2026 PIAA postseason

[LB99]

Regionals are thru semis. PSU commits/most known targets are in the West AAA Regional:

121: Landon Sidun into the finals with 3 TFs. Will face returning state finalist Mateo Gallegos (Dubois), who pinned 2025 regional champ Nico Kapusta (Hempfield). This could be a state finals preview.

133: Braiden Weaver into the finals with an 8-3 decision in the semis. Will get D7 champ Cael Yanek (Moon), SR committed to Mercyhurst. Weaver should win.

152: James Whitbred into the finals with a 10-3 decision. Will get D7 champ Michael Ruane (Franklin Regional). Whitbred beat Ruane 14-2 at Powerade.

172: Teag Sanderson into the finals with an 11-7 decision. Will get D7 champ Zachary LaBryer (Thomas Jefferson), uncommitted SR. This appears to be a toss-up.

189: Mario Hutcherson into the finals with 3 TFs. He'll get Latrobe SR Hunter Snyder, S3 last year and headed to Pitt. Hutcherson is 3-0 vs Snyder this year, 16-3 at Powerade, 4-3 at the WCCA tourney, and 14-3 at Districts.

215: Elijah Brown into the finals with 2 TFs in a combined 2:12. He'll face returning S6 Kendahl Hoare, who beat Brown 10-8 earlier this year. Hoare beat S2 Cooper Roscosky 3-2 UTB in the semis.


EDIT: D10 qualified 1 wrestler for states: Meadville SR 145 Jacoby Thompson is in the regional 3rd place match.

How interested is PSU in Hutcherson?

 

[LB99]

I thought I was the only one rooting against McCort. I guess I have friends in the matter.

 

[El_Jefe]

How interested is PSU in Hutcherson?

Very. He trains at NLWC (though not exclusively among RTCs).

 

[Efejle]

I thought I was the only one rooting against McCort. I guess I have friends in the matter.

A lot more than you think. If you attended either the District 6 tournament or the Regionals this weekend at Altoona Fieldhouse it was extremely obvious how many fans rooted against McCruit. Nearly everyone. With good reason: They have no business competing against small public schools who actually run their programs with integrity.

 

[El_Jefe]

Shock coming up in PA AA brackets: Joe Bachmann won SE Regionals but will not be the #1 seed at PA AA 152. He lost the PIAA seeding math to returning state finalist Hudson Hohman, who had a far better Win % this year.

Before going thru the brackets, this probably doesn't affect much. They're the clear 2 best guys in the weight.

We of course will root for the guy coached by Wes Phipps over the Iowa commit.

EDIT: Bigger shock at AA 172: Nick Singer will be the 2 seed behind Montoursville returning finalist Gage Wentzel, for the same reason -- Win %. The kicker: Singer majored Wentzel in last year's state final.

 

[LB99]

A lot more than you think. If you attended either the District 6 tournament or the Regionals this weekend at Altoona Fieldhouse it was extremely obvious how many fans rooted against McCruit. Nearly everyone. With good reason: They have no business competing against small public schools who actually run their programs with integrity.

No private school has any business competing against public schools. The PIAA is a toothless tiger.

 

[El_Jefe]

And one unfortunate injury: returning S4 Thomas Boyce, Conwell-Egan, injury defaulted in SE Regional quarters and DNP. He was undefeated at the time.

 

[LB99]

Shock coming up in PA AA brackets: Joe Bachmann won SE Regionals but will not be the #1 seed at PA AA 152. He lost the PIAA seeding math to returning state finalist Hudson Hohman, who had a far better Win % this year.

Before going thru the brackets, this probably doesn't affect much. They're the clear 2 best guys in the weight.

We of course will root for the guy coached by Wes Phipps over the Iowa commit.

Or to put it another way. We, of course, will root for the public school wrestler over the kid attending a private school that shamelessly recruits.

 

[El_Jefe]

Or to put it another way. We, of course, will root for the public school wrestler over the kid attending a private school that shamelessly recruits.

We would root for Sam Herring if he were competing this year.

 

[LB99]

In other regionals:

NE AAA:
- 127: Finals will be the expected D11 finals rematch between Emilio Albanese and returning state champ Nicholas Salamone. Cael Nasdeo's brother Collin went 1-2 and DNQ for states.
- 133: 3x S1 Keanu Dillard vs 1x S1 Willmont Kai in the finals. One upset: D2 champ Mason Whitney (S5) lost in the quarters to Nazareth FR Caleb Kosko; they'll meet again in the 3rd place match. Both have qualified for states.
- 139: Expected finals, returning state champ Trey Wagner vs wild card Reef Dillard. Dillard is now 23-12 on the season, but appears to have taken his Extra Strength J Jaggers Postseason pills.
- 189: Expected finals with S5 Dom Sumpolec (NDGP) vs S4 Brayden Zuercher (Nazareth). Hutcherson may have to beat both at states.
- 285: Good finals match between 38-0 Brody Rebuck (Shik) vs 28-1 Daniel Schiffert (Bethlehem Freedom). They might be the 2nd and 3rd best heavies in the state, though both well behind Dean Bechtold.

