CLARION — Senior Blake Passarelli, No. 2 in the 126-pound bracket, is the highest of the Curwensville Area High School wrestling team’s six seeds for the 2019 District 9 Class AA Tournament in Clearfield Area High School’s Bison Gym Friday and Saturday.
Seedings and pairings were determined by coaches of the 15 teams during a meeting in Ralston Hall on the Clarion University campus Sunday.
Passarelli (22-5) is one of seven returning champions among the 33 placewinners back from last year.
The No. 1 seed at his weight went to two-time district gold medalist Anthony Glasl (28-1) of Brockway.
The Golden Tide’s other seeds are junior Zach Holland (2-0), third at 145; senior Cole Bressler (13-9), fourth at 160; freshman Jacob Carfley (14-9), seventh at 106; sophomore Jake McCracken (15-11), seventh at 170, and senior Alec McGarry (3-5), eighth at 220.
Top seeds looking to repeat are senior Alec English (25-1) of Kane at 160, senior Garrett McClintick (28-1) of Brockway at 182, junior Eric Johnson (25-6) of Brockway at 195 and junior Colby Whitehill (29-0) of Brookville at 285.
Port Allegheny junior Bryent Johnson (19-4) returns to defend his 106 title but is seeded No. 2 behind Brookville freshman Owen Reinsel (27-3).
Also seeded No. 1 are Port Allegany senior Reese Vollmer (24-2) at 113, Port Allegany sophomore Braedon Johnson (28-1) at 120, Redbank Valley junior Ethan Wiant (28-6) at 132, Kane senior Noah Blankenship (23-6) at 138, Port Allegany senior Isaac Smoker (23-4) at 145, Johnsonburg sophomore Cole Casilio (30-2) at 152, Brookville sophomore Elliot Park (20-10) at 170 and Kane senior Ty Stahli (22-6) at 220.
The tourney will get under way Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the championship prelims and quarterfinals and two consolation rounds.
Saturday’s first session is set for 10:30 a.m., starting with the championship semifinals and including the consolation quarterfinals and semifinals.
District 9 Hall of Fame inductions at 3:30 p.m. and a Parade of Champions will precede the championship and consolation finals on two mats.
Four wrestlers at each weight will move on to the Northwest Region Tournament at Sharon March 1-2.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students per session. Series tickets can be purchased at $18 for adults and $9 for students.
Complete brackets can be found here, courtesy PA-Wrestling.com