Cornetto, Garshnick, and Fanella represent Indiana County in Hershey
By: Brian Ingalls | PA Sports History | March 10, 2023
Pictured from left to right: Nico Fanella, Liam Cornetto, and Josef Garshnick
Senior Liam Cornetto (139lbs) from Marion Center, Sophomore Nico Fanella (114lbs) from Indiana, and Freshman Josef Garshnick (114lbs) from United will be the only 3 wrestlers from Indiana County who will place in the top 8 at the 2023 PIAA AA State Wrestling Championships. These three can place as high as 3rd depending on what happens later tonight. The next round of consolation for AA will start at 7:30 tonight. These 3 are part of only 98 wrestlers, from Indiana County, to qualify for States in PA history, and only 32 of the 98 went on to medal.
Liam Cornetto will finish his great high school career on the State podium. Liam is only the 6th Marion Center wrestler to place at states. The other Marion Center placers are: Dan Ferringer 1984 / 1st / 98 lbs, Cam Plocus 1998 / 1st / 119lbs, Jon Neese 2003 / 4th / HWT and 2004 / 1st / HWT, Charlie Beatty 2018 / 4th / 138lbs, and Marvin Beatty 2021 / 7th / HWT. Liam is 42-7 on the season and has a career record of 102-40. Liam recorded his 100th career win in the 1st round of consolation yesterday. Cornetto took 1st at D6 and 2nd at the SW Regionals this year. He was a D6 runner up last year and took 3rd at D6 his Freshman year.
Nico Fanella will be the 7th Indiana wrestler to place at states and the first since 2007. Nico will also be the first Sophomore to place at states in Indiana wrestling history. The other Indiana wrestlers to place are: Jim Nance 1960 / 1st / UNL and 1961 / 1st / UNL, Jim Repine 1963 / 2nd / 138lbs, Jamie Randolph 1977 / 4th / 145lbs, Jeff Putt 1996 / 6th / 119lbs, Mike Monsilovich 1996 / 3rd / 171lbs, and Luke Miller 2007 / 8th / 140lbs. Nico is 33-5 this season and the Sophomore is 65-8 for his career. Fanella took 1st at D7 and 2nd at SW Regionals this year. Nico took 1st at AAA D7 sections and 2nd at AAA SW Regionals last year but failed to place at states last year.
JoJo Garshnick is the next addition for a notable United wrestling family. This phenomenal Freshman will be only the 9th United wrestler to place at states. JoJo will also be the second Freshman in United wrestling history to place at states. Evan Henderson in 2008 was the other. The other United wrestlers to place are: Larry Strong 1967 / 1st / 103lbs, Todd McCoy 1998 / 3rd / 160lbs, John Burda 1999 / 6th / 152lbs, Eli Garshnick (Josef's uncle) 2001 / 6th / 152lbs and 2002 / 5th / 152lbs, Evan Henderson 2008 / 6th / 112lbs, Robert Henderson 2009 / 2nd / 140lbs, John Blankenship 2012 / 6th / 170lbs, and Tyler Oliver 2014 / 7th / 195lbs and 2015 / 3rd / 220lbs. JoJo is 41-6 this season and took 2nd at D6 and 3rd at SW Regionals.
These 3 have already etched their name in school and Indiana County Wrestling history, and will end this season Saturday afternoon on the State Podium. Ironically, Josef and Nico will wrestle each other in the 4th round consolation. The loser will wrestle for 7th or 8th, and the winner will continue through the consolation rounds with a chance to go as high as 3rd place. Liam will wrestle Junior Mason Barvitskie from Southern Columbia in the next round of consolation.
These three are part of the nine Indiana County wrestlers who qualified for the 2023 PIAA State AA Wrestling Championships. River Valley Junior Kaden Barnhart (152lbs) and Senior Brad Miller (HWT) qualified, but failed to place. The next 4 wrestlers made it to the blood round (the last consolation round before placing) but lost. These four are United Junior Jake Sombronski (107lbs), Sophomore Gideon Bracken (121lbs), Marion Center Freshman Griffin Tinsman (107lbs) and Senior Gage Heilbrun (145lbs).
All stats found on the great wrestling website: Pa-Wrestling.
About the Author
Brian Ingalls
Brian Ingalls is the owner/operator of Pa Sports History. Brian was a multi sport athlete for United High School in Armagh, Pa. Shortly after graduation, Brian joined the military and spent 6 years in the U.S. Army. After his military service, Brian moved back to the United school district. Brian and his wife, Susan, have four children. All four children were/still are involved in high school sports.
Brian has spent most of his life involved with high school sports and has spent the past 20 years researching and collecting schedules, results, and stats for high school sports mainly in the District 6 area.