SE AAA:
- 127: 107 S1 Chase Williams gets 2x state medalist Max Tancini in the finals.

NE AA:
- Regional Finalist count: D4 = 22, D2 = 4. D2 will be favored to win 3 of those finals (107, 127, 139).
- State Qualifier count: D4 = 43, D2 = 9

NW AA:
- Upset at 107: D10 runnerup Luke Gray (32-14) beat D9 champ Max Jovenitti, who's now 39-2.
- 114: Chase Karenbauer into the finals with 2 TF, will face D9 champ Cody Householder. Karenbauer will be favored, but this could be a good match.
- Upset at 145: D9 champ Greyson Meyer (37-1 after districts) lost his opener 14-7 to D10 6th placer Kyler See (34-13). Meyer is into the 3rd place match, will qualify for states. See made the regional finals.

SW AA:
- Upset at 139: former Iowa recruit Owen McMullen (Bishop McCruit, VT) lost 1-0 in the semis to D7 runner-up Drake McClure.
- 145: Bo Bassett into the finals with 3 first-period TFs. News at 11.
- Upset at 152: nationally ranked Jackson Butler (McCruit, Maryland) lost in the semis 2-1 UTB to Jonah Erdely (Frazier). Erdely is a 2x SQ and now 31-1 on the year, headed to Seton Hill.
- 160: Melvin Miller into the finals with 3 TFs. He won't get any competition until the state finals vs Reagan Milheim.
189: Quentin Wright-coached Kyle Scott into the finals with a TF and 2 pins, total combined mat time 2:40. He'll be favored in the finals over D7 champ Brady Brown, who pinned McCruit JR CJ Pensiero in the semis -- the official brackets show time of fall 0:01, kinda impossible for a 2-sec HS pin rule.
- 285: looking at a monster HWT match here with Colin Whyte (West Greene) vs Caleb Rodriguez (McCruit) -- probably the 2nd and 3rd best guys after FCA's Mark Effendian. Whyte with 2 first-period pins and a 12-0 MD; Rodriguez won his semi 2-1 TB2.

Note: in the 189 semis, Brown pinned McCruit JR CJ Pensiero in 0:01 -- kinda impossible but that's what the brackets say.

SE AA:
- Mostly chalk. Good finals matchup at 127, S1 Freddy Bachmann (Iowa) vs S2 Carter Chunko (Rutger).

Williams pinned Tancini. Coffin took 3rd.

 

[El_Jefe]

AA bracket preview ... below is according to PIAA seeding math:

107 seeds:
1 - Nathan Schuman, Honesdale SO, NE-1, 47-1
2 - Van Ward, Union City SR, NW-1, 35-4
3 - Kooper Deputy, Chestnut Ridge FR, SW-1, 48-0
4 - Arav Pandey, Trinity FR, SE-1, 36-3

114 seeds:
1 - Braiden Lotier, Bishop McDevitt SO, SE-1, 44-1 -- returning S1
2 - Chase Karenbauer, Grove City SO, NW-1, 42-0 -- returning S3
3 - Zander Wilson, Williamson SO, NE-1, 38-4
4 - Patrick Bulger, Derry FR, SW-1, 44-9

121 seeds:
1 - Sam Wolford, Northern Lebanon SR, SE-1, 49-3 -- returning S2
2 - Keegan Bassett, Bishop McCruit SO, SW-1, 34-4 -- returning S4
3 - Brock Rothermel, Line Mountain JR, NE-1, 43-4 -- returning S5
4 - Elijah Scriven, Hickory JR, NW-1, 24-4 -- returning S4

127 seeds:
1 - Freddy Bachmann, FCA SO, SE-1, 36-1 -- returning S1
2 - Dom Deputy, Chestnut Ridge SR, SW-1, 49-2 -- returning 2x S1
3 - CJ Caines, Hanover SO, NE-1, 43-0 -- returning S6
4 - Logan Stewart, Reynolds JR, NW-1, 47-2 -- returning S7

