photo courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com
Typically the Powerade Invitational is held one of the last few days of the calendar year and ends up being the toughest regular-season tournament in Pennsylvania. Of course, nothing was normal in December of 2020 and not much has changed in January; however, we do have the Powerade a month later. It still holds the title as the state’s best in-season tournament, though there are limited opponents from out-of-state. A few strong Ohio teams have been retained, while others from surrounding states were forced to cancel. Even so, there will be a ton of excellent matches.
The Powerade is where I like to say Pennsylvania flexes its muscles on other states. It’s not unusual for a multi-time state champion to enter the Powerade and find themselves on the losing end of a match against a kid that has never qualified for the PA state tournament. As we will document in the preview, there are plenty of wrestlers in this event that made the podium in 2019, yet were unable to make it to Hershey. This tournament will be different as most of the out-of-state competition cannot attend. That still leaves fans with plenty to talk about as many of the state’s top wrestlers will clash in hopes of a Powerade title. This edition of the Powerade will feature three returning champions and 11 state champions. Here’s who you need to look for at each weight class, along with predictions for the top-four in each bracket.
106 lbs
The clear-cut number one seed at the opening weight class is returning PIAA AA state champion, Branden Wentzel (Montoursville). Branden was sixth at this tournament a year ago and is the only returning Powerade and state placer. The second seed, Tyler Chappell (Seneca Valley), is a sophomore that won a pair of matches last year, but came up shy of making the podium. This weight class will feature a trio of freshmen that made the Pennsylvania Junior High state finals in 2020, Andrew Binni (Canon-McMillan), Louie Gill (Hickory), and Ayden Smith (Notre Dame-Green Pond). Binni and Gill were both runners-up, while Smith took the title at 77 lbs. None of the three have lost yet in high school. Like most large tournaments, we’ll probably see a couple of stars being made at this weight.
TOM Predictions
1st) Branden Wentzel (Montoursville)
2nd) Andrew Binni (Canon-McMillan)
3rd) Louie Gill (Hickory)
4th) Tyler Chappell (Seneca Valley)
113 lbs
There’s no surprise about the top seed at 113 lbs, either. Returning AAA state champion Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe) is back and ready to improve upon his 2019 tournament. There he suffered three of his seven losses on the year, though he did finish in eighth. In TOM’s last national rankings update, he was first in the country at 106 lbs. Another state finalist is in the field and assumes the second seed. Calan Bollman (Chestnut Ridge) made the AA championship bout in 2020 and has yet to taste defeat this season. But to make the finals here, he’ll have to contend with third-seeded Tommy Link (Malvern Prep), a returning third-place finisher at the National Prep Championships. Link was also eighth at the Walsh Ironman and the Beast of the East as a freshman. The seventh seed, Colin Bartley (Laurel), is the only other returning PA state qualifier in the field. Seeds four-through-six are Nolan Frye (Walsh Jesuit, OH), Justin O’Neill (Hickory), and Anthony Ferraro (Pine-Richland), respectively. That last of the seeded wrestlers is Landen Duncan (Chalker, OH), who was a region finalist and state qualifier last season. Like 106 lbs, we’ll probably get to see some unknown wrestlers have success and breakout tournaments here.
TOM Predictions
1st) Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe)
2nd) Tommy Link (Malvern Prep)
3rd) Calan Bollman (Chestnut Ridge)
4th) Colin Bartley (Laurel)
120 lbs
Things really start to heat up at 120 lbs! Freshman sensation, #6 Mason Gibson (Bishop McCort), has already done enough to establish himself as the top seed and sit atop a talented field. Gibson was a runner-up at the Super 32 and a third-place finisher at the Journeymen Fall Classic this preseason and has yet to taste defeat in high school competition, albeit in limited action. He’ll get tested by #16 Mac Church (Waynesburg, PA), a winner of this tournament in 2019. Church was third in the state as a freshman and finished fourth at the Super 32, though he did not meet Gibson. The third seed is #6 (126) Brett Ungar (Notre Dame-Green Pond). Brett was also a third-place finisher in 2020 and a New Jersey state champ in 2019. The only remaining past Powerade medalist in the bracket is fourth-seeded Jacob Houpt (Canon-McMillan). Though he got onto the podium here in 2019 (seventh), Houpt is still seeking his first trip to the AAA state tournament. The only other returning state qualifier in the group is the fifth-seed, AJ Stayton (Faith Christian). AJ was fourth in the Southeast Region last year as a freshman. A lower seed to look out for is Chad Ozias (Connellsville). Chad is responsible for Vincent Kilkeary’s only loss of the year (up at 120 lbs).
