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Recruits postseason is underway


126 Luke Lilledahl St Louis, MO (Wyoming Seminary) DEC Charlie Desena Orlando, FL (Lake Highland Prep), 7-3

165 Joseph Sealey High Point, NC (Wyoming Seminary) MD Emmitt Sherlock Linthicum Heights, MD (Gilman School), 10-2
I think LL’s opponent, Charlie Desena, is the son of Spartan Combat owner and founder, Joe Desena.
 
How about an update on those Penn State recruits-to-be ... Forrest and Bassett ?
D6 AA was less challenging for them than Edinboro was for PSU. Every opponent got pinned or teched.

That's not quite fair. Bassett did have a good opponent in the finals (someone likely to medal at states) -- that guy got teched in the 3rd. Forrest had a returning state medalist in his bracket, but that guy got upset in the semis.
 
PIAA recruit results -- links to brackets in the OP.

NOTE: W-L records are as of the end of each tourney (for our guys) or after the match (for the opponents). Not going thru consis to figure out post-event W-L records for the opponents.

Mason Gibson (D6 AA 133):
R1 = Bye
R2 vs. Gavin Lucas (Bellefonte FR, 9-10) -- TF 21-5, 2:00
Qtrs vs. Ethan Gilbey (Glendale SO, 17-11) -- TF 23-5, 2:39
Semis vs. Hunter Forcellini (Forest Hills SR, 35-9) -- TF 22-7, 4:17
Finals vs. Colten Shunk (Penns Valley SR, 24-6) -- MD 23-9
Gibson advances to SW AA Regionals as the D6 champ, 40-5

Brock Weiss (NW Regional AAA 139):
R1 = Bye
Qtrs vs. Wyatt Young (Altoona SR, D6 3rd, 16-13) -- F 0:35
Semis vs. Jacoby Thompson (Meadville SO, D10 champ, 22-7) -- F 0:44
Finals vs. Dalton Perry (Central Mtn JR, D6 champ, 31-3) -- dec 9-8
Weiss advances to AAA states as the NW Regional champ, 30-0. Because he did not participate in last year's postseason, he will likely be the 5 seed at Hershey.

Dalton Perry (NW Regional AAA 139):
R1 = Bye
Qtrs vs. Mike Reardon (Hickory JR, 18-11) -- Inj Def 0:02
Semis vs. Davey Aughenbaugh (DuBois SR, D4/9 2nd, 35-10) -- F 2:19
Finals vs. Weiss -- L 8-9
Perry advances to AAA states as the NW Regional runner-up, 31-3. He will be on the opposite half away from Weiss.

Ty Watson (D6 AA 152):
R1 = Bye
R2 vs. Eli Morcheid (River Valley SO, 14-10) -- F 1:30
Qtrs vs. Dominick Peruso (Huntingdon SO, 20-18) -- F 1:46
Semis vs. Trent Hoover (Penn Cambria SR, 37-3) -- L 5-7 SV (Note, Hoover is a 2x Regional champ.)
Consi semis vs. Jalen Kurten (Moshannon Valley SR, 26-10) -- F 1:23
3rd place match vs. Caden McCully (United SR, 25-10) -- F 2:42
Watson advances to SW AA Regionals as the D6 3rd place winner, 31-4.

Asher Cunningham (NW Regional AAA 160):
R1 = Bye
Qtrs vs. Noah Moyer (Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech SR, D4/9 3rd, 30-7) -- F 3:29
Semis vs. Bo Martucci (Erie Prep JR, D10 champ, 24-13) -- F 1:38
Finals vs. Deakon Schaeffer (Mifflin County SR, D6 2nd, 35-8) -- TF 27-11, 4:41
Cunningham advances to AAA states as the NW Regional champ, 33-1. He will be the 2 seed behind 2x state finalist Ryan Garvick (Central Dauphin, SC Regional champ).

Potential recruits of note:
Jax Forrest (D6 AA 127):
R1 = Bye
R2 vs. Drue Storm (Glendale FR, 5-14) -- TF 21-6, 1:27
Qtrs vs. Tripp Watson (Penns Valley FR, 9-4) -- TF 23-6, 1:39
Semis vs. Cameron Garcia (Bellefonte JR, 21-14) -- TF 20-5, 2:07
Finals vs. Gideon Bracken (United JR, 31-8) -- F 1:27
Forrest advances to SW AA Regionals as the D6 champ, 46-1.

