Inspired Saucon Valley, Nazareth Reach PIAA Quarterfinals
Gabe Baer’s start to 2026 was far from ideal. A stomach ache quickly escalated into a nearly week-long hospital stay for an appendectomy. “It was building up for about a week,” Baer recalled. “I thought it was just some stomach issue from eating something.” Despite the painful beginning, Baer made a triumphant return to the mat and helped lead his team to a crucial victory.
Baer’s first match back against Northwestern Lehigh was a significant win. The junior had lost five consecutive matches before this showdown with District 4 third seed Montoursville in the PIAA Class 2A first-round matchup. Saucon Valley was clinging to a three-point lead with three bouts left, including Baer’s. The Panthers needed to secure one of the other two matchups to keep their hopes alive.
The match did not start well. Baer gave up a takedown just before the first-period buzzer. However, he fought back to take a 5-4 decision over Coltyn Wagner at 121 pounds, giving the Panthers a six-point lead. Carter Chunko then pinned Montoursville’s opponent at 127 to clinch Saucon Valley’s 36-30 win, advancing them to Friday’s state quarterfinals against District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge (13-3) at 5 p.m. at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown. Chestnut Ridge defeated District 7 runner-up Burrell 32-29 in Tuesday’s first round.
“I felt [Wagner] getting tired,” Baer said. “I remembered every day in practice when we condition hard. I pushed through. I knew we were going to get this, go to states.”
Coach Chad Shirk’s Panthers had several heroes on Tuesday. Junior Liam Stoneback, who sat on the bench with a broken wrist last year, was another standout. He watched Saucon Valley lose a heartbreaker in last year’s first round in the same gym to District 3 power Berks Catholic. Though they are young, the returning Panthers remembered what last year’s loss felt like.
“That was 100% motivation,” Stoneback said. “It was painful to watch Berks come in and beat us. We wanted this so bad.”
Stoneback pulled out a 2-1 victory at 215 in the second tie-breaker. He escaped from bottom, then held down Montoursville’s Gabe Vanderwall for 30 seconds to stem the tide a bit. The Warriors won the next two bouts to take a 24-21 lead before Gavin Chunko, Carter’s younger brother, came through with a pin in 1:48 to give the Panthers the lead again. Baer and Carter Chunko followed to secure Saucon Valley’s quarterfinal berth.
“I think the fans enjoyed it because there were a lot of close matches,” Shirk said. “In the beginning, we lost a couple of those close matches and I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness.’ Luckily, Liam and Gabe won two matches on the back end that really helped us out. It’s been a fun and stressful journey along the way [this year]. A lot of ups and downs throughout, but I think the team is starting to believe in themselves and starting to come together.”
Mack Santoro, Ashton Beckowski, and Taylor Rohn registered consecutive pins to give Saucon Valley an early 18-3 lead. But Montoursville won four of the next five to set up the dramatic finish. “It’s the first time wrestling without last year’s seniors in my career,” Baer said. “It felt like a brand new team. We’re really excited to go to states.”
Montoursville knocked off District 3 third seed and state No. 4 Berks Catholic in Tuesday’s preliminary round. Also at Freedom H.S., Nazareth was inspired by a couple of gritty wins early to build a 35-point lead and eventually knock off District 3 third seed Central Dauphin 40-16 in the 3A first round.
Cooper Wenrich started it at 139 with an impressive major decision. Chase Brown then rallied two bouts later for an 11-10 win at 152. Cade Campbell took apart previously unbeaten Luke Hitchcock for a technical fall at 160, and freshman Caleb Kosko finished it off with a technical fall for the District 11 champion Blue Eagles.
“Cooper wrestled tough,” coach Dave Crowell said. “He probably wasn’t too happy with last Saturday night [losing in the final against Bethlehem Catholic’s Andre Cerrato]. Watching Chase Brown come back and get that win, that was inspiring to everybody. That’s part of what we want to do, wrestle in a way that inspires your team.”
Nazareth (17-1) faces District 1 runner-up Council Rock South (15-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in the PIAA quarterfinals at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown. Council Rock South beat District 12 champion St. Joe’s Prep 56-14 in Tuesday’s first round.
Jack Campbell (145) and Dominick Tunison (172) also had technical falls. Brayden Zuercher had a pin at 189, and Elijah Simak went up to 215 and produced a major decision. Plus, Nazareth’s lower weights battled to save team points against Central Dauphin’s hammers, something that will be crucial in Johnstown.
Central Dauphin advanced by beating District 1 third seed Pennridge 32-30, but not without drama. Pennridge standout freshman Matt Coffin had a cradle locked up twice on Gabe Dickun, but couldn’t get the fall in the final bout at 127. A pin would have tied the match at 32, and the Rams would have won the tie-breaker. Pennridge led 26-17, but Central Dauphin produced a major decision, pin, and technical fall at 107, 114, and 121, respectively, to take a 32-26 lead entering the last bout.
