Marshall Peppelman of Central Dauphin

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(The Patriot-News)

PITTSBURGH - So much for two in a row.

A year ago, the Pennsylvania All-Stars shocked the high school wrestling elite from around the United States during the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. But this year was different.

The U.S. contingent scored sweet revenge on the floor at the Fitzgerald Fieldhouse at the Unversity of Pittsburgh, by crushing the best from the Keystone State 30-13.

This one was essentially in the bag with four matches to go. But there was a highlight from one midstate wrestler.

In the third-to-last match of the evening, Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman scored a 1-0 decision over Ohio 160-pound champion Nick Sulzer.

After a scoreless first period, Peppelman rode Sulzer out in the second before escaping in the third. Peppelman was poised to increase his advantage to 3-0 with a takedown, but the buzzer went off, completing the match.

Boiling Springs' Joe Spisak battled in his 130 bout before dropping a 3-1 decision to Ohio three-time champion Jamie Clark.

Winners for Pennsylvania were Selinsgrove's Spencer Myers at 215, Central Mountain's Andrew Alton at 145 and Council Rock South's Josh Dziewa at 135.

Central Mountain's Penn State-bound Dylan Alton dropped a 7-6 decision to Michigan three-time state champ Jackson Morse in which Morse hit a controversial takedown at the side of the mat when the buzzer went off in the third period.

Former Cumberland Valley standout Mike Evans, who transferred to Blair Academy and was representing New Jersey at 171, defeated Council Rock North's Jamie Callender 8-5.

In the preliminary match, New York topped the WPIAL All Stars 26-21.

Tyler Buckman right, of Central Dauphin reverses Steve Spearman left, of McDowell.

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(JOHN C. WHITEHED, The Patriot-News)

It’s only 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, it’s rainy, dreary and incredibly windy, yet the string of automobile headlights lined up on Hersheypark Drive heading for Giant Center stretches from the arena’s intersection beyond the crest of the hill more than a half-mile back.
   
Had one of the six mats used during the PIAA Wrestling Championships been outside, the wind could have rolled it up and rolled it over to Hersheypark Arena, where the championships used to be conducted.
   
But it was the Class AAA semifinals these 8,000 fans wanted to see and little was going to stop them.
   
For good reason. The Triple-A semis are by far the highlight of the eight-session, three-day event. This year’s talent level was Triple-A squared.
   
Check out these champions’ college choices: Josh Dziewa to Iowa. Josh Kindig to Oklahoma State. Mitchell Port to Division I Edinboro. The Alton twins to Penn State. Marshall Peppelman to Cornell. Spencer Myers to Maryland. Evan Craig to Rider.
   
That’s a small sampling.
   
So next year, when you’re en route to the tournament and someone asks you for directions to Giant Center, the answer is simple: “Practice, practice, practice.”
   
How popular is this PIAA event, you ask? I can tell you.
   
Pennlive.com received 442,645 page views for the wrestling coverage over the three days. There were 2,300 people involved in online chats, and they sent more than 3,000 messages.
   
That shows the passion not only statewide, but one person online was in China and another in Florida.
   
However, what would a tournament that draws that much attention and was witnessed by 57,000 fans be without a complaint? I just happen to have one.
   
If you’re a wrestler and you’ve just lost a match, have the decency to shake your opponent’s hand. Look him in the eye and shake his hand. Don’t slap at his hand, don’t offer your left hand, don’t turn your back and throw your hand at his, possibly hitting it, possibly not.
   
Grow up and shake his hand. Losing a match won’t be the worst thing that will happen to you in your life.
   
Having said that, a tip of the mat to Central Dauphin’s Tyler Buckman, the 130-pound senior who lost a heartbreaking finals match to Erie McDowell sophomore Steve Spearman.
   
Buckman not only shook Spearman’s hand, he gave him a pat on the shoulder. And after the two shook the hands of the opposing coaches, Buckman stopped Spearman at the side of the mat and hugged him.
   
The fans appreciated the quality of the match, and they let them know afterward with rousing applause. They also appreciated the sportsmanship.
   
I wouldn’t call this a complaint because you’d have to be a fool to complain about Andrew Alton of Central Mountain, voted the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
   
But I would have voted for heavyweight Craig of Abington Heights. He won his second title by pinning four straight opponents. He’s not yet at the already collegiate level of the Alton twins or CD’s Peppelman, but he’s getting mighty close.
   