TOM Predictions
1st) Mason Gibson (Bishop McCort)
2nd) Mac Church (Waynesburg)
3rd) Brett Ungar (Notre Dame-Green Pond)
4th) Chad Ozias (Connellsville)
126 lbs
This is an absolutely loaded field! Returning Powerade fifth-place finisher #20 Joey Fischer (South Park) has been awarded the top seed. The Clarion recruit is a two-time state placewinner who was second in 2020 after taking fourth the previous year. Expected to receive the second seed is Spencer Barnhart (Malvern Prep), who placed fourth here in 2019 at 113 lbs. Barnhart missed out on All-American status at the National Preps, but earned the ninth seed at that tournament. He’ll be challenged by Purdue-signee Dustin Norris (LaSalle, OH). Norris is a Junior National freestyle All-American and a two-time Ohio state finalist. All the way down at number four is 2020 PIAA AAA state champion Ethan Berginc (Hempfield). Ethan went 1-2 here last season at 120 lbs, before dropping to 113 for the postseason. The other returning Powerade medalist at this weight is Mason Prinkey (Connellsville), who was seventh last year. Prinkey is a two-time state qualifier that placed fifth in 2019.
This year, one of the new additions to an already stacked Waynesburg team was Arizona state champion Zander Phaturos. Zander has been able to hang with some of the best in the state already, losing a close decision to Franklin Regional’s Carter Dibert. He’ll be seeded sixth. Coming in as the eighth seed is Sam Cartella (Western Reserve, OH). As a freshman in 2020, Cartella finished fourth at the National Prep Championships. In the preseason, he was fifth at the Journeymen Fall Classic. With such a strong seeded group of wrestlers, there are bound to be some unseeded threats. One of them is Evan Maag (Notre Dame-Green Pond), a state AA fifth-place finisher in 2020. Also, look out for stud freshman Luke Simcox (Central Mountain). Luke picked up four wins at the Super 32 before his elimination.
TOM Predictions
1st) Dustin Norris (LaSalle, OH)
2nd) Joey Fischer (South Park)
3rd) Ethan Berginc (Hempfield)
4th) Zander Phaturos (Waynesburg)
132 lbs
The 132 lb weight class should contain six past Pennsylvania state medalists, including a pair of past Powerade finalists. Two-time state finalist Dylan Chappell (Seneca Valley) gets the top seed. Chappel has been a contender at the Powerade the last two seasons, taking third and second, respectively. Among others the Bucknell recruit will have to deal with is, two-time state medalist Brenden Chletsos (Notre Dame-Green Pond). Brenden finished in the top seven at the Beast and Ironman as a sophomore in 2019. Could we see a possible preview of the PIAA AA state finals in the semis with Chletsos and #7 (132) Jackson Arrington? Jackson was a state champ in 2019, as a freshman, and was third last season. He took a huge step forward this fall with a fifth-place showing at the Super 32. The other Powerade finalist that’s returning is Briar Priest (Hempfield). Despite his excellent Powerade in 2019, the junior Priest, is still looking for his first trip to Hershey in 2021. Right behind Priest is two time AA seventh-place finisher Connor Pierce (Harbor Creek). Even down at the seventh and eighth slot, we have legitimate title threats in Christian Colman (Germantown Academy) and Zack Witmer (St. Joseph’s). Colman was third in National Preps in 2020, while the Columbia-recruit Witmer has placed in the top-five at the AA state tournament on three occasions. Coming in from Ohio is Casey Wiles (LaSalle, OH), who has placed in the top-four in Ohio’s DI state tournament twice. He’ll get the fourth seed.
