York-Adams Wrestle Weekly: Previewing the District 3 Class AAA Tournament

With sectional weekend behind us, we can now focus on the next step to PIAA gold with the District 3 tournament. For Class AAA wrestlers, a top 4 finish will propel them into the PIAA tournament as District 3 in AAA serves as it's own region due to the size.

I will breakdown each weight class with a match to watch in each round as well as my projected top four in each.

106 poundsFirst round - Red Lion's Jacob Frock (sophomore, 28-4) will face James Buchanan's Cameron Delucia (freshman, 25-5) in a matchup of sectional second place finishers. Wrestlers combining for fewer than 10 losses in the first round usually means it'll be a good one. Winner: Frock.

Quarterfinals - Spring Grove's Dalton Rohrbaugh (freshman, 28-3) against Lower Dauphin's Tyler Walters (freshman, 20-5). Rohrbaugh won the section V title while Walters finished second to Central Dauphin's Chris Wright in section II. The two haven't faced each other this year and bring in solid records. Winner: Rohrbaugh.

Semifinals - Central Dauphin's Chris Wright (freshman, 33-7) against Hempfield's Brandon Loperfido (junior, 31-4). The 106 pound weight class is typically your freshman and sophmore's, but Loperfido, a junior, is one to watch at 106. Should be an excellent semifinal. Winner: Loperfido.

Championship - Loperfido against Cumberland Valley's Will Kaldes (sophomore, 29-11). I think Loperfido prevails over Wright which will then give him another Mid-Penn wrestler in Kaldes. Don't let the record fool you, Kaldes is as good as they come in the light weights in District 3. Winner: Loperfido.

Top 4 - 1. Loperfido. 2. Kaldes. 3. Wright. 4. Rohrbaugh

113 pounds

First round - Chambersburg's Aaron Rump (sophomore, 26-4) against Dover's Brandon Rodriguez (junior, 28-4). Rump has had an impressive sophomore campaign and comes in as the fourth seed overall after winning section I, Rodriguez comes in as the three seed out of section V. Winner: Rump.

Quarterfinals - Exeter's Austin DeSanto (sophomore, 42-1) against Conestoga Valley's Jose Morales (junior, 33-4). DeSanto finished fifth in the district last season while Morales just missed out on the top 6. Both have unfinished business. Winner: DeSanto.

Semifinals - New Oxford's Zurich Storm (sophomore, 29-3) against Warwick's Devin Schnupp (junior, 37-1). One of the best semifinals you could see on Saturday as Storm, a returning PIAA qualifier, looks to punch his ticket to the finals while Schnupp looks to continue his momentum. Tough one to pick. Winner: Schnupp.

Championship - DeSanto against Schnupp. Very intriguing final with Schnupp humming with momentum after winning the LL title, beating Class AA PIAA 4th place finisher Joe Lobeck. DeSanto is one of the better wrestlers in the state. Strap in, you're in for a good one. Winner: DeSanto.

Top 4 - 1. DeSanto. 2. Schnupp. 3. Storm. 4. Rump.

120 pounds

First round - Solanco's Grayson Charles (freshman, 20-12) against Mechanicsburg's Drew Tochterman (junior, 23-9). The Golden Mule freshman has picked up some big wins this year and could very well pick up another in a matchup of sectional second placers. Winner: Charles.

Quarterfinals - Cumberland Valley's Wyatt Long (sophomore, 36-7) against Hempfield's David Good (senior, 28-4). Very interesting matchup in a top-heavy weight class. Long has the experience of wrestling in big matches while Good has had a great season. Winner: Good.

Semifinals - South Western's Derek Wilson (junior, 28-10) against Exeter's Brett Kulp (junior, 41-1). If you think the Mustang's 1-2 punch of Wilson and Owen Wherley is good, Exeter's 1-2 punch at 113 and 120 of DeSanto and Kulp may be one of the best in the entire state. Both are returning PIAA qualifiers, so this is a must see bout. Winner: Kulp.

Championship: Kulp vs. Central Dauphin's Tyshawn White (junior, 40-2). This one will be fun. The top five in 120 are just a bit above the rest, but these two are the cream of the crop. Winner: Kulp.

Top 4: 1. Kulp. 2. White. 3. Wilson. 4. Good.

