PIAA AA Wrestling Championships Preview - D6 Wrestlers

By: Brian Ingalls | PA Sports History | March 8, 2022

    The most exciting time of the year is finally here...The 2022 PIAA State Wrestling Tournament starts Thursday at 9:00 am with AA prelims and concludes Saturday evening with the AAA finals.  This three day tournament is one of the most grueling high school wrestling tournaments in the country.   The 20 best at each weight class started this journey almost a month ago with section or district tournaments, and now made it to Hershey to chase at least one of those 8 medals handed out on Saturday afternoon/evening.  Notre Dame-GP (11 wrestlers), Saucon Valley (9 wrestlers), and Chestnut Ridge (9 wrestlers) have the most qualifiers and are the favorites to win the team title.  

    The 2022 PIAA AA Wrestling Tournament has 7 undefeated wrestlers, 2 at 138 and 2 at 145.  There are 14 one loss wrestlers and 8 two loss wrestlers.  The 120 lb bracket has 7 medalists and 12 state qualifiers from last year.  There are 6 returning 2021 state champions in AA, 3 - two time state champions, and numerous other multiple state place winners.  The six returning state campions from last year are: 

1. 106 lbs-Louie Gill / Sophomore / Hickory  Career record: 69-6, Season: 39-1 won the 106 lb title last year

2. 120 lbs-Jaden Pepe / Junior / Wyoming Area  Career record: 110-4, Season: 41-0  won the 113 lb title last year and placed 3rd as a Freshman at 106lbs.

3. 152 lbs-Jackson Arrington / Senior / Forest Hills  Career record: 142-8, Season: 35-2 won the 132 lb title last year, placed 3rd his        Sophomore year at 126, and won the 113 lb title as a Freshman.  Jackson is looking to be only the 53rd/54th (Depending if Crookham wins) PA wrestler to win 3 state titles

4. 160 lbs-Grant MacKay / Junior / Laurel  Career record: 116-17, Season: 37-2 won the 152 lb title last year and qualified but didn't place at states his Freshman year

5. 172 lbs-Rune Lawrence / Sophomore / Frazier  Career record: 63-4, Season: 33-3 won the 172 lb title last year as a Freshman

6. 215 lbs-Dayton Pitzer / Senior / Mount Pleasant   Career record: 126-3, Season: 41-0 won the 215 lb title last year, and the 182 lb title as a Freshman.  Dayton is looking to be the 53rd/54th/55th (Depending if Arrington and/or Crookham wins a title).  Dayton missed his entire Sophomore season due to a leg injury and surgery.

**Ryan Crookham / Senior / Saucon valley won 2 PIAA AA Championships at Notre Dame - GP, but then Transferred to Saucon Valley.  He had to sit out last year because of the transfer.  Ryan will also be in search of his 3rd State title.  Ryan's career record: 112-3, season:13-0 he won the 126 lb title as a Sophomore, and the 120 lb title as a Freshman.  

    Now for the 25 D6 AA wrestlers that are traveling to Hershey.  These 25 are made up of 9 Seniors, 7 Juniors, 7 Sophomores, and 2 Freshman.  The 25 are from 12 different teams, led by Forest Hills and Bald Eagle Area with 4 each, Glendale and Tyrone have 3 each, United / Marion Center / Penns Valley have 2 each, and Central Cambria, Huntingdon, Penn Cambria, West Branch, Mount Union have 1 a piece.  Ty Watson from Penns Valley is 1 of only 7 undefeated wrestlers in the tournament.  Landon Bainey from West Branch is 1 of only 14 wrestlers with 1 loss.  

    The D6 AA wrestlers are led by 2 x State Champion Jackson Arrington (152lbs/Senior/35-2).  Jackson, who will be wrestling at NC State next year, won the 132 lb state championship last year, took 3rd at 126 his Sophomore year, and won the 113 lb title as a Freshman.  Jackson is a 4x D6 AA Champion, 3x AA Southwest Champion and is looking to become the 1st 3x state champion for Forest Hills, and the 53rd to ever win 3 state titles in PA.  Jackson's career record at states is 11-1, and has a postseason record of 45-2.  Jackson has a Bye the first round, and he has 2 other medalists in his bracket.  He could see Michael Duggan from Boiling Spring (3rd @ 152 last year) in the quarters.    The Rangers are coached by Jake Strayer and the other 3 Forest Hills wrestlers headed to States are:

138lbs - Easton Toth / Senior / 35-5 / D6 AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-1st

Easton has a career record of 118-36.  Easton is a 3x D6 AA Champion, 1x AA Southwest Regional Champ, and a 4x PIAA State Qualifier. Easton has 4 past state medalists with 2x state champion Ryan Crookham as the favorite.  Easton's has a bye the first round. 