And if ever there was a year to start an Outstanding Runner-up award, my vote would go to CD’s Buckman.
   
Another tip of the mat to the four District 12 (Philadelphia city schools) wrestlers who earned medals.
   
Shane Springer of La Salle College was runner-up to Dylan Alton at 152. Casey Kent of La Salle lost his first match and won five straight bouts to place third at 125. Only two other wrestlers did that, and it’s quite a feat.
   
Nick Bongard of Monsignor Bonner was sixth at 119, and Anthony White of Northeast Catholic was seventh at 140.
   
Lest you think that Saturday night marked the end of the season, think again. The season will be capped off Saturday with the Dapper Dan Classic at the Pitt Field House.
   
Joe Spisak of Boiling Springs and CD’s Peppelman are part of a Pennsylvania all-star team that will take on a team of stars from around the United States.
   
It’s a prestigious event, one which the USA has dominated as of late. This year could be different.
   
Spisak will face Jamie Clark, a three-time Ohio champion from St. Edwards with a career record of 128-8. Clark is heading for Illinois; Spisak, for Virginia.
   
Peppelman will meet Nick Sulzer, also from St. Edwards and a one-time champ who is 146-17 and headed for UVa.
   
Other matches that should be quite interesting include Andrew Alton against Joe Cozart (226-4), a four-time Florida champ headed for Iowa State; Dylan Alton against Jackson Morse (184-9), a three-time Michigan champ headed for Illinois, and Craig against Bobby Telford (116-40), a two-time Delaware champ en route to Iowa.
   
Mike Evans of Blair Academy in New Jersey by way of Cumberland Valley is on the U.S. team and is set to face Jamie Callender of Council Rock North. Evans also is headed for Iowa next season.
   
The match begins at 8 p.m. It will be preceded at 6 p.m. by a match between a team of WPIAL (Pittsburgh suburbs) all-stars and a team of New York state stars.
   
If you’re not wrestled out, the NCAA Championships begin today in Omaha, Neb. Plenty of action will be on ESPNU Friday (10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.), and the finals are 7:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.

HERSHEY, Pa. | If Liberty High School senior Anthony Marino
had one wish for his final day at the PIAA Class AAA
Wrestling Championships, it was to let it fly.
Marino did that in Saturdays night 119-pound
championship bout, matching Franklin Regional junior Nico
Megaludis point-for-point through the first two periods. It
was almost enough.
Anthony held nothing back, Liberty coach Jody
Karam said. I think he maybe got a little bit tired in
the third period because he went so hard in the first two
periods.
Megaludis took control with five points in the third and
went on to win his second consecutive state championship
with an 8-4 decision.
Marino joined Nazareth junior Zach Horan as the top two
finishers from The Express-Times region. Horan, who fell to
undefeated Bellefonte senior Mitchell Port in the 125 final,
won a state silver medal for the third consecutive year.
Blue Mountain senior Josh Kindig, who earned the 140-pound
title with an 8-3 decision over Pittsburgh Central
Catholics Lorenzo Thomas, was the only District 11
wrestler to win a PIAA Class AAA title for the second year
in a row.
Megaludis scored the first takedown against Marino but the
Hurricane reversed him in the second period and the two went
into the third tied at 3. Then Megaludis, who finished the
season at 36-0, seemed to find another gear.
We let it fly, Marino said. He was the
better wrestler tonight. I knew what he was coming in to
this. Im not going to run from anybody.
Marino ended his career at 128-22 overall a record that
includes a 2009 fifth-place medal at states. A District 11
and Northeast Regional champ this year, hes headed to
Bloomsburg.
I would say he progressed as the years and weeks went
by, Karam said. Thats all you can ask.
Hes a better wrestler than when he came in and
thats a credit to Libertys assistant coaches and
his partners in the room.
Coincidentally, Megaludis was the same wrestler who beat
Horan in overtime in last years 112 state final.
Horan has faced extremely tough competitors in the finals
ever since his freshman year when he ran into a senior
103-pounder, Council Rock Souths Mark Rappo. This
time, Horan took on Bellefonte senior Mitchell Port.
Horan took down Port 42 seconds into the first period but
Port escaped and added a takedown of his own with 10 seconds
left in the period. Port, who improved to 45-0 for the
season, added one last takedown at the edge of the mat with
four seconds remaining for a 6-3 decision.
Its just heartbreaking, Nazareth coach
Dave Crowell said. I just feel so bad for him. He puts
his life into it. But, like I told him, you are not defined
by the score of one wrestling match. Hes defined by
the person hes become.
Hes become a great team man. While we would
like to win every wrestling match, if its me, those
kinds of other things matter more.
In other Class AAA finals action, the Central Mountain
brother duo of Andrew Alton and Dylan Alton finished their
careers with a combined five state titles. Andrew, a
145-pounder, took his second title with a technical fall
over West Alleghenys Aaron McKinney. Dylan won his
third consecutive state gold medal with an 11-4 decision
over La Salles Shane Springer at 152.
Eleven other wrestlers from the Express-Times region earned
medals in Class AAA.
In the consolation rounds, Eastons Mark Hartenstine
and Northamptons Austin Sommer both closed their
careers with their best state finishes. Hartenstine, who
placed eighth last year, defeated Garnet Valleys
Joseph Marino 5-0 for the bronze medal at 140. Sommer, a
seventh-place finisher in 2009, beat Kiski Areas Zack
Shannon 5-2 for third at 152.
Nazareth 145-pounder Ryan Krecker won a fourth-place medal
for the second year in a row. Northampton senior Jordan
Glykas won his first state medal, a fourth at 125.
Easton sophomore Mitch Minotti, who decisioned Pleasant
Valleys Jordan Toledo in both the District 11 and
Northeast Regional finals, earned a 4-0 win over Toledo for
fifth at 130. Liberty junior Anthony Cabera beat
Eastons Evan DiSora 3-0 in the fifth-place match at
103; Cabrera defeated DiSora by that same score in both the
district and regional finals.
Libertys Devon Lotito (seventh at 112),
Parklands Tarik Haddad (eighth at 189) and Wade Rivera
(fifth at 160) and Whitehalls Taray Carey (sixth at
215) also claimed medals in Class AAA.
Beth Hudson can be reached at sports@express-times.com.

Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman won his third straight PIAA title with a pin against West Allegheny's Troy Reaghard.

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(JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-News)

Results and quick recaps from each match of the PIAA Class AAA championship finals.

103 POUNDS
In an ultimate tie breaker fourth overtime, Canon McMillan's Conner Schram burst out of the grasp of Hempfield's Austin Miller to win a, let's say, 'tentative' 103-pound final. The wrestlers exchanged escapes in the first and second periods and did little from their feet on their way to a four-overtime marathon.

112 POUNDS
Derry Area's Jimmy Gulibon won his second PIAA title in as many years, putting on a clinic from his feet in a 12-5 decision over Blue Mountain's Corey Keener. Gulibon struck twice in the first period and never trailed to finish his season with a 36-1 record and state gold.

119 POUNDS
Franklin Regional's Nico Megaludis out-lasted Liberty's Anthony Marino, using constant pressure in the final period to win an 8-4 decision. Megaludis, the state champ at 112 pounds last season, scored a late takedown to put the finishing touches on the victory.

125 POUNDS
Bellefonte's Mitchell Port and Nazareth's Zachary Horan went back and forth in a match jam-packed with action. Port got the better end of some wild flurries and came away with a 6-3 win.

130 POUNDS
A wild ride from start to finish, McDowell's Steve Spearman scored an emphatic late takedown to topple Central Dauphin's Tyler Buckman 7-6 in rideout time. Buckman escaped to take a 6-5 lead, but surrendered the winning takedown and just missed turning Spearman for back points in the final seconds.

135 POUNDS
Council Rock South's Josh Dziewa finished his dominant run through the 135 bracket, making short work of Cumberland Valley's Shawn Greevy with a first-period pin. Dziewa won two matches by fall and out-scored his other two opponents 7-0 in capturing the gold.

140 POUNDS
Blue Mountain's Josh Kindig led from start to finish, disposing of Pittsburgh Central Catholic's Lorenzo Thomas in an 8-3 victory in the finals. Kindig was the gold medal winner at 135 last season and repeated at 140 with two pins and two decisions.

145 POUNDS
Central Mountain's Andrew Alton won his second straight PIAA title with a 23-8 technicall fall over West Allegheny's Aaron McKinney. Alton tore through the 145 bracket with two pins and two technicall falls, in which he totaled 50 combined points.

152 POUNDS
Dylan Alton used a quick flurry to grab an early lead and cruise to an 11-4 victory over Lasalle's Shane Springer. Dylan Alton one-upped twin brother Andrew with his third straight PIAA gold medal.

