Donnie Jones, Joey Ecklof, and Garrett Scott will each be hoping to hit the trifecta when the PIAA Wrestling Championships begin Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center, but at least one will have to settle for something less than a gold medal.
All three have won two PIAA titles and are hoping to win a third, which would put them in an elite category. Only 34 wrestlers have won three or more titles in the 66-year history of the tournament.
Jones, a senior from Greensburg Salem High School, won the PIAA Class AAA title at 130 pounds as a sophomore, then captured the 140-pound title last year. He has since moved to 152 pounds, which puts him in the same weight class as Ecklof.
Ecklof, a senior from Northampton, won the 135-pound title as a sophomore, then claimed the 145-pound crown last year. Jones comes in with a 34-1 record, while Ecklof has a 27-3 record.
“I wrestled two matches at 145, but feel more comfortable competing at 152, “said Jones, who is certified at 145 pounds, but decided not to move down. “It’s my senior year and I wanted to be where I feel most comfortable.”
Jones, who has a 151-6 career record, had a 90-match win streak come to an end at the Powerade Christmas Tournament, when he lost 5-4 to Dave Rella of Ohio’s Walsh Jesuit High School.
“I’m not concerned with who’s in my bracket, “said Jones. “I’m only concerned with my next opponent. To be a state champ you have to take them one at a time.”
The predetermined bracket at 152 pounds had Jones and Ecklof in the same half of the bracket, but the PIAA made a change to make sure they didn’t meet until the finals.
“If I bring my A-game to every match, I don’t think there’s anybody in the state who can beat me. “Jones said.
Scott, a junior from Juniata Valley, is a two-time returning champion in Class AA. He won the 119-pound title as a freshman, claimed the 130-pound title last year, and is now competing at 135.
Scott is one of five returning champions in Class AA, along with Matt Fisk, Matt Dunn, Damian Rose, an Nate Sipes.
Fisk is a senior from Wyalusing who placed second at 103 as a freshman, third at 112 as a sophomore, and first at 119 last season. He returns as the favorite at 125.
Dunn, a junior from Reynolds, won the 103-pound title as a freshman, then placed third at 112 last year. He is now at 130.
Rose, a senior from District 7’s Freedom, captured the 135-pound title last year and is now competing at 140.
Sipes, a senior from Curwensville, won the 189-pound title last year and is now at 215.
Jones and Ecklof are among six returning PIAA champions in Class AAA, along with Rick Rappo, Brad Pataky, Joe Caramanica, and Nick Guida.
Rappo, a senior from Council Rock South, won the 103-pound title last year and has since moved up to 112.
Pataky, a senior from Clearfield, is a two-time finalist who placed second as a 103-pound freshman and first as a 112-pound junior. He returns at 119.
Caramanica, a senior from Nazareth, has moved to 145 after winning the 135-pound title last year.
Guida, a senior from Parkland, returns to defend the 171-pound title he won last year. He has also placed fifth twice, at 160 and 171.
The PIAA Championships begin Thursday morning at 9 a.m. with the first round of action in Class AA. The Class AAA bracket begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
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