Bo Bassett (D6 AA 139):
R1 = Bye
R2 vs. Kayson Tice (BEA SO, 5-10) -- TF 21-5, 1:47
Qtrs vs. Micah Atherton (Mt. Union SO, 26-12) -- TF 18-3, 1:47
Semis vs. Ezra Swisher (Bellefonte SO, 35-8) -- TF 20-5, 1:56
Finals vs. Marcus Gable (P-O SR, 38-4) -- TF 20-5, 4:12
Bassett advances to SW AA Regionals as the D6 champ, 47-0.
 
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Brackets are out for the weekend of 3/1. For the guys listed above:

Weiss and Perry have already qualified for states. They have this weekend off.

Mason Gibson (SW AA Regionals 133 -- BRACKETS HERE):
Gibson enters as D6-1, 40-5. Got the 2-seed behind Quaker Valley SR Jack Kazalas (D7-1, 40-3).
Gibson will bonus his way thru this field. The biggest names are Burgettstown SR Parker Sentipal (D7-2, 39-5, S4 in 2022) and Kazalas (S8 in 2022). Gibson will likely get Sentipal in the semis and Kazalas in the finals.

Brock Weiss (Jersey Shore 139):
Weekend off. Has already qualified for AAA states.

Dalton Perry (Central Mtn 139):
Weekend off. Has already qualified for AAA states.

Ty Watson (SW AA Regionals 152 -- BRACKETS HERE):
Watson enters unseeded as D6-3, 31-4.
He opens with Burrell FR Ben Catullo (D7-5, 26-21). He'll bonus Catullo.
Next, in the quarters he'll get the 1-seed, Burgettstown SR Rudy Brown (D7-1, 43-4). He has a good chance of winning this.
If he beats Brown, in the semis he'll get a rematch vs. Penn Cambria SR Trent Hoover (D6-2, 37-4). Hoover won their match at D6 in SV.
If he gets past Hoover, looming in the bottom half is state #1 Melvin Miller (McCort FR, D6-1, 49-3).
SW Regional advances the top 6 to states. It's hard to imagine Watson finishing worse than 5th in this field.

Asher Cunningham (State College 160):
Weekend off. Has already qualified for AAA states.

Potential recruits of note:
Jax Forrest (SW AA Regionals 127 -- BRACKETS HERE):
Forrest enters as the 3-seed as D6-1, 46-1. This is actually a pretty strong bracket with returning S2 Chris Fargo (Bentworth SR, D7-1, 34-2, Edinboro commit); S4 Nico Fanella (Indiana JR, D7-2, 32-3); and Lucas Fye (BEA SR, D6-3, 36-6, Lock Haven commit).
Forrest will win this bracket. He'll get Fanella in the quarters, D5-1 Mason Weyant (Chestnut Ridge SR, 40-9) in the semis, and Vargo in the finals. Forrest vs. Vargo is a likely preview of the state finals.

Bo Bassett (SW AA Regionals 139 -- BRACKETS HERE):
Bassett enters as the 2-seed behind returning S1/2x finalist Cooper Hornack (Burrell SR, 34-4, Columbia commit). The only other notable wrestler is Burgettstown SR Gaven Suica (D7-2, 36-6, S8 in 2022, Edinboro commit).
Bassett will win this bracket. He'll likely get Suica in the semis and Hornack in the finals. Bassett vs. Hornack is a likely preview of the state finals.
 
With Weiss and Perry both at 139, do we know what they are projected in NCaa ?

Also , with basset now at 139, has either gone Weiss or Perry gone against Basset (just curious if they keep it close )
 
With Weiss and Perry both at 139, do we know what they are projected in NCaa ?

Also , with basset now at 139, has either gone Weiss or Perry gone against Basset (just curious if they keep it close )
They're probably both in the 141-149 range. IMO Weiss appears a little lankier and maybe is more likely to get bigger, though 149 still feels about right for him.

Neither has faced Bassett except at M2.
 
Desmond vs. DeLuca starts around the 13:00 mark & is followed by the Lilledahl match. Sealy match starts just after the 1:40:00 mark & is followed by the Henckel match.

