Photos for this article were provided courtesy of Susan Dengler (Owlcatraz Photography)
LebCo is proud to have nine wrestlers who have earned their spots at the PIAA Wrestling Championship that began Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center. The local contingent was headlined by Aaron Seidel, Northern Lebanon’s three-time State Champion who is seeking a career sweep as he made the leap to 133 pounds this season. Two other returning medalists Sam Wolford (Northern Lebanon) and Kylee Trostle (ELCO) brought their invaluable experience to the State Championships.
Joining the veterans were six others making their first appearances at the State’s highest level: Aaron Andrew (Palmyra), Dakota Dengler (Northern Lebanon), Jason Foutz (Palmyra), Kane Kline (ELCO), Klint Miller (ELCO), and Kyle Miller (ELCO).
Keep in mind that even making it to States is an accomplishment, as only twenty wrestlers from each weight class make it into each classification’s tournament.
On Day 1, Seidel, Wolford, Trostle, and Klint Miller each won their First Round matches. They will begin Friday wrestling in the Quarterfinals. Foutz and Kyle Miller won Consolation matches and are still alive going into Day 2.
On Day 2, Seidel and Wolford continued their State Championship quests, as they each rolled to victories in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals. Each will be seeking gold when they arrive at the Giant Center on Saturday. Though only two remain, it is worth pointing out that six wrestlers won at least one match at the State’s highest level. Plus, having two survive into the 3rd day is pretty good by any standard.
On Day 3, Seidel and Wolford took center stage during the gold medal rounds. Despite excellent matches from each of them, they were limited to silver medals. For Wolford, who has been competing with a hand injury, this is his highest finish after taking 4th last year. Seidel’s silver may not fit in with his previous three golds, but after moving up two weight classes, he starred in the most-watched match of the tournament and put forth a tremendous showing.
Below are detailed recaps of how each of the nine LebCo Wrestlers performed. They are listed beginning with the returning medal winnners, then categorized by year and alphabet.
New results are highlighted in green.
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Aaron Seidel
Northern Lebanon, Sr. (AA: 133 pounds)
Thursday Recap
Beginning his run at his 4th straight State Championship, the Pennsylvania Career Wins Leader had just one match on Thursday. Seidel faced off against Hickory’s Brody Bishop, a junior making his 3rd appearance at States. The match lasted just 1:37, with Seidel pinning Bishop.
Round of 16: Aaron Seidel pinned Brody Bishop (Hickory), 1:37
Friday Recap
The three-time State Champ began his Friday with a Quarterfinal matchup against Derry Area’s Anthony Mucci, a senior making his 2nd appearance at States. Mucci was no match for the hungry Seidel, as the Northern Lebanon star pinned him just 1:01 into the match.
In the evening, Seidel faced Bald Eagle’s Caden Judice in the Semifinals. The match ended in the 2nd period when the score hit 21-6, giving Seidel the victory via tech fall. Over the course of the 3:13, Seidel was credited with seven takedowns of Judice.
Saturday
Seidel entered the Giant Center with aspirations of completing his high school career with his 4th straight State Championship. However, standing in his way would be Bishop McCort’s Jax Forrest, a junior committed to Oklahoma State University, 2024 Champion at 127 pounds, and who dealt Seidel his only loss this season when they met at January’s Mid-Winter Mayhem. Going into States, the match-up between Seidel, last year’s 121-pound champion, and Forrest was by far the most anticipated contest.
When the match started, the two young men did not disappoint, as they both showed off their elite skills. Forrest got the upper hand early with a takedown of Seidel to gain the 3-0 advantage. Seidel nearly had a takedown of his own in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Seidel made it 3-1 when he escaped Forrest. In the 3rd period, the action continued and included another near takedown by Seidel. Forrest was awarded a point from an escape to make it 4-1. Late in the match, as Seidel became more aggressive, Forrest was able to notch a takedown to take the score to 7-1.
Seidel finishes his career with a record of 206-4, making him the all-time PIAA career wins leader. For as legendary of a high school career that Seidel has had, it will be exciting to see him continue to hone his skills wrestling collegiately at Virginia Tech.
