Pennsylvania has long been considered a haven for some of the best high school wrestlers in the country.
That hasn't changed. Not even after a group of all stars from around the United States came into the University of Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Fieldhouse and downed the Keystone State studs 25-16 in the 40th annual Dapper Dan Classic.
But even in defeat, a number of Pennsylvania wrestlers faired well against top-flight nationally-ranked competition. And Central Dauphin's Garrett Peppelman was at the top of the class.
The Rams standout earned a 4-3 victory over Ryan Blees, of Bismarck, North Dakota, in the 160-pound bout. Blees entered the match as the No. 1 ranked wrestler according to intermatwrestle.com, while Peppelman held down the No. 3 spot.
Peppelman, a two-time Pennsylvania state champ and four-time placer, will attend the University of Virginia next fall.
Parkland's Ethan Lizak downed Brent Fleetwood — the No. 10-ranked wrestler at 120 — 2-1 in the 113-pound bout. Canon-McMillan's Dalton Macri slapped Nathan Boston, of Woodford County, Kentucky, 9-0. Boston was ranked No. 2 in the country at 120.
Other notable victories for the Pennsylvania crew came from Penn State-bound Jason Nolf (145) and Greater Latrobe's Zack Zavatsky (182).
A trio of highly touted wrestlers capped impressive victories to lead the USA All-Stars in the team scoring.
Penn State recruit Bo Nickal stopped Lancaster Catholic's Stephen Loiseau in an entertaining 14-9 slugfest at 170. Kyle Snyder, who will attend Ohio State next season, downed Coatesville state champ Michael Boykin 10-3 at 220.
Then the biggie. Penn State-bound Nick Nevillis scored a narrow 5-3 victory over four-time Solanco state champ Thomas Haines, who will attend Ohio State next season.
Bryce Brill, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, outlasted Cumberland Valley's TC Warner 5-1 at 152. Brill is ranked No. 1 in the country, while Warner entered the match third.
Here are the match-by-match results:
113: Ethan Lizak, Parkland d Brent Fleetwood, Smyrna, Del. 2-1.
120: Dalton Macri, Canon-McMillan md Nathan Boston, Woodford County, Ky 9-0.
126: Steve Micic, Hanover Central, Ind. md Zeke Moisey, Bethlehem Catholic 13-4.
132: Josh Albers, Dakota, Illinois d Ian Brown, Hanover 3-2.
138: Joey McKenna, Blair Academy d Solomon Chishko, Canon-McMillan 3-1.
145: Jason Nolf, Kittanning d Tyler Berger, Oregon 8-5.
152: Bryce Brill, Mt. Carmel, Illinois d TC Warner, Cumberland Valley 5-1.
160: Garrett Peppelman, Central Dauphin d Ryan Blees, Bismarck, ND 4-3.
170: Bo Nickal, Allen, Texas d Stephen Loiseau, Lancaster Catholic 14-9.
182: Zack Zavatsky, Greater Latrobe d Joel Dixon, Edmond North, Okla. 3-1.
195: Chip Ness, Buford, Georgia d Tristan Sponseller, Bermudian Springs 12-9.
220: Kyle Snyder, Maryland d Michael Boykin, Coatesville 10-3.
285: Nick Nevillis, Clovis High, Calif. d Thomas Haines, Solanco 5-3.