04-03-2025
PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships preview
HERSHEY, Pa. (WTAJ) — To most people, Chocolate World in Hershey is the sweetest place on Earth. To high school wrestlers in Pennsylvania, winning a state medal in the Giant Center is just a little bit sweeter.
The 2025 PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships begin Thursday, March 6 and run through Saturday, March 8. In 2024, nine Central PA wrestlers took home gold medals and it's shaping up that more can stand at the top of the podium this year.
Bo Knows Commitment! No. 1 wrestling recruit Bo Bassett heading to Iowa
Here are some local headlines to monitor:
Last year, Bishop McCort broke plenty of postseason records heading into the state championship. The Crushers ultimately scored the third-most team points ever but came in second place in the team race behind rival Faith Christian.
In 2025, Bishop McCort is looking to get over the hump.
'We're having a ton of people get success, but a couple of guys are (really) close to busting through and that keeps me hungry,' Bishop McCort phenom Bo Bassett said last year after taking first individually. 'I want to push these guys and we want everyone in the finals. That's the main goal.'
'We'll see (in 2025).'
Faith Christian defeated Bishop McCort once again at this year's PIAA Team Wrestling Championships, but the Crushers are hitting their stride at the right time.
In the PIAA Southwest Regional, Bishop McCort broke the region record for champions, medalists and team points. This year, 12 Crushers qualified for the state championships, which is three more boys wrestlers than last year.
The best potential matchup this weekend involves Bishop McCort junior Jax Forrest at 133-pounds. The Oklahoma State commit is set to face off against North Lebanon's Aaron Seidel, who owns the most wins in PIAA history with 203.
Forrest, who won the 127-pound title last year, defeated the three-time state champion at the Mid-Winter Mayhem tournament back in January. Seidel is a Virginia Tech commit.
Girls wrestling made its debut to the PIAA and the championships last season and returns to the Giant Center once again this year.
Out of the four Central Pa. girls that won gold last year, Punxsutawney's Jael Miller and Chestnut Ridge's Violette Lasure will be back competing.
Brackets for the tournament will be released later this week. A full list of the event schedule can be found here.
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