HERSHEY — Curwensville senior Zach Holland made it to Friday night’s PIAA AA semifinals, assuring himself of a state medal in his first and only appearance on the big stage of the Giant Center in Hershey.
There he ran into top-ranked and undefeated Kaden Cassidy (37-0) of Bedford. Cassidy showed why he’ll be claiming his third state medal when he took Holland down at the 1:21 mark of the match and picked up the pin in 1:09. Cassidy had tech falls in his first two matches and has now outscored his three opponents 33-1.
Cassidy will face Kenneth Kiser (43-3) of Saegertown, who pinned Holland in 3:59 at the North West Regional tourney in Sharon.
Once Holland was sent into the consolation round, he ran into a hot Kenny Duschek (42-8) from Freedom High School. Duschek made Holland his fourth victim in the wrestlebacks with a 7-2 win. After a scoreless first period, Holland needed some injury time at the 1;29 mark of the second, then gave up an escape about 40 seconds later. Duschek scored a big takedown with 13 seconds remaining in the period top go up 3-0 heading to the final period. Holland was turned for two back points and then reversed Duschek to get the score to 5-2. Duschek set the final at 7-2 with a reversal of his own.
On Saturday morning Holland (34-3) will meet Zack Witmer (36-7) of St. Joseph’s Academy in the fifth place match. Witmer will get his third state medal after placing fifth in 2018 and fourth in 2019.
Finals Match Ups:
| Championship Finals | |
| 106 | Calan Bollman, Chestnut Ridge, vs. Branden Wentzel, Montoursville |
| 113 | Gary Steen, Reynolds, vs. Joey Fischer, South Park |
| 120 | Sheldon Seymour, Troy, vs. Ryan Michaels, Elizabeth Forward |
| 126 | Ryan Crookham, Notre Dame-GP, vs. Levi Haines, Biglerville |
| 132 | Brock McMillen, Glendale, vs. Ian Oswalt, Burrell |
| 138 | Kaden Cassidy, Bedford, vs. Kenneth Kiser, Saegertown |
| 145 | Gage McClenahan, Bald Eagle Area, vs. Gavin D’Amato, Tunkhannock |
| 152 | Caleb Dowling, St. Joseph’s Academy, vs. A.J. Corrado, Burrell |
| 160 | Thayne Lawrence, Frazier, vs. Andrew Cerniglia, Notre Dame-GP |
| 170 | Matthew Arciuolo, Saucon Valley, vs. Tyler Stoltzfus, St. Joseph’s Academy |
| 182 | Austin Walley, Ellwood City, vs. Dylan Bennett, Montoursville |
| 195 | Gaige Garcia, Southern Columbia, vs. Braydon Herbster, Reynolds |
| 220 | Cameron Wood, Montoursville, vs. Kolby Flank, Wilson Area |
| 285 | Colby Whitehill, Brookville, vs. Emmanuel Lawal, Church Farm School |
| Third Place | |
| 106 | Jaden Pepe, Wyoming Area, vs. Deven Jackson, West Perry |
| 113 | Owen Reinsel, Brookville, vs. Brett Ungar, Notre Dame-GP |
| 120 | Brandan Chletsos, Notre Dame-GP, vs. Logan Jaquay, Eisenhower |
| 126 | Jackson Arrington, Forest Hills, vs. Dave Evans, Tunkhannock |
| 132 | Anthony Glasl, Brockway, vs. Adam Jacob, East Pennsboro |
| 138 | Patrick DeMark, Trinity, vs. Kenny Duschek, Freedom Area |
| 145 | Avery Bassett, Midd-West, vs. Nathan Higley, Sullivan County |
| 152 | Malachi Duvall, Penns Valley, vs. Wesley Barnes, Southern Columbia |
| 160 | Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia, vs. Gage Musser, Commodore Perry |
| 170 | Cael Crebs, Montoursville, vs. Trent Schultheis, Freedom Area |
| 182 | Dane Csencsits, Saucon Valley, vs. Andrew Sharer, Penns Valley |
| 195 | Ethan Rode, Newport, vs. Danny Lawrence, Mahanoy |
| 220 | Duane Knisely, Chestnut Ridge, vs. Nathan Taylor, Brookville |
| 285 | Jalen Stephens, Meyersdale, vs. Lear Quinton, Southern Columbia |
| Fifth Place | |
| 106 | Cayden Walter, Brookville, vs. Evan Maag, Notre Dame-GP |
| 113 | Kai Burkett, Chestnut Ridge, vs. Hunter Walk, Tyrone |
| 120 | Nate Smith, Bishop McDevitt, vs. Cole Bayless, Reynolds |
| 126 | Tyler Cymmerman, Derry Area, vs. Noah Frack, Brandywine Heights |
| 132 | Carter Gill, Hickory, vs. Kaeden Berger, Reynolds |
| 138 | Zack Witmer, St. Joseph’s Academy, vs. Zach Holland, Curwensville |
| 145 | Erik Gibson, Forest Hills, vs. Alex Chess, Mercer |
| 152 | Ryan Weyandt, Forest Hills, vs. Shane Kemper, Burgettstown |
| 160 | Nolan Lear, Benton, vs. Keegan Rothrock, St. Joseph’s Academy |
| 170 | Cade Linn, Southern Columbia, vs. Timothy Ward, Canton |
| 182 | Ethan Finch, Sheffield, vs. Richard Feroce, Burrell |
| 195 | Parker Moore, Philipsburg-Osceola, vs. Marshall Van Tassel, Union City |
| 220 | Jake Ryan, Mount Union, vs. Cael Black, Eisenhower |
| 285 | Riley Kemper, Burgettstown, vs. Bronson Strouse, Tamaqua |
| Seventh Place | |
| 106 | Ethan Kolb, Benton, vs. Lucas Munsee, Corry Area |
| 113 | Gavin Bradley, Athens, vs. Connor Brown, Littlestown |
| 120 | Eric Alderfer, Faith Christian, vs. Nathan Holderbaum, Chestnut Ridge |
| 126 | Gabe Gramly, Mifflinburg, vs. Connor Pierce, Harbor Creek |
| 132 | Noah Hunt, Warrior Run, vs. Noah Teeter, Forest Hills |
| 138 | Chase Chapman, Philipsburg-Osceola, vs. Blake Showers, Biglerville |
| 145 | Jackson Spires, General McLane, vs. Cooper Warshel, Richland |
| 152 | Tyler Martin, Bishop McDevitt, vs. Owen Jefferson, Seneca |
| 160 | Isaac Cory, Montoursville, vs. Hunter Weitoish, Philipsburg-Osceola |
| 170 | Teddy Race, Kane, vs. Cole Toy, Reynolds |
| 182 | Nate Wickersham, Tamaqua, vs. Patrick Cutchember, Quaker Valley |
| 195 | Garrett Boone, McGuffey, vs. Eric Johnson, Brockway |
| 220 | Cory Johnston, Glendale, vs. Joey King, Maplewood |
| 285 | Keegan Braund, Athens, vs. Nickolas Warnke, Saucon Valley |