126 pounds

First Round - Hempfield's Aidyn Miller (junior, 31-5) against Twin Valley's Aaron Wildonger (junior, 32-4). Very interesting matchup between a pair of sectional runner-ups. Complete toss-up as far as trying to predict this winner. Winner: Wildonger.

Quarterfinals - Shippensburg's Chandler Olsen (sophomore, 28-1) against Kennard-Dale's Mike Bracey (junior, 27-1). A round too early for these two, no reason should these two returning PIAA qualifiers and District 3 runner-ups should face each other this early. Won't let me not enjoy it. The worst thing? The loser will likely meet either Aidyn Miller or Aaron Wildonger. A very good wrestler is going home too early. Winner: Olsen.

Semifinals - Olsen against Solanco's AJ  Wilson (freshman, 20-4). Interesting matchup between the recently returning Wilson and a talented Olsen. Olsen should be well rested after a Friday match with Bracey by the time this match on Saturday rolls around. Had matches been same day, my pick may be different. Winner: Olsen.

Championship - Olsen against South Western's Owen Wherley (junior, 34-4). Wherley enters the tournament with 99 career wins and should get to 100 against Waynesboro's Ryan Neff in the first round. This should be a very entertaining final that may go to who can score out of neutral. Winner: Olsen.

Top 4: 1. Olsen. 2. Wherley. 3. Bracey, 4. Wilson.

132 pounds

First round - Spring Grove's Levi Witmer (senior, 29-6) against Exeter's Tyler Bagoly (sophomore, 32-11). Looks like a mismatch on paper, but Bagoly is a very solid wrestler. Should be a good one. Winner: Witmer.

Quarterfinals - Hershey's John Voyles (senior, 25-8) against Cumberland Valley's Cal Reichart (sophomore, 20-6). Reichart has been good since returning to the Eagle lineup while Voyles is looking to break through on the District stage. Winner: Reichart.

Semifinals - Chambersburg's Garrett Kyner (junior, 26-5) against Central York's Xavier Musti (junior, 20-6). Musti is much improved this year and is going up against a very tough Kyner. Don't feel this match will be too close. Winner: Kyner.

Championship - Kyner against Solanco's Wyatt Jennings (junior, 28-6). One of the few brackets that may not have a "star-power" final, but these two will produce an exciting match. Could very well see these two combine for nearly 20 points. Winner: Jennings.

Top 4: 1. Jennings. 2. Kyner. 3. Reichart. 4. Witmer.

138 pounds

First round - Solanco's Kody Hart (junior, 19-8) against Susquehannock's Colin Riley (senior, 27-2). Hart has been here before, making the semifinals last year before placing sixth and just missing out on the PIAA tournament while Riley's new to the District scene. Winner: Hart.

Quarterfinal - Hart against Cedar Cliff's Stephen Ross (senior, 29-6). Ross made the District 3 tournament a year ago, but went 0-2, can he get a win or two this year? Winner: Hart.

Semifinal - Central York's Dylan Chatterton (junior, 28-0) against Chambersburg's David Rump (senior, 32-5). Interesting matchup here as Chatterton moves up quite a bit from 113 last year. Both made the semifinals last year before falling and both rebounded to finish third in the District. This will be fun. Winner: Chatterton.

Championship - Central Dauphin's Zach Elvin (senior, 41-1) against Chatterton. Elvin has already won a District 3 title and placed second twice, including taking down Chatterton 3-1 in a semifinal at 106 two years ago. Winner: Elvin.

Top 4: 1. Elvin. 2. Chatterton. 3. Hart. 4. Rump.

145 pounds

First round - Northern York's Jonathan Ross (junior, 28-3) against Susquehanna Township's Owen Watkins (senior, 32-6). This weight class is absolutely stacked as eight wrestlers have six or fewer losses. Both Ross and Watkins have reached the semifinals in the past, although both have missed out on state berths. Should be a good one. Winner: Ross.

Quarterfinals - Ross against Dallastown's Nick Shields (senior, 29-0). The senior Shields won his 100th career match earlier this season and has already been a state qualifier in the past. Shields and Ross met last year in the quarterfinals with Ross winning 6-0. I see a repeat of that. Winner: Ross.

Semifinals - Ross against East Pennsboro's Alex Klucker (senior, 31-3). I don't believe there is a harder path in this year's and it continues against the Panther's Klucker. Don't count out Klucker despite being 0-4 in his district career. Winner: Ross.

