Photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos of the state tournament.
HERSHEY RECAP: 2026 PIAA AAA INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
12 SOL WRESLERS BRING HOME MEDALS
BY GLENN KASIER
Hershey, PA-The business trip to Chocolate Town, USA, for 12 SOL wrestlers resulted in hard earnings. Although no SOL grapplers won gold, the continued success here at the Giant Center for the SOL is well documented. In the team score battle, Council Rock South continued to be a Top-10 team wherever they go. The Golden Hawks had three medalists and were
matched by Central Bucks West with three in the hardware count. The Lehigh Valley dominated the top five team spots: #1-Nazareth (84 points), #2-Notre Dame-Green Pond (68), #3-Northampton (65.5) & #4-BECA with 58.5 points. CR South was seventh with 48 points, the only team from District One to finish ahead of them was Owen J Roberts with 50.5 points.
South was led John Segata (114-pounds) and Patrick Woloshyn (139), who both garnered bronze in their respective weight-classes. Golden Hawk freshman Quinn Bagnell lived up to expectations as a newcomer, placing sixth at 107-pounds in a rugged lightweight bracket. Woloshyn capped his scholastic career with his second state medal. He finished fourth last year and ends his career with a 156-42 overall record. Segata’s drop to 114-pounds paid off, and the CRS lightweight trio that includes another super-frosh, Logan Worth (121), who finished his first season at 46-11, will remain formidable in 2026-27.
CB West finished in the upper echelon in the team race in 14th racking up 41.5 points with an impressive performance. CB West had the SOL only finalist at the big show in senior Chris Dennis. Chris came up just short in his 172-pound championship bout against Wilson West Lawn’s McKaden Speece, losing 4-1 in sudden victory overtime. His career has been nothing but stellar. He amassed 151 wins, getting his 150th in Hershey, and finishing with a record of 151-25 as a four-time place-winner. Chris was sixth in 2023 & 2024, fourth a year ago and a runner-up this season. His senior campaign he only yielded two losses essentially to Speece, as he was 41-3 in 2025-26, as one loss was recorded as a forfeit. The Bucks will remain strong down the road as Daniel Dennis, Chris’ brother, was fifth at 145-pounds as a sophomore this season. Oddly enough, or maybe not, CBW’s head coach Dylan Schwartz, is a former Golden Hawk who is shaping West grapplers into postseason winners. Chris placed fifth this year in his second trip to the Giant Center as a sophomore. And what can I say
about the Bucks’ Kevin Mallon? First, I have to apologize, as he certainly shined at the right time. Mallon was fierce during the real season, championship season, finishing with an eighth place medal at states. Mallon backed down against no one all season long, winning a D1 North title and was the SE Region runner-up at 152-pounds. What a group of three in that wrestling room over the past couple of years.
Hatboro-Horsham was the third best SOL team, finishing 31st in the team competition with 23.5 points and two state medalists. Dom Morrison came up just short of his goal to win a second state title, as he was nipped for the second time this season at 121-pounds in OT by Norwin’s Landon Sidun. Sidun, perhaps the best wrestler in the country at this weight, won a 7-6 TB2 overtime thriller in the semifinals. However, Morrison rebounded strong in the consolations with an impressive third place performance over DuBois’ Mateo Gallegos 8-3. Gallegos posted a huge upset in the West region final prior to states, causing a shakeup in the seeding here at 121.
Hatboro-Horsham’s Robbie Rose finished his junior season with an eighth place medal grinding through a big man bracket at 285-pounds and setting up himself for a run in 2026-27.
Central Bucks East’s Chase Williams was also chasing his second crown this year as a sophomore, this time up at 127-pounds.
Some may call it the sophomore jinx, but Williams was up to the task regardless of finishing fifth. He took out another defending champ in the quarterfinals in Easton’s Nicholas Salamone who won a title last year. Williams escaped in overtime in the ultimate ride-out, winning 2-1 UTB, but lost to the eventual champ Kavin Muyleart (Cedar Cliff) in the semis 8-4. Williams downed Salamone again in the battle for fifth, winning 4-1.
North Penn saw a resurgence with it’s program this season as they had a fine dual meet season with a 21-6 record, led by Johnny O’Brien at 160-pounds. O’Brien made it to the semifinals but had to settle with a fourth place finish after two close defeats, 4-2 in the semis to Altoona’s Gavin Ciampoli, who went on to win the title. The second was to D1 nemesis Jon Smith from Oxford 5-4 in the consolation finals. O’Brien finished his impressive career at 130-28 with a medal after qualifying last year.
Quakertown’s David Clayton had an outstanding performance, medaling at 189-pounds, wrestling all the way back in the consolation bracket, winning three straight matches to secure his medal (8th place).
Pennridge’s lone placer, Sawyer Ermigiotti, was a beast in the rugged 215-pound weight class. Ermigiotti battled three straight days to secure his sixth place medal, setting him up for a run at gold next year.
The wrestling was fierce, as expected, and despite no SOL wrestlers reaching the top of the podium, expectations for greatness next year will be the theme for all our returning grapplers. The bar will be set high, individual wrestlers will tweak their skills and hone in on changes needed to beat the best to be the best. They will hit the weights, wrestle in the top off-season tournaments and workout at the elite clubs with the Nation’s best wrestlers here in Pennsylvania. There is work to be done, but with this group of SOL returning wrestlers, expect some gold in 2026-27. Wishing the best to all of our 2026 Seniors moving on to the collegiate ranks and their future life endeavors.
