Twenty WPIAL wrestlers advance to PIAA Class AAA semifinals
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Friday, March 9, 2018 | 6:39 PM
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Connellsville's Nate Ansell is congratulated by coaching staff after winning the 195 pound quarterfinal against Blue Mountain's Nate Stine in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Franklin Regional's Colton Camacho is congratulated by coaching staff after defeating Cedar Cliff's Michael Cassidy in the 132 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski Area's Cam Connor is lifted up for an attempted take down by Ryan Vulakh of Pope John Paul II during the 145 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Ty Linsenbigler grapples with Nazareth's Nathan Stefanik for the second round of the 138 pound consolation matches for seventh place during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder is congratulated by coaching staff after defeating Council Rock North's Luke Lucerne in the 113 pound quarterfinal in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Penn-Trafford's Nick Coy tries to maintain the offensive against Methacton's Kibwe McNair in the 132 pound second round consolation match in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski Area's Jack Blumer struggles on top of West Allegheny's Ty McGeary in the 152 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. West Allegheny's McGeary defeated Blumer in the quarterfinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski Area's Isaac Reid celebrates a win in the 285 pound quarterfinal bout against Lower Dauphin's Kyle Wuestner in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
West Allegheny's Jordan Watters tries to find a position against Matthew Maloney of Liberty in the 113 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Latrobe's Brady Sherback attacks Matt Vulakh of Pope John Paul II in the 106 pound second round consolation bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps wrestles Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Seneca Valley's Louis Newell battles J.J Wilson of Cedar Cliff in the 120 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Latrobe's Brady Sherback defends against Matt Vulakh of Pope John Paul II in the 106 pound second round consolation bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder latches onto the foot of his opponent Luke Lucerne of Council Rock North in the 113 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Franklin Regional's Colton Camacho grapples onto Cedar Cliff's Michael Cassidy in the 132 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Seneca Valley's Louis Newell battles J.J Wilson of Cedar Cliff in the 120 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps wrestles Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Shaler Area's Ryan Sullivan (left) keeps an eye on his opponent, New Oxford's Tim Uhler in the 113 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Connellsville's Nate Ansell is congratulated by coaching staff after winning the 195 pound quarterfinal against Blue Mountain's Nate Stine in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Franklin Regional's Colton Camacho is congratulated by coaching staff after defeating Cedar Cliff's Michael Cassidy in the 132 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski Area's Cam Connor is lifted up for an attempted take down by Ryan Vulakh of Pope John Paul II during the 145 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Ty Linsenbigler grapples with Nazareth's Nathan Stefanik for the second round of the 138 pound consolation matches for seventh place during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder is congratulated by coaching staff after defeating Council Rock North's Luke Lucerne in the 113 pound quarterfinal in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Penn-Trafford's Nick Coy tries to maintain the offensive against Methacton's Kibwe McNair in the 132 pound second round consolation match in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski Area's Jack Blumer struggles on top of West Allegheny's Ty McGeary in the 152 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. West Allegheny's McGeary defeated Blumer in the quarterfinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski Area's Isaac Reid celebrates a win in the 285 pound quarterfinal bout against Lower Dauphin's Kyle Wuestner in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
West Allegheny's Jordan Watters tries to find a position against Matthew Maloney of Liberty in the 113 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Latrobe's Brady Sherback attacks Matt Vulakh of Pope John Paul II in the 106 pound second round consolation bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps wrestles Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Seneca Valley's Louis Newell battles J.J Wilson of Cedar Cliff in the 120 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Latrobe's Brady Sherback defends against Matt Vulakh of Pope John Paul II in the 106 pound second round consolation bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder latches onto the foot of his opponent Luke Lucerne of Council Rock North in the 113 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Franklin Regional's Colton Camacho grapples onto Cedar Cliff's Michael Cassidy in the 132 pound quarterfinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Seneca Valley's Louis Newell battles J.J Wilson of Cedar Cliff in the 120 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps wrestles Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Shaler Area's Ryan Sullivan (left) keeps an eye on his opponent, New Oxford's Tim Uhler in the 113 pound quarterfinals bout in class 3A during the PIAA championship wrestling tournament Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
HERSHEY — The WPIAL proved again why it is one of the toughest wrestling regions in the state.
Twenty wrestlers advanced to Saturday's semifinals at the PIAA Class AAA championships at the Giant Center, including three — Hopewell junior Jacob Ealy, West Allegheny junior Ty McGeary and Mt. Lebanon sophomore Luke Stout — who placed fourth at the WPIAL tournament and PIAA Southwest Regional last week.
District 3 (Harrisburg area) was second with 11 in the semis and District 1 (Philadelphia area) was third with seven. District 11 was tied for fourth with District 6 with five.
The semifinals begin at 9 a.m. and every semifinalist is guaranteed a spot on the podium.
Heading that list is returning champion Sam Hillegas of North Hills, who won the 113-pound title in 2017. Hillegas is the top seed at 126.
There are three semifinal matches that will pit WPIAL wrestlers:
At 126 pounds, Hillegas faces Ealy; at 160, Stout faces Belle Vernon senior Zach Hartman; and at 182, Thomas Jefferson junior Max Shaw battles Albert Gallatin senior Tim Wallace.
The others to advance were Norwin sophomore Kurtis Phipps and Seneca Valley freshman Alejandro Herrera-Rondon at 106; Shaler junior Ryan Sullivan and Hempfield junior Kyle Burkholder at 113; Canon-McMillan senior Logan Macri at 120; Hillegas and Latrobe sophomore Gabe Willochell at 126; Franklin Regional junior Colton Camacho at 132; Kiski Area senior Noah Levett at 138; McGeary at 152; Canon-McMillan sophomore Gerrit Nijenhuis, Stout and Hartman at 160; Belle Vernon junior Scott Joll at 170; Wallace and Shaw at 182; Connellsville senior Nate Ansell at 195; Laurel Highlands senior Ian Edenfield at 220; and Kiski Area senior heavyweight Isaac Reid.
The WPIAL will return home with 33 placewinners.
Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.
Tags: Belle Vernon, Canon-McMillan, Connellsville, Hempfield Area, Hopewell, Kiski School, Latrobe, Mt. lebanon, North Hills, Norwin, Seneca Valley, Shaler, West Allegheny
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