PIAA Team Wrestling Championships
Tuesday at Freedom’s Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium
CLASS 2A
Preliminary round
Montoursville (20-6) 35, Berks Catholic (17-5) 34
133: Aristotlis Bobotas (M) tech. fall Neil Bitting, 19-3, 4:42
139: Kaden Kleinman (M) dec. Kieth Messner, 12-7
145: Gunnar Maciejewski (BC) tech. fall Haze Mullen, 18-1, 3:24
152: Andrew Messner (BC) pinned Maxton Williamson, 0:31
160: Landon Hartranft (BC) pinned Brady Evans, 2:54
172: Gage Wentzel (M) maj. dec. Layden Acevedo (BC), 12-1
189: Zane Butler (M) tech. fall Gio Brendlen, 15-0, 3:08
215: Gabe Vanderwall (M) pinned Nolan Hook, 0:25
285: Hayden Harvey (M) pinned Palmer Reber, 1:22
107: Branden Eisenhour (M) pinned Kellen McCrea, 0:46
114: Johandiell Gonzalez (BC) tech. fall Coltyn Wagner, 26-8, 5:46
121: Trapp Walsh (BC) by forfeit
127: Tyden Shuman (BC) by forfeit
Referees: Brian Keller and Mike Evans
First round
Saucon Valley (16-3) 36, Montoursville (20-7) 30
139: Kaden Kleinman (M) dec. Zach Rygiel, 2-0
145: Mack Santoro (SV) pinned Haze Mullen, 3:16
152: Ashton Beckowski (SV) pinned Maxton Williamson, 2:48
160: Taylor Rohn (SV) pinned Brady Evans, 1:04
172: Zane Butler (M) dec. Noah Torres, 16-13
189: Gage Wentzel (M) pinned Brit Ash, 1:19
215: Liam Stoneback (SV) dec. Gabe Vanderwall, 2-1 TB-2
285: Hayden Harvey (M) pinned Ezekiel Deily, 5:39
107: Branden Eisenhour (M) pinned Dominic D’Ambola, 2:21
114: Gavin Chunko (SV) pinned Ethan Amato, 1:48
121: Gabe Baer (SV) dec. Coltyn Wagner, 8-4
127: Carter Chunko (SV) pinned Brody Bower, 2:25
133: Aristotlis Bobotas (M) by forfeit
Referees: Mike Evans and Brian Keller
CLASS 3A
Preliminary round
Central Dauphin (20-3) 32, Pennridge (19-5) 30
133: Kevin McFadden (P) maj. dec. Trey Salvaggio, 12-0
139: Mason Pawling (P) dec. Pierce Lemmings, 9-6
145: Quinn McBride (P) tech. fall Elliott Miller, 17-1, 3:17
152: Aidan Mariano (CD) tech. fall Max Meenan, 19-3, 5:01
160: Luke Hitchcock (CD) pinned Gavin Stevens, 1:14
172: Brody Blomgren (P) tech. fall Rashaad Pouncey, 17-1, 5:09
189: Cole Ramberger (CD) by forfeit
215: Charles Dodge (P) dec. Anthony Neuhard, 6-3
285: Sawyer Ermigiotti (P) by forfeit
107: Gabe Colone (CD) maj. dec. Deklan Wills, 13-1
114: Franco Perri (CD) pinned Jake Ramos, 1:37
121: Thunder Beard (CD) tech. fall P.J. Irving, 16-0, 2:16
127: Matt Coffin (P) maj. dec. Gabe Dickun, 12-1
Referees: Larry Dieter and Chris Grammes
First round
Nazareth (17-1) 40, Central Dauphin (19-4) 16
139: Cooper Wenrich (N) maj. dec. Pierce Lemmons, 17-5
145: Jack Campbell (N) tech. fall Elliott Miller, 18-3, 4:21
152: Chase Brown (N) dec. Aidan Mariano, 11-10
160: Cade Campbell (N) tech. fall Luke Hitchcock, 17-2, 4:41
172: Dominick Tunison (N) tech. fall Rashaad Pouncy, 20-4, 3:35
189: Brayden Zuercher (N) pinned Jaden Moss, 0:46
215: Elijah Simak (N) maj. dec. Cole Ramberger, 17-4
285: Austin Christine (N) dec. Anthony Neuhard, 7-3
107: Gabe Colone (CD) maj. dec. Jack Dressler, 15-2
114: Franco Perri (CD) dec. Derek Fulmer, 12-6
121: Gabe Dickun (CD) dec. Matt Nigro, 12-5
127: Thunder Beard (CD) pinned Juan Diaz, 1:45
133: Caleb Kosko (N) tech. fall Trey Salvaggio, 21-2, 2:53
Referees: Larry Dieter and Chris Grammes
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