145lbs - Noah Teeter / Senior / 28-3 / D6 AA-2nd / AA Southwest Region-3rd

Noah has a career record of 100-33.  Noah is a 3x PIAA State Qualifier and placed 7th as a Sophomore.  Noah's first round opponent is Kaiden Wagner (NE-2 / Senior / 32-4).  Wagner finished 5th last year at 132 lbs.

215lbs - Kirk Bearjar / Senior / 31-6 / D6 AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-3rd

Kirk has a career record 0f 37-16.  Kirk's first round opponent is Damon Backes (NE-2 / Senior / 29-4).  Backes is a state qualifier last year at 215 lbs.

Bald Eagle Area is coached by Ron Guenot and their 4 qualifiers are:

189lbs - Noah Foltz / Senior / 31-9 / D6 AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-4th

Noah has a career record of 81-44.  Noah is a 2x regional qualifier.  Noah's first round opponent is Collin Neal (SE-6 / Soph / 41-15).  If  Noah wins his first round match he will have Cole Karpinski (NW-1 / Senior / 38-0).  Karpinski placed 6th last year at 189.

120lbs - Coen Bainey / Junior / 33-4 / D6 AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-2nd

Coen has a career record of 94-15.  Coen is a 3x D6 AA Champion, 3x PIAA AA state qualifier, and placed 4th last year at 113 lbs.  Coen is in a loaded bracket that has 12 2021 state qualifiers and 7 that medaled last year at states.  Coen's first opponent is Eric Howe (SE-3 / Senior / 43-2).  Howe was a state qualifier last year.  Coen has Jaden Pepe (1st at 113 last year) and Cooper Hornack (2nd last year at 106) on his side of the bracket.  

113lbs - Lucas Fye / Sophomore / 30-8 / D6AA-2nd / AA Southwest Region-2nd

Lucas has a career record of 46-16.  Lucas is a 2x state qualifier.  Lucas' first round opponent is Jacob Carfley (NW-3 / Senior / 24-7)

172lbs - Caleb Close / Freshman / 37-11 / D6AA-2nd / AA Southwest Region-4th

Caleb is one of two freshman to qualify for states from D6 AA.  Caleb's first round opponent is Lucas Miller (SE-6 / Junior / 27-14)

Tyrone is coached by Quentin Wright and their 3 qualifiers are:

132lbs - Ashton Sipes / Senior / 32-9 / D6AA-2nd / AA Southwest Region-5th

Ashton has a career record of 72-36.  Ashton is a 2x regional qualifier.  Ashton's first round opponent is Dominic Caldwell (SE-4 / Senior / 36-5).  Caldwell is a state qualifier from last year at 132lbs. 

106lbs - Korry Walls / Junior / 29-8 / D6AA-2nd / AA Southwest Region-3rd

Korry has a career record of 68-26.  Korry is a 3x regional qualifier.  Korry's first round opponent is Ayden Smith (SE-2 / Soph / 36-9) Smith is a state qualifier from last year at 106lbs.

285lbs - Braden Ewing / Sophomore / 34-11 / D6AA-2nd / AA Southwest Region-4th

Braden has a career record of 41-19.  Braden's first round opponent is Mason Iswalt (SE-6 / Senior / 33-12)

Glendale is coached by Brian Storm and their 3 qualifiers are:

172lbs - Suds Dubler / Senior / 36-3 / D6AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-2nd

Suds has a career record 0f 123-19.  Suds is a 2x D6 AA Champion and a 3x PIAA AA state qualifier.  Suds first round opponent is Jalen Wagner (NW-3 / Junior / 30-9).  Wagner was a state qualifier from last year at 160lbs.  Suds has a very tough half of the bracket with 5 other state qualifiers and a 4th place medalist from last year. 

