Pennsylvania high school fans are history buffs. 

One of the neat things to witness is going into a restaurant or bar during the PA State tournament and hearing fans discuss wrestling history - the classic matchups, the controversial calls, the 'best ever's'.

Well, in this preview, we're gonna take a look at not what has happened, but the emerging talent that will be part of their conversations in future years. While PA has a long history of wrestling, the future is also bright. They lead the nation on the Junior High (12), Freshmen (18), and Sophomore (12) Big Boards. 

Not all the wrestlers we highlight here fall into the underclassmen category. Some are Juniors or Seniors that have just now hit their stride and can be considered high medal contenders. 

Not listed are a few youngin's you already know as they were state finalists last year as freshmen: Gary Steen (106), Alejandro Herrera (113), and Brock McMillen (126). 

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New Faces To Know - AA

So. Joey Fischer, 106 (South Park)

National Rank: #10

Big Board Rank: #81

State Rank: #5

Story: Fischer didn't place last year but went on to win Fargo. Now a full-fledged 106, he should be in the title hunt. But the weight is perhaps the deepest state bracket of any in the country this year.

Fr. Levi Haines, 106 (Biglerville)

National Rank: #12

Big Board Rank: #41

State Rank: #3

Story: Haines is perhaps one of PA's brightest stars. He beat ranked 106'ers in the preseason and is a perfect 37-0 on the season.

So. Gable Strickland, 113 (Benton)

Big Board Rank: #68

State Rank: #1

Story: Although a placer last year at a loaded 106, I wanted to mention Strickland here as he's quietly ranked #1 in AA.

Fr. Kole Biscoe, 113 (Southern Columbia)

Big Board Rank: #23

State Rank: #8

Story: Part of a SoCo youth movement, Biscoe should begin a career that should see him in contention as a 4x medalist.

Fr. Jackson Arrington, 113 (Forest Hills)

Big Board Rank: #64

State Rank: #3

Story: You'll notice a trend here. Forest Hills, Southern Columbia, and Notre Dame all have young hammers coming through. Arrington had a terrific Junior High career and comes in with just four losses on the season.

Fr. Ryan Crookham, 120 (Notre Dame)

National Rank: #2

Big Board Rank: #1

State Rank: #1

Story: The consensus #1 freshman in the country, Crookham became the only wrestler to ever win a Super 32 HS title while still in Junior High. Even as a freshman, and with a win over former state champ Beau Bayless, Crookham is the prohibitive favorite. 

So. Ian Oswalt, 120 (Burrell)

Big Board Rank: #95

State Rank: #3

Story: Like Strickland, Oswalt is a returning state placer that still bares mentioning. He's clearly overlooked. 4th last year in a super deep weight, this year he beat returning state AAA runner-up Kurtis Phipps.

Fr. Brandon Chletsos, 126 (Notre Dame)

Big Board Rank: #46

State Rank: #3

Story: Don't let his 10 losses fool you; Chletsos has wrestled an incredible national schedule as a freshman in which he's already beaten 2x state finalist Chase Shields. He can be inconsistent at times, but he's certainly a threat, forming a great FR 1-2 punch with Crookham.

Jr. Kaden Cassidy, 132 (Bedford)

State Rank: #3

Story: Most in PA know of Cassidy; he was a killer coming in to high school and took 3rd as a Frosh. I include him here because, for some, he may have been off the map because 1) he lost all last year due to injury and 2) he's at his third school in three years.

Fr. Erik Gibson, 138 (Forest Hills)

Big Board Rank: #17

State Rank: #4

Story: Another fantastic Forest Hills/Jake Strayer prospect whose early returns look great. He enters his first state tourney with just four losses. I don't know if he's ready to contend for a state title just yet, but he'll be a star sooner than later and a staple on the PIAA podium.

Jr. Andrew Cerniglia, 145 (Notre Dame)

Big Board Rank: #72

State Rank: #3

Story: Like Cassidy, Cerniglia gets a mention here as a Junior because he missed all of last year and also transferred from Nazareth to Notre Dame. He was 4th in AAA as a Frosh.

Fr. Gavin Garcia, 145 (Southern Columbia)

Big Board Rank: #4

State Rank: #5

Story: Quite simply one of the most prolific careers at the Junior High level in PA history. Garcia has just one loss in his freshman campaign, a 5-4 decision to returning runner-up Caleb Dowling. He wrestles well in all positions and will be a contender for years to come. And with him, Cerniglia, Dowling and Haubert all up top, it's perhaps the best half bracket in the nation this year.

Fr. Nolan Lear, 152 (Benton)

Big Board Rank: #76

State Rank: #6

Story: Just six losses and a finals appearance at Regionals for this Freshman middleweight. 

So. Trent Schultheis, 152 (Freedom Area)

State Rank: #2

Story: This Soph is already a state placer and ranked 2nd in the state. 

