Weight changes, region shifts: Here's what's new as D-10's wrestlers hit the mats
The PIAA's new two-season enrollment cycle isn't the only change District 10 wrestling fans will notice this season.
There's also tweaking to its 13 weight classes, courtesy of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The organization that overseas each of the nation's organization, the PIAA included, added one pound to six lightweight and middleweight divisions.
Top 40: Meet the Erie Times-News preseason District 10 wrestlers to watch for 2022-23 season
State wrestlers for this season, which began last Friday, and the next one will compete in the following weight classes: 107 pounds, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215 and 285.
The PIAA reduced its weight classes from 14 to 13 for its previous cycle. The divisions were: 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215 and 285.
Thus, it wasn't a typo when North East freshman Kyler See went 5-0 as a 121-pounder during Saturday's Sheetz Kickoff Classic. The Grapepickers and Union City Bears were Erie County teams who competed in the day-long dual event at Greenville.
Wrestlers from Fort LeBoeuf and General McLane also finished first in unchanged divisions during separate two-day tournaments.
Conner McChesney (172) and Danny Church (215) helped the Bison capture the team title at Hickory, which hosted its traditional season-opening meet.
McLane placed third at the Chartiers-Houston's massive 31-team tournament. The Lancers' Magnus Lloyd, a former state junior wrestling champ, was its 189 victor.
Trio of teams assigned new classes
McLane and Hickory also happen to be programs who swapped classes for the current cycle.
The Lancers, who have toggled between Class 3A and Class 2A in recent years, return as a 2A program. They were placed in Region 4, which entirely consists of Erie County schools.
Not listed in those standings is Iroquois. Any student of the Lawrence Park school who seeks to wrestle will do so with Harbor Creek via a co-op arrangement.
Warren is the other former 3A team which reverted to 2A status. The Dragons were assigned to Region 3, which includes Corry, Seneca and Union City.
Although Hickory was the district's 2A team tournament winner last season, the Hornets are already assured they won't have an opportunity to repeat in that classification. They were promoted to 3A status, which means they'll wrestle fellow Region 5 members Cathedral Prep, McDowell, Erie High and Meadville.
Postseason no-go for Gill
While some district wrestlers did attain top-eight platform status on the PIAA tournament's podium this past March, none stood atop it.
The 2022 meet was the first since 1999 that northwest Pennsylvania didn't account for a single gold medalist.
There is one former PIAA champ who will compete this winter.
Just don't look for Louie Gill, a former Hickory Hornet and current Reynolds Raider, come the postseason.
Gill was a freshman when he finished first for the state's 2A 106 bracket in 2021. The recent North Carolina State recruit lost this past season's final in that same weight class.
Gill (72-7 overall) transferred to Reynolds, an annual state wrestling power. However, he'll only be able to compete for the Raiders during regular season action.
Per the PIAA's transfer rules, any student who transfers after their sophomore year can compete in athletics during the ensuing season, but not a postseason.
District officials upheld the state's decision this past September. Reynolds athletic director Steve Waleff further confirmed it Monday.
Graduation claimed two other 2A state finalists from last season, Harbor Creek's Connor Pierce, a Penn State University recruit, and Greenville's Cole Karpinski (Army).
Erie County wrestlers back from last season's all-district list are seniors Abe Keep of Girard and Troy Peterson of McDowell.
Keep, a 215-pounder, signed a national letter of intent to compete for Division I Edinboro University.
2021-22 all-stars: Meet the Erie Times-News District 10 Wrestling All-Stars and region all-stars
Two-for-one at House of Thrills
Meadville is a traditional host for postseason meets in this corner of the state.
The weekend of Jan. 17, though, will be a rarity at the Bulldogs' gymnasium.
The section 2-AA tournament will take place there Friday and Saturday that weekend. However, they'll share mats on the second day with competitors in the district's five-team 3A tournament.
The championship matches for each are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.
New regions
Region 1 (2A): Grove City, Slippery Rock, Sharon, Sharpsville, Greenville, Mercer, Reynolds
Region 2 (2A): Franklin, Conneaut, Commodore Perry, Maplewood, Cambridge Springs, Saegertown, Cochranton
Region 3 (2A): Corry, Eisenhower, Seneca, Titusville, Union City, Warren, Youngsville
Region 4 (2A): General McLane, Fort LeBoeuf, Harbor Creek, Girard, Northwestern, North East
Region 5 (3A): Cathedral Prep, Erie, McDowell, Meadville, Hickory
More:Erie County high school Top Performers for Dec. 2-10
Wrestling dates to remember
December
Friday-Saturday: Walsh Jesuit Ironman at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Saturday: St. Marys Kickoff Classic
16-17: King of the Mountain Tournament at Mill Hall
17: Rambler Duals at Joanne Mullen Gymnasium; North Canton (Ohio) Invitational; Commodore Perry Duals at Hadley
29-30: Powerade Tournament at Canonsburg
January
4: McDowell at Cathedral Prep
6: Hickory and Brookville at General McLane
7: Pin City Tournament at Perry, Ohio; Ripley (New York) Invitational
13: (tentative) Cathedral Prep vs. Reynolds at University of Pittsburgh
13-14: Patrick J. Morales Memorial Tournament at Falconer, New York; Mid-Winter Mayhem at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
14: Northwestern Wildcat Duals at Albion
18: General McLane at Fort LeBoeuf
21: Bison Duals at Clearfield; Ultimate Duals at Brookville
25: Hickory at Cathedral Prep
27-28: Fred Bell Memorial Tournament at Grove City; Ultimate Warrior Tournament at Morrisdale
28: Sharon Duals
February
1: District 10 Class 2A team tournament (first round) TBD
2: District 10 Class 3A team tournament at Joanne Mullen Gymnasium, TBD
4: District 10 Class 2A team tournament at Sharon
6: PIAA team tournament (first round), TBD
9-11: PIAA team tournament at Giant Center, Hershey
17-18: Section 2-AA tournament at Sharon
17-18: Section 1-AA tournament at Meadville
18: District 10 Class 3A tournament at Meadville
24-25: District 10 Class 2A tournament at Sharon
March
3-4: Northwest Region Class 3A tournament at Altoona
3-4: Northwest Region Class 2A tournament at Sharon
9-11: PIAA tournament at Giant Center, Hershey
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 high school wrestling: Weight, region changes for 2022-23