TOM Predictions
1st) Jackson Arrington (Forest Hills)
2nd) Dylan Chappell (Seneca Valley)
3rd) Brenden Chletsos (Notre Dame-Green Pond)
4th) Zack Witmer (St. Joseph’s)
138 lbs
A trio of returning Pennsylvania state placewinners highlight a relatively open 138 lb weight class. The top seed is Ian Oswalt (Burrell), an AA state finalist last year and placed fifth at the 2019 Powerade. It was Oswalt’s third time getting onto the state podium. For fifth place at last year’s tournament, Oswalt had to defeat Cole Homet (Waynesburg), which he did via major decision. It was his second time taking sixth here. Homet would go on to place at the state meet for the second time in two seasons. The other PA placewinner at this weight is Chandler Ho (Dubois). The Clarion recruit was eighth in his second trip to the PIAA AAA tournament. He’ll be awarded the fourth seed. The third seed belongs to Jake Niffenegger (LaSalle, OH) and Ohio state finalist. Niffenegger was Cadet freestyle All-American back in 2018. The fifth seed belongs to Lock Haven-signee Matt Sarbo (Altoona). Matt is a three-time AAA state qualifier that was seventh in the state as a freshman.
TOM Predictions
1st) Jake Niffenegger (LaSalle, OH)
2nd) Ian Oswalt (Burrell)
3rd) Cole Homet (Waynesburg)
4th) Matt Sarbo (Altoona)
145 lbs
Though he ranked #2 in the nation at 145 lbs, Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg) is still chasing his first Powerade title. Henson was third and eighth in his two previous appearances. In 2019, Wyatt was third in both Junior freestyle in Fargo and at the Super 32. The 2020 PIAA AAA state champion, Henson, is one of five past state placers in this bracket. The opponent that Henson majored for third at last year’s tournament, Chanz Shearer (Seneca Valley), is the second seed. Shearer is another title contender headed to Clarion in the future. He was a AAA state qualifier last season. The third former Powerade placer at this weight is Tyler Cymmerman (Derry). Tyler has a pair of state medals (6th, 4th) to his credit at the AA division. Other state placewinners at this weight are Kenny Duschak (Blackhawk), John Alteri (Norwin), and Carter Gill (Hickory). The three will receive seeds four-through-six. Duschak was third in the state for Freedom Area in 2020, but has since moved on. Alteri will join Shearer at Clarion next falls, while Gill took sixth at the AA level as a sophomore. The only other state qualifier in the bunch is Chase Henderson (Walsh Jesuit, OH), who did so in Ohio last season.
TOM Predictions
1st) Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg)
2nd) Tyler Cymmerman (Derry)
3rd) Chanz Shearer (Seneca Valley)
4th) John Alteri (Norwin)
152 lbs
This weight class is actually six-deep with viable title threats. Two-time PIAA AAA state champion #5 (145) Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (Seneca Valley) leads this talented crew. He was a champion here as a sophomore and has placed three times. He’ll be joined by another 2019 Powerade finalist, #10 Erik Gibson (Bishop McCort). Gibson was seventh at the Super 32 and a winner at the Journeymen Fall Classic this preseason. Erik mentioned on social media that this will be his last competition of the season due to PIAA transfer rules. Coming in as the third seed is #12 Rocco Welsh (Waynesburg), who was a 2020 state finalist as a freshman. Rocco was a finalist at the Super 32 this season at 145 lbs, but is at 152 because of the presence of Henson in the Waynesburg lineup. Three more returning PA state medalists are in the field with Ty Linsenbigler (Hempfield), Jared Keslar (Connellsville), and Isaac Cory (Montoursville). Linsenbigler was fifth in the state as a junior and fourth as a sophomore. Keslar was fourth at the AAA tournament last year and downed Iowa State recruit, Paniro Johnson (Cathedral Prep) in the offseason. Cory took seventh at the AA classification as a sophomore in 2020. We still haven’t mentioned sixth-seeded sophomore #17 Grant Mackay (Laurel). Grant was eighth at the Super 32 in 2020. The seventh seed will go to Michael Zacur (Thomas Jefferson), who took eighth at the Powerade last year.