Championship Finals: Jax Forrest (Bishop McCort) dec. Aaron Seidel, 7-1
Link to Photos
#1 Jax Forrest stopped #3 Aaron Seidel from becoming a 4x PIAA champ in an action packed state final! #statechampionships pic.twitter.com/GdiijJyEcQ
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 8, 2025
Full Video
#1 Jax Forrest vs #3 Aaron Seidel | 2025 PIAA State Final pic.twitter.com/eocVOBZpxN
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 8, 2025
Sam Wolford
Northern Lebanon, Jr. (AA: 114 pounds)
Thursday Recap
In the First Round, Wolford drew Chestnut Ridge’s Easton Mull. This matchup presented a potential trouble spot for Wolford, who looked to improve upon the 4th place finish he achieved last year wrestling at 107 pounds. Mull, a senior, also placed 4th last year at the pair’s current weight class.
That said, Wolford was ready and dominated the match, earning a 13-2 major decision.
Round of 16: Sam Wolford maj. dec. Easton Mull (Chestnut Ridge), 13-2
Friday Recap
Wolford started off the day with a Quarterfinals matchup against Grove City’s Ian Sterns, a freshman who was the North West Regional Champion. For the hyper-focused Wolford, Sterns offered very little resistance as the Northern Lebanon junior won with a 19-2 tech fall, with the match ending in the 2nd period.
In the evening, Wolford was back in action in the Semifinals with a match against Bishop McCort’s Eli Herring. Wolford used his experience to build a lead over the freshman over the first two periods and then used the 3rd period to protect his advantage. This strategy resulted in a 9-5 decision in favor of Wolford.
Saturday Recap
Wolford won both of his matches on Friday to earn his first State Championship Finals appearance. On Saturday, he faced Faith Christian Academy’s Freddy Bachmann, a freshman holding a season record of 41-0.
The match between the two young men was close. Bachmann took the lead with a takedown, but Wolford made it 3-1 by the end of the 1st period after escaping Bachmann. In the 2nd period, the score remained the same as the two continued to battle. The final period was anyone’s match to win, as Bachmann had to escape Wolford. In doing so, he made the score 4-1. However, Bachmann then began to stall in hopes of running out the clock. While the strategy worked in the end, Wolford was awarded two points to make it 4-3.
After narrowly finishing as the runner-up in 2025, Wolford will enter next season as one of Pennsylvania’s top-ranked wrestlers.
Championship Finals: Freddy Bachmann (Faith Christian Academy) dec. Sam Wolford, 4-3
Kylee Trostle
ELCO, So. (Girls: 112 pounds)
Thursday Recap
The sophomore was matched up against Connellsville’s Trinity Moore in the First Round. Trostle had three takedowns on her way to earning the 9-2 decision.
Round of 16: Kylee Trostle dec. Trinity Moore (Connellsville), 9-2
Friday Recap
In the Quarterfinal Round, Trostle was matched up against Red Bank Valley’s Iris Reitz. An initial takedown by Reitz resulted in “blood time” being given to Trostle. Following that, Reitz remained in control on her way to defeating Trostle in a 9-1 major decision.
In Consolations, Trostle met Shippensburg’s Olivia Kearns. Following a 1st period takedown by Kearns, Trostle fought back in the 2nd period, but it would not be enough. Kearns took the match with a 6-3 decision, thus ending Trostle’s season with a 31-5 record.
Quarterfinals: Iris Reitz (Redbank Valley) maj. dec. Kylee Trostle, 9-1
Consolation 2: Olivia Kearns (Shippensburg) dec. Kylee Trostle, 6-3
Jason Foutz
Palmyra, Sr. (AAA: 107 pounds)
Thursday Recap
In the First Round, the senior was matched up against Sun Valley’s Jacob Carr, losing in a 20-2 tech fall.
Foutz then moved into the Consolation Bracket, where he defeated LaSalle College Prep’s Cooper Helm in an 11-3 major decision.
Round of 16: Jacob Carr (Sun Valley) won by tech. fall over Jason Foutz, 20-2 4:00
Consolation 1: Jason Foutz maj. dec. Cooper Helm (La Salle College), 11-3
Friday Recap
After fighting back for the Consolation win on Thursday, Foutz survived into the 2nd Round of Consolations, where he faced Council Rock South’s John Segata. The match was closely contested, so much so that neither wrestler earned any points through regulation time. With the score 0-0, the match moved to a sudden victory round. In the extra period, Segata was able to claim a takedown of Foutz to end the match.
Foutz’s season ends with a record of 33-7. He finishes his high school career with 76 wins, with 58 of those coming over the past two seasons.