I can’t believe how big Henckel looks. Definitely went through a growth spurt recently. He has a huge frame and looks like he could absolutely be a 184 in college. We are stacked in the upper weights as well but if he could be in the 184-197 it’s probably better than if he was in the 165-174 range.
 
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I can’t believe how big Henckel looks. Definitely went through a growth spurt recently. He has a huge frame and looks like he could absolutely be a 184 in college. We are stacked in the upper weights as well but if he could be in the 184-197 it’s probably better than if he was in the 165-174 range.
I mean, he’s competing with Ryder, Barr, and the Mirasolas for his spot instead of Haines, Mesenbrink, Sealey, and Duke. Pick your poison.
 
I mean, he’s competing with Ryder, Barr, and the Mirasolas for his spot instead of Haines, Mesenbrink, Sealey, and Duke. Pick your poison.
For sure but if I had to pick I’d probably pick Barr and the Mirasola’s. I think most feel like Ryder might be a 174 at least for the first few years. Any of the weights have quality guys waiting but the Haines, Mesenbrink, Facundo, Sealey, Duke, and possibly Ryder group is just stupid good and deep. There is a national finalist and quite possibly another one in MM in that group. It seems like I’m downplaying how good the Mirasola’s and Barr and I’m not trying too. Those guys are great but the depth isn’t the same as it is at 157-174
 
Not a PSU recruit yet because he's a FR ... but he's a world champ and on Dice's spreadsheet.

Kenny has 2 other losses on the year, both to senior PA state champ Ayden Smith (3-1 SV and 3-2). He beat National Preps champ Davis Motyka at Powerade.

 
Jax lost ?
*Jax got taken down and turned twice by Chris Vargo of Bentworth and lost 13-7. Bishop McCort won 121, 133, 139, 145, 152 and 160.
*Dominic Deputy from Chestnut Ridge won 107
* UPJ lost regionals to Gannon 145-144.5. UPJ heavyweight was up 22-8 and had riding time and the Gannon wrestler got an escape. MD left UPJ 1/2 point behind
 
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*Jax got taken down and turned twice by Chris Vargo of Bentworth and lost 13-7. Bishop McCort won 121, 133, 139, 145, 152 and 160.
*Dominic Deputy from Chestnut Ridge won 107
* UPJ lost regionals to Gannon 145-144.5. UPJ heavyweight was up 22-8 and had riding time and the Gannon wrestler got an escape. MD left UPJ 1/2 point behind
Am I missing where this is being talked about more? The kid beat the number 1 kid in college and loses a regional match, I hope for a state finals rematch.
 
Am I missing where this is being talked about more? The kid beat the number 1 kid in college and loses a regional match, I hope for a state finals rematch.
That seems likely. Vargo and Forrest will be separated in the brackets. Of the 4 regional champs, Vargo is the only returning placer and the only previous regional champ. Two regional champs were SQ last year but DNP; the other is a freshman.

Here are the returning state placers at AA 127:
- S2 Vargo
- S3 Pisarchik -- pinned by a 40-7 freshman in the NW regional finals
- S4 Fanella -- teched in 3:11 by Forrest in SW regionals
- S5 Fye -- MFF out of regionals, DNQ
- S7 Grogg -- 7th at SE regionals, DNQ
- S8 Brosius -- NW regional 3rd

Vargo might be a little vulnerable -- he has had some close decisions against other SQs. OTOH, most of them will be in Forrest's half, and in the past 2 years Vargo's only AA losses were to last year's champ (who is now in Bassett's weight). Nobody else is beating Forrest.
 
PIAA unofficial brackets are out: https://live.pa-wrestling.com

These are the brackets. Only changes will be if any wrestlers scratch (in which case only a couple names might change, but the slots won't).

Our guys:

Mason Gibson (SR, AA 133, SW-1, 44-5): Got the 4 seed as expected. Will get state #1 Brandt Harer (S2, NE-1, 50-0) in the semis. If he wins that, he will likely get state #2 Camden Baum in the finals. Harer and Baum both beat Gibson 3-1 this year. These 3 guys are the class of the weight.

Brock Weiss (SR, AAA 139, NW-1, 30-0): Got the 4 seed as expected. Will likely get S2 Maddox Shaw (SW-1, 39-3) in the semis. These are the 2 best wrestlers in the top half. In the bottom half ...