TOM Predictions
1st) Erik Gibson (Bishop McCort)
2nd) Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (Seneca Valley)
3rd) Rocco Welsh (Waynesburg)
4th) Jared Keslar (Connellsville)
160 lbs
The 160 lb bracket could be one that is shaken up early by an unseeded wrestler. #16 Enzo Morlacci (Kiski Area) is not mentioned in the preseeds due to his lack of history at the state tournament or the Powerade. Even so, Morlacci has looked excellent at the Elite 8 Duals and was third at the Grappler Fall Classic. If nothing changes, he could be drawn into the bracket anywhere. The top seed in this group is three-time state medalist AJ Corrado (Burrell). AJ was seventh as a freshman and fifth in 2019, before making the finals as a junior. He’s looking to place here for the first time. One of the contenders will be two-sport star Cole Spencer (Pine-Richland). In addition to earning state two medals wrestling, Spencer was an all-state quarterback for Pine-Richland. The third seed is Derek Fields (Brunswick, OH), who has never placed at the Ohio state tournament, but that’s not an accurate indication of his talent. The NC State-signee was eighth at the Super 32 this year and a finalist at the Cadet World Team Trials in 2019. The only actual returning placewinner from the Powerade is Antonio Amelio (Seneca Valley), who took seventh last year. Amelio was eighth at the state tournament and will be the fifth seed.
Ryan Weyandt (Forest Hills) is the only other state medalist in the group. He was fifth at the AA level last season and is the fourth seed. State qualifiers Holden Garcia (Notre Dame-Green Pond) and Chase Krantiz (Norwin) will take seeds seven and eight, respectively.
TOM Predictions
1st) Derek Fields (Brunswick, OH)
2nd) Enzo Morlacci (Kiski Area)
3rd) Cole Spencer (Pine-Richland)
4th) AJ Corrado (Burrell)
172 lbs
One of my favorite storylines could play out at 170 lbs. Could we see the battle-tested senior #8 Luca Augustine (Waynesburg) get his first Powerade title, or is this the coming-out party for a super-talented freshman Rune Lawrence (Frazier)? Augustine had a breakout campaign in 2019-20, placing at the Ironman, Beast and Powerade, despite having never previously made the state podium. He would go on to take sixth in Hershey. Lawrence was the #8 overall freshman in the Class of 2024 and has been extremely impressive in the early going this season. But not to get ahead of ourselves, the second seed is a returning seventh-place finisher at this tournament in, Brian Finnerty (Thomas Jefferson). Third-seeded Dillon Walker (LaSalle, OH) was a fifth-place finisher at the Super 32 and was a title contender at the ill-fated 2020 Ohio state tournament. Sitting down in the fifth spot is Sammy Starr (Kiski Area), who was eighth at the Super 32, claiming wins over a pair of ranked wrestlers at that event. Starr was a regional runner-up and a state qualifier in 2020. One spot ahead of him is Kurt Thompson (Moeller, OH), who has similar credentials. He made the regional finals in Ohio, but didn’t get to compete at states. The only other wrestler who has placed at the Powerade here is recent Penn-commit Andrew Connolly. Andrew took fourth at National Preps in 2020.
