CLARION, Pa. (EYT/D9) — PA Power Wrestling released its initial set of state and regional rankings Nov. 30, a day before the first wrestlers stepped on the mat to begin the 2023-2024 season. What follows is an analysis of those rankings.
As you peruse this analysis, please keep in mind that if a wrestler received a state ranking, they were also ranked regionally (the North West region is composed of District 4, District 6, District 8, District 9, and District 10).
There are only three 3A schools in District 9 – Bradford, DuBois, and Punxsutawney. Five District 9 wrestlers began the season with a state ranking, while another four were ranked regionally.
The highest state-ranked wrestlers were Bradford 152-pounder Jordan Thompson and DuBois 285-pounder Zach Gallagher, both 14th.
Dubois and Punxsutawney had a pair of state-ranked wrestlers, with the Beavers having another three who garnered regional rankings and the Chucks one.
Bradford only had a singled ranked wrestler, Thompson.
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Looking at the rankings by weight, 121, 133, 145, 152, and 284 pounds each featured a state-ranked wrestler – 133 pounds featuring another wrestler who was ranked in the North West region.
Regionally ranked wrestlers were also found at 139, 172, and 189 pounds. Five of the 13 weight classes had no state or regionally-ranked wrestlers (107, 114, 121, 160, and 215 pounds).
107 pounds
Notes: No district wrestlers were ranked statewide or regionally. Only five wrestlers were ranked regionally, as opposed to the usual eight. The top-rated wrestler in the state was Max Tancini, a sophomore at Perkiomen Valley. Regionally, Daniel Noel, a Westinghouse sophomore was ranked first. He was 13th in the state poll.
114 pounds
Notes: No District 9 wrestler cracked the state or regional polls. Manheim Township senior Kaedyn Williams was the highest rated wrestler in the state. Altoona’s Braiden Miller, a sophomore, was ranked first regionally and fourth statewide.
121 pounds
State, NW
Dyson Gould (sr.), Punxsutawney 23, 2
Notes: Keanu Dillard, a Bethlehem Catholic senior, was tops in the state. Senior Alex Reed of Shikellamy was first in the region and 14th in the state.
127 pounds
Notes: No district grapplers were ranked statewide or regionally. Eion Stewart, a junior at Council Rock North, was the state’s top-ranked grappler. Brody Bishop, a Hickory sophomore, was first in the regional poll and 11th in the state.
133 pounds
State, NW
Jordan Rutan (so.), Punxsutawney 20, 2
Samson Deeb (so.), DuBois x, 6
Notes: Only five wrestlers were ranked regionally, as opposed to the usual eight. Andrew Binni, a Cannon McMillan senior, was ranked first in the state. Shikellamy’s Isaac McGregor, a senior, was first regionally and 11th in the state.
139 pounds
State, NW
Davey Aughenbaugh (sr.), Dubois x, 1
Notes: Only five wrestlers were ranked regionally, as opposed to the usual eight. It should be noted that though Aughenbaugh was ranked regionally at 139 pounds, he earned a state ranking at 145 pounds (see below). This is more than likely due to some preseason confusion as to what weight class Aughenbaugh would wrestle by those putting the poll together. The top-ranked wrestler in the state
was Nazareth junior Tahir Parkins.
145 pounds
State, NW
Davey Aughenbaugh (sr.), DuBois 20, x
Notes: Only five wrestlers were ranked regionally, as opposed to the usual eight. See the explanation above regarding the possible discrepancy in Aughenbaugh’s ranking(s). Senior Pierson Manville of State College was the top-ranked wrestler statewide.
152 pounds
State, NW
Jordan Thompson (so.), Bradford 14 3
Notes: Kollin Rath, a junior at Bethlehem Catholic, sat atop the state rankings. Central Mountain’s Griffin Walizer was ranked first regionally and fifth statewide.
160 pounds
Notes: Neither state or regional rankings were award to any District 9 wrestler. Asher Cunningham, a State College sophomore, was first in both Pennsylvania and the North West region.
172 pounds
State, NW
Carter Wilson (jr.), DuBois x, 4
Notes: Only seven wrestlers received regional rankings, as opposed to the more typical eight. West Allegheny senior Shawn Taylor was ranked first statewide. Connor Wetzel, a junior at Shikellamy, was first regionally and sixth in the state.
189 pounds
State NW
Landon Martz (sr.), Punxsutawney x, 4
Notes: Six wrestlers received regional rankings and not the more typical eight. Senior Tucker Hogan, a student at Daniel Boone, was first in the state, while Selinsgrove’s Tucker Teats, a senior, was first regionally and fifth statewide.
215 pounds
Notes: No District 9 wrestlers received a state or regional ranking. Only six wrestlers were ranked regionally. Owen J. Roberts senior Dillon Bechtold was ranked first in the state. Rocco Serafini, a Central Mountain senior, was first in the region and ninth in the state.
285 pounds
State, NW
Zach Gallagher (sr.), DuBois 14, 3
Notes: Only seven, instead of the usual eight, received regional rankings. Sean Kinney, a senior at Nazareth, was ranked first in the state. State College senior Nick Pavlechko was ranked first in the region and second statewide.
Teams
Notes: None of the three 3A teams in District 9 received a state ranking. The top-5, in order, were Bethlehem Catholic, Nazareth, Central Dauphin, Pennridge, Council Rock South.
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