Standing six strong
District 11 looking to make more history
Six Lehigh Valley-area teams remain in the PIAA Team Wrestling Championships, which resume Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Only District 1 fourth-seed Quakertown was eliminated during Monday’s preliminary round when District 3 third seed Chambersburg won its first state match in program history. Quakertown got its first PIAA team tournament win in 2022.
District 11 Class 3A champion Bethlehem Catholic is a significant favorite to repeat as state champion.
Defending 2A state champion Saucon Valley is alive, but District 1 champion Faith Christian and District 11 Notre DameGreen Pond are ranked 1-2 and the winner of that expected quarterfinal is favored to take home state gold.
Here are six facts to know entering this weekend’s tournament:
Faith Christian is looking to bring District 1 its second state champion (Upper Perkiomen in 2006). Coach Ben Clymer’s Lions are making their fifth state appearance (1-8). They won their first state match last season.
District 11 has dominated the state team tournament since it started in 1999 with 20 state titles between the two classes. That’s more than the next two districts combined. PIAA finals records by district
District 11: 20-13
District 10: 9-8
District 7: 7-9
District 3: 6-7
District 9: 2-1
District 4: 2-6
District 6: 1-1
District 1: 1-2
District 5: 0-1
Note: Districts 2, 8 and 12 have never had a state finalist
Bethlehem Catholic and District 10’s Reynolds each have eight PIAA crowns. The Golden Hawks have four in each class. The Raiders have seven 2A titles.
No other school has more than four. District 11 became the only district in tournament history to have all four state finalists in 2021: Bethlehem Catholic and Nazareth in 3A; Saucon Valley and Notre Dame-GP in 2A.
1. Bethlehem Catholic: 8-1
2. Easton: 4-4
3. Nazareth: 3-1
4. Wilson: 2-0
5. Northampton: 1-1
6. Saucon Valley: 1-1
7. Northern Lehigh: 1-1
8. Northwestern: 0-1
9. Parkland: 0-1
10. Notre Dame-GP: 0-1
CLASS 2A Monday’s preliminary round
District 11 runner-up Saucon Valley 41, District 3 third seed Bishop McDevitt 34
District 10 runner-up Fort LeBoeuf 45, District 7 fourth seed Frazier 24
District 6 runner-up Huntingdon 34, District 7 third seed Quaker Valley 26
HERSHEY’S GIANT CENTER Thursday’s first round 2 p.m.
District 7 champion Burgettstown (15-0) vs. District 2 champion Honesdale (17-4)
District 6 champion United (19-0) vs. District 11 runner-up Saucon Valley (17-2)
District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge (14-2) vs. District 3 runner-up West Perry (15-2)
District 4 champion Warrior Run (19-1) vs. District 10 runner-up Fort LeBoeuf (15-5)
4 p.m.
District 3 champion Berks Catholic (22-0) vs. District 4 runner-up Canton (17-3)
District 9 champion Brookville (18-2) vs. District 7 runner-up Burrell (11-4)
District 11 champion Notre Dame-GP (11-1) vs. District 6 runner-up Huntingdon (19-4)
District 10 champion Reynolds (14-3) vs. District 1 champion Faith Christian (10-1) Friday
First-round consolations, 9 a.m. Quarterfinals, noon Semifinals, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Third-round consolations, 9 a.m. Fourth-round consolations, 11 Consolation final and final, 1 p.m.
CLASS 3A Monday’s preliminary round
District 7 third seed Hempfield Area 72, District 8 champion Allderdice 6
District 1 third seed Council Rock South 41, District 3 fourth seed Wilson-West Lawn 25
District 11 runner-up Nazareth 69, District 12 runner-up St. Joseph’s Prep 4
District 3 third seed Chambersburg 36, District 1 fourth seed Quakertown 31
HERSHEY’S GIANT CENTER Thursday’s first round 6 p.m.
District 1 champion Pennridge (20-3) vs. District 7 third seed Hempfield Area (10-5)
District 6 champion Central Mountain (8-0) vs. District 3 runner-up Cumberland Valley (21-3)
District 4 champion Shikellamy (17-2) vs. District 7 runner-up Waynesburg (13-3)
District 11 champion Bethlehem Catholic (14-0) vs. District 1 third seed Council Rock South (13-3)
8 p.m.
District 3 champion Central Dauphin (15-0) vs. District 12 champion LaSalle College (14-3)
District 2 champion Delaware Valley (14-2) vs. District 11 runner-up Nazareth (15-2)
District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep (13-7) vs. District 1 runner-up Spring-Ford (16-4)
District 7 champion Canon-McMillan (14-2) vs. District 3 third seed Chambersburg (19-3)
Friday
First-round consolations, 10:30 a.m. Quarterfinals, 2 p.m.
Semifinals, 7
Saturday
Third-round consolations, 9 a.m. Fourth-round consolations, 11 Consolation final and final, 1 p.m.