By Kenny Varner

HERSHEY – Day two of this year’s PIAA wrestling championship had some very thrilling moments as wrestlers battled through their competition with the hopes to secure a medal or higher.

It was a night of delight for numerous wrestlers as they find themselves in medal contention heading into the finals dominating day.

In AA, the Centre County had some familiar names picking up crucial wins early on, keeping their season alive.

Starting out the day at 114, Penns Valley’s Max Dinges muscled out a nail biting contest as he defeated Trinity’s Jordan Manyette.

Dinges picked up the hard fought victory in sudden victory fashion, 2-1.

In his last match of the evening, Dinges wrestled Easton Mull of Chestnut Ridge.

It wouldn’t be easy but Dinges was able to outmuscle Mull to take the hard fought 2-1 victory.

Bald Eagles’ 121-pounder Tanner Guenot lost his first match of the tournament falling to Gauge Botero of Faith Christian by decision at 3-1.

Guenot rebounded and breezed through his opponent in the consolation round winning 11-0 over Jayce Walter of Saint Mary’s.

Guenot ended his last consolation session with a match against Elijah Scriven of Hickory.

Late in the contest, Guenot was leading 4-3 but was badly injured and had to be taken out on a stretcher.

At 127, Penns Valley’s Erik Carlile saw his season come to an end, falling to Logan Stewart in second round consolation action, 8-3.

Caden Judice advanced to the Semifinals as he scored late to stay alive defeating Cyrus Hurd from Northeast, 5-3, launching him into the semifinals against A Seidel of Northern Lebanon. Judice faced Aaron Seidel of Northern Lebanon.

Judice fell in his match up by tech fall 21-6.

Fellow Eagle 139-pounder Dawson Lomison’s season came to an end, falling to Jonathan Bissell of Sharpsville, 8-6.

At 189, the Eagles Caleb Close punched his ticket into the semifinals defeating Saucon Valley’s Jared Rohn by fall at 0:40.

Rounding out the Class AA matches, Bald Eagle’s Caleb Close went up against Aiden Bliss from Port Allegheny. He did it in dominating fashion posting a 15-0 tech. fall at 4:02. The win launches him into the finals with a chance to be crown state champion.

Bellefonte’s Ezra Swisher was hoping to keep his season alive as he went up against Wylan Damon of Red Lion at 152 pounds.

Swisher used a 4-0 second period and a reversal in the third to continue on winning 6-0.

In Swisher’s second match of the day he went face-to-face with Central York’s Nathan Replogle.

Swisher picked up an early point and went into the final stanza with a 1-point advantage. He was able to muscle his way through and add a late takedown to take the 4-0 victory.

Swisher finished his busy day as he closed out his Friday against Chris Dennis of Central Bucks West.

In the end, Dennis was too much for Swisher on this night as he notched the 12-0 victory.

Fellow 152-pounder State College’s Jon Whitbred matched against Nazareth’s Cade Campbell. After falling behind early, Whitbred came back in the third and rallied for an escape and a takedown along with back points winning 6-1.

Whitbred advanced into the semifinals where he looked to win to get into the title tilt facing Evan Petrovich from Connellsburg.

In the semi’s Petrovich topped Whitbred 4-2.

State College teammate Asher Cunningham went into his match at 172 going up against Shane McFillin of Bethlehem.

Cunningham opened with a 3-0 lead and never looked back, winning 19-1 via a tech. fall at 4:53.

Finishing out his night, Cunningham went into the semifinals and faced Shikellamy’s Connor Wetzel. The State College matman cruised into the finals dominating 16-1 via a tech. fall at 3:31.

On the girls side, Lady Eagle Grace Crestani unfortunately had her season end as she was pinned by Octorara’s Esmeralda Tellez in her third round match.

PO’s last remaining wrestler, 136-pounder Charlotte Hunt went up against Maggie Alfera of Laurel -G.

Hunt fell to Alfera 8-2.

Action will resume Monday morning at 8 a.m.