Fifteen wrestlers from the Berks League will take the mats today in Hershey as the PIAA Championships begin at Giant Center.
The competition in Class 2A starts at 9 a.m. with preliminary and first-round matches. The Class 3A tournament begins at 4 p.m.
Wrestling ends with finals and placement matches starting at 2 p.m. Saturday in Class 2A and at 7 p.m. in Class 3A.
Here’s a closer look at Berks’ representatives.
Class 2A
Marvin Armistead
School: Berks Catholic.
Class: Junior.
Weight class: 127.
Record: 42-5.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 champ, District 3 Class 2A champ, fifth at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (NW-4) Alex Rueberger, Sharpsville (36-11).
State history: Making second straight appearance. Did not place last year at 132 pounds.
Gabe Davis
School: Berks Catholic:
Class: Junior.
Weight class: 172.
Record: 40-8.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 runner-up, District 3 Class 2A runner-up, fourth at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (SW-5) Isaac Lacinski, Burrell (39-12).
State history: Making second straight appearance. Did not place last year at 172 pounds.
Brayden Hartranft
School: Berks Catholic.
Class: Sophomore:
Weight class: 114.
Record: 42-7.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 champ, third in District 3 Class 2A, sixth at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (SW-4) Jorden Williams, Chartiers-Houston (29-11).
State history: Making second straight appearance. Did not place last year at 106 pounds.
Chase Homan
School: Hamburg.
Class: Freshman.
Weight class: 107.
Record: 38-7.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 Tournament runner-up, third in District 3 Class 2A, fourth at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (SW-6) Caleb Hummel, Philipsburg-Osceola (36-9).
Brody Kline
School: Berks Catholic.
Class: Junior.
Weight class: 215.
Record: 41-4.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 champ, District 3 Class 2A champ, PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional champ.
Opening opponent: First round — Winner of preliminary round match between (SW-4) Dylan Pitzer, Mount Pleasant (33-10) and (SE-6) Chad Beller, Catasauqua (38-9).
State history: Making third straight appearance. Has not placed, competing both years at 215 pounds.
Carmine Lenzi
School: Berks Catholic.
Class: Sophomore.
Weight class: 152.
Record: 41-10.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 champ, District 3 Class 2A runner-up, fifth at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (SW-4) Tyler Berish, Bethlehem-Center (37-4).
State history: Making second straight appearance. Did not place last year at 138 pounds.
Gunnar Maciejewski
School: Berks Catholic.
Class: Freshman.
Weight class: 121.
Record: 39-11.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 champ, District 3 Class 2A runner-up, fourth place at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (SW-6) Sean Cain, Mount Pleasant (31-14).
Owen Reber
School: Berks Catholic.
Class: Junior.
Weight class: 285.
Record: 36-11.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 runner-up, District 3 Class 2A runner-up, third at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: First round — (NW-2) Mike Mazurek, Sharon (32-2).
State history: Making first appearance.
Charles Sheppard
School: Hamburg.
Class: Senior.
Weight class: 285.
Record: 40-11.
2023 postseason: Third in District 3 Class 2A Section 2, third in District 3 Class 2A, fourth at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (SW-5) Joey Baronick, Burgettstown (37-12).
State history: Making second straight appearance. Placed eighth at 285 pounds last year.
Ian Vitalo
School: Schuylkill Valley.
Class: Sophomore.
Weight class: 139.
Record: 37-3.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 2A Section 2 champ, District 3 Class 2A champ, sixth at PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional.
Opening opponent: Preliminary round — (SW-4) Niko Ferra, Burrell (41-10).
State history: Making first appearance.
Class 3A
Tucker Hogan
School: Daniel Boone.
Class: Junior.
Weight class: 189.
Record: 40-0.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 3A Section 1 champ, District 3 Class 3A/South Central Regional champ.
Opening opponent: First round — Winner of preliminary round match between (SE-4) Jeremy McKinney, Oxford (36-6) and (SW-4) Jake Conroy, Ringgold (40-4).
State history: Making third straight appearance. Placed third last year at 172 pounds after not placing at that weight as a freshman.
Dean Houser
School: Daniel Boone.
Class: Junior.
Weight class: 121.
Record: 37-6.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 3A Section 1 champ, District 3 Class 3A/South Central Regional champ.
Opening opponent: First round —. Winner of preliminary round match between (SE-4) Andrij Szczesbiukm, Coatesville (27-6) and (NW-3) Keagan Oler, Erie Cathedral Prep (28-12).
State history: Making second straight appearance. Finished sixth at 106 pounds last year.
Blaise Eidle
School: Wilson.
Class: Sophomore.
Weight class: 172.
Record: 50-8.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 3A Section 1 champ, third at District 3 Class 3A/South Central Regional.
Opening opponent: First round — (NW-1) Carter Weaverling, State College (22-8).
State history: Making first appearance.
Jimmy Garcia
School: Wilson.
Class: Junior.
Weight class: 121.
Record: 44-9.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 3A Section 1 runner-up, District 3 Class 3A/South Central Regional runner-up.
Opening opponent: First round — (SE-2) Quinn McBride, Pennridge (23-6)
State history: Making second straight appearance. Did not place last year at 113 pounds.
McKaden Speece
School: Wilson.
Class: Freshman.
Weight class: 107.
Record: 45-4.
2023 postseason: District 3 Class 3A Section 1 champ, District 3 Class 3A/South Central Regional runner-up.
Opening opponent: First round — (SE-2) Curtis Nelson, Ridley (33-3).
Source: Berkshire mont
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