Shawn Weaver and Jersey Shore have just been biding their time until this day. This is their chance to put themselves on the radar statewide.
Jersey Shore has never had the opportunity to wrestle in Hershey as a team. Now, it's just one win away.
The Bulldogs are the top seed in the three-team Class AAA District 4 Duals tournament today at Milton. As such, they've already earned their spot in the final against either Selinsgrove or Williamsport.
It's been quite the interesting season for Jersey Shore. Weaver's watched his team battle early-season injuries that had the Bulldogs forfeiting four weights. One of those four-forfeit nights was a three-point loss to Williamsport in which Jersey Shore won seven of the 10 contested bouts after Weaver shuffled the lineup so that it looked nothing like what it will look like tonight in Milton.
When wins did come, they were by two points over Montoursville, seven points over Milton or one point over Carlisle. But the potential was always there. Today, laid out in front of Weaver and Jersey Shore is the opportunity to realize that potential.
To get that coveted spot in the PIAA Duals tournament, the Bulldogs are either going to have to avenge that three-point loss to Williamsport, or duplicate their 12-point win over Selinsgrove.
"(State duals) has been a goal of ours for years," Weaver said after a Jan. 10 win over Montoursville. "Shikellamy stood in the way for years, but we think we have a chance if we can get guys in the lineup where we think they can help us. We always think about those things. Those are long-term goals and we work on the short term."
The long term has now become the long term for the Bulldogs. They sport a lineup featuring one of the most underrated wrestlers in District 4 in Elliott Packer, stellar freshman Noah Ulmer, and senior leaders Dylan Shields and Ryan Harer. The return of Jake Caputo from an injury just a few weeks ago has made this lineup balanced and dangerous.
If nothing else, the Class AAA tournament is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Here's a closer look and predictions for today's District 4 Class AA and AAA Duals tournaments:
CLASS AA
QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Central Columbia vs. No. 9 Hughesville
These two met just a week ago, and even though Central won by what looks like a convincing 18-point margin, it was nowhere near that easy. At times it seemed like the Blue Jays weren't quite ready for the physicality and the willingness to go six-plus minutes. The Spartans also wrestled without starting 195-pounder and regional qualifier Brad Poust, which could really stir the pot for matchups this time. There's a potential upset here, but Hughesville will need an upset or two to get it.
Prediction: Central Columbia 34, Hughesville 27
No. 4 Warrior Run
vs. No. 5 Troy
It used to be in past years that Warrior Run teams were more vulnerable the higher up in weight you got. There's been a drastic change in that this year starting with the emergence of both Dan Breech and Austin Fiedler. Add in the improvements shown by Garrett Moser, Logan Shady and Matt Kilgus and you have five wrestlers capable of winning almost any night out. Troy is going to have to get some big wins in the upper weights in order to pull out this win, but this could still end up being quite close.
Prediction: Warrior Run 47, Troy 21
No. 3 Mifflinburg
vs. No. 6 Towanda
Defending PIAA Duals fourth-place finisher Towanda is dangerous all throughout their lower weights. This might be the first time this year, though, the Black Knights have found an opponent that is just as strong, if not better in the lower weights. Mifflinburg features 106-pounder Noah Kuba who had a stellar showing in a 1-0 loss to Sullivan County's Shawn Nitcznski on Wednesday. And don't forget former state placewinner David Sheesley or fabulous freshman Cole Walter. And Alan Miller at 138 is going to be staking his claim for a state tournament spot in a few short weeks.
Prediction: Mifflinburg 42, Towanda 19
No. 2 Wyalusing vs.
No. 7 Line Mountain
Line Mountain had to scrap and claw its way to a win over Muncy on Wednesday night and there's two ways to look at it. Either the Eagles are battle-tested and ready for whatever No. 2 see Wyalusing can throw at them, or they're spent now facing the Rams. Wyalusing has the ability to take bonus points away from Line Mountain with the matchups of Tim Kuntz and Joe Champulvier against state qualifiers Seth Lansberry and Adam Kritzer. And if they do, it'll likely spell doom for the Eagles with the balance and depth among Wyalusing's lineup.
Prediction: Wyalusing 50, Line Mountain 22
CLASS AA SEMIFINALS
No. 1 Central Columbia vs. No. 4 Warrior Run
This will be the second consecutive rematch of the day for Central Columbia. The Blue Jays beat Warrior Run, 33-21, on Dec. 22. Warrior Run's lineup has a different look than it did more than a month ago while Central has gone relatively unchanged. The addition of Andrew Yetter at 113 pounds is the return of a district qualifier for the Defenders. Plus, this will be a chance for Warrior Run to show just how dangerous of a team it has. Neither Central nor Warrior Run have ever advanced to the District 4 Duals final before.
Prediction: Warrior Run 33, Central 32
No. 2 Wyalusing
vs. No. 3 Mifflinburg
In my mind, these are the two most battle-tested teams in the district and while I won't go as far as to call it the true district final, I think the winner here wins the tournament. Mifflinburg has a lot of flexibility in its lineup from 170 to 220 pounds, and depending on which team gets the matchups they want will likely determine the winner here. And watch for Noah Kuba of Mifflinburg against Austin Shaeffer of Wyalusing. Should be an entertaining and very key bout.
Prediction: Mifflinburg 40, Wyalusing 34
CLASS AA FINAL
No. 4 Warrior Run
vs. No. 3 Mifflinburg
Warrior Run is going to have its hands full, but it's not a matchup the Defenders can't handle. Warrior Run lost, 41-29, in the two teams' first matchup on Jan. 10. It was one of the three losses the Defenders have suffered this year - the others coming at the hands of Central Columbia and District 11 power Blue Mountain. Both teams have a bit of flexibility that could help turn the tides of the bout, but I think gauntlet of a schedule the Wildcats have run this year will help them take their first district title.
Prediction: Mifflinburg 39, Warrior Run 34
CLASS AAA SEMIFINAL
No. 2 Williamsport
vs. No. 3 Selinsgrove
This is the opportunity Williamsport has waited all season for. This was the season Millionaires head coach Joe Eaton had been waiting for since he came to Williamsport. He's got a roster filled with veteran talent, and if there was ever a chance for the Millionaires to make a name for themselves, it's this year. It starts with a semifinal match against Selinsgrove, a team that defeated the Millionaires, 36-32, earlier this season. Williamsport is strong in the lightweights but will need to find a couple wins up top to make the final.
Prediction: Williamsport 43, Selinsgrove 31
CLASS AAA FINAL
No. 1 Jersey Shore
vs. No. 2 Williamsport
You want to talk about a completely different matchup than the one just before Christmas? Yeah this is it. Just more than a month ago Jersey Shore was forfeiting four weights because of injuries and head coach Shawn Weaver had to get creative with his lineup just to compete with the Millionaires, and that turned out to be just a three-point loss. Now, the Bulldogs are at full strength, forfeiting just 113 pounds. Matchups here will be completely different than a month ago making this a brand-new match.
Prediction: Jersey Shore 36, Williamsport 33
