Carson: Preview of Centre County State Quailifiers

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 9, 2022

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HERSHEY – Eleven area wrestlers battled through the grind of the postseason and now have the opportunity of standing on the podium at the PIAA Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Class 2A kicks things off at 9 a.m. with pigtails and the first round on Thursday. Class 3A follows at 4 p.m.

Class 3A

State College qualified three to states – freshman Asher Cunningham (120) and juniors Pierson Manville (138) and Nick Pavlechko (215)

Cunningham (32-6) opens with Canon-McMillan‘s Jacob Haupt (34-5) in the first round. Manville (34-3), the fourth seed, meets the winner of Emmaus‘ Nick Velde (32-6) and Garnet Valley‘s Daniel Husain (39-5) in the first round. Pavlechko (28-3) faces Greater Latrobe‘s Corey Boerio.

Bellefonte has two making the trek to Hershey in seniors Aidan O‘Shea (132) and Jude Swisher (145). Swisher is a two-time state placer making his fourth appearance at states, while O‘Shea is back for a second time.

In the opening round, O’Shea (34-7) gets talented freshman Collin Gaj (41-5) from Quakertown. Swisher (38-1), ranked first in the state but seeded second in the tournament, faces the winner of Northampton‘s Christian Fritz (20-10) and Hempfield Area‘s Lucas Kapusta (32-5).

Class 2A

Bald Eagle Area moved four through to states in sophomore Lucas Fye (113), junior Coen Bainey (120), freshman Caleb Close (172), and senior Noah Foltz (189).

Fye (30-8), a two-time qualifier, faces Curwensville‘s Jason Carfley (24-7) in the first round. Bainey (33-4), a three-time qualifier who finished fourth last year, squares off with Lancaster Catholic‘s Eric Howe (43-2). Close (37-11) battles Northwest Lehigh‘s Lucas Miller (27-14), and Foltz (31-9) meets Collin Neal (41-15) of Boiling Springs.

Penns Valley qualified two for states, with sophomores Jack Darlington (106) and Ty Watson (145) earning the right to go for the gold.

Darlington (33-9) goes against Trinity‘s Major Lewis (36-5), while Watson (37-0), the fourth seed, meets the winner of Line Mountain‘s Mason Leshock (32-11) and Ean Wilson (36-18) of Boiling Springs in the first round.

PIAA Pairings

Class AAA

120:

NW-1 Asher Cunningham, State College, Fr. (32-6) vs. SW-3 Jacob Haupt, Canon-McMillan, Sr. (34-5)

132:

NW-3 Aidan O’Shea, Bellefonte, Sr. (34-7) vs. SE-1 Collin Gaj, Quakertown, Fr. (41-5)

138:

NW-1 Pierson Manville, State College, So. (34-3) vs. NE-4 Nick Velde, Emmaus, Sr. (32-6)-SE-3 Daniel Husain, Garnet Valley, Sr. (39-5) winner

145

NW-1 Jude Swisher, Bellefonte, Sr. (38-1) vs. NE-4 Christian Fritz, Northampton, Sr. (20-10)-SW-3 Lucas Kapusta, Hempfield Area, Jr. (32-5) winner

215

NW-1 Nick Pavlechko, State College, So. (28-3) vs. SW-3 Corey Boerio, Greater Latrobe, Jr. (41-9)