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Top storylines from the PIAA Class AA wrestling semifinals

Montoursville's Branden Wentzel wrestles West Perry's Deven Jackson at 113 in the PIAA Class AA semifinals at the Giant Center Friday. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

HERSHEY — The lettuce had to go.

Montoursville junior Branden Wentzel had two solid reasons to cut his locks heading into states.

Sure, he told his girlfriend after the Powerade he’d get a haircut if he lost one more match. But also equally important, he noticed a pattern.

Top-ranked 113-pounder Gavin Bradley had two close contests with Wentzel leading up to the PIAA tournament, winning the regional title over him.

When Wentzel would look up and his hair flipped, Bradley struck. Over and over.

Montoursville's Isaac Cory wrestles Brockway's Seth Stewart at 189 in the PIAA Class AA semifinals at the Giant Center Friday. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

“I got taken down with the same move five times,” Wentzel said. “I know my coaches tell me one match at a time, but when the time comes, I’ll have to wrestle him.”

With a semifinal win, Wentzel — ranked second only behind Bradley — will get round three against his foe from Athens.

Wentzel had to fight tooth and nail for it, though. West Perry’s Deven Jackson took him to the wire, scrapping and clawing out a low-scoring, tactical affair.

After back-and-forth escapes en route to a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation, Wentzel pulled out a 7-2 ultimate tiebreaker over the sixth-ranked senior.

“I knew I could get out on him, I’ve watched a ton of kids get out on him,” Wentzel said. “So I was really confident there, as long as I kept it close to him first, second, third period I would’ve been alright.”

Montgomery's Conner Harer wrestles Notre Dame's Evan Maag at 145 in the PIAA Class AA semifinals at the Giant Center Friday. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

For the third straight year, Wentzel will have a top-three finish, having won state gold as a freshman and taking third last year.

Isaac Cory also advanced to the state championship after blanking Brockway’s Seth Stewart, 4-0. Cory will take on Greenville’s Cole Karpinski in the 189-pound Class AA title match.

Muncy’s went 2-0 with its semifinalists. Top-ranked Scott Johnson took a 5-2 decision over Benton’s Dylan Granahan and will face Brockway’s Mark Palmer for all the marbles.

Montgomery's Devon Deem wrestles Bishop McDevitt's Andrew Christie at 152 in the PIAA Class AA semifinals at the Giant Center Friday. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

Austin Johnson posted a 10-2 major on Saegertown’s Josh Perrine. If Johnson defeats Bishop McDevitt’s Riley Robell in the title match, he’ll become the first freshman to win state gold at heavyweight.

While they might not be related by blood, two other brothers competed in the Class AA semifinals for Montgomery. Conner Harer — the No. 1 145-pounder in Pennsylvania — and Devon Deem, the program’s all-time leader in wins, once again went to war together against Pennsylvania’s finest.

Lewisburg's Kaiden Wagner competes at 145 in the PIAA Class AA semifinals at the Giant Center Friday. EVAN WHEATON/Sun-Gazette

Through the state tournament, the two have been knocking heads. Harer continued to pound the drum, having advanced to the championship bout with an 11-4 decision over Notre Dame’s Evan Maag.

Having placed fifth in states last year, the sophomore already improved his finish after his quarterfinal win.

“My biggest nerves was honestly the first-match jitters. I wasn’t crisp, I wasn’t clean,” Harer said on his quarterfinal round. “Once I got it out of the way though, I just let it fly, have fun and enjoy the moment.”

So, what did a sloppy match look like according to Harer? A 26-point onslaught against Girard’s Story Buchanan.

Deem took a 6-4 loss to Bishop McDevitt’s Andrew Christie. Down 2-1 late in the second period, Deem tied the bout with an escape. Christie outscored Deem, 4-2 in the third frame to go the distance.

After a fourth-place finish last year, Deem lost to Boiling Springs’ Michael Duggan in the consolation.

“It was heartbreaking because I know the work he puts in. I don’t know how to word it, but what he deserves, it just didn’t happen in this match,” Harer said on Deem. “It definitely motivates me to wrestle my style, have fun and do it not only for (Deem), but for the whole Montgomery community.”

Harer is Montgomery’s first state finalist since his father and current coach, Denny Harer, reached the 145-pound final in 1993.

His father and Deem’s presence in Harer’s development has been paramount, and the two are still with him at the Giant Center. Harer will be competing for Deem, his community and state gold against Faith Christian’s Eric Alderfer.

“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in the position I am,” Harer said on Deem. “He’s practiced with me every single day to get better and push myself, and do every right thing a wrestler needs to do in order to be at this level.”

Lewisburg’s No. 2 145-pounder Kaiden Wagner dropped a 1-0 decision to Faith Christian’s Eric Alderfer. Wagner reached the third-place match after posting an 11-3 major on Penns Valley’s Ty Watson. Wagner will face Hickory’s Carter Gill.

Warrior Run’s No. 2 Kaden Milheim will wrestle for third place against Fort LeBoeuf’s Jojo Przybycien. Milheim lost, 4-3 to Brockway’s Mark Palmer in the semifinals before rebounding with a 7-6 decision over Conwell Egan’s Charlie Robson.

Canton’s Riley Parker was pinned at 3:43 by Fraizer’s Rune Lawrence in the semifinals. Glendale’s Suds Dubler took a 5-0 win over Parker in the following consolation round.

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