Dalton Perry (JR, AAA 139, NW-2, 31-3): Perry has a harder but navigable path to the finals. In the quarters, he'll get the winner between SC-1 Seamus Mack (34-2) vs. SW-3 Blake Reihner (45-4) -- both are returning medalists. In the semis, he'll get the winner between NE-1 Jack Campbell (33-6) vs. SW-2 Dominic Ferraro (37-5). Perry is the best wrestler in the bottom half, and should make the finals.

Ty Watson (SR, AA 152, SW-3, 35-5): Watson got a rough draw. He opens with state #5 Gage Wentzel (NE-2, 41-8). Win that and he gets state #4 Max Stein (SE-1, 37-7) in the quarters. He is good enough to medal, but will likely need to do a lot of work in consis.

Asher Cunningham (JR, AAA 160, NW-1, 33-1): Got the 2 seed as expected. He is the best wrestler in the state and should reach the finals, where he'll likely get a rematch vs. Ohio State commit Nick Kunstek (NE-1, 39-2). Cunningham beat Kunstek 7-2 earlier this year. Kunstek first has to get past 2x state finalist Ryan Garvick (SC-1, 46-4) in the semis.

Among the Not Yet PSU Commits:

Jax Forrest (SO, AA 127, SW-2, 49-2): Expect a rematch with SW-1 Chris Vargo (38-2) in the finals. All of the guys who might threaten Vargo ended up in Forrest's side, and primarily against each other until they get Forrest in the semis. None will threaten Forrest.

Bo Bassett (SO, AA 139, SW-1, 52-0): Got the 4 seed as expected. He will steamroll his way to the finals, where he'll get a rematch with S1 Cooper Hornack, who he pinned at regionals. Nobody else in this bracket is near either of them.
 
PIAA unofficial brackets are out: https://live.pa-wrestling.com

These are the brackets. Only changes will be if any wrestlers scratch (in which case only a couple names might change, but the slots won't).

Our guys:

Mason Gibson (SR, AA 133, SW-1, 44-5): Got the 4 seed as expected. Will get state #1 Brandt Harer (S2, NE-1, 50-0) in the semis. If he wins that, he will likely get state #2 Camden Baum in the finals. Harer and Baum both beat Gibson 3-1 this year. These 3 guys are the class of the weight.

Brock Weiss (SR, AAA 139, NW-1, 30-0): Got the 4 seed as expected. Will likely get S2 Maddox Shaw (SW-1, 39-3) in the semis. These are the 2 best wrestlers in the top half. In the bottom half ...

Dalton Perry (JR, AAA 139, NW-2, 31-3): Perry has a harder but navigable path to the finals. In the quarters, he'll get the winner between SC-1 Seamus Mack (34-2) vs. SW-3 Blake Reihner (45-4) -- both are returning medalists. In the semis, he'll get the winner between NE-1 Jack Campbell (33-6) vs. SW-2 Dominic Ferraro (37-5). Perry is the best wrestler in the bottom half, and should make the finals.

Ty Watson (SR, AA 152, SW-3, 35-5): Watson got a rough draw. He opens with state #5 Gage Wentzel (NE-2, 41-8). Win that and he gets state #4 Max Stein (SE-1, 37-7) in the quarters. He is good enough to medal, but will likely need to do a lot of work in consis.

Asher Cunningham (JR, AAA 160, NW-1, 33-1): Got the 2 seed as expected. He is the best wrestler in the state and should reach the finals, where he'll likely get a rematch vs. Ohio State commit Nick Kunstek (NE-1, 39-2). Cunningham beat Kunstek 7-2 earlier this year. Kunstek first has to get past 2x state finalist Ryan Garvick (SC-1, 46-4) in the semis.

Among the Not Yet PSU Commits:

Jax Forrest (SO, AA 127, SW-2, 49-2): Expect a rematch with SW-1 Chris Vargo (38-2) in the finals. All of the guys who might threaten Vargo ended up in Forrest's side, and primarily against each other until they get Forrest in the semis. None will threaten Forrest.