160 POUNDS
Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman used his signature tilt to put West Allegheny's Troy Reaghard on his back, then sunk in a deep half nelson to flatten him out in a second-period pin. The win sent Peppelman to his third straight state title.

171 POUNDS
Familiar rivals squared off in the state finals as Central Dauphin's Kenny Courts won a third straight matchup against Cumberland Valley's Tristan Warner, this time for state gold. Courts took an early 4-0 lead when he dumped Warner to his back and held on for a 6-4 win.

189 POUNDS
A second caution stall against Council Rock North's Jamie Callender gave Springfield's Andre Petroski the tying point, and after taking a 5-4 lead on an escape, Petroski re-paid the favor with a couple of stalling calls in the final minute. Callender cashed in 33 seconds into overtime, wrapping up a clean double leg and securing a 7-5 win.

215 POUNDS
Selinsgrove's Spencer Myers controlled East Pennsboro's Zach Nye from the neutral position and handed Nye his first loss of the season, 5-3. Nye was aiming to become East Penn's first gold medalist since 1978.

285 POUNDS
Abington Heights' Evan Craig battered and bruised Central Mountain's Zack Corl on his way to defending his state title with a second-period pin. Craig led 4-0 when he cranked Corl to his back with an arm bar and finished the pin at the 2:45 mark.

Big Spring's Dereck Enders controls Delaware Valley's C.J. Singer in their 112 lb. bout in the quarterfinal round of AAA State wrestling finals at Giant Center.

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(SEAN SIMMERS, The Patriot-News)

• PIAA Class AAA wrestling photo gallery

If you were one of the other 15 wrestlers positioned in the Class AAA 112-pound bracket, you had a tough time scouting Dereck Enders 112 matches.
   
There just weren’t many.
   
Throughout the season, the Big Spring junior predominantly competed at 119 and had a smattering of bouts at 125 and 112. So unless the rest of the field visited the District 3 Championships, the Enders-file at 112 was small.
   
They all know him now.
   
Enders used the skills he gained at the heavier weights to his advantage and blew into today’s Class AAA semifinal round by scoring a rough-and-tumble 4-2 quarterfinal decision over Delaware Valley’s C.J. Palmer.
   
“I think [112] fits me better,” Enders said. “Everyone at 119 is a head taller than me. Being at 119 has made me stronger and quicker.
   
“It feels so good, real good to make the semifinals. It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
   
Enders (32-4) showed his speed early in the first period when he took down Palmer to sprint out to a 2-0 lead. But there was no extending the advantage in the first period.
   
The lanky Palmer used his height and reach to his benefit. He wiggled free early in the second to cut the gap in half and went on the offensive, trying to score on the much shorter and stockier Enders.
   
Enders chose down to start the third and ripped his arms and hips through, turning a reversal to take a 4-1 lead. But Palmer followed up with an escape and went on the attack.
   
“He was long and was able to get in on me, he just didn’t finish,” Enders said. “Coach [Kemal Pegram] always tells me that the best offense is a good defense and that if you have good offense, you have good defense.”
   
Enders needed all of it.
   
Down by two, Palmer picked up the pace and tied Enders up with 10 seconds left. But before he could gain total control for a takedown, the buzzer sounded and another local wrestler was in the semifinals.
   
“It was a close call,” Enders said. “It was close, but I kept the whizzer and was able to hold on the last 10 seconds. It felt like a long time.“
   
Up next, returning state champion Jimmy Guilbon, of Derry, in this morning‘s 8 a.m. semifinal round.
   
“He’s just another wrestler,” Enders said. “I’m going to go after him. There have been a lot of upsets, and I’m going to go out and give it my all.”
   
Middletown’s Bo Candelaria gave it his all and came out with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over Nazareth’s Ryan Krecker, who beat Candelaria earlier this year 7-2.
   
This time was different. Candelaria showed great defense and kept his opponent off balance with each wrestler scoring an escape to end regulation tied at one.
   
After a scoreless first two overtime periods, Krecker let the stronger Candelaria up in the third and couldn’t manage a takedown to drop the decision and send Candelaria into a semifinal tilt with Central Mountain stud Andrew Alton.
   
“I’m satisfied with the win, but I’m not finished yet,” Candelaria (31-3) said. “I have Alton tomorrow and that is my prize.
   
“I haven’t seen him wrestle, so I’m going to wrestle my game and do what I’ve done well all year.”
   
