HERSHEY – For the second time in as many years, Bison senior Luke McGonigal (34-1) will be wrestling in Saturday night’s PIAA AAA Wrestling Championship Finals against the only wrestler who has beaten him since last year’s finals, State College junior Cole Urbas (29-1).
McGonigal made it to the finals by pinning Erie Cathedral Prep sophomore Dorian Crosby (40-8) in just 1:10. McGonigal worked a low ankle single leg and then ran a half-nelson to turn and deck Crosby.
Urbas won his match by also pinning his opponent, Southwest champion Nate Ansell of Connellsville (24-4) in just 1:57.
Joining Luke McGonigal in the finals tonight from District 9 will be DuBois senior Kolby Ho (35-4). Ho was able to defeat the South Central champion Micah Hoffman (36-4) 8-7 in regulation time to advance to the finals. Ho will face Nazareth senior Samuel Sasso (46-1) in the finals.
Also wrestling in the finals from the Northwest Region are Jeffery Boyd at 132 for Erie McDowell, Bald Eagle Area senior Seth Koleno (37-0) at 138 and sophomore Gage McClenahan (35-4) at 152, from Erie Prep will be juniors Carter Starocci (45-0) at 160 and Kawaun Deboe (42-1) at 285, from Mifflin County, Trent Hidlay (42-0) will represent the region at 170 pounds, and finally Altoona’s Parker McClellan will be at 220 pounds. The 10 finalists are the most of any, with the South West Region (WPIAL) second with nine finalists.
The Parade of Champions will begin at 6:45 PM and wrestling will begin immediately thereafter. All placing matches will be held at the same time.
Updated brackets, courtesy of the PIAA, can be found here. You can also stay caught up by the second on Flo Wrestling here.
