Southmoreland Holiday Classic preview

Here's an overview of the SouthmorelandHoliday Classic, which will be held Thursday and Friday at the high school in Alverton:

Who's in: Freedom, Hickory, Mapletown, Slippery Rock.

Who's out: Avella, Chartiers Valley, Greensburg Central Catholic, Norwin, United.

Familiar faces: Baldwin, Bentworth, Blairsville, Burgettstown, Corry, Forest Hills, Gateway, Greenville, Indiana, Jeannette, Kittanning, Knoch, Ligonier Valley, Meyersdale, Mount Pleasant, North Catholic, North Star, Northern Bedford, Riverview, South Fayette, Southmoreland, Uniontown, Valley, West Greene.

Returning champions: Team – Jefferson-Morgan. 103-Jason Nolf, Kittanning, 112-Nick Roberts, North Star, 135-Drew Gartland, Northern Bedford, 145-Cody Copeland, Greenville, 189-Jordan Kitta, Southmoreland.

Returning state placewinners

103-Jason Nolf, Kittanning (1).

112-Nick Roberts, North Star (1), Josh Patrick, Ligonier Valley (4).

140-R.J. Brydon, Forest Hills (7).

145-Cody Copeland, Greenville (2), Francis Mizia, Bentworth (7).

171-Tyler Landfried, Greenville (8).

189-Jordan Kitta, Southmoreland (8).

285-Quinton Hixson, Northern Bedford (7).

Wrestlers in Pennsylvania Wrestling Rankings (AA unless otherwise noted)

106-No. 2 Justin Patrick, Ligonier Valley. Wrestler to watch-Tristan Law, Forest Hills.

113-No. 12 John Demaske, Jefferson-Morgan.

120-No. 1 Nick Roberts, North Star. No. 2 Jason Nolf, Kittanning. *No. 5 Josh Patrick, Ligonier Valley. No. 17 Jason Miller, Jefferson-Morgan.

126-No. 15 Nate Robb, Kittanning. No. 16 Ryan Zalar, Jefferson-Morgan. No. 17 Mason Replogle, Northern Bedford.

132-No. 10 Nate Stidham, Hickory.

138-No. 15 Noah Tarr, Blairsville.

145-No. 3 R.J. Brydon, Forest Hills. No. 15 Grant Fetchet, South Fayette.

152-No. 1 Cody Copeland, Greenville. No. 4 Francis Mizia, Bentworth.

160-No. 3 Cody Law, Forest Hills. No. 6 Michael Fetchet, South Fayette. No. 9 Randy Perkins, Greenville, No. 17 Wade Durbin, Greenville.

170-No. 7 Dustin Conti, Jefferson-Morgan, No. 16 Zach Pinkas, Forest Hills.

182-No. 8 Joe Phillips, Jefferson-Morgan. No. 12 AAA Zac Morris, Corry.

195-No. 2 Jordan Kitta, Southmoreland. No. 3 Tyler Landfried, Greenville.

220-No. 9 Tyler Gentile, Greenville. No. 16 Kyle Gray, Mapletown.

285-No. 1 Quinton Hixson, Northern Bedford. No. 11 Brian Rush, Jefferson-Morgan. No. 12 Kyre Strickland, Valley.

*-Injured and will not wrestle.

Weight class to watch: 120-Even without Josh Patrick, this is the marquis weight class because of the top two wrestlers in it. Jason Nolf has never lost a varsity match. The sophomore is 55-0 and won the 103-pound Class AA state title last season. Nick Roberts is 107-9 with two state championships – including last season's at 112 – to his name. Roberts is ranked first nationally at 120 while Nolf is No. 13. Assuming each makes it to the finals, the atmosphere for that match should be electric.

Name to know: Boe Bonzo, Freedom. The 145-pounder hasn't gotten any love in the rankings despite his 4-0 victory over No. 15 Grant Fetchett of South Fayette in the Chartiers-Houston tournament this season. At full strength, R.J. Brydon of Forest Hills would be favored over either Bonzo or Fetchett, but it will be interesting to see how Brydon deals with the thumb injury that he suffered in the finals at Penn Cambria two weeks ago.

Schedule: Begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.