PA HS Wrestling thread

[Nitlion1986]

Yes, and the NW AAA regional was held there too. Guessing the D9 and D10 schools are not happy with the travel time (3.5 hrs each way from Erie) and would prefer something closer to home.

Kittaning is almost equidistant from Erie, Waynesburg, and Lock Haven. Regionals should be held somewhere near there.

AAA NW regionals historically have been held at Altoona's field house. Several times it rotated to Clarion. The problems with Clarion were floor space, 5 mats vs 3 mats and attendance (up at Altonna and down at Clarion).

Arguing equidistant is a little silly considering the considerable rural space. If equidistant was the prime and a must consideration the BJC would host almost all of the PIAA championships. If Kittaning was interested and had a capable host site then I am sure they would be considered.
First consideration is if site is capable accommodating the size of the tournament, the second consideration should be local accomadations for teams/participants, third should be ability to accomadate crowd size and fourth should be convenience for s participating schools.

 

[El-Jefe]

First consideration is if site is capable accommodating the size of the tournament, the second consideration should be local accomadations for teams/participants, third should be ability to accomadate crowd size and fourth should be convenience for s participating schools.

I agree with these priorities, and think it's a false choice.

 

[dicemen99]

AAA NW regionals historically have been held at Altoona's field house. Several times it rotated to Clarion. The problems with Clarion were floor space, 5 mats vs 3 mats and attendance (up at Altonna and down at Clarion).

Arguing equidistant is a little silly considering the considerable rural space. If equidistant was the prime and a must consideration the BJC would host almost all of the PIAA championships. If Kittaning was interested and had a capable host site then I am sure they would be considered.
First consideration is if site is capable accommodating the size of the tournament, the second consideration should be local accomadations for teams/participants, third should be ability to accomadate crowd size and fourth should be convenience for s participating schools.

Totally agree, although you missed the first priority:

School is willing to host. This is not the no brainer for staffs and administrators that many may think.

 

[wrestlingfan22]

Totally agree, although you missed the first priority:

School is willing to host. This is not the no brainer for staffs and administrators that many may think.

I am assuming that is why D1 decided to host regionals on the Maryland border once again this year

 

[FatWoodchuck]

The school, the workers, the experience!

Wrestling was good though good for the kids.

 

[dicemen99]

I am assuming that is why D1 decided to host regionals on the Maryland border once again this year

Yes, that is part of it.

Regionals left Norristown when the facility cost got prohibitive. They bounced to a few places that are capable of six mats, but in the end (as of a few years ago) only Souderton and Oxford were willing. One is North and one is South - although I agree, the South location is really remote. But I don't think the southern schools in the district are willing to give that up yet and the D1 committee is pretty conservative (most are likely still on the edge of their seats waiting for the new issue of Amateur Wrestling News and sneering at WIN as the new kid on the block).

At one time the CR schools were willing. But South, at least, lost it's appetite as we already host ETR, JV Duals, often opening week of District Duals - each event is a lot of work for the program support team, even with a program with as big a support team as we have. I'm not even sure if it's financially feasible at South anymore - the administrative has really jacked up facility costs for all weekend events in response to a lot of pressure from the facilities union whose members don't want to work these events even if they are getting paid extra (and well). I'm sure they are not the only district dealing with this.

 

[BigFella235]

Dice, your post reminded me of the insanity Sharon HS puts itself through every year: they host a novice tournament, HS duals, D10 team duals, D10 AA south sections, D10 girls districts, D10 AA individual districts, and NW AA regions. Somehow they get help for all of the tournaments. Their custodians must be making crazy money.

 

[tullfan68]

I am sure there are plenty of places closer to Erie to have any of these touuneys!

 

[Nitlion1986]

Totally agree, although you missed the first priority:

School is willing to host. This is not the no brainer for staffs and administrators that many may think.

Excellent point. One thing Altonna always had was the willingness to host. There was a fairly large core group always there working, making the thing appear seamless.

