Included is a link to each school's NWCA page, their dual-meet records, and top wrestlers with years, weights, individual records and state rankings, if applicable, for Off the Mat (OTM) and PA Power (PAPOW) as well as what I think of the team. Keep in mind that all records are taken from the NWCA site. I know that some aren't accurate, but I can only go by what is reported.
I hope to do updates from Everett on Saturday, although I'll probably have to wait until dual meets are over to post bout-by-bout matches.
Pool A
Central Cambria (4-5)
Central Cambria (4-5)
Top wrestlers: Max Murin (Fr., 106, 13-0, No. 4 OTM/No. 3 PAPOW); Tom Opdenhoff (So., 132, 12-2); Ian Ostrowski (So., 113, 10-2).
Comments: The Red Devils have three standouts and a full lineup, so they should be a contender in this pool, but I think Meyersdale and United have a bit more firepower.
Everett (1-6)
Top wrestlers: Devin Reed (Jr., 285, 6-0, No. 11 OTM); Cory Morris (Jr., 182, 3-0); Benjamin Stover (So., 126, 4-3)
Comments: It's already been a long season for the host Warriors, with a 74-0 loss to West Branch and a 72-12 defeat to Mount Union. Those are two of the best schools Everett will face, but with four holes in their lineup (which is what they had on Thursday), I can't see a finish higher than fourth in the pool.
Meyersdale (0-1)
Top wrestlers: Gavin Berkley (Sr., 195, 7-1, No. 9 OTM/No. 10 PAPOW); Tanner Hetrick (Sr., 132, 11-3, No. 16 PAPOW); Chris Hutzell (Fr., 160, 9-3); Seth Deist (Sr., 152, 6-3, No. 24 PAPOW); Ty Smith (Sr., 220, 8-2).
Comments: The Red Raiders have some very good wrestlers, but also have some very inexperienced youngsters in their lineup. Even with two forfeits (113 and 120), the lineup is deep enough to challenge for the top spot in the pool.
Tussey Mountain (0-7)
Top wrestlers: Brode Oaklee (So., 106, 5-2); Quinn Barnett (Jr., 152, 4-3).
Comments: Like Everett, the Titans have been on the wrong end of some lopsided scores. The loser of the dual between them and Everett likely will finish last in the pool. Tussey Mountain gave up three forfeits on Thursday.
United (3-1)
Top wrestlers: Tyler Oliver (Jr., 195, 9-2, No. 10 OTM/No. 13 PAPOW); Seth McLendon (Sr., 220, 10-2, No. 12 OTM); Andrew Deitman (Jr., 285, 9-1).
Comments: Like Meyersdale and Central Cambria, the Lions have a few studs in their lineup. For United, they happen to be at the back end. Whether or not the rest of the lineup can score enough points to win the pool remains to be seen.
Pool B
Forest Hills (1-3)
Top wrestlers: Triston Law (Jr., 126, 11-2 No. 13 OTM at 126/No. 3 PAPOW at 120) Travis Templeton (Jr., 145, 12-4), Jake Keiper (Jr., 120, 9-6).
Comments: The Rangers are led by Triston Law, a returning state placewinner, and Travis Templeton has been impressive this season. The rest of the lineup is relatively inexperienced, but the fact that it's a full lineup should be enough for the Rangers to contend for second place in the pool.
James Buchanan (2-6)
Top wrestlers: Austin Tucker (Sr., 132, 7-0); Robert Carbaugh (So., 170, 5-2); Casey Glunt (Jr., 182, 4-3)Comments: Despite being a Class AAA school, the Rockets had five holes in the lineup against Penn Cambria but still beat the Panthers 37-36 on Dec. 28. Without many standouts, it will be hard to overcome so many forfeits.
Juniata Valley (1-7)
Top wrestlers: Caleb Wagner (Sr., 138, 9-0); Hunter Kern (Fr., 120, 7-2); Brent Troutman (So., 145, 7-2).Comments: The Green Hornets only had eight wrestlers in the results I looked at, including four empty spots in a row at the end of the lineup. It looks like they might have a few decent guys, but not enough to contend for many dual-meet victories.
