Weaver
For decades since Steve Maurey won a state title in 1974, Altoona wrestlers have come close to capturing the gold medal at the PIAA Class 3A Championships, but the medal has eluded them.
Six Mountain Lions — Todd Benson (1977), John Orr (1979), Ernie Bonsell (1981), Cole Manley (2015), D.J. Hollingshead (2015) and Parker McClellan (2018) –reached the championship finals, but they had to settle for the silver medal.
It appears the best chances for at least one state title for an Altoona wrestler to win a state title is arguably in this year’s state tournament, which starts at 4 p.m. on Thursday for the Class 3A wrestlers. Altoona has had only two state champs in its history, with Brad Benson being the first in 1973.
Junior Braiden Weaver is ranked No. 1 at 121 by PA Power Wrestling and is the No. 2 seed for the tournament. Senior Luke Sipes, a three-time medalist and two-time semifinalist, is ranked No. 2 and is the second seed at 160.
“Obviously this has been my goal forever,” Sipes said. “I think if I execute it the best I can I can get it done. I believe in myself. I’ve got the support from my city, my coaches, my family, so I’m going to let it rip this weekend.
“I think Weaver has a great chance to get it done. I think it would be awesome if we could both get it done. Maybe he’ll be the first one and I’ll be the second.”
Weaver and Sipes are being joined in Hershey by teammates West Regional fourth-placers in freshman Deklan Barr (127) and sophomore Gavin Ciampoli (139). Ciampoli was a state qualifier as a freshman.
“I think we got some pretty good draws,” Altoona coach Joel Gilbert said. “Most of our guys are in a good place in the bracket. I think they’re excited to go down there and compete. This isn’t something that’s new for them. All the guys that are going have wrestled in big tournaments. They’ll be ready to go.”
Those who win in the first round are done for the day. If they lose, they’ll be wrestling again in the first round of consolations at approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday.
The quarterfinals are set for 2:15 p.m. Friday, with two consolations rounds to follow. The semifinals are at 7 p.m. Friday, and the fourth round of consys will follow. In a change this year, Saturday’s 11:30 a.m. medals bouts will precede the 4 p.m. championship finals.
Weaver (38-6), who placed fifth as a freshman but didn’t place last year, will await a pigtail winner for his first bout. If he makes the semifinals, he’ll probably face Bethehem Catholic’s third-seeded Reef Dillard (33-8), a returning state qualifier. Northeastern’s Elijah Hewitt (37-2) is the top seed.
“You’ve got to be confident enough to win it,” Weaver said. “You’ve got to think you’re the best in the bracket in order to win it. I would say my confidence level is pretty high. I really haven’t checked (the bracket) out, but I should get past all these guys to get to the finals. And then whoever’s in the finals, I’ll be ready and beat them.”
“I think Braiden’s chances are great,” Gilbert said. “He’s the number two seed and is on a good side, but he’ll get that kid from Beth Catholic is the semis I think. That will be a dogfight, but Braiden has really come along this year and wrestled some great competition. His confidence has grown throughout the season.”
Sipes (39-4), who will also await a pigtail winner, placed fourth last year after placing fifth as a freshman and seventh as a sophomore.
“I’m really excited,” Sipes said. “It’s my last go. Kind of all season, I’ve been kind of focused on myself and not really looking at the competition. Obviously it’s hard to not look ahead, but I’m going to take it one match at a time, try to score points and have fun every match.”
“I think he’s found his identity on the mat,” Gilbert said. “He knows what he’s good at, what he wants to do when he goes out there. I think he’s going to make a nice run.”
He’s seeded second to Quakertown’s three-time medalist and two-time finalist Collin Gaj (40-0), who won a title two years ago and was a runner-up last year.
“We haven’t wrestled in high school,” Sipes said. “We’ve been in the same brackets, like last year. I’m hoping to get to him. I think it would be a great opportunity and a really good match. I’m friends with him, so it would be a fun one.”
Weaver, Sipes and Ciampoli are well aware of the talent at the weights and the pressure surrounding almost every bout.
“I think particularly my sophomore year, when I lost to (Lebanon’s Griffin) Gonzalez in the first round, I’ve seen the crazy Hershey atmosphere,” Sipes said. “There are upsets and loud crowds. I’ve been there before though, and I felt that. To me, it’s just another tournament at this point.
“Obviously, it’s the most important one and the one I want to do the best at, but I’m just trying to prime myself to do that.”
Ciampoli (33-11) will wrestle in a pigtail bout, with the winner getting Nazareth’s returning state champ Tahir Parkins (46-0).
“That’s a measuring stick for (Ciampoli) to see where he’s at as a wrestler against one of the best guys in the country,” Gilbert said. “I think he has a great opportunity to place.”
Barr (33-11) will also wrestle in a pigtail bout. The winner will face Cedar Cliff’s state runner-up Aiden Herndon (35-4).
“Deklan is no newcomer to big tournaments,” Gilbert said. “I think he’s in a decent position in the bracket right now. We expect him to go out and score some points. His expectation is to get on the podium this year.”