East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye (215) and Susquehanna Twp.’s Averee Robinson (285) also cracked the semifinals.
   
Nye (38-0) racked up the 100th win of his career in beating Methacton’s Brandan Clark 3-0. Meanwhile, Robinson (36-2) earned a semifinal bout with Central Mountain’s Zach Corl (38-5) by decking Clearfield’s Andre Buck 7-4.
   
Still alive for medals in the consolation bracket are Cedar Cliff’s Christopher Vassar (103), Carlisle’s Jayshon Wilson (152) and Cumberland Valley’s Travis Friend (215).

Whether it is the regular season, the District 3 Championships or the PIAA Wrestling Championships, Bo knows one thing.

Winning.

Bo Candelaria wasted little time in showing that he isn’t about to lay over for Central Mountain’s Andrew Alton or anyone else in the 145-pound weight class for that matter, when he carved out a picture-perfect 16-1 over Council Rock South’s Tim Riley in the first round of Class AAA competition.

“Everything is working for me right now,” Candelaria said. “There are always some pre-state butterflies coming in; your eyes get big but once you blink and get that first match in, you are into it.

“This is my time to feel strong. I’m not going to back down now.”/p

The Blue Raiders senior (30-3) rests in the top-heavy side of the 145-bracket, with weight favorite Alton and Nazareth’s Ryan Krecker (34-4), who Candelaria will face in the quarterfinals, which start at 1 p.m.

It should be noted that Krecker decisioned Candelaria 7-2 at Beast of the East in mid-December. But he can expect to see a different wrestler this time around.

“I’m in better shape, and I’m more aggressive than when we wrestled the first time,” Candelaria said. “The last time, I wrestled his way. This time, I’m going show him the way I wrestle.”

A win, and Candelaria will likely hit Alton, the state champion at 140 last year, in the semifinals.

“I don’t mind that those guys are on my side of the bracket,’ Candelaria said. “I’m here to win gold and wrestle the best whether it is in the first round or the finals.”

The local Mid-Penn contingent showed its worth on the state stage by advancing 13 of 23 wrestlers into the Class AAA quarterfinals. Five more wrestlers are still alive in the consolations.

Cumberland Valley’s Travis Friend is in his last high school season and is looking to make it count.

He got off to a good start by punishing Ringgold’s Neal Rands and then pinning him in 3:12 to advance to the quarterfinals against St. Marys Sean Sadosky (34-0).

“Districts is done and over with,” said Friend (23-1), who lost to East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye in the District 3 final. “There is no pressure on me. I like where I am in the bracket and just want to take it one match at a time and make it on the medal stand.

“This is my last time season, and I want to go out on a good note.”

Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman (160) and Kenny Courts (171) are also looking to put an exclamation point on the season.

The two ripped off quick pins, spending a combined 1:31 on the mat in advancing to today’s quarters.

Others local wrestlers remaining in the championship hunt are Cedar Cliff’s Christopher Vassar (103), Big Spring’s Dereck Enders (112), Central Dauphin’s Tyler Buckman (130), Cumberland Valley’s Shawn Greevy (135), Carlisle’s Jayshon Wilson (152), Big Spring’s Luke Etter (160), Cumberland Valley’s Tristan Warner (171), East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye (215) and Susquehanna Twp.’s Averee Robinson (285).

Central Mountain senior wrestlers Andrew and Dylan Alton turned in two of the most dominant performances of the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament. The twins accomplished their feats differently - one with a machine-like technical fall and one with a blink-and-you-missed-it pin.

Andrew Alton squared off with Mechanicsburg senior Rustin Barrick, who, to his credit, spent little time on his back in a 27-9 defeat. But, Barrick was no match for Alton on his feet during a match-long exchange of takedowns and escapes. Late in the second period, Alton put an end to the back-and-forth, sealing the tech fall with a takedown and adding three nearfall points for good measure.

The 27 points by Alton were part of a dominant effort by the big dogs in the top half of the 145-pound bracket. The four winners combined for 76 points, topped by Alton's tournament-best (AA and AAA) 27.

Dylan Alton eliminated the suspense early, countering a double-leg attempt by Neshaminy's Nick Russell with an impressive display of power and leverage. With one burst, Alton sprawled, cranked Russell to his back and got the whistle for a pin just 14 seconds into their preliminary bout.

