Good evening from the floor of the Giant Center. It’s great to be back at the premier high school sporting event in the state of Pennsylvania – THE PIAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

A NEW STATE RECORD – Wyalusing senior Matt Fisk  downed Forest
hill’s Shane Valko, 2-1, establishing a new state win mark with 174. Fisk now fas his sights on a second PIAA title bto go with his championships at 119 last year. In addition, Fisk was also a runner-up to two-time champ Jake Strayer in his freshman season.

When Jason Guffey of Warrior Run scored a 13-8 win over Tom McVickers of Forest Hills, the Defenders’ junior became coach Wayne Smythe’s first state finalist since Jason Betz won the third of his three state crowns a decade ago. Guffey, 35-2 will face Cameron Moran of Kane (36-1) in the 103-pound final. Moran, a freshman, had little problem with Central (Martinsburg) wrestler Doug Ritchey, taking a 9-0 major decision.

REMATCHES – The 112-pound final features a redo of last week’s Southwest Regional championship. In the regional, Troy Dolan of Derry Area downed West Greene’s Justin Blumer by a 4-1 score. The 119-pound championship also has rematch from last week’s SW regional. However this replay is a redo from the quarterfinals. In that round-of-eight Claysburg-Kimmel's Adam Whetstone beat Jason Weslager 4-3.

FORMER FINALISTS – Last year Loyalsock’s Ricky Tedesco was a rideout loser to Fort LeBoeut’s Kody Hiner, on Friday morning Tedesco was downed by Avella’s Jeff Kusich 4-1. The ‘Sock junior rebounded with two wins to guarantee himself of at least sixth place in the 119-pound AA class. … Wilson’s Russ Souders  rebounded from his first-round loss to Kusich  with a win Thursday and two more in Friday morning’s session. Later tonight, Souders and Kusich will meet again the consolation semifinals.

…. Stay tuned for more