Fr. Dayton Pitzer, 182 (Mt. Pleasant)

Big Board Rank: #18

State Rank: #1

Story: Listen to me...Pitzer is a freshman. At 182. He's ranked 1st. In Pennsylvania. 28 of his 35 wins have been pins. 

Fr. Cael Black, 195 (Eisenhower)

State Rank: #18

Story: As opposed to a lot of the freshmen listed here, Black was not on the Big Board. He didn't really hit the radar until last week when he NW Region. There aren't too many 195'ers winning a PA Region as a Frosh. Definitely one to monitor.

Fr. Kolby Franklin, 195 (St. Joe’s)

Big Board Rank: #14

State Rank: #2

Story: Speaking of FR 195'ers winning a Region in PA. Franklin was a monster coming out of Junior High and had an awesome Fargo. He has 'PA State Champ' written all over him, already ranked 2nd entering his first state tourney.  

New Faces To Know - AAA

So. Dylan Chappell, 106 (Seneca Valley)

State Rank: #1

Story: Despite being the state's #1 ranked wrestler, this is Chappel's first trip to Hershey. As a FR, Chappell was forced to go 113 as teammate Alejandro Herrera was at 106 and went on to win the state title.

He was the Runner-Up to returning AA Champ Gary Steen at Powerade and beat the #2 ranked wrestler in the state, Carter Dibert, in WPIAL finals.  

Fr. Cole Homet, 120 (Waynesburg)

Big Board Rank: #61

State Rank: #12

Story: Placed a respectable 6th at Powerade in a bracket with three PA State finalists in it (Phipps, Sullivan, and Bayless).

Fr. Jared Keslar, 126 (Connelsville)

Big Board Rank: #65

State Rank: #9

Story: 7th at Powerade. 

Jr. Dashawn Farber, 138 (Nazareth)

State Rank: #7

Story: Farber is a real wild card in this bracket. He's a junior, and he's listed here because this is his first season in PA after winning two state titles in Georgia. He had a pin this season of Jagger Condomitti (who beat Ryan Anderson), and also won D11 and the NE Region by beating a nationally ranked Matt Lackman and getting injury defaults from Devon Britton.

So. Jagger Condomitti, 145 (Northampton)

National Rank: #19

Big Board Rank: #29

State Rank: #4

Story: You probably already know this name as he qualified last year and sent shockwaves through the state when he beat Ryan Anderson in February. One year after not placing as a Frosh, he's a real contender for the title.

So. Trey Kibe, 160 (Mifflin County)

Big Board Rank: #22

State Rank: #2

Story: Like Jagger, Kibe is another monster Soph who reached Hershey but didn't medal last year. He won NHSCA's and is now the #2-ranked guy and my pick for the title at 160.

Jr. Connor Herceg, 160 (Nazareth)

State Rank: #5

Story: Herceg has come out of nowhere to stake claim as a title threat. He didn't even qualify for Hershey last season but won both District 11's and the NE Region by beating Luca Frinzi, who beat both Thayne Lawrence and the current #1-ranked 160 in AAA, Clayton Ulrey. That's the magic of Coach Dave Crowell.

Jr. Jake Richardson, 160 (Mars)

State Rank: #13

Story: Everything written about Herceg applies to Richardson. Out of nowhere? Yup. Not a state qualifier. A Junior. Beat one of the top ranked wrestlers in the state in #4-McGeary.

So. Leonard Pinto, 170 (Stroudsburg)

Big Board Rank: #56

State Rank: #7

Story: Pinto was a qualifier as a freshman but didn't place. 170 is deep with JR's and SR's including three nationally ranked wrestlers, but I expect Pinto to be in the medal hunt the next three seasons.

Sr. Jon Hoover, 170 (N. Allegheny)

State Rank: #10

Story: Hoover never even placed in his region. Now he comes to Hershey with just two losses on the year after making the finals at WPIAL's by beating the state's 6th-ranked Nick Delp.

Sr. Dillon Keane, 170 (Bradford)

State Rank: #12

Story: Just like Hoover, Keane has never made the state tournament until this year where he enters an undefeated NW Region champ.

Fr. Brayden Crocker, 195 (Cranberry)

Big Board Rank: #45

State Rank: #22

Story: 18 of Crocker's 28 wins have been pins or techs. Not too shabby for a 195lb. Frosh. He lost his first match of the year and his last match, to returning state runner-up Cole Urbas. Tough to tell how well Crocker will do this year, but he's certainly one of the state's brightest prospects at the upperweights. 

So. Nate Schon, 220 (Selinsgrove)

Big Board Rank: #49

State Rank: #4

Story: Schon already placed 8th as a freshman last year but I wouldn't to bring him up here as he's not the most household name and yet he'll a true finalist contender. He's ranked 4th, just beat #2-Crosby, and has just one loss on the year to...

Sr. Shane Noonan, 220 (Hazleton)

State Rank: #3

Story: A one-time state qualifier, Noonan comes in undefeated. The main threat on his side is Schon, who he's already beaten. It's not often you see a Senior zero-time medalist reach the finals in PA big schools, but it could happen here.