133 seeds:
1 - Will Detar, Trinity SR, SE-1, 43-1 -- returning S3
2 - Bradley Wagner, Mifflinburg JR, NE-1, 46-2 -- returning S6
3 - Tanner Guenot, BEA JR, SW-1, 41-4 -- returning S8
4 - Brady Slicker, Hickory JR, NW-1, 42-6

139 seeds:
1 - Camden Baum, Bishop McDevitt SR, SE-1, 32-2 -- returning S2
2 - Kamdyn Borrero, Erie Prep SO, NW-1, 43-3
3 - Drake McClure, Bentworth JR, SW-1, 45-8
4 - Chase Boozer, Muncy FR, NE-1, 42-3

145 seeds -- Bassett and Harer are tied in PIAA math. IDK if Bassett will be the 1 due to national ranking, or Harer due to more matches wrestled. Either way, they'll be separated.
1 or 2 - Bo Bassett, Bishop McCort SR, SW-1, 40-0 -- returning 2x S1
1 or 2 - Brandt Harer, Montgomery SR, NE-1, 54-0 -- returning 2x S1
3 - Greyson Music, Bishop McCort JR, SE-1, 41-4 -- returning S3
4 - Rudy Gentile, Greenville SR, NW-1, 36-4

152 seeds:
1 - Hudson Hohman, Grove City SR, NW-1, 41-2 -- returning S2
2 - Joe Bachmann, FCA JR, SE-1, 23-3 -- returning 2x S1
3 - Jonah Erdely, Frazier SR, SW-1, 32-1
4 - Dalton Schadel, Line Mountain SR, NE-1, 28-8

160 seeds:
1 - Melvin Miller, Bishop McCruit JR, SW-1, 50-1 -- returning S1
2 - Reagan Milheim, Warrior Run SR, NE-1, 49-0 -- returning S2
3 - Jordan Thompson, Bradford SR, NW-1, 35-3
4 - Leyden Acevedo, Berks Catholic SO, SE-1, 37-6

172 seeds:
1 - Gage Wentzel, Montoursville SR, NE-1, 45-2 -- returning S2
2 - Nick Singer, FCA JR, SE-1, 29-4 -- returning S1
3 - Cash Morrell, Cochranton SR, NW-1, 35-2
4 - Emory Gunby, Bishop McCruit JR, SW-1, 37-11

189 seeds:
1 - Adam Waters, FCA SR, SE-1, 29-2 -- returning 3x champ
2 - Kyle Scott, Tyrone SR, SW-1, 43-0 -- returning S4
3 - Hayden Harvey, Montoursville JR, NE-1, 44-2
4 - Hunter Cox, Greenville JR, NW-1, 37-4

215 seeds:
1 - Aiden Bliss, Port Allegany SR, NW-1, 39-1 -- returning SS3
2 - Landon Erdman, Huntingdon SR, SW-1, 44-3
3 - Landon Tucker, Mifflinburg SO, NE-1, 43-1
4 - Cael Weidemoyer, FCA SR, SE-1, 35-4

285 seeds:
1 - Mark Effendian, FCA SR, SE-1, 42-0 -- returning S2
2 - Colin Whyte, West Greene SR, SW-1, 44-3 -- returning S4
3 - Luke Sottolano, Williamson SR, NE-1, 42-2
4 - Owen Nickerson, Corry SR, NW-1, 38-8

 

[El_Jefe]

Brown, Whitbred, Teag, and Hutcherson all won AAA West Regional.

Brown beat Hoare 7-1 in the final.

 

[El_Jefe]

AAA seed preview:

107 seeds:
1 - Jacob Carr, Sun Valley SO, SE-1, 39-2
2 - Sean Morley, Conestoga Valley SR, SC-1, 40-2
3 - Lee Dreshman, Canon McMillan FR, W-1, 48-4
4 - Luis Moya, Parkland JR, NE-1, 36-5

114 seeds:
1 - Brayden Wenrich, Northampton SO, NE-1, 32-1 -- returning S2
2 - Thunder Beard, Central Dauphin SR, SC-1, 44-2 -- returning S4
3 - Dom Powell, Upper Dublin JR, SE-1, 35-3
4 - Zach Rehak, Thomas Jefferson JR, W-1, 41-4

121 seeds:
1 - Mateo Gallegos, Dubois SO, W-1, 45-2 -- returning S2
2 - Dominick Morrison, Hatboro-Horsham JR, SE-1, 43-2 -- returning S5 (2024 S1)
3 - Nico Emili, Beca SO, NE-1, 30-6 -- returning S7
4 - Abramm Schaffer, Wilson West Lawn SR, SC-1, 42-6

Landon Sidun will be drawn into the bottom half.