The midstate is about to get a little more familiar with both of these defending state champs and prized Penn State recruits. Dylan Alton faces Carlisle's Jayshon Wilson, a 5-2 winner over Blue Mountain's Travis Moyer, in tomorrow's quarterfinals. And, if both take care of business tomorrow, Andrew Alton would face Middletown's Bo Candelaria in the semifinals of the 145-pound bracket.

Candelaria has some work ahead of him before meeting Andrew Alton. The senior has a quarterfinal date with Nazareth's Ryan Krecker, who beat Candelaria 7-2 at the Beast of the East tournament earlier this year.

Central Dauphin's Kenny Courts, drags Cumberland Valley's Tristan Warner, to the mat during their 171 pound match in the District 3 Wrestling Championships.

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(CHRIS KNIGHT, The Patriot-News)

Four weeks ago, state wrestling fans were whipped into anticipation mode for the next three days.
   
Who wouldn’t be after seeing Central Dauphin clip Central Mountain 35-34 in the PIAA Class AAA Team Championships semifinals. You could just sense that these two mat behemoths would go at it again in the individual brackets during the PIAA Championships at Giant Center.
   
Too bad it didn’t turn out that way.
   
Oh, Central Mountain did its part. The Wildcats will bring eight wrestlers to Hershey, five of whom were Northwest Region champions, while the Rams stumbled a bit at districts and qualified only four wrestlers. In other words, the team championship will probably be heading north to District 6.
   
So instead of focusing on a monster team showdown — there is no reason to — it would be more prudent to shift gears and focus on the best weights in class.
   
And there are plenty.
   
The crown jewel of Class AAA bracketology is the 171-pound weight. There are arguably six or seven wrestlers in this group who could end up at the top of the podium Saturday night.
   
“People are going to remember who comes out on top at 171,” Cumberland Valley hammer Tristan Warner said. “The weight is pretty strong top to bottom, but I think I’m up to the challenge. I’m looking forward to it.”
   
Warner (35-2) is a strong contender, as his only losses this season have come at the hands of Central Dauphin’s Kenny Courts (38-0), the last of which was a 4-2 overtime barn burner in the district final.
   
Courts, who took silver a year ago at 160, has already beaten four of his competitors at 171 and has a Beast of the East crown, which came with a victory over Warner in the final, making him the favorite.
   
But in order to earn best in class honors, he will have to run a gauntlet of talent that would like nothing more than to knock off a Central Dauphin wrestler on the way to gold.
   
Chartiers Valley’s Tyler Wilps (37-0) is undefeated and on a quarterfinal collision course with Central Mountain’s Dylan Caprio (35-5). Butler’s Cole Baxter (36-1), if nothing else one of the toughest names in wrestling, has made the leap from 145 and could meet Courts in a quarterfinal tilt.
   
As for Warner, if he can win his first-round match against Upper Moreland’s James Nicholson, he likely will face Hazleton’s Jared Kay (36-5), who bounced him out of the tournament last year, in the quarters.
   
“He beat me 1-0 last year,” said Warner, who will wrestle at Old Dominion next year. “He kept me from a medal and, if I win there, I will probably meet Wilps in the semifinals. There are no weak matches.
   
“I just have to bring my A game and get through one match at a time.”
   
If there is a close second as far as a tough weight class, it comes at 135, where seven competitors have four losses or less.
   
Heading the list is Council Rock South’s Josh Dziewa (35-1), whose only loss this season came at the hands of Central Mountain’s Andrew Alton 10-6. Other heavy hitters are Central Mountain’s Jordan Rich (34-2), Boyertown’s Alex Pellicciotti (41-4), La Salle’s Joey Mazzi (44-3), who will meet Rich in the first round, and Cumberland Valley’s Shawn Greevy (20-2).
   
One of the best finals in Class AAA could come at 125, where Nazareth’s Zachary Horan (35-1) and Bellefonte’s Mitchell Port (41-0) are on opposite ends of the bracket. And if that doesn’t trip your trigger, you can tune in to see if Central Mountain 152-pounder Dylan Alton (41-0) and Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman (46-0) can make it three titles in a row.
   
The Class AA brackets aren’t as deep as their Class AAA counterparts, but there are plenty of notables that bode well for the fan shelling out money at the ticket window.
   
The best weight of the bunch could be 135. Sure, Wyomissing’s Nick Hodgkins (33-1), the defending 130-pound champion, is lurking, but Tyrone’s A.J. Schopp (38-0), Montoursville’s Luke Frey (30-0) and Ridgway’s Garet Pisani (34-2) are by no means pushovers.
   
