Thursday starts what is one of the best state wrestling championships in the country. PA small schools (AA) start us off at 9AM, while big schools (AAA) get going at 4PM. Both classifications go through pigtails (which are four bouts per weight) and Round of 16.

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Below we've carved out what the best bets are for Thursday's opening acrion.

9AM - AA Preliminaries and First Round

106 - #1-Gary Steen vs. #7-Matt Vulakh (Pope John II)

Solid opener for the returning state champ vs. a returning medalist.

120 - #3-Ian Oswalt (Burrell) vs #7-Blake Showers (Biglerville)

Showers, a returning 7th, dug himself a draw by taking 4th in the region. He gets Oswalt who has really been trending up.

126 - #4-Brandon Chletsos (Notre Dame) vs #7-Anthony Glasl (Brockway)

The highest ranked Freshman vs. the highest ranked Junior at the weight.

126 - #2-Chase Shields (Bishop McDevitt) vs. #9-Blake Passarelli (Curwensville)

You wouldn't expect a 2x returning state runner-up to have to hit another placer, but Passarelli placed 4th in the NW Region and.

152 - #6-Nolan Lear (Benton) vs. #9-Keegan Rothrock (St. Joe’s)

I'm interested to see Lear, a Top 100 freshman nationally, in his first state bout.

160 - #3-Matt Arciuolo (Saucon Valley) vs. #9-Hunter Thompson (Reynolds)

It's not so much the matchup as it is an opportunity to get a look at Arciuoulo who has quietly went from having never wrestled in the postseason to a title contender. I promise you, he's a legit threat. 

195 - #4-Hunter Tremain (North Star) vs. #5-Dane Csencsits (Saucon Valley)  

Guys, these rankings are current. #4 vs #5 in the state. In the first round. 

285 - #2-Colby Whitehill (Brookville) vs. #5-Rylie Kemper (Burgettstown) 

#2 vs. #5 and Whitehill is a S32 finalist and ranked in the nation.

4PM - AAA Preliminaries and First Round 

120 - #9-Killian Delaney (WC Henderson) vs. #13-Christian Fisher (Mifflin County)

Why am I highlighting a 9 vs 13? Delaney made the finals last year. He hasn't been on top of his game recently, but I believe in his talent. I'm definitely paying attention to this.

120 - #2-Sean Pierson (Nazareth) vs.  #12-Cole Homet (Waynesburg)

A Princeton commit, Pierson was 3rd last year and then a finalist at FloNats. Homet is on the Big Board and the highest ranked underclassmen at the weight. 

120 - #3-Cam Enriquez (Stroudsburg) vs. #6-Cole Wilson (Northeastern)

Two Top 8 wrestlers and both returning placers. Friends. This is a first round match.

126 - #1-JJ Wilson (Cedar Cliff) vs. #6-Jared Keslar (Connellsville)

Wilson is gonna win a state title. Bet ya $5 no one is stopping him. But Keslar is one of the best freshmen in the country and already a Top 6 in PA big school. This is one of my 'must see' picks. 

145 - #2-Cameron Robinson (Council Rock N.) vs. #5-Nathan Stefanik (Nazareth)

It's the first round. They are both Top 5. Winner ups his recruiting stock massively. 

160 - #6-Luca Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic) vs. #9-Matt Colajezzi (Council Rock S.)

At his peak, Frinzi is a title contender (he beat the #1 in both AA and AAA this year). And Colajezzi is the top ranked FR at the weight.

170 - #9-Nick Delp (Kiski) vs. #10-Dillon Keane (Bradford)

Delp, a JR, is going to be a DI-level recruit. Keane is an undefeated SR that's never placed. A lot at stake here.

195 - #2-Max Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) vs. #8-Tyler Neglia (Wallenpaupack)

Color me completely all-in on Shaw after his win over Nijenhuis this season. 

220 - #2-Dorian Crosby (Erie Prep) vs. #7-Nick Nittoli (Bangor)

Crosby was a placer last year. Nittoli came completely out of nowhere.

285 - #5-Ray Christas (Dallastown) vs. #7-Nate Hoaglund (Mt. Pleasant)