127 seeds:
1 - Chase Williams, Central Bucks East SO, SE-1, 37-4 -- returning S1
2 - Santino Sloboda, Butler SR, W-1, 43-1 -- returning S3
3 - Emilio Albanese, Emmaus JR, NE-1, 37-2 -- returning S3
4 - Kavin Muyleart, Cedar Cliff JR, SC-1, 34-4 -- returning S2

133 seeds:
1 - Keanu Dillard, Beca SR, NE-1, 43-3 -- returning 3x S1
2 - Drew Scherer, Boiling Springs SR, SC-1, 38-5 -- returning S7
3 - Brayden Sigle, Downingtown West SR, SE-1, 36-6
4 - Cael Yanek, Moon SR, W-1, 42-6

Braiden Weaver and 2025 state champ Willmont Kai will both be in the bottom half.

139 seeds:
1 - Blake Boyer, Kennett SR, SE-1, 43-2 -- returning S5
2 - Aiden Herndon, Cedar Cliff JR, SC-1, 37-5 -- returning S4
3 - Trey Wagner, Northampton SR, NE-1, 34-4 -- returning S5 (past S1)
4 - Dalton Wenner, Cranberry SR, W-1, 42-5 -- returning S7

145 seeds:
1 - Kai Vielma, Connellsville JR, W-1, 47-3 -- returning S3
2 - Myles Grossman, Gettysburg JR, SC-1, 27-1 -- returning S6
3 - Jack Campbell, Nazareth SR, NE-1, 32-3 -- returning S6
4 - Daniel Dennis (not the Iowa one), Central Bucks West SO, SE-1, 36-4

152 seeds:
1 - Luke Knox, Perkiomen Valley JR, SE-1, 42-2 -- returning S3
2 - Gabriel Ballard, Northampton JR, NE-1, 37-5 -- returning S2
3 - James Whitbred, State College JR, W-1, 45-5 -- returning S6
4 - Ian Longenberger, Boiling Springs SR, SC-1, 42-1 -- returning S8

160 seeds:
1 - Jon Smith, Oxford JR, SE-1, 33-2 -- returning S4
2 - Gavin Ciampoli, Altoona JR, W-1, 34-6 -- returning S7
3 - Nathan Replogle, Central York SO, SC-1, 41-3
4 - Tommy Schechterly, West Scranton SO, NE-1, 36-6

172 seeds:
1 - McKaden Speece, Wilson West Lawn SR, SC-1, 51-1 -- returning S4
2 - Chris Dennis, Central Bucks West SR, SE-1, 38-2 -- returning S4
3 - Brock Frable, Southern Lehigh JR, NE-1, 41-5
4 - Teag Sanderson, State College FR, W-1, 38-9

189 seeds:
1 - Mario Hutcherson, Kiski SO, W-1, 44-1 -- returning S6
2 - Dom Sumpolec, NDGP SR, NE-1, 37-5 -- returning S5
3 - Franco Latorre, Interboro JR, SE-1, 42-2
4 - Noah Templin, Manheim Central SR, SC-1, 38-1

215 seeds:
1 - Elijah Brown, Belle Vernon SR, W-1, 43-1 -- defending state champ
2 - Paxton Hunt, Garnet Valley SR, SE-1, 43-1
3 - Connor Smalley, NDGP SR, NE-1, 28-9
4 - Cole Stake, Eastern York SR, SC-1, 35-1

Hoare and Roscosky will be in the bottom half. Decker Bechtold will be in the top half.

285 seeds:
1 - Dean Bechtold, Owen J Roberts SR, SE-1, 24-0 -- defending state champ
2 - Brody Rebuck, Shikellamy SR, NE-1, 39-0 -- returning S8
3 - Braydn McConneha, North Allegheny SR, W-1, 39-3
4 - Nolan Reinert, Gettysburg JR, SC-1, 32-0

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Zinkin beats Sanchez 5-2. Sanchez was about a second from getting the tying TD and potential backs as time expired. Zinkin ends his high school career as a 3-time California state champion and 4-time finalist.

 

[jstross]

Zinkin beats Sanchez 5-2. Sanchez was about a second from getting the tying TD and potential backs as time expired. Zinkin ends his high school career as a 3-time California state champion and 4-time finalist.

Sanchez is a couple years behind I think? Any idea on age of the two?

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Sanchez is a couple years behind I think? Any idea on age of the two?

I don't know their ages, but Sanchez is a sophomore and Zinkin is a senior.