Marion Center (1-6)
Top wrestlers: Brandon Heberling (Sr., 138, 8-0); Isaac Stewart (Jr., 145, 8-0) Phil Crook (Sr., 160, 2-1, No. 14 PAPOW); Tyler Zapach (Fr., 106, 7-1).
Comments: The Stingers have wrestled a tougher schedule than a lot of the schools here. They had three holes in their lineup (170, 220, 285) in Thursday's 51-23 loss to United, but do have some talent. I think they'll be Forest Hills' biggest challenge for second in the pool.
Comments: The Stingers have wrestled a tougher schedule than a lot of the schools here. They had three holes in their lineup (170, 220, 285) in Thursday's 51-23 loss to United, but do have some talent. I think they'll be Forest Hills' biggest challenge for second in the pool.
West Branch (7-1)
Top wrestlers: Morgan Selepack (Sr., 285, 6-1, No. 6 OTM/No. 3 PAPOW); Buzzy Maines (Jr., 220, 7-0, No. 3 OTM/No. 5 PAPOW); Luke Slippey (Jr., 152, 6-1, No. 16 OTM/No. 9 PAPOW); Parker Bumbarger (Sr., 145, 7-0); Joseph Couteret (So., 106, 6-1); Vincent McDowell (So, 195, 6-1); Robert Pearce (Sr., 182, 6-1).Comments: No disrespect to the other teams here, but the Bloody Run Duals should really be a battle for second place. West Branch (No. 10 OTM/No. 12 PAPOW) has scored 55 or more points in six of their seven victories. The Warriors' lone loss came to Brookville (No. 6 OTM/No. 3 PAPOW). West Branch should win the pool without a problem and then beat either Meyersdale or United for the title.
Round 1
Everett vs Tussey Mountain
Forest Hills vs James Buchanan
Central Cambria vs Meyersdale
West Branch vs Juniata Valley
Dual to watch: Central Cambria vs. Meyersdale. It should be a decent dual meet and Tom Opdenhoff vs. Tanner Hetrick should be a good individual matchup.
Round 2
Meyersdale vs United
Everett vs Central Cambria
West Branch vs Forest Hills
James Buchanan vs Marion Center
Dual to watch: Meyerdale vs. United. This really should determine which team advances to face West Branch in the championship round. Gavin Berkley dropped to 182 this week, so unless it helps win the dual, he probably won't face Tyler Oliver, who he beat 3-2 at Southmoreland, again. There still should be a good matchup at 220 between Seth McLendon and Ty Smith. McLendon won 3-2 at Southmoreland.
Round 3
West Branch vs James Buchanan
Tussey Mountain vs United
Everett vs Meyersdale
Juniata Valley vs Marion Center
Dual to watch: Juniata Valley vs. Marion Center. It won't have much of an impact on the team championship, but the 138-pound match should feature unbeaten wrestlers Caleb Wagner and Brandon Heberling squaring off.
Round 4
United vs Central Cambria
Tussey Mountain vs Meyersdale
Marion Center vs Forest Hills
Juniata Valley vs James Buchanan
Dual to watch: Marion Center vs. Forest Hills. This likely will determine the runner-up in the pool behind West Branch. Travis Templeton vs. Isaac Stewart could be a preview of a District 6 tournament match at 145.
Round 5
Tussey Mountain vs Central Cambria
Everett vs United
Juniata Valley vs Forest Hills
West Branch vs Marion Center
Dual to watch: Everett vs. United. The Lions should win handily, but the heavyweight match between Andrew Deitman and Devin Reed could be an interesting one.
Round 6
Crossover matches based on pool rounds
Dual to watch: The battle for third place, if it follows my predictions, would feature Forest Hills facing United in a dual that will have an impact on the seeding points for the District 6 duals. Unfortunately, I don't see any great individual matchups in that one.
Round 7 - Championship
Pool A winner vs Pool B winner
Prediction: West Branch over Meyersdale, 52-18. There should be some good individual matches, highlighted by Luke Slippey vs. Seth Deist at 152, Buzzy Maines vs. Ty Smith at 220 and Robert Pearce vs. Gavin Berkley at 182, but I think the Warriors are just a much deeper team at this point.
you forgot about bedford
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