Albert (Saucon Valley) dec. Jackson Butler (Bishop McCort), 1-0

152 – ​Trent Hoover (Penn Cambria) dec. Ty Watson (Penns Valley), 3-2

160 – ​Dominic Sumpolec (Notre Dame-Green Pond) dec. Hudson Ward (Canton), 9-2

172 – ​Caden Finck (Montgomery) dec. Kyle Scott (Tyrone), 3-1 SV

189 – ​Vitali Daniels (Bentworth) major dec. Cody Wagner (Faith Christian Academy), 12-1

215 – ​Chad Beller (Catasauqua) dec. Teague Calvin (Greenville), 5-2

285 – ​Sawyer Robinson (Towanda) dec. Braden Ewing (Tyrone), 5-1

Fifth Place

107 – ​Tanner Guenot (Bald Eagle Area) pinned Cameron Baker (Burrell), 2:47

114 – ​Jorden Williams (Chartiers-Houston) dec. Dalton Wenner (Cranberry), 1-0

121 – ​Josef Garshnick (United) won by forfeit over Gauge Botero (Faith Christian Academy)

127 – ​Gideon Bracken (United) dec. Weston Pisarchick (Brockway), 5-0 SV

133 – ​Cyrus Hurd (North East) major dec. Jack Kazalas (Quaker Valley), 10-1

139 – ​Gaven Suica (Burgettstown) dec. Cooper Hornack (Burrell), 3-1 UTB

145 – ​Cole Householder (Brookville) dec. Mason Horwat (Derry Area), 9-3

152 – ​Cody Hamilton (Grove City) dec. Cameron Milheim (Warrior Run), 5-3 UTB

160 – ​Story Buchanan (Girard) dec. Isaiah Pisano (Hopewell), 6-4

172 – ​Braedon Welsh (Fort Cherry) won by forfeit over Carmine Lenzi (Berks Catholic)

189 – ​Jackson Angelo (Frazier) dec. Carter Chamberlain (Clearfield), 5-2

215 – ​Dante Burns (Conwell-Egan) won by forfeit over Gavin Hannah (Brookville)

285 – ​Carson Neely (Port Allegany) major dec. Joey Baronick (Burgettstown), 10-1

Third Place

107 – ​Thomas Boyce (Conwell-Egan) dec. Sam Wolford (Northern Lebanon), 1-0

114 – ​Brock Rothermel (Line Mountain) dec. Easton Mull (Chestnut Ridge), 6-2

121 – ​Lincoln Sledzianowski (Bishop McCort) dec. Louie Gill (Reynolds), 7-5

127 – ​Nico Fanella (Indiana) dec. Logan Stewart (Reynolds), 3-2

133 – ​Charlie Robson (Conwell-Egan) dec. Mason Gibson (Bishop McCort), 4-2

139 – ​Chase Bell (Reynolds) pinned Matthew Smith (Midd-West), 2:30

145 – ​Ryan Lawler (Bishop McDevitt) dec. Chase Hontz (Faith Christian Academy), 2-1 TB2

152 – ​Brady Collins (Clearfield) dec. Gage Wentzel (Montoursville), 3-2

160 – ​Devon Magro (Bishop McCort) major dec. Tyler Morrison (West Perry), 9-1

172 – ​Keegan Ramsay (Notre Dame-Green Pond) dec. Hunter Hohman (Grove City), 15-14

189 – ​Caleb Close (Bald Eagle Area) dec. Lucas Lawler (Bishop McDevitt), 6-0

215 – ​Rowan Holmes (Somerset) dec. Jason Singer (Faith Christian Academy), 4-2

285 – ​Mark Effendian (Faith Christian Academy) dec. Dylan Pitzer (Mount Pleasant), 4-0

Championship Finals

107 – ​Joey Bachmann (Faith Christian Academy) dec. Dominic Deputy (Chestnut Ridge), 6-1

114 – ​Ayden Smith (Notre Dame-Green Pond) dec. William Detar (Trinity)

121 – ​Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) major dec. Greyson Music (Bishop McDevitt), 8-0

127 – ​Jax Forrest (Bishop McCort) won by tech. fall over Chris Vargo (Bentworth), 15-0 4:32

133 – ​Brandt Harer (Montgomery) dec. Camden Baum (Bishop McDevitt), 2-1 TB2

139 – ​Bo Bassett (Bishop McCort) won by tech. fall over Cameron Mingee (Littlestown), 21-6 2:55

145 – ​Reagan Milheim (Warrior Run) dec. Mason Barvitskie (Southern Columbia), 3-1

152 – ​Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort) dec. Max Stein (Faith Christian Academy), 2-1

160 – ​Conner Harer (Montgomery) dec. Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian Academy), 4-3

172 – ​Adam Waters (Faith Christian Academy) pinned Luke Fugazzotto (Northwestern Lehigh), 1:41

189 – ​Andrew McMonagle (Huntingdon) dec. Garrett Garcia (Southern Columbia), 8-7

215 – ​Rune Lawrence (Frazier) dec. Austin Johnson (Muncy), 6-3

285 – ​Brenan Morgan (Central Valley) dec. Brody Kline (Berks Catholic), 6-4

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