 

[El_Jefe]

**Unofficial** brackets for PA states released. I wouldn't expect changes barring withdrawals.

https://brackets.pa-wrestling.com

Pretty much as listed above. Harer got the 1 over Bassett, but the only real effect is to lock in a headliner Harer vs Bassett unbeaten champ vs champ final (where maybe 3-seed Greyson Music had some shot at beating Harer).

Joe Bachmann and Singer both got the 2, as the seeding math predicted.

Braiden Weaver is in the same side as Willmont Kai as expected, but they won't meet until the semis -- assuming Weaver gets past S8 Mason Whitney in Round 1 and SC-1/S7 Drew Scherer in the quarters.

 

[Efejle]

Think about this: As an upper weight as a freshman, Teag will have a shot at a state championship competing against almost entirely seniors who are 4 years older than him as teenagers. If you don't think that's special you are insane, it's basically unheard of...

 

[donboy6499]

We would root for Sam Herring if he were competing this year.

This is about where I’m at, I don’t hate the kids as much as the system that allows for it. I pull for the Bassett Bros and the other PA natives. Any dislike is just from how someone conducts himself (like at any school really, not unique to how I’d view an athlete at a private).

 

[El_Jefe]

Think about this: As an upper weight as a freshman, Teag will have a shot at a state championship competing against almost entirely seniors who are 4 years older than him as teenagers. If you don't think that's special you are insane, it's basically unheard of...

Umm ... Mario Hutcherson last year.

Sean Kinney and Thomas Haines already forgotten.

 

[donboy6499]

Props to Jefe for keeping this updated, you the real MVP.

 

[Headlock]

Props to Jefe for keeping this updated, you the real MVP.

A fountain of wrestling knowledge.

 

[Efejle]

Props to Jefe for keeping this updated, you the real MVP.

Thank you, in reverse

 

[grap54]

**Unofficial** brackets for PA states released. I wouldn't expect changes barring withdrawals.

https://brackets.pa-wrestling.com

Pretty much as listed above. Harer got the 1 over Bassett, but the only real effect is to lock in a headliner Harer vs Bassett unbeaten champ vs champ final (where maybe 3-seed Greyson Music had some shot at beating Harer).

Joe Bachmann and Singer both got the 2, as the seeding math predicted.

Braiden Weaver is in the same side as Willmont Kai as expected, but they won't meet until the semis -- assuming Weaver gets past S8 Mason Whitney in Round 1 and SC-1/S7 Drew Scherer in the quarters.

I've seeded hundreds of tournaments over the years, and I don't obsess over who's 1 and who's 2, unless it makes the bracket unbalanced. Separation is far more important than seeding. I can look at a bracket and tell whether it was well seeded or not, regardless of the number next to the kid's name. If there are the same number of the top guys on each side of the bracket, I've done my job.

There was a lot of discussion in Illinois when Jaxon Penovich only got the 4 seed at 190 in 2A. He was a state champion in 2024, but he was suspended last season, so he had no 2025 credentials, which meant he got no seed at all. That put him on the same side of the bracket as the defending champion, Judah Heeg of Lemont, who got the 1. Penovich was going to win the bracket regardless of where he was placed, and he teched Heeg, as I expected, and went on to win it easily. As least the two best guys got to the finals, but I didn't like the way it happened.

 

[El_Jefe]

I've seeded hundreds of tournaments over the years, and I don't obsess over who's 1 and who's 2, unless it makes the bracket unbalanced. Separation is far more important than seeding. I can look at a bracket and tell whether it was well seeded or not, regardless of the number next to the kid's name. If there are the same number of the top guys on each side of the bracket, I've done my job.

There was a lot of discussion in Illinois when Jaxon Penovich only got the 4 seed at 190 in 2A. He was a state champion in 2024, but he was suspended last season, so he had no 2025 credentials, which meant he got no seed at all. That put him on the same side of the bracket as the defending champion, Judah Heeg of Lemont, who got the 1. Penovich was going to win the bracket regardless of where he was placed, and he teched Heeg, as I expected, and went on to win it easily. As least the two best guys got to the finals, but I didn't like the way it happened.

Yeah, 1 and 2 flipping generally isn't such a big deal.

PIAA has a similar issue as you saw with Penovich, in which half of the seeding criteria is "prestige points" for last year's postseason placement. It often relegates the best wrestler to the 4 seed for being injured the year before or being a freshman. Weidemoyer is the most obvious example this year. Sidun would've been an even more egregious example (#1 nationally, 4 seed at states!) had he won regionals.

Also it has downstream effects on future years' brackets. Which is stupid on stilts.

But at least it's an improvement over the infamous Sasso-Pletcher random draw quarters, when both were state finalists the year before and the obvious best 2 guys at the weight. However marginal an improvement, still better than that mess.