AA Finals Notes

The Parade of Champions fact sheet has circulated around press row and to my surprise there is just one matchup in the finals between unbeaten wrestlers in Class AA. The 135-pound final features 2008 state champ Luke Frey of Montoursville (33-0) against A.J. Schopp of Tyrone. Schopp is a 2009 runner-up, a 2007 runner-up and a 2008 fifth-place medalist. He is 41-0 on the year.

While 135 featureds the unbeatens – 160 has defending state champions set ro meet. Benton senior Eric Hess, a winner at 145 last year meets two-time champion Dirk Cowburn of Coudersport. Cowburn won both his titles at 152.

Both Cowburn and Hess lost earlier this year to another finalst – Nathaniel Brown of Lewisburg. Brown is unbeaten (40-0), he’s set to meet Matthew Cunningham of Shady Side Academy at 171.

Also unbeaten is Sharon’s Jordan Moss at 145, Schuylkill Valley senior Colin Shober and Joe Chittester of Ridgway.

Moss and Shober met in last year’s semifinals and Shober denied Moss a chance to become a three-time champion wth a 3-1 defeat. Shober will be looking for his second title when he meets fellow District III star Seth Beitz. The Schuylkill Valley senior has a gaudy 193 career wins while Beitz has a mere (LOL) 154.

Benton has all but wrapped up the team championship has Michael Rhone and Coltin Fought in addition to Hess in the finals.

Also looking for title nuber two is Frank Martellotti of Shady Side. Martellotti the 2007 103-pound champ is now at 130 and meets Boiling Springs Joe Spisak.

The combined career records for the finalists is 3,312-404 (89.13 percent). This year the total I 1,165-65 (94.72 percent).