Bo Bassett (SO, AA 139, SW-1, 52-0): Got the 4 seed as expected. He will steamroll his way to the finals, where he'll get a rematch with S1 Cooper Hornack, who he pinned at regionals. Nobody else in this bracket is near either of them.
I am shocked to see the number of matches these high school kids are wrestling in a season. How do these numbers compare to what’s happening in other states?
 
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PIAA unofficial brackets are out: https://live.pa-wrestling.com

These are the brackets. Only changes will be if any wrestlers scratch (in which case only a couple names might change, but the slots won't).

Our guys:

Mason Gibson (SR, AA 133, SW-1, 44-5): Got the 4 seed as expected. Will get state #1 Brandt Harer (S2, NE-1, 50-0) in the semis. If he wins that, he will likely get state #2 Camden Baum in the finals. Harer and Baum both beat Gibson 3-1 this year. These 3 guys are the class of the weight.

Brock Weiss (SR, AAA 139, NW-1, 30-0): Got the 4 seed as expected. Will likely get S2 Maddox Shaw (SW-1, 39-3) in the semis. These are the 2 best wrestlers in the top half. In the bottom half ...

Dalton Perry (JR, AAA 139, NW-2, 31-3): Perry has a harder but navigable path to the finals. In the quarters, he'll get the winner between SC-1 Seamus Mack (34-2) vs. SW-3 Blake Reihner (45-4) -- both are returning medalists. In the semis, he'll get the winner between NE-1 Jack Campbell (33-6) vs. SW-2 Dominic Ferraro (37-5). Perry is the best wrestler in the bottom half, and should make the finals.

Ty Watson (SR, AA 152, SW-3, 35-5): Watson got a rough draw. He opens with state #5 Gage Wentzel (NE-2, 41-8). Win that and he gets state #4 Max Stein (SE-1, 37-7) in the quarters. He is good enough to medal, but will likely need to do a lot of work in consis.

Asher Cunningham (JR, AAA 160, NW-1, 33-1): Got the 2 seed as expected. He is the best wrestler in the state and should reach the finals, where he'll likely get a rematch vs. Ohio State commit Nick Kunstek (NE-1, 39-2). Cunningham beat Kunstek 7-2 earlier this year. Kunstek first has to get past 2x state finalist Ryan Garvick (SC-1, 46-4) in the semis.

Among the Not Yet PSU Commits:

Jax Forrest (SO, AA 127, SW-2, 49-2): Expect a rematch with SW-1 Chris Vargo (38-2) in the finals. All of the guys who might threaten Vargo ended up in Forrest's side, and primarily against each other until they get Forrest in the semis. None will threaten Forrest.

Bo Bassett (SO, AA 139, SW-1, 52-0): Got the 4 seed as expected. He will steamroll his way to the finals, where he'll get a rematch with S1 Cooper Hornack, who he pinned at regionals. Nobody else in this bracket is near either of them.
Very nice analysis sir. I appreciate the effort to inform people like me who are not as well versed in PA high school wrestling any longer from our distant locations.
 
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I missed one guy -- football commit Caleb Brewer (SR, SE-3, 39-6).

Brewer got an extremely favorable draw and has an excellent chance of medaling. His first 2 opponents both have double digit losses -- if he wins both, he's into the semis. If he loses one of them for some reason, there is only 1 guy in his consis path who might give him trouble before he makes the podium.
 
I am shocked to see the number of matches these high school kids are wrestling in a season. How do these numbers compare to what’s happening in other states?
Quick sample:
- PJ Duke (NY) had 37 matches prior to states.
- Marcus Blaze (OH) had 43 HS matches this year. He also wrestled in some college opens. Ohio has not yet held states.
- Anthony Knox (NJ) had 31 HS matches prior to states. IIRC he also wrestled in some college opens.
- LaDarian Lockett (OK) had 37 HS matches prior to states.
- Seth Mendoza (IL) had 44 HS matches prior to states.

I have no idea if these levels of matches are representative of their states; they were just some big names from big wrestling states that came to mind.

Should note: guys with higher match counts typically wrestle a lot of tournaments (example, Josh Kindig went 53-1 his JR year with only a few duals). And PA has a TON of tournaments. Plus, for many of these guys, the earlier rounds of tourneys are often squash matches.

That said, even with a lot of easy matches with early pins/techs, some of these workloads do seem pretty high.
 
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