Championship - Ross against Cumberland Valley's Patrick Duggan (senior, 39-1). The journey ends for Ross, but not without a battle. Duggan took out Ross 3-0 in last week's sectional tournament. Should be close. Winner: Duggan.

Top 4: 1. Duggan. 2. Ross. 3. Klucker. 4. Shields.

152 pounds

First round - Garden Spot's Dan Swarr (junior, 28-4) against West York's Garrett Stauffer (junior, 28-3). Tough matchup to open the tournament for Stauffer as he runs into Swarr. Despite being a first time District 3 qualifier, Swarr is a very solid wrestler that could easily pull the "upset." Winner: Swarr.

Quarterfinals - Red Lion's Dylan Gurreri (sophomore, 29-8) against Central Dauphin's Skitch Light (sophomore, 36-6). Interesting matchup here between a pair of sophomores each making their District 3 debut this weekend. Gurreri is very talented, but not sure he has what it takes against Light. Winner: Light.

Semifinals - Exeter's Ethan Stever (senior, 34-4) against Swarr. A rematch from last week's sectional semifinals, Stever pulled out a tight 3-1 decision. Should be an excellent rematch. Winner: Stever.

Championship - Conestoga Valley's Lucas Ortiz (junior, 30-1) against Stever. Ortiz is on a mission this year after some heartbreaking finishes the last few seasons, don't see Stever upending that one. Winner: Ortiz.

Top 4: 1. Ortiz. 2. Stever. 3. Light. 4. Stauffer.

160 pounds

First round - West York's Ryan Narber (junior, 28-6) against Wilson's Keaton Eidle (junior, 33-5). Both are newcomers to the District wrestling scene, but both bring impressive resumes. Should be tight. Winner: Eidle.

Quarterfinals - Penn Manor's Jonah Barley (sophomore, 34-2) against Central Dauphin East's Cevon Nguyen (senior, 25-6). As a freshman Barley pushed his way to the semifinals before placing sixth and is the favorite to win the wide open 160-pound class. Winner: Barley.

Semifinals - Lower Dauphin's Bailey Shutt (junior, 26-4) against Spring Grove's Marcus Kehr (junior, 31-4). I debated long and hard on this matchup. Shutt finished fifth last year at the same weight with Kehr going 0-2 in the bracket. Winner: Shutt.

Championship - Barley against Shutt. Should be a great matchup between a pair that just missed out on going to states last year. 10 wrestlers in this weight class have six or fewer losses entering the tournament. Wide open class. Winner: Barley.

Top 4: 1. Barley. 2. Shutt. 3. Eidle. 4. Nguyen.

170 pounds

First round - Dallastown's Bailey Druck (senior, 18-4) against Lampeter-Strasburg's Jake Habowski (senior, 29-3). Habowski is the third place finisher out of section III and a returning state qualifier. Druck took first in a very good section V. Going with the upset. Winner: Habowski.

Quarterfinals - Chambersburg's Drew Peck (sophomore, 32-4) against Penn Manor's Jack Zimmerman (junior, 31-5). Another great matchup early on between the section III runner-up and section I champion. Went back and forth quite a bit in this matchup, wouldn't be surprised to see either win. Winner: Peck.

Semifinals - Garden Spot's Chance Norris (junior, 9-0) against Manheim Central's Jared Siegrist (junior, 31-1). The lone loss combined was a Siegrist loss to Cumberland Valley's Patrick Duggan. Great matchup between a pair of L-L section 2 foes. Winner: Siegrist.

Championship - Peck against Siegrist. The L-L at 170 pounds this year was loaded with Habowski, Zimmerman, Norris, and Siegrist that it wouldn't shock me if the semifinals were all L-L wrestlers. If anyone can crash their party, it's Peck. Winner: Siegrist.

Top 4: 1. Siegrist. 2. Peck. 3. Norris. 4. Habowski.

182 pounds

First round - Hempfield's Jordan Ortiz (senior, 34-1) against Daniel Boone's Brenden Valverde (junior, 33-3). Ortiz is much improved over the last few seasons and has beaten some big names this year (see Dull, Colton). Don't see his run being derailed by a relatively unknown. Winner: Ortiz.