Six returning champions will be vying to duplicate last year’s feat in Class AA, two of whom are on course to meet in the finals at 160. Benton’s Eric Hess (37-2) won at 145, while Coudersport’s Dirk Cowburn (45-1) was the 152-pound champ.
   
If you are looking for a team race, you’ve got it in Class AA.
   
Schuylkill Valley heads the list of entries with eight, followed by Pen Argyl, Benton and Burrell, each with six. Shady Side Academy and Reynolds boast five.
   
That means there will be an emphasis on winning a title, giving the advantage to Schuylkill Valley with defending 135 champ Colin Shober at 140. But don’t discount Shade Side Academy, which has three returning placers, including 2007 champion Frank Martellotti at 130, and Burrell, a team that has four returning place winners.

The 2010 Dream Team is full of talented wrestlers in one of the deepest talent pools of recent memory. Anchored by Northwestern bound Heavyweight Phenom Michael McMullen of Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania this team also sports the Alton brothers from Central Mountain, PA and throw in Marshall Peppleman at 160 to round out the Pennsylvania prospects taking part in the event.

112 Blake Thomas, Brentwood, TN
College: Unsigned
2x State Champion
Fargo Junior FS All-American

119 #1 Ryak Finch, Safford, AZ
College: Iowa State
4x State Champion
Double Fargo National Champion
NHSCA Junior National Champion

125 #3 Devin Carter, Christiansburg, VA
College: Virginia Tech
3x State Champion
Fargo Runner-Up
Super32 Champ
Ironman Champ
Beast of the East Champ

130 Jamie Clark, Lakewood, OH
College: Illinois
2x State Champ
Ironman Champ
Fargo All-American

135 #3 Ryan Nieman, Bullock Creek, MI
College: Indiana
2x State Champ
Fargo 3rd

140 #1 Chris Villalonga, Blair Academy, NJ
College: Cornell
3x Ironman Champ
3x Beast Champ
3x Fargo AA

145 #1 Andrew Alton, Central Mountain, PA
College: Penn State
State Champion
5x Fargo National Champion
2 x Ironman Champion

152 #1 Dylan Alton, Central Mountain, PA
College: Penn State
2x State Champion
4x Fargo National Champion
2 x Ironman Champion

160 #1 Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin, PA
College: Cornell
2x State Champion
Fargo Champ
4x Powerade Champ
3x Beast Champ

171 #1 Derek Garcia, Sedro-Wooley, WA
College: Ohio State
4x WA State Champ
Fargo National FS Champ

189 #1 Mike Evans, Blair Academy, NJ
College: Iowa
Fargo Double AA
2x Beast Champ
2x Manheim Champ
Ironman Champ
Bethlehem Champ

215 #1 Trevor Rupp, Pocatello, ID
College: Unsigned
2x State Champion
Double Fargo AA

285 #1 Michael McMullen, Wyoming Seminary, PA
College: Northwestern
National Prep Champ
Beast Champ
Ironman Champ

Past Dream Team Classic Dual Results
2009 Team Oklahoma 24, Team USA 23
2008 Team USA 40, Team Iowa 15
2007 Team USA 27, Team Ohio 16
2006 Team USA 37, Team New Jersey 12
2005 Team USA 63, Team Texas 12
2004 Team USA 42, Team California 12
2003 Team USA 60, Team Iowa 0
2002 Team USA 36, Team Wisconsin 9
2001 Team USA 39, Team Iowa 21
2000 Team USA 32, Team Minnesota 18
1999 Team USA 49, Team Virginia 3
1998 Team USA 44, Team Iowa 10
1997 Team USA 40, Team Iowa 12

Central Dauphin head coach Jeff Sweigard didn’t have his head in his hands. There were no anxious moments.

The most successful head coach of the most successful team in Pennsylvania Class AAA wrestling didn’t have to show much emotion in the state championship match against Parkland.

Good thing, because he probably had very little left in his 50-year-old body after the Rams’ 35-34 semifinal win over Central Mountain.

No worries. His kids had a firm grip on the title match.

The Rams showed no signs of a letdown and took care of business swiftly in blasting the District 11 Trojans 41-28 to capture their third straight PIAA Class AAA Team Wrestling Championships crown at Giant Center.

“That was OK with me,” Sweigard said. “After that semifinal, it was fine.”