 

[d-1980]

... the insanity Sharon HS ... every year: they host a novice tournament, HS duals, D10 team duals, D10 AA south sections, D10 girls districts, D10 AA individual districts, and NW AA regions. ...

The insanity is that they do not use Flo or even Flo Arena.
They announce upcoming bout wrestlers.
This will be 2025 for these tournaments. It's about time to become more modern, right?

 

[Callthestall]

Not sure where to post.
2 time State champ Keanu Dillard from BECA going to Lehigh. Santoro going after local talent hard.

Footnote: Hearing rumors that Allentown Dioscese is considering combining NDGP and BECA. I personally have trouble believing that because enrollment is up at most Private Schools.

 

[ChillW]

Not sure where to post.
2 time State champ Keanu Dillard from BECA going to Lehigh. Santoro going after local talent hard.

Footnote: Hearing rumors that Allentown Dioscese is considering combining NDGP and BECA. I personally have trouble believing that because enrollment is up at most Private Schools.

On your FN, enrollment has been up but a lot of that was frustration over public school treatment of Covid. People have short memories, and my kids' Catholic schools (a EL/MS and a HS) have both seen attendance drop this year with similar projections for next. Also, a lot of the increase at our schools (and others in our districts) were kids who received a lot of need based aid, so the revenues while up weren't up as much as I'd have thought.

 

[El-Jefe]

 

[BrockBronson]

Huge pick up for Princeton

 

[ChillW]

Huge pick up for Princeton

In more ways that one! He's a tough kid who's body still has a lot of maturing to do. He's got a chance to be pretty darn good at the next level.

 

[BrockBronson]

Brandt Harer to Rutgers- did we miss the boat of these two? Biased but they are really good. Brandt is already 100-2 going into his Junior year. Thats crazy

 

[dicemen99]

Brandt Harer to Rutgers- did we miss the boat of these two? Biased but they are really good. Brandt is already 100-2 going into his Junior year. Thats crazy

No

 

[El-Jefe]

Brandt Harer to Rutgers- did we miss the boat of these two? Biased but they are really good. Brandt is already 100-2 going into his Junior year. Thats crazy

Somehow we'll have to scrape by at their weights with Kasak, Facundo, Duke, Sealey, Mesenbrink, plus whoever else Cael lands including possibly Bassett, Forrest, and/or Miller.

 

[El-Jefe]

From Bishop McDevitt. Lost to Harer in the state finals 2-1 in OT rideouts.

 

[jpsolo]

No

I think it’s more a case of Conner wasn’t at a weight of need and was a sealed deal to Rutgers pretty quick. Conner will start for Rutgers this year and it would shock me if he doesn’t improve all year long and be in top 15 mix at the end of the year.

 

[BrockBronson]

I think it’s more a case of Conner wasn’t at a weight of need and was a sealed deal to Rutgers pretty quick. Conner will start for Rutgers this year and it would shock me if he doesn’t improve all year long and be in top 15 mix at the end of the year.

Agree. Conner is way better than people think

 

[dicemen99]

Agree. Conner is way better than people think

How good do you think people think he and Brandt are?

I think most people have a good handle on how good they are. They're going to wrestle in the B1G.

 

[El-Jefe]

Agree. Conner is way better than people think

Pick out of 3: Harer, Duke, Sealey.

That's where we are. Lots of very good wrestlers can't start at PSU.

 

[jpsolo]

I’d take Duke then Harer.

I have no issue with PSU not taking them with what they got. Just think it was a little dismissive and some are acting like they’re not in PSU’s league. 157/165 is not a need weight. More than 1 on the team or incoming won’t see the mat already but that could both wrestle at PSU.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

From Bishop McDevitt. Lost to Harer in the state finals 2-1 in OT rideouts.

View embedded media

What’s with the crown? If there’s gonna be head gear for a Purdue commit, I might have expected a hard hat, ala Purdue Pete.

 

[dicemen99]

I’d take Duke then Harer.

Seriously? You D4 guys really, really love your guys.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

I’d take Duke then Harer.