Quarterfinals - Exeter's Scott Schaeffer (junior, 38-7) against Dallastown's Bryce Shields (sophomore, 24-5). Two newcomers to the district scene and two sectional champs. A recipe for a solid match. Winner: Shields.

Semifinals - Ortiz against Cedar Cliff's Josh Colello (junior, 37-4). Colello is a returning PIAA qualifier, just missing out on a medal while Ortiz is having a stellar season. Something's got to give. Winner: Colello.

Championship - James Buchanan's Casey Glunt (senior, 27-0) against Colello. Glunt finished fourth in the district at this weight last year before finishing fifth at states. Colello was a runner-up at the same weight. This one should be great. Winner: Glunt.

Top 4 - 1. Glunt. 2. Colello. 3. Ortiz. 4. Big Spring's Blake Barrick.

195 pounds

First round - Big Spring's Tommy Rayhart (senior, 27-3) against Penn Manor's Ashton Leschke (senior, 28-4). Big time matchup early on between a pair of sectional runner-ups. Rayhart just missed out on a District 3 medal last year. Winners prize? Governor Mifflin's Jan Johnson, defending PIAA Champion. Yikes. Winner: Rayhart.

Quarterfinals - Rayhart against Governor Mifflin's Jan Johnson (senior, 40-0). Rayhart pushed Johnson in a quarterfinal last year before falling 2-1. Should be another close one. Winner: Johnson.

Semifinals - Manheim Township's Griffin Schultz (senior, 27-9) against Cumberland Valley's Francis Duggan (freshman, 35-4). Don't really expect either semifinal to be that close as Duggan and Johnson are on a collision course in the final. Winner: Duggan.

Championship - Johnson against Duggan. The freshman, Duggan, is extremely talented, but Johnson is on another level as the defending PIAA Champion. Winner: Johnson.

Top 4: 1. Johnson. 2. Duggan. 3. Leschke. 4. Rayhart.

220 pounds

First round - Penn Manor's Zeb Pfeiffer (senior, 33-3) against Milton Hershey's Spencer Gallitz (senior, 21-3). Each wrestler qualified for the District 3 tournament a year ago, each lost to Gettysburg's Scott Six and York Suburban's Chaim Smith. Should be a solid bout. Winner: Pfeiffer.

Quarterfinals - Reading's Matt Reinhart (senior, 16-1) against Northeastern's Blaine Yinger (sophomore, 27-5). Yinger just missed out on a District 3 appearance as a freshman while Reinhart is hoping to land on the medal stand this time around. Winner: Reinhart.

Semifinals - Pfeiffer against South Western's Seth Janney (sophomore, 34-2). Janney finished fifth last year at 220-pounds, nearly qualifying for the PIAA tournament as a freshman. Janney's had quite the impressive season, picking up wins over state ranked opponents. Winner: Janney.

Championship - Reinhart against Janney. Reinhart is getting healthy at just the right time, but I think Janney is just a little bit too much for him. Winner: Janney.

Top 4: 1. Janney. 2. Reinhart. 3. Pfeiffer. 4. Palmyra's Leo Higgins.

285 pounds

First round - Cumberland Valley's Jackson Stanford (senior, 32-9) against Warwick's Austin Maguire (senior, 35-4). Stanford moved up to 285 pounds for the postseason after spending much of the season at 220. Will the move pay off? Winner: Maguire.

Quarterfinals - Governor Mifflin's Keith Miller (senior, 37-3) against Maguire. Keith Miller is one of the better heavyweights in the district and even the state. Winner: Miller.

Semifinals - Miller against Greencastle-Antrim's Jared Starliper (senior, 28-3). Starliper is a relative unknown, but won a very competitive section I. Can't be counted out. Winner: Miller.

Championship - Solanco's Bo Spiller (senior, 33-0) against Miller. The road to PIAA gold for Spiller starts Friday and likely ends in victory Saturday night. Winner: Spiller.

Top 4: 1. Spiller. 2. Miller. 3. Red Lion's Jared Schell. 4. Stanford.

What are you matches to watch and who are some darkhorses to watch?  Tweet your predictions to ameaseYDR or email them to me. Also, follow me for updates Friday and Saturday for the District 3 tournament.

Stay tuned for the AA District preview coming at you tomorrow afternoon.