160lbs - Zeke Dubler / Junior / 35-3 / D6AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-2nd

Zeke has a career record of 82-17.  Zeke is a 2x PIAA AA state qualifer.  Zeke's first round opponent is Vito Gentile (NW-3 / Fresh / 29-15)

215lbs - Britton Spangle / Junior / 34-12 / D6AA-4th / AA Southwest Region-6th

Britton has a career record of 56-30.  Britton's first round opponent is Cael Black (NW-4 / Senior / 32-3)

United is coached by Josh Henning and their 2 qualifiers are:

106lbs - Jake Sombronski / Sophomore / 25-6 / D6AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-4th

 Jake's first round opponent is Kale Quigley (SE-6 / Junior / 32-10).  

113lbs - Gideon Bracken / Freshman / 24-10 / D6AA-5th / AA Southwest Region-5th

Gideon is one of only two freshman to qualify for states from D6 AA.  Gideon's first round opponent is Mason McLendon (SE-4 / Junior / 29-8).  McLendon is a state qualifier from last year at 106lbs.

Marion Center is coached by Chris Stewart and their 2 qualifiers are:

172lbs - Gavin Stewart / Senior / 22-8 / D6AA-4th / AA Southwest Region-3rd

Gavin has a career record of 88-43.  Gavin is a 4x regional qualifier and a 2x state qualifier.  Gavin's first round opponent is Kaden Dennis (NW-2 / Junior / 23-9).  Gavin has a very tough half of the bracket with 5 other state qualifiers and a 4th place medalist from last year.   

145lbs - Gage Heilbrun / Junior /  38-8 / D6AA-3rd / AA Southwest Region-5th

Gage has a career record of 47-13.  Gage's first round opponent is Cael Markle (SE-4 / Senior / 37-12).  

Penns Valley is coached by Joel Brinker and their 2 qualifies are:

145lbs - Ty Watson / Sophomore / 37-0 / D6AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-1st

Ty has a career record of 46-5.  Ty is one of only seven undefeated wrestlers in the PIAA AA tournament.  Ty is a 2x regional qualifier.  Ty has a first round Bye.  Ty has a bracket that features 7 state qualifiers from last year, and 4 of them medaled.  The 145 bracket is one of two weights that have two undefeated wrestlers.  Ty could face an undefeated wrestler Conner Harer (43-0) in the semifinals. 

106lbs - Jack Darlington / Sophomore / 33-9 / D6AA-4th / AA Southwest Region-6th

 Jack's first round opponent is Major Lewis (SE-4 / Junior / 36-5).

Central Cambria is coached by Matt Niebauer and their 1 qualifier is:

189lbs - Ethan Kubat / Senior / 29-7 / D6AA-2nd / AA Southwest Region-5th

Ethan has a career record of 81-37.  Ethan's first round opponent is Landon Lorson (NE-4 / Senior / 23-6)

Huntingdon is coached by Jon Mykut and their 1 qualifier is:

285lbs - Gunner Singleton / Junior / 34-8 / D6AA-1 / AA Southwest Region-2nd

Gunner has a career record of 81-37.  Gunner's first opponent is Kade Sottolano (NE-3 / Senior / 34-8). 

Penn Cambria is coached by Todd Niebauer and their 1 qualifier is:

126lbs - Trent Hoover / Sophomore / 32-6 / D6AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-1st

Trent has a career record of 43-10.  Trent is a 2x regional qualifier.  Trent has a first round Bye.  

West Branch is coached by Jason Bainey and their 1 qualifier is:

113lbs - Landon Bainey / Sophomore / 37-1 / D6AA-1st / AA Southwest Region-1st

Landon has a career record of 60-7.  Landon 2x PIAA AA state qualifier and placed 6th last year at 106lbs.  Landon is one of 14 wrestlers with one loss at the AA states this year.  Landon has a first round Bye.  

Mount Union is coached by Corey Wertz and their 1 qualifier is:

106lbs - Mason Beatty / Junior / 35-7 / D6AA-3rd / AA Southwest Region-5th

Mason has a career record of 43-10.  Mason's first round opponent is Jace Gessner (NE-4 / Junior / 33-7).  If Mason wins his first round match he will have last year's 106lb champion Louie Gill.           

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