TOM Predictions
1st) Luca Augustine (Waynesburg)
2nd) Rune Lawrence (Frazier)
3rd) Dillon Walker (LaSalle, OH)
4th) Sammy Starr (Kiski Area)
189 lbs
As we move up in weight, we get to the strength of the Malvern Prep team, which could contend for the team title. Second-seeded #6 Jack Wehmeyer (Malvern Prep) was the talk of the Journeymen Fall Classic after he upset three ranked wrestlers, two of which were in the top-ten. Just a junior, Jack has already committed to wrestle at Columbia. Standing in his way is #3 Mac Stout (Mt. Lebanon). Stout made the AAA finals in an absurdly stack 170 lb weight class last season. He was fourth at the 2019 Powerade and made the 16U national finals in Fargo that same year. Four more state placewinners, Brayden Roscosky (Kiski Area), Cael Crebs (Montoursville), Trent Schultheis (Freedom), Patrick Cutchember (Quaker Valley), will help comprise a really solid 189 lb bracket. Roscosky is trying to place for a third time here, while Justin Hart (Hampton) will seek to improve upon his eighth placing showing in 2019. Crebs and Schultheis met in the AA state consolations finals last year, with Crebs getting the upper hand via fall.
TOM Predictions
1st) Mac Stout (Mt. Lebanon)
2nd) Jack Wehmeyer (Malvern Prep)
3rd) Brayden Roscosky (Kiski Area)
4th) Cael Crebs (Montoursville)
215 lbs
Recent Ohio State commit #1 Nicholas Feldman (Malvern Prep) is a considerable favorite at 215 lbs, despite a talented field behind him. Feldman was fourth and second in his two prior appearances at the Powerade. He’s a 16U Greco national champion and winner at the Beast of the East and National Preps. Among those trying to do the unthinkable and knock off the top-ranked wrestler in the nation is second-seeded Dylan Bennett (Montoursville) and the third seed Dayton Pitzer (Mt. Pleasant). Bennett was a AA state finalist in 2020 at 182 lbs. Pitzer won the 182 lb AA state championship in 2019, as a freshman but missed his entire sophomore campaign due to injuries. A strong showing by Pitzer could remind the national fanbase just how good he was in 2018-19. Cole Weightman (Belle Vernon), who was sixth at the AAA classification as a sophomore, is your fourth seed. Had he landed on the other half of the bracket, he may have been able to push for a finals berth. Jason Sine (Notre Dame-Green Pond), Nikolas Miller (Central Mountain), and Leo Muzika (Faith Christian) are all past PA state qualifiers that will vie for spots on the podium. As will National Prep placewinner Owen Vietmeier also of Malvern Prep.
TOM Predictions
1st) Nicholas Feldman (Malvern Prep)
2nd) Dayton Pitzer (Mt. Pleasant)
3rd) Cole Weightman (Belle Vernon)
4th) Dylan Bennett (Montoursville)
285 lbs
Could a rematch of the 2019 be on tap for Saturday night? Possibly as a #6 Cole Deery (Malvern Prep) and #14 Isaiah Vance (Hempfield) are back. Deery was a 4-2 winner during that meeting. That tournament saw Vance come in as the top seed and Deery the number two. Cole went on to claim a National Prep Championship, while Vance got onto the AAA state podium for a second time. In 2020 it was a runner-up finish, two places better than his showing as a junior. Isaiah was also third at the Powerade in 2018. Another wrestler from the top-eight at this tournament in 2019 is back with Dawson Dietz (Hampton). Dietz was fifth last year and went on to qualify for the state tournament for the first time. Another National Prep All-American in the fold is Harrison Levans (Germantown Academy), who was fourth at 220 lbs in 2020. The only other returning state qualifier at this weight is Mitch Miles (Laurel). Mitch was second in the Southwest Region last season.
TOM Predictions
1st) Cole Deery (Malvern Prep)
2nd) Isaiah Vance (Hempfield)
3rd) Harrison Levans (Germantown Academy)
4th) Dawson Dietz (Hampton)
Projected Team Race
1st) Waynesburg
2nd) Malvern Prep
3rd) LaSalle
4th) Seneca Valley
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