HERSHEY — The three month long high school wrestling season culminates this weekend at the Giant Center in Hershey.
After two successful weekends in the books, three Clearfield wrestlers will be among the 224 AAA competitors looking to climb the final podium of the season and earn a PIAA medal by placing eighth or higher.
Clearfield has been on quite a run at Hershey the past few years by bringing home at least one medal in seven of the past eight PIAA tourneys. That success won’t be easy to repeat as all three Bison wrestlers will take their first trip to Chocolatetown as competitors.
Freshman 103 pounder Christian Stone (33-7), the Northwest Region Champion, will take on fellow freshman Chris Vasser (37-9) from Cedar Cliff, the South Central third place finisher in his preliminary bout.
At 125 classmate Nolan Barger (33-8), the Northwest third place finisher, gets returning state qualifier Matt Rappo (39-6), the Southeast Region Champion. Rappo hails from Council Rock South, as do/did a whole bunch of Rappos with PIAA experience.
Senior Andre Buck will throw his hat in the ring at 285. Buck (27-8), the third place finisher out of the Northwest Region, will tangle with fellow senior and PIAA rookie William Carter (30-4), the South East Region runner-up from Pottstown.
AAA preliminary action will begin at 4:00 PM on Thursday. Those knocked into the consolation will put their season on the line again at 7:15 Thursday night.
Those fortunate enough to pick up a first round victory will go again at 1:00 PM on Friday in quarterfinal action.
See the complete bracket for each weight class courtesy the PIAA:http://www.piaa.org/news/details.aspx?ID=1945
