SHARON — Sophomore 132-pounder Zach Holland will be the only one of Curwensville’s three qualifiers in action when the PIAA Northwest Region Class AA Wrestling Tournament gets under way at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Sharon High School.
Pairings released Sunday by tourney director Steve Hoover show Holland (19-5), who placed fourth in District 9 Saturday, going against Commodore Perry senior Zachary Helstern (28-10) in the preliminary round. Helstern placed fifth in District 10, which sends six qualifiers to the regional.
The winner will advance to the ensuing quarterfinals for a bout against D-10 champion Sam Sallot (40-2) of Harbor Creek.
Prelim byes go to the top three placewinners of both districts, so Golden Tide junior Blake Passarelli (26-4) and senior Steven McClure (28-3) will have to wrestle only one match.
Passarelli, who won his first D-9 gold medal at 113, will meet either Saegertown sophomore Alex Kightlinger (18-10) or Mercer freshman Carson Filer (27-12). They placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the D-10 tourney.
McClure, who lost in the D-9 heavyweight final for the second year in a row, is paired against D-10 bronze medalist Matt Long (31-3), a Union City junior.
Four mats will be used for that session as well as Saturday morning when the timetable shows the first round of consolations at 9:30, followed immediately by the championship semifinals and consy quarterfinals and then the consy semifinals.
The consolation finals, to be contested on two mats, will start at 3:30 p.m. with the Parade of Champions at five o’clock preceding the finals on one mat.
All-session passes are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Admission will be $6 for adults and $3 for students Friday night and Saturday morning and $8 for adults and $4 for students for the finals.