2026 PIAA 3A State Tournament
Outstanding Wrestler
133 Keanu Dillard Bethlehem Catholic
Championship Finals
107 Jacob Carr, Sun Valley, dec. Lee Dreshman, Canon-McMillan, 3-0
114 Brayden Wenrich, Northampton, dec. Gabe Benyo, Hazleton Area, 1-0
121 Landon Sidun, Norwin, won by tech. fall over Tommy Gretz, Connellsville, 17-0 3:52
127 Kavin Muyleart, Cedar Cliff, dec. Emilio Albanese, Emmaus, 5-2 TB2
133 Keanu Dillard, Bethlehem Catholic, dec. Willmont Kai, Whitehall, 1-0
139 Dalton Wenner, Cranberry, dec. Aiden Herndon, Cedar Cliff, 3-1 TB2
145 Kai Vielma, Connellsville, dec. Aiden Kunes, Central Mountain, 4-0
152 Gabriel Ballard, Northampton, maj. dec. Michael Ruane, Franklin Regional, 18-4
160 Gavin Ciampoli, Altoona, dec. Tommy Schechterly, West Scranton, 9-3
172 McKaden Speece, Wilson (West Lawn), dec. Chris Dennis, Central Bucks West, 4-1 SV
189 Mario Hutcherson, Kiski Area, dec. Dominic Sumpolec, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 4-1
215 Elijah Brown, Belle Vernon, dec. Paxton Hunt, Garnet Valley, 1-0
285 Dean Bechtold, Owen J. Roberts, pinned Bradyn McConneha, North Allegheny, 0:29
Third Place
107 Shaefer Hoffman, Downingtown West, dec. Maximus Quarry, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 2-1 UTB
114 John Segata, Council Rock South, dec. Dylan Barrett, Penn-Trafford, 6-1
121 Dominick Morrison, Hatboro-Horsham, dec. Mateo Gallegos, DuBois, 8-3
127 Santino Sloboda, Butler, dec. Frank Leanza, Manheim Township, 8-1
133 Mason Whitney, Abington Heights, dec. Caleb Kosko, Nazareth, 4-3
139 Patrick Woloshyn, Council Rock South, dec. Collier Hartman, Canon-McMillan, 8-4
145 Jack Campbell, Nazareth, maj. dec. Myles Grossman, Gettysburg, 11-1
152 Ian Longenberger, Boiling Springs, dec. Luke Knox, Perkiomen Valley, 6-4
160 Jon Smith, Oxford Area, dec. Jonny O'Brien, North Penn, 5-4
172 Teag Sanderson, State College, dec. Brock Frable, Southern Lehigh, 11-5
189 Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth, maj. dec. Michael Spielman, Strath Haven, 11-2
215 Decker Bechtold, Owen J. Roberts, dec. Kendahl Hoare, DuBois, 4-2
285 Brody Rebuck, Shikellamy, dec. Nolan Reinert, Gettysburg, 4-3
Fifth Place
107 Michael Johnson, West Allegheny, maj. dec. Quinn Bagnell, Council Rock South, 12-1
114 Cael Muller, Notre Dame-Green Pond, won by forfeit over Braden Todora, Parkland
121 Abramm Schaffer, Wilson (West Lawn), dec. Jacob Benyo, Hazleton Area, 7-4
127 Chase Williams, Central Bucks East, dec. Nicholas Salamone, Easton, 4-1
133 Braiden Weaver, Altoona, dec. Drew Scherer, Boiling Springs, 4-0
139 Reef Dillard, Bethlehem Catholic, dec. Blake Boyer, Kennett, 1-0
145 Daniel Dennis, Central Bucks West, dec. Nathan Klingensmith, Norwin, 4-1
152 James Whitbred, State College, dec. Zack Jaffe, Kennett, 4-1
160 Nathaniel Replogle, Central York, dec. Cole Gibbons, Mount Lebanon, 8-2
172 Elijah Simak, Nazareth, dec. Christian Burd, Hershey, 7-3
189 Franco Latorre, Interboro, won by forfeit over Hunter Snyder, Greater Latrobe
215 Brayden Collins, Canon-McMillan, dec. Sawyer Ermigiotti, Pennridge, 1-0
285 Daniel Schiffert, Bethlehem Freedom, won by forfeit over Kurtis Crossman, Easton
Seventh Place
107 Bryce Thomas, Moon, dec. Elijah Foltz, Palmyra, 4-3
114 Zach Rehak, Thomas Jefferson, pinned Beau Fennick, Franklin Regional, 0:47
121 Nico Emili, Bethlehem Catholic, dec. Teagan Caciolo, Emmaus, 2-1 TB2
127 Max Tancini, Perkiomen Valley, dec. Andre Cerrato, Bethlehem Catholic, 7-3
133 Brayden Sigle, Downingtown West, maj. dec. Sean Murray, Upper Perkiomen, 12-3
139 Trey Wagner, Northampton, dec. Isaiah P. Jackson, Gettysburg, 5-3
145 Jackson Lininger, Northern York, dec. Ethan Krazer, Easton, 4-1
152 Cade Campbell, Nazareth, maj. dec. Kevin Mallon, Central Bucks West, 10-1
160 Klint Miller, ELCO, dec. Jack White, Norwin, 8-6
172 A.J. Corp, West Chester Rustin, dec. Blake Hostetter, Oxford Area, 7-2
189 Noah Templin, Manheim Central, dec. David Clayton, Quakertown, 7-5
215 Connor Smalley, Notre Dame-Green Pond, maj. dec. Cole Staker, Eastern York, 14-2
285 Cam Danna, West Allegheny, dec. Robert Rose, Hatboro-Horsham, 5-3
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