By Kenny Varner

HERSHEY – Clean sweep!! All are moving on!!

A culmination of blood, sweat and tears have led the ‘Best of the Best to Hershey Park, where wrestlers have a chance to compete for their dream of potential state champion.

Thursday, four such wrestlers made the journey to Chocolatetown USA to compete in the PIAA Class AA championship.

Two Midd-West, a Mount Union and the first freshman Juniata girls wrestler made it to compete in the Mecca of the Pennsylvania wrestling world, the PIAA Championships.

The Midd-West Mustangs were Matthew Smith, Charley Paige, Mount Union’s Josh Ryan and Juniata’s Katelynn Krepps.

Starting things off in Class AA Midd – West’s 145-pounder Smith got his tournament started on the right foot as he defeated Central Cambria’s Jake Wilson 10-5.

Mount Union’s 215-pound Josh Ryan fell in his opening bout against Faith Christian’s Jason Singer 5-0 in opening round action in Class AA.

Ryan stayed alive in the consolation round as he pinned opponent Mason Mentzer of Biglerville in quick fashion at 0:47.

Paige started his day against Lucas Barr of McGuffey. He was only able to muster an escape, falling 9-1 moving him down into the consolation round.

In the his consolation round, Paige went up against Kaysom Materia of Greenville. The Mustang matman redeemed himself taking the 8-2 run.

All three Class AA wrestlers will return to the mat Friday for the second day of PIAAs.

Krepps started off things with a takedown on Octora Taylor Orner in the first.

The two took the neutral position to start the second period. Orner would pick up the takedown, tying things at three. Orner took the takedown and worked into a pinning combo, picking up the fall at 2:31 over Krepps.

In her consolation match, Krepps met up with Jalynn Reeder of Coatesville.

Both failed to get the other one down in the neutral position.

In the down position Krepps battled but found herself tailing trailing 2-0 before working out of grasp of Reeder, cutting it to a 2-1 deficit.

Going into the final stanza, Krepps took the down position in hopes to tie the contest on an escape, she was able to do better than that picking up a reversal, now taking the lead at 3-2. Reeder tied the contest with an escape at 1:00.

But Krepps was not going to be denied as she took down Reeder and was able to take her down with a an impressive pin at the 4:15 mark of the match keeping her alive to advance to day two.

“Katelynn wrestled well today for only being a freshman.  The first match was a tough loss for her and she got caught and taken to her back. At this level it’s not hard to get caught off guard, everyone’s looking for that one opening,” said Juniata coach Jarred Dressler. “She was able to shake off the first loss and game back around for her second match.  Their styles were similar and Katelynn was able to capitalize on an opening for herself when she was able to catch her in a headlock and finish the match in the 3rd period.  After her second match I could see in her face that she was back and was ready to continue through tomorrow now.”

Competition for the second day kicks off at 8:00 at the Giant Center.