The WPIAL has dominated the PIAA Class 3A tournament the past four years, but don’t expect the domination to continue during the 2017-18 season, which begins Friday.
In 2014, eight of the 14 PIAA champions were from the WPIAL. Four others placed second.
In 2015, nine WPIAL wrestlers claimed PIAA crowns, while four others came home with a silver medal.
In 2016, five WPIAL wrestlers captured titles, while five others were runners-up.
Last year, five WPIAL grapplers won state titles, while six others were silver medalists.
The only returning champion is North Hills’ Sam Hillegas.
Four of the silver medalists are back: Shaler’s Ryan Sullivan, Seneca Valley’s Louis Newell, Laurel Highlands’ Ian Edenfield and Kiski Area’s Isaac Reid.
The section tournaments will be held Feb. 24 at four sites. The WPIAL tournament is March 2-3 at Canon-McMillan and the PIAA tournament is March 8-10 at Hershey.
The following are 15 wrestlers to watch as the season begins, with last season’s record and career record.
• Gerald Brown, West Mifflin (Sr., 34-8, 87-34) — Brown placed fourth in the WPIAL and PIAA last year at 285 pounds. He placed fifth in the WPIAL as a sophomore. He is also a very accomplished football player.
• Job Chishko, Penn-Trafford (Sr., 39-8, 102-22) — Chishko is a three-time PIAA qualifier, a one-time PIAA placewinner and two-time WPIAL runner-up. Last year, he placed third in the WPIAL at 132.
• Ian Edenfield, Laurel Highlands (Sr., 32-5, 54-15) — Edenfield competed as a independent last year after Laurel Highlands dropped its wrestling program. He won the 220-pound title in the WPIAL, then placed second in the state.
• Zach Hartman, Belle Vernon (Sr., 37-8, 127-23) — Hartman is a three-time WPIAL finalist, one-time WPIAL champ, three-time PIAA qualifier and two-time PIAA placewinner. Last season, he placed second in the WPIAL at 160.
• Sam Hillegas, North Hills (Soph., 43-0, 43-0) — Hillegas made his debut last season and turned in a perfect season. He won WPIAL and PIAA titles at 113 pounds and finished unbeaten. He’s the only returning state champ from the WPIAL in Class 3A.
• Luke Kemerer, Hempfield (Sr., 37-5, 107-20) — Kemerer is a two-time WPIAL finalist who won the 138-pound title last year. He’s also a two-time PIAA placewinner, including last year’s sixth-place finish.
• Noah Levett, Kiski Area (Sr., 40-10, 115-28) — Levett is a three-time PIAA qualifier who has placed sixth the past two years. He placed third in the WPIAL as a 120-pound sophomore and second at 126 last year.
• Logan Macri, Canon-McMillan (Sr., 42-8, 113-28) — Macri is a three-time PIAA qualifier who placed fifth last year. He is also a two-time WPIAL runner-up, at 113 as a sophomore and at 120 last year.
• Darren Miller, Kiski Area (Jr., 47-4, 83-12) — Miller has recorded 83 wins in two years at 106 pounds. He placed third in the WPIAL and PIAA last year. He finished sixth in the WPIAL as a freshman.
• Caleb Morris, Waynesburg (Sr., 35-6, 105-24) — Morris is a three-time PIAA qualifier and two-time WPIAL champion. He won a WPIAL title at 106 as a freshman, then won again last year as a 132-pound junior.
• Louis Newell, Seneca Valley (Sr., 41-5, 114-19) — Newell is a three-time PIAA placewinner and two-time runner-up. He’s also a two-time WPIAL finalist, winning at 106 as a sophomore and second at 113 last year.
• Gerrit Nijenhuis, Canon-McMillan (Soph., 46-7, 46-7) — Nijenhuis made his debut last season and placed second in the WPIAL and third in the PIAA at 152 pounds.
• Isaac Reid, Kiski Area (Sr., 43-6, 106-24) — Reid has placed second in the WPIAL at 285 pounds the past two seasons. He placed sixth in the PIAA as a sophomore and second last year.
• Ryan Sullivan, Shaler (Jr., 39-4, 51-9) — Sullivan placed second in the WPIAL at 106 last season, then picked up another silver medal at the state tournament.
• Tim Wallace, Albert Gallatin (Sr., 39-3, 102-17) — Wallace is a two-time WPIAL champion, at 160 as a sophomore and at 170 last year. He is also a two-time PIAA qualifier who placed third last year.
First Published: December 8, 2017, 12:00 p.m.
