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By Todd Irwin
sports@altoonamirror.com
If Glendale brothers Zeke and Suds Dubler pull off back-to-back titles at the Southwest Regional Class 2A Tournament, like they did at the District 6 Tournament, they'll send shockwaves across the state.
Both Vikings have returning state champions looming on the other side of the bracket at 160 and 172 pounds, respectively. It's another example of the Southwest being the most loaded Class 2A regional in Pennsylvania.
The tournament has moved from IUP to AHN Arena at Peters Township High School, near Canonsburg. Wrestling begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday. An expected 8:30 p.m. start to the quarterfinal round will finish off the first night.
Wrestling resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday with the first consolation round. Another consolation round will follow before the 12:30 p.m. semifinals. The championship finals, third-place, fifth-place and seventh-place bouts are set for 5:15.
The top six at every weight class advance to the PIAA Championships in Hershey.
There are 17 wrestlers at every weight, with the top eight from District 7, the top six from District 6 and the top three from District 5 at the weights.
In Zeke Dubler's case at 160 pounds, the 33-2 junior, who placed fifth in the tournament two years ago as a freshman, could meet up with Laurel returning state champ Grant MacKay (33-2) in the championship finals. Mackay beat Dubler, 6-0, in the Fred Bell Tournament finals.
"I don't want to look too far ahead," Glendale coach Brian Storm said, "but he's already wrestled MacKay, and I thought he looked good. MacKay is good, but we'll see. If they would meet in the finals, I would hope Zeke would do a little bit better. He knows he's right there with him."
At 172, Frazier two-time state champ Rune Lawrence (29-3) is a favorite to repeat as regional champ as a sophomore. In last year's regional quarterfinals, Lawrence nipped Suds Dubler, 4-3.
Dubler (33-2), a senior who placed third at regionals last year and as a freshman and seventh as a sophomore, could have a tough battle with Chestnut Ridge's second-seeded Daniel Moore (27-7) in the semifinals.
"Suds is really excited," Storm said. "I think this is the most excited I've seen him in the last couple years. Hopefully Suds can see (Lawrence) in the finals, we'll just see. I thought Suds wrestled him really tough last year.
"I'd never count the Dublers out of anything. They're smart wrestlers. I think they can figure somebody out, but it's wrestling, so you never know."
Penn Cambria's District 6 champion and second-seeded Trent Hoover (28-6) will also look to get to the finals at 126 in his second regional appearance.
The top seed at the weight is Tussey Mountain's returning regional third-placer Trevor Husick (29-3). They've split two bouts this season, with Hoover, a sophomore, winning in overtime, 3-1, in the Thomas Chevrolet Tournament finals.
"I know what Trent is capable of," Penn Cambria coach Todd Niebauer said. "Sometimes athletes can be their worst enemies and overthink things. I expect he's going to be there with the best at the weight class. I don't have any doubts that he can do it. It's just a matter if he believes in himself and has faith in his attacks."
The Dublers and Hoover are part of a group of 23 area regional qualifiers. That list includes five District 6 silver medalists in Tyrone's Korry Walls (106), Ashton Sipes (132) and Braden Ewing (285), Central Cambria's Ethan Kubat (189) and Bellwood-Antis' Ethan Norris (215).
Logan Rumberger (113) and Andrew Weaver (160) finished third, while Lukas Walk (138) and Reese Wood (145) placed fourth.
Penn Cambria has five making the trip, including fourth-placers Nathan Little (152) and Austin McCloskey (160) and sixth-placers Anthony Coukart (132) and Austin Wagner (189).
"I talk to the kids about who's going to be next story," Niebauer said. "I tell stories about kids who came through like Austin Farabaugh who had never gotten out of districts and ended up in the state semifinals his senior year."
Wagner dislocated his knee and injury defaulted to Kubat in the semifinals. He then medically forfeited his consolation bouts. Niebauer said Wagner has been cleared to wrestle at regionals.
Bellwood-Antis' Xander Shank (third, 152) and Aaron Laird (sixth, 285), Central's Jaxon Matthews (third, 132) and Ty Biesinger (fourth, 113), Glendale's fourth-placers George Campbell (132) and Britton Spangle (215), and Central Cambria third-placer Karter Quick (285) are also making the trip.
What mindset should wrestlers, some of whom have wrestled in big regular season tournaments, have as they're within range of making a trip to the state tournament?
"You know they're kids, and you know they're not dumb," Niebauer said. "You know they understand it's not the same as these tournaments we've been in. As a coach, you try to convince them they are prepared. Now, nerves are going to set in a little bit."
Niebauer said he's never been to Peters Township, but he's good things about the newly constructed arena.
"I'd rather be closer to home, but these boys have worked hard all year," he said. "They're ready after last year's short season and modified postseason. We're definitely pumped about getting down there, getting on the mats and getting ready to go."