Seriously? You D4 guys really, really love your guys.

View embedded media

Was about to post something similar. No knock on Harer, but Sealey's resume is better and he was a more coveted recruit:

• U17 world champ
• Has won Powerade and Beast of East
• Top 15 P4P recruit for 2024

Maybe Sealey also better than some people think?

 

[El-Jefe]

I’d take Duke then Harer.

I have no issue with PSU not taking them with what they got. Just think it was a little dismissive and some are acting like they’re not in PSU’s league. 157/165 is not a need weight. More than 1 on the team or incoming won’t see the mat already but that could both wrestle at PSU.

No, what you're seeing is resistance to the oft-repeated notion (by various people, not just Brock) that PSU somehow missed out on pick a PA HS stud.

Going back 10 years, the only ones we truly missed out on were Spencer Lee and Ryan Crookham. Maybe Sammy Sasso (though his recruitment has been re-re-re-rehashed plenty). And maybe there's a case for SR Luke Pletcher (but not his entire college career).

Otherwise, PSU has gotten better guys at the same weights as every PA wrestler who went elsewhere. Including some awfully good ones like the Hidlays.

 

[jpsolo]

I didn’t say I wouldn’t have picked Sealey over Harer last year in HS. I just don’t think it’s that much of a “next topic” as you think just by going by the HS rankings.

Also not sure Sealey isn’t in the same boat as Harer couldve been in at PSU, when does he ever start ??

 

[BrockBronson]

I agree- Cael very rarely misses out on the Best PA guys. Spencer and Crookham are the only two I remember. They should snag Bassett and Forrest soon.

 

[Hardwork830]

Mario Hutcherson is full court press.

 

[BrockBronson]

He just beat John Starrs son. John went to school at PAU. His son is a senior at Navy. We need Hutcherson

 

[Hardwork830]

He just beat John Starrs son. John went to school at PAU. His son is a senior at Navy. We need Hutcherson

Crazy part is Hutcherson broke him. Cael and Casey will be unbelievable for Hutcherson

 

[USPMAN]

Brandt Harer to Rutgers- did we miss the boat of these two? Biased but they are really good. Brandt is already 100-2 going into his Junior year. Thats crazy

Mr. Harer is not a fan of PSU, the grandparents however did want them at PSU

 

[Hardwork830]

Mr. Harer is not a fan of PSU, the grandparents however did want them at PSU

Why are they not fans of PSU?

 

[BrockBronson]

Who the Central PA doesn’t like PSU wrestling, especially if you are a wrestling fan. Don’t tell me he was a Rutgers fan.

 

[USPMAN]

Why are they not fans of PSU?

I talked to members of the family, they didnt go into much detail, to me it sounded like they had the mentality they’d rather beat the best than join the best

 

[PAwrestling]

He's good, and he has a chance at this, but I'm not ready to say he will. Depends on how the weights shake out.

This year he'll likely have both Harer and Baum at his weight. Maybe Detar or Fanella too?

Regardless, nice pickup for the good guys.

Zero chance that Detar is at his weight and zero chance on Fanella as well being Fanella is now AAA again.

 

[El-Jefe]

Zero chance that Detar is at his weight and zero chance on Fanella as well being Fanella is now AAA again.

That's fair. Thanks.

If Harer and Baum are both at his weight, he'd need to beat both at states. Herring did not participate in last year's postseason, so he's the 4 seed thanks to zero "prestige points," gets Harer in the semis and Baum in the finals (or vice-versa if Harer somehow loses a few matches before states).

 

[PAwrestling]

That's fair. Thanks.

If Harer and Baum are both at his weight, he'd need to beat both at states. Herring did not participate in last year's postseason, so he's the 4 seed thanks to zero "prestige points," gets Harer in the semis and Baum in the finals (or vice-versa if Harer somehow loses a few matches before states).

Kinda why I used the word think or believe he is gonna...not he is. I would have quoted the exact words but for some reason this post was moved lol.