Central's Wolfgram, three others make PIAA quarters

Matt Allibone, mallibone@GameTimePA.com Published 2:45 p.m. ET March 9, 2017 | Updated 9:50 a.m. ET March 10, 2017

HERSHEY - Michael Wolfgram is doing his best to block out the noise.

The Central York sophomore heavyweight has dominated most of his competition this season on his way to an undefeated record. But now that the 2017 PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships have arrived, Wolfgram isn't paying attention to the hype that's followed him all year.

The approach seems to be working.

In his first-round match on Thursday, Wolfgram earned a third-period pin over Northeastern senior Blaine Yinger to make Friday's quarterfinals. It was the third time this season Wolgram beat Yinger, and the second time he pinned him. The victory made him one of four York-Adams wrestlers to qualify for quarters.

"I was thinking about just scoring points," Wolfgram said. "I go out there to have fun and you have fun by scoring points.

"I don't look at the newspaper articles...I don't really look at that stuff. I know the (other) kids but I don't know stats and all that stuff. All I know is what I want to get."

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While Wolfgram lost to Yinger twice last season and went 0-2 in his first state tournament appearance, he's determined to go on a deep run this season. To do that, he'll have to beat Montour's Roman Macek, who has only lost twice this season, on Friday.

Wolfgram admitted the large stage and his undefeated record have added pressure, but said he's trying to stay focused.

"It was a pretty hectic week because everybody at school was like, 'Are you going to win?,' " Wolfgram said. "I know not everybody in the arena is watching my match, but I just feel like everyone is."

The only other YAIAA competitor to make the quarterfinals in the 3A bracket was New Oxford 120-pounder Zurich Storm, who beat Franklin Regional's Colton Camacho, 8-2. A senior making his fourth state tournament appearance, Storm can guarantee himself his first medal by beating Council Rock North's Aidan Burke on Friday.

A number of other YAIAA wrestlers are still alive for medals in 3A, including Spring Grove junior 113-pounder Dalton Rohrbaugh. A bronze medalist last season, Rohrbaugh lost his first match Thursday but won a consolation bout to stay alive.

Spring Grove's Clay Baker (120), Red Lion's Dylan Gurreri (160), Dallastown's Bryce Shields (220) and Yinger are also still alive in the consolation bracket.

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Dallastown's Bryce Shields, right, wrestles Pocono Mountain West's Greg Bensley in the seventh-place 220-pound bout in the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships Saturday, March 11, 2017, at the Giant Center. Shields pinned Bensley in 4:48 to win seventh place. Chris Dunn, York Daily Record

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Central's Wolfgram, three others make PIAA quarters

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