It seems strange given that there are still fall sports going on at the high school level, but the winter seasons for colleges is already underway.
College basketball season officially began on Monday, with wrestling season right there with it.
There are a number of District 9 wrestlers competing at the collegiate level. Here’s a look at where they’re at.
(Editor’s Note: If you know of a District 9 wrestler competing in college that isn’t listed below, email sports@bradfordera.com).
High school is followed by college in parentheses.
DIVISION I
Reese Bechakas (Kane/Clarion): Bechakas enjoyed a decorated high school career with the Wolves, going 103-30, was a three-time District 9 champion and PIAA qualifier. He will be a freshman with the Golden Eagles this season.
Waylton Wehler (St. Marys/Kent State): Wehler won 41 matches as a senior for the Dutchmen in 2022-23, was a three-time District 9 champion and finished third in the state a as a senior. He enters his redshirt freshman season for the Golden Flashes.
Nolan Shaffer (Johnsonburg/Mercyhurst): Shaffer won 100 career matches for Johnsonburg and a District 9 title. Shaffer is going into his senior season with the Lakers and has 12 career wins at the collegiate level.
Ed Scott (DuBois/N.C. State): Scott went an astounding 151-6 at DuBois, with back-to-back state titles as a junior and senior. At N.C. State, he enters his senior season at N.C. state coming off an ACC championship while earning All-American status.
Carter Chamberlain (Clearfield/Cornell): Chamberlain amassed 116 career wins, a District 9 title and two PIAA medals as a senior, including sixth last season.
Weston Pisarchick (Brockway/Clarion): Pisarchick was a four-time District 9 champion and two-time PIAA medalist, including a sixth-place finish as a senior last season, finishing his high school career with a record of 116-17.
Dysen Gould (Punxsutawney/American University): Gould was a four-time District 9 medalist for the Chucks, parlaying that into a scholarship with Division I American, where he will compete as a freshman this season.
Chandler Ho (DuBois/Clarion): Ho amassed 120 career wins and a pair of District 9 titles for DuBois. He enters his redshirt junior season with Clarion.
Ethan Wiant (Redbank Valley/Clarion): Wiant is a returning starter at 197 pounds for the Golden Eagles. In high school, he won 110 matches and was a two-time District 10 champion.
Noah Bash (Brockway/Franklin & Marshall): Bash won a District 9 title for the Rovers and will be entering his senior season at Franklin & Marshall.
Nathan Taylor (Brookville/Lehigh): Taylor enters his redshirt junior season coming off a 25-5 campaign for Lehigh. Won 79 matches over his final two seasons at Brookville, including a state title as a senior.
Owen Reinsel (Brookville/Lehigh): Reinsel won 142 high school matches at Brookville, was a state medalist three times, including a runner-up finish as a senior. He went 14-11 last season as a sophomore for Lehigh.
Jackson Zimmerman (Brookville/Penn): Zimmerman was a District 9 champion and finished second at the state championships as a senior.
DIVISION II
Andrew Wolfanger (St. Marys/Davis & Elkins), Garrett Eddy (Punxsutawney/Davis & Elkins); Cole Casilio (Johnsonburg/Gannon).
DIVISION III
Nik Fegert (Curwensville/Pitt-Bradford), Gavin Thompson (Brockway/Pitt-Bradford), Brendan Orr (DuBois/Shenandoah), Ryan Wildersleeve (DuBois/Penn State Behrend), Cole Neil (St. Marys/Penn State Behrend).
