The Best Class Ever: 2010 Pennsylvania Recruiting Class

Nearly four years ago, Willie Saylor, then of Amateur Wrestling News (AWN), penned an article proclaiming the 2010 Pennsylvania Senior class "the best ever". It was a bold proclamation, coming just ahead of the PIAA State Individual Tournament, and the Dapper Dan Classic, where those PA seniors would face off against the best from across the nation.

No one argued with Willie at the time. Of AWN's 12 high school weight class rankings, a PA senior sat atop the list in six of them. Three more were ranked 2nd. Across all classes, Pennsylvania sported 46 nationally ranked kids (see full table at bottom).

Now, four years later, the 2010 PIAA participants are rolling into the NCAAs, if they chose to continue competing. Let's see what the 2010 PIAAs had to offer collegiate wrestling, across both divisions. Full brackets for AA are here, and AAA brackets are here.

103 LBS

AA: Willie liked Nicky Roberts to repeat as State Champ. He didn't. Roberts, now a top 25 125lber for Ohio State, finished 3rd, having lost in the semifinals to a freshman named Zain Retherford. Retherford, who took gold, is now a threat for the title at 141 as a true frosh for Penn State.

AAA: in the big schools Willie picked Austin Miller, now at Oklahoma State to take home gold. Instead, Miller finished runner-up to Connor Schram, who is redshirting at Stanford. The bronze medalist was Penn State's Jordan Conaway, who finished R12 at 133 as a freshman last year.

112 LBS

AA: Josh Polacek, now at Maryland, was Willie's choice. Instead, David White, an NCAA qualifier at 125 for Binghamton this year, took home gold. Randy Cruz, redshirting for Lehigh, finished second, and Lock Haven's Cody Wheeler, who just missed qualifying for NCAAs, finished 3rd. Polacek placed 4th.

AAA: Willie took the favorite, Jimmy Gulibon, who became a rare 4x PA State Champ. Jimmy beat Corey Keener, a top 20 125lber for Central Michigan, in the final. Devon Lotito, Cal Poly's top 20 133lber, placed 7th, while Kent State's Mackenzie Maguire - the 16-seed at 133 - did not make the podium.

119 LBS

125 LBS

AA: This figured to be a battle between two top contenders, Tyler Small (Kent State's top 20 141lber) and Colton Fought (NC State). Small, the senior, took gold over the junior Fought. Two sophomores, Zack Beitz (Penn State, top 20 at 149) and Laike Gardner (Lehigh, top 20 at 141), placed 5th and 7th, respectively.

AAA: Among the big schools, Willie liked Zach Horan (CMU, 7-seed at 141). Instead, Horan finished runner-up to Mitchell Port (Edinboro, #1 at 141). Cameron Throckmorton (North Carolina) looked like the bronze medalist, but instead finished 5th, with Penn's Casey Kent (top 20 at 165) taking 3rd place.

130 LBS

AA: Joe Spisak, now UVA's 16-seed at 141, took gold at the small school level, besting former Penn Stater Frankie Martellotti, who qualified for NCAAs at 133 two years ago before retiring this season. Pitt's 157lber Ronnie Garbinsky finished 5th, behind now-fellow teammate Mikey Racciato, who qualified for NCAAs as a true frosh this year at 149lbs. Another true frosh who also qualified for NCAAs this year, Clarion's Austin Matthews, finished 8th.

AAA: If it hadn't been for a bad knee injury, Willie would have taken Sam Sherlock, a former Penn Stater and current Clarion Golden Eagle. But with Sherlock out of the PIAAs (and injured for NCAAs now, too), Willie liked Steve Spearman - and Spearman (Clackamas JC) took home gold in an overtime final, over Tyler Buckman. Army's Tyler Rauenzahn finished 3rd. Lock Haven's Dan Neff, who qualified for NCAAs as a frosh last year at 141 and again this season, placed 4th. Lehigh's Midlands Champ Mitch Minotti placed 5th. State College native and former Penn Stater Erik Galloway finished 8th.

135 LBS

AA: Willie liked AJ Schopp (Edinboro, 2-seed at 133) to win his second state title, and he did, pulling out a close decision over Penn State's Luke Frey, who placed 7th at the Southern Scuffle this year at 149lbs. Nick Hodgkins (Central Michigan) took 3rd.

AAA: Josh Dziewa (Iowa, top 20 at 141) was the favorite, and came thru with gold, besting Chattanooga's Shawn Greevy in the final. Nick Catalano (North Carolina) took third, ahead of Pitt's Travis Shaffer. Alex Pellicotti (Bucknell), Willie's runner-up pick, finished 5th, while Jordan Rich (Lock Haven), whom Willie tabbed for bronze, did not place.

140 LBS

AA: Colin Shober won his 2nd state title before heading to Northwestern, where injuries derailed his career. Willie's runner-up choice, Phil Steinberg (Army), finished 8th. Instead, the silver medalist was recent Penn State graduate Seth Beitz.

AAA: Josh Kindig (Oklahoma State, 11-seed at 149) took gold, over mild surprise finalist Lorenzo Thomas (Penn, 11-seed at 184). Willie runner-up Mark Hartenstine (Campbell) finished 3rd, ahead of Joe Marino (Harvard). Lehigh frosh Brian Brill placed 5th, while State College senior Scott Bosak (Cornell) did not place.

145 LBS

AA: Willie would like this one back, more than likely. He tabbed, in order: Jordan Moss (Pitt, finished 2nd); Aaron Fry (Lock Haven, finished 5th); and Phil Racciato (Wilkes, finished 6th). Instead, it was Nick Carr (Kent State) taking gold, and Shawn Perich (UP-Johnstown) landing bronze.

AAA: This was an easier choice. Andrew Alton, a top 5 recruit nationally across all weights, tech falled or pinned everyone in his bracket on his way to gold. Aaron McKinney (Lock Haven) took silver, with Bo Candalaria (Kutztown) finishing with bronze.