What is fine is the way this senior class, led by Tyler Buckman (130), Marshall Peppelman (160), Kyle Wolfe (215) and Nick Stewart (285), closed out their dual meet careers.

In four years, this group has helped the Rams amass a 65-3 mark and its current 49-match winning streak. In that time, they also were instrumental in the Rams winning six straight state team titles, three of which came during the state individual tournament.

“This group, which is led by Marshall, is a special group,” said Sweigard, who has been coaching wrestling for 26 years. “You look at this group and what they accomplished, and it is pretty unbelievable.

“There was a lot of pressure this year. We lost some kids, and there were new challenges for us. I told the younger guys to stop riding the coat tails of the seniors and set the tone for your own accolades. Everyone really stepped up.”

Challenging is an understatement when classifying the Rams’ semifinal match against a powerful Central Mountain club — easily the best match of the tournament — that had state title aspirations and enough hammers and depth to get it done.

Everything set up perfect for the Wildcats. They got the starting weight they wanted at 145 and took a quick 12-0 lead with pins by Andrew Alton and Tyler Buckwalter (152).

CM head coach Doug Buckwalter bumped defending 145-pound champion Dylan Alton up to face Peppelman at 160. Sweigard countered by sending Justin Wolfe on to the mat under a chorus of boos by the Wildcats faithful. Alton pinned Wolfe in a semifinal-record 23 seconds and increased the advantage to 18-0.

Peppelman moved and got a pin at 171, and Kenny Courts followed it up with a 11-3 major at 189 to make it 18-10. But the Wildcats showed their strength at 215 and 285, when Cody Dolan decisioned Kyle Wolfe 7-4 and Zach Corl decked Nick Stewart 4-1 to make it 24-10.

An upset was brewing.

“It was exciting,” freshman Tyson Dippery said. “The atmosphere was crazy. I didn’t wrestle well at New Oxford, and I knew I needed to step it up for the state team tournament.”

Dippery got the Rams on a roll by pinning Logan Bechdel at 103. Sophomore Shyheim Brown cradled Cole Hanley at 112 and injured Nick Varndell (119) gave CD a narrow 25-24 lead after his 4-0 one-legged decision over Joey Miller at 119.

Kevin Gooding (125) and Tyler Buckman capped the five-match Rams sweep. Gooding scored a major, and Buckman planted Dillon Gavlock in 1:24 to give the Rams a 35-24 advantage.

But no lead was safe.

Jordan Rich dominated Colton Peppelman at 135 and got a fall in 5:27. That put the match in the hands of A.J. Sweigard and the Wildcats’ Brian Brill, who needed a tech fall to help his team win on criteria or a pin to win outright.

He got neither, although there was some doubt.

In the second period, Brill nailed a headlock and dropped A.J. Sweigard to his back. But before he could get the pin, he readjusted and gave the Rams junior enough time to shift and keep his right shoulder inches off the mat for the next minute.

“I was queasy,” said Jeff Sweigard, who left the side of the mat and went to the other end of Giant Center. “I couldn’t take it. I was going to be sick.”

A.J. Sweigard wiggled enough to make Brill break the hold and was only down 7-0 after two periods. In the third, Brill only managed three more points and settled for a 10-1 major, sending the Rams’ bench swarming around A.J. Sweigard after their victory.

“It was tight,” A.J. Sweigard said of Brill’s headlock. “For the first few seconds, I didn’t think I would get out. But once I readjusted, I was able to keep that shoulder up.

“I was just thinking about the team and winning for the seniors. The team and everybody rooting for me was great.”

Said Jeff Sweigard, “That took guts to be in that for a minute and not give up the pin. That was heart. He must get that from his mother.”

Some teams would have a letdown after exuding such effort and emotion into one two-hour match. But not the Rams.

Peppelman got things rolling with a pin at 160, and Courts followed. Wolfe (215), Stewart (285), Dippery (103) and Buckman also had falls, tying Upper Perkiomen’s record of six set in 2006.

“We knew once we got by Central Mountain, we needed to finish strong,” Peppelman said. “We didn’t win states yet. It was just another dual meet. We needed to win one more to get the state title.

“Once we got out front 31-0, we knew we were looking pretty good. At that point, we could smile a little.”

Even the head coach.

“We’ve been stressing team, team, team the last two weeks,” Jeff Sweigard said. “Each individual was a piece of the puzzle. I told them that if I put you in, you have a job to do. The kids really stepped up.”