Seven local wrestlers will be making the trip to Hershey to compete in the PIAA Class AA State Tournament after placing in the top three spots this past weekend at the Northeast Regional tournament in Williamsport. Three Spartans, two Indians, and two Raiders will begin wrestling this Thursday morning to earn a spot on the podium. The state tournament begins at 9:00 a.m. and will run through Saturday finishing with the finals.

Hughesville’s Ethan Barnes (220) wrestled his way to the finals after upsetting state-ranked Dylan Otis, Wy, 3-1, sv, in the semi-final bout. Barnes ended the night at the regional tournament with a second place finish. Matt Herr (182) will be making his first trip to states after beating Gage Heller, Mi, 3-2, for third. Herr dropped to the consolation bracket after losing to future regional champion Isaiah Bobotas of Montgomery. Zach Fry earned his second trip back to states after pinning Collin Edsall of Wyalusing in 2:11 in the third-place consolation round and beating Tanner Ebright, MW, 4-3 in the consolation semifinals.

Angelo Barberio (106) and Dakota Nixon (145) are the two Muncy grapplers who will be making their first trip to the state tournament. They wrestled their way finishing third and second (respectively). Barberio defeated state-ranked Brian Friery of Lewisburg for third place, 2-1, and Nixon ended the night with a second place finish behind Billy Barnes of Williamson.

Montgomery senior Kyle Drick (113) will join teammate Isaiah Bobotas (182) on their quest for gold. Drick, a fourth-place district finisher, wrestled his way to second earning him a place in Hershey. Drick beat Ethan Calkins, Troy, 7-3, in the semi-finals, which secured him his spot in Hershey. Bobotas, also a senior, will be making his second trip to the Giant Center. Bobotas is the lone regional champion wrestling his way to the top of the podium after beating the number 2, 3, and 4 seeds. The Red Raider grappler won the championship bout defeating Montoursville’s Lucas Shaheen, 3-0.