Freshman Derek Brothers (25-5) is the top seed at 103 pounds, while junior Brett McCracken (17-9) is No. 2 at 145 and three-time champion Nick Sipes (22-2) is No. 2 at 189. Ridgway junior Jerico Weitzel (33-2) rated the top seed at 189 because of a 2-1 dual meet win over the Golden Tide senior.
The other Golden Tide seeds are sophomore Jeff Thomas (18-10), fourth at 130; sophomore Nathan Russell (14-11), seventh at 215; freshman Brett Sutika (16-11), eighth at 119, and junior Jarrett Sloppy (13-12), eighth at 160.
Ridgway, which finished third in the PIAA Class AA team duals, boasts five No. 1 seeds in Weitzel, Derek Konen (32-7) at 112, Broke Leitzel (35-1) at 130, Colby Pisani (34-2) at 135 and returning state champion Nikko Leitzel (35-0) at 140.
The other top seeds are Cameron Kane (28-0) of Kane at 119, Nick Nichols (35-2) of Port Allegany at 125, Jimmy McCauley (19-3) at 145, Jonathon Brothers (34-0) of Redbank Valley at 152, Zeke Drake (30-0) of Oswayo Valley at 160, Brad Rapp (32-3) of Clarion at 171, Marcus McHenry (26-4) of Keystone at 215 and returning state runner-up Eli Morres (35-0) of Brookville at 285.
In addition to Sipes, returning District 9 champs are Moran (112 last year) Nikko Leitzel (135 last year), McCauley (140 last year), Drake, Rapp and Morres.
First-round pairings for Curwensville wrestlers are:
112 – Sophomore Tyler Peters (15-13) vs No. 3 Levi Bell (10-5), Redbank Valley
119 – Sutika vs Caleb Null (18-18), Clarion
135 – Junior Justin Johnston (7-13) vs No. 5 Brandon Rimer (14-15), Johnsonburg
140 – Sophomore Justin Smith (6-16) vs No. 3 Justin Moore (31-6), Brookville
145 – McCracken vs Stuart Lander (1-8), Cranberry
152 – Senior Matt Holland (7-14) vs No. 8 Ricky Fry (6-17), Port Allegany
171 – Sophomore Jesse Hoover (4-8) vs No. 5 Matt Anthony (24-13), Port Allegany
285 – Junior Nick Caldwell (7-9) vs Morres
Quarterfinal pairings for the five Golden Tide matmen receiving first-round byes are:
103 – Brothers vs No. 8 Matt McFadden (11-11), Cranberry
130 – Thomas vs winner of Gary Leschner (15-18), Port Allegany, and John Cleveland (7-14), Oswayo Valley
160 – Sloppy vs winner of Drake and Jack Urman (16-18), Ridgway
189 – Sipes vs winner of No. 7 Rich Keagle (12-11), Coudersport, and Andy Benjamin (12-11), Oswayo Valley
215 – Russell vs winner of No. 2 Anthony Driscoll (30-6), Clarion, and Tony Bundy (25-8), Oswayo Valley
The first session will be Friday at 4 p.m. with the championship preliminary and quarterfinal round rounds and consolation rounds one and two.
Saturday\’s timetable shows championship semifinals and consolation quarterfinals at 10:30 a.m., consolation semifinals at 12:30 p.m., consolation finals at 5:30 and Parade of Champions and title matches at 6:30.
Tickets for each session will be $5 for adults and $2 for students. Fans can purchase series tickets for all sessions at $15 for adults and $6 for students.