Big matchups, drama in store at 2017 Canner Duals
Five YAIAA teams and three others will converge on Biglerville High School on Saturday for the 18th annual Canner Duals.
Biglerville will host Delone Catholic, Hempfield, Littlestown, Northeastern, Red Land, Saucon Valley & South Western. Wrestling is set to begin at 9 a.m.
Here is a look at storylines to watch at the Duals.
Who's going to win?
Saucon Valley won the 2016 Canner Duals with an emphatic 63-12 triumph over South Western, and returns for the chance at a repeat. The last local to win the duals was the host Canners, in 2013 when they beat Saucon Valley, 44-27, in the championship.
Local showdowns looming
There are several individual matches that local wrestling fans are excited to see. Let's start with Bryce Perkins and Blaine Yinger at 285 pounds.
YAIAA power rankings: 3 new teams enter top-five
Delone Catholic's Perkins is ranked No. 2 in the region and No. 8 in the state in Class 2A, according to PA Power Rankings. Northeastern's Yinger, meanwhile, is ranked No. 1 in District 3 and No. 5 in the state in Class 3A. Another exciting bout is at 220 pounds between South Western's Tom Aumen and Northeastern's Dedrick Turner. Aumen comes in No. 7 in District 3 and 25th in the state while Turner is No. 6 and No. 22 respectively at the same weight.
Deep field at 126 pounds
The deepest weight is without a doubt at 126-pounds. This past week at the Governor Mifflin Holiday Classic, Hempfield's Jared Loose returned from an early-season injury and dominated the 120-pound weight class. He is joined there by South Western's Chase Mowery and Red Land's Austin Rowzer. All three are ranked near the top of District 3.
Long-running tournament
This will be the 18th edition of the tournament, which has seen its fair share of drama throughout the years. Last year, for instance, saw South Western graduate Derek Wilson pick up his 100th career win. We also witnessed J.P. McCaskey using the 2014 Diocese ruling against Delone Catholic, possibly costing the Squires the victory. What kind of drama will unfold this year?
Related: Michael Wolfgram continues strong start at Central York
Freshman impact
Freshman usually aren't called up to the varsity level unless they are ready to make an impact. That's been the case this year with Northeastern's 113-pound extraordinaire Cole Wilson. But he's not alone. Several other freshman are ready to make names for themselves this weekend including Hempfield's Ian Edwards (145 pounds), Red Land's trio of Creed Bogardus (113), Bryce Brennan (132) and Michael Stank (170), and South Western's Ethan Baney (152).