Consolation 2: John Segata (Council Rock South) dec. Jason Foutz, 3-0 SV
Kyle Miller
ELCO, Sr. (AAA: 215 pounds)
Thursday Recap
In the First Round, the senior was matched up against Notre Dame – Green Pond’s Connor Smalley, a junior who was making his 2nd appearance at States. Smalley won the match with a 14-4 major decision.
Miller then moved into the Consolation Round, where he faced Coatesville’s Rami Ayoub. Following a scoreless 1st period, Miller scored 6 points in the 2nd period on his way to a 6-3 decision.
Round of 16: Connor Smalley (Notre Dame-Green Pond) maj. dec. Kyle Miller, 14-4
Consolation 1: Kyle Miller dec. Rami Ayoub (Coatesville), 6-3
Friday Recap
After winning in Consolations on Thursday, Miller looked to extend his high school wrestling career on Friday. His journey meant he was in the 2nd Round of Consolations against Pennsbury’s Walker Murray. Unfortunately, Murray was too much for Miller, earning the 10-0 major decision.
Miller finished his season with a 39-10 record. In his ELCO career, Miller posted a record of 134-47.
Consolation 2: Walker Murray (Pennsbury) maj. dec. Kyle Miller, 10-0
Aaron Andrew
Palmyra, Jr. (AAA: 152 pounds)
Thursday Recap
The junior entered into the Preliminary Round in a matchup against Kennett’s Zack Jaffe. While the match remained fairly close through the first two periods, Jaffe racked up points late to pull away for the 17-4 major decision.
Andrew then moved into the Consolation Round where he lost to Northampton’s Chase Grabfelder.
Prelims: Zack Jaffe (Kennett) maj. dec. Aaron Andrew, 17-4
Consolation 1: Chase Grabfelder (Northampton) pinned Aaron Andrew, 3:17
Klint Miller
ELCO, So. (AAA: 160 pounds)
Thursday Recap
The sophomore made his 1st appearance at the Giant Center on Thursday, where he was matched up against Thomas Jefferson’s Brayden White, a senior who was also making his debut in the State Tournament.
Miller used a takedown and nearfall to build a 7-0 lead before White battled back to make the match close for a period of time. However, Miller outlasted White and walked away with the 17-8 major decision.
Round of 16: Klint Miller maj. dec. Brayden White (Thomas Jefferson), 17-8
Friday Recap
After scoring an opening-round win on Thursday, Miller continued his State journey with a Quarterfinal matchup against Quakertown’s Collin Gaj, a senior who has a State gold and silver on his resume. The veteran Gaj flexed his experience over the sophomore, notching a 19-3 tech fall.
Miller then moved to Consolations, where he was matched up against Notre Dame – Green Pond’s Keegan Ramsay. An early nearfall by Ramsay set the tone of the match, but that did not mean that Miller folded. In the 3rd period, Miller scored a takedown, but it was not enough as Ramsay earned the 11-3 major decision.
Miller finishes his sophomore campaign with a 38-10 record. He now has 74 wins over two years.
Quarterfinal: Collin Gaj (Quakertown) won by tech. fall over Klint Miller, 19-2 3:11
Consolation 3: Keegan Ramsay (Notre Dame-Green Pond) maj. dec. Klint Miller, 11-3
Dakota Dengler
Northern Lebanon, Fr. (Girls: 142 pounds)
Thursday Recap
Dengler made her State Championship debut on Thursday with a First Round match against Owen J. Robert’s Jenny Gautreau. The match ended with Gautreau pinning Dengler.
Dengler then moved to the Consolation Round where she faced Central Mountain’s Austynn Falls. Dengler dominated the match on her way to building an 11-5 lead. However, with her back against the wall, Falls was able to find a way to pin Dengler, thus ending the match and ending the season for the Northern Lebanon freshman.
Round of 16: Jenny Gautreau (Owen J. Roberts) pinned Dakota Dengler, 1:28
Consolation 1: Austynn Falls (Central Mountain) pinnedDakota Dengler, 2:15
Kane Kline
ELCO, Fr. (AAA: 114 pounds)
Thursday Recap
The freshman made his State Championship debut, facing off against Spring-Ford’s Gus Smith. Kline fought the entire way but lost in an 8-1 decision.
Kline then moved into Consolations, where he lost a close 9-7 decision to Cumberland Valley’s Phil Montes.
Prelims: Gus Smith (Spring-Ford) dec. Kane Kline, 8-1
Consolation 1: Phil Montes (Cumberland Valley) dec. Kane Kline, 9-7
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