Among all of the storylines at the District 6 Class AA Tournament, Ty Dively's quest for a title at 138 pounds - the toughest weight in the event - is probably the biggest one.
As we told you in Tuesday's edition, the Claysburg-Kimmel senior hasn't had much luck when he's made the finals. He's a three-time runner-up who just happened to be at Tanner Hough's weight the first two years, and then he lost a 9-8 thriller to Central Cambria's Ben Rager last season.
He's taken some good-natured jabs from some teammates about being a possible four-time runner-up in stride, and he's shrugged that off with a laugh. But, you know he has to be really looking forward to getting that monkey off of his back.
And, it says here in the first edition of my postseason picks, he will.
It certainly won't be easy, though. He's at a weight with two other returning state qualifiers and four other returning Southwest Regional qualifiers, including Penn Cambria's Nick Szala, a returning runner-up, and Bellwood-Antis' Trevor Helsley.
Szala, who has lost two close bouts against Dively this season, figures to have the best shot at beating Dively. Dively beat Szala, 1-0, in the Thomas Subaru Tournament finals.
Szala owns a couple one-point decisions over Helsley and Blairsville's Noah Tarr, whom Szala would likely get in the semis. Helsley will likely have to go through Juniata's returning district runner-up and state qualifier Brandon Rowles in a star-studded quarterfinal bout to get to Dively.
Dively is my choice to be voted the Outstanding Wrestler. I debated between Dively and Richland's 220-pounder John Rizzo, who will likely become the 17th four-time District 6 champion after Tyrone's Ronnie Garbinsky won his fourth last year with a win over Rowles.
Dively, however, isn't the only area wrestler who should be wearing a gold medal around their necks. I'm picking seven area wrestlers to win titles, including Dively's teammates Josh Brown (103) and James Dodson (132). Moshannon Valley's Dylan Ludwig (182) and James Stodart (195), Bellwood-Antis' Jared Woomer (120) and Central Cambria's Ben Rager (126) are also my favorites to win district titles.
Cambria Heights' Ryan Dupas (113), Joe Davis (120) and Ross Inzana (170), Huntingdon's Josh Bafia (152) and Nathan Shope (195), Central Cambria's Tony Risaliti (160) and Mo Valley's Jake Ludwig (220) should make the finals but fall once they get there.
Risaliti's bout with friend Cody Law of Forest Hills should be entertaining, but Law has been able to survive two previous bouts against Risaliti, so the edge goes to the Ranger.
Mount Union is the pick here to win the team title, but C-K will be among a few teams challenging the Trojans for the title. Mount Union, which beat C-K by seven points in its closest match prior to going 0-2 at the PIAA Duals, doesn't look like it will have a champ, but seems to have a little more balance. So give the Trojans the edge.
Should be interesting. Here's a closer look at the picks:
106 POUNDS: Finalists: Justin Patrick, Ligonier Valley vs. Josh Brown, Claysburg-Kimmel. Champion: Brown. Comment: I know Forest Hills' Triston Law beat Brown, 9-8, at the beginning of the year, but I think Brown will avenge the loss in semifinals.
113 POUNDS: Finalists: Joshua Patrick, Ligonier Valley vs. Ryan Dupas, Cambria Heights. Champion: Patrick. Comment: Patrick's been out for awhile, so he better be on his game, especially in semis against Albright and finals against Dupas.
120 POUNDS: Finalists: Joe Davis, Cambria Heights vs. Jared Woomer, Bellwood-Antis. Champion: Woomer. Comment: Woomer will pass big test against Fisch in semis before tangling with Davis in entertaining finals bout.
126 POUNDS: Finalists: Ben Rager, Central Cambria vs. Ryan Wilson, Mount Union. Champion: Rager. Comment: The darkhorse of the bottom bracket could be Heights' Brad Thomas, who wrestled most of the year at 132.
132 POUNDS: Finalists: James Dodson, Claysburg-Kimmel vs. J.P. Hayles, West Branch. Champion: Dodson. Comment: Anybody could come out of that lower bracket.
138 POUNDS: Finalists: Ty Dively, Claysburg-Kimmel vs. Nick Szala, Penn Cambria. Champion: Dively. Comment: Easily the toughest weight class, and what more would you expect with Dively trying to win his first district title in four attempts?
145 POUNDS: Finalists: Richard Brydon, Forest Hills vs. Zach Beitz, Juniata. Champion: Beitz. Comment: Two returning champions going at it, but Beitz is one tough hombre. Tyrone's Weston will get a shot at him in semis.
152 POUNDS: Finalists: Andrew Doak, Blairsville vs. Josh Bafia, Huntingdon. Champion: Doak. Comment: Interesting bottom bracket with C-K's Weyant and PC's Stoy. Bafia has split with Stoy, but Bafia came up big last year.
160 POUNDS: Finalists: Cody Law, Forest Hills vs. Tony Risaliti, Central Cambria. Champion: Law. Comment: Central's Knisely and MV's Martin will battle it out in quarters for a shot with Law in semis.
170 POUNDS: Finalists: Ross Inzana, Cambria Heights vs. John Blankenship, United. Champion: Blankenship. Comment: Inzana will face huge test from C-K's Ickes in the semifinals, pass it and get a rematch with Blankenship.
182 POUNDS: Finalists: Scott Thompson, Blairsville vs. Dylan Ludwig, Moshannon Valley. Champion: Ludwig. Comment: The coaches battled over the top seeds at this weight, but the points won out. Tyrone's Beckwith and MU's Kyle could reach finals.
195 POUNDS: Finalists: James Stodart, Moshannon Valley vs. Nathan Shope, Huntingdon. Champion: Stodart. Comment: Tempted to go with Heights' Beach as a finalist, especially since Shope moved up to 195, but Shope beat him, 4-2, earlier in the season.
220 POUNDS: Finalists: John Rizzo, Richland vs. Jake Ludwig, Moshannon Valley. Champion: Rizzo. Comment: The wildcard in the bottom bracket is PC's McLendon, who wrestled most of the season at 285, but Ludwig will make finals.
285 POUNDS: Finalists: Dylan Powell, Juniata vs. Ben Mountain, United. Champion: Powell. Comment: Lot of finals candidates, including C-K's Feathers, who could meet Mountain in semifinals.
OUTSTANDING WRESTLER: Ty Dively, Claysburg-Kimmel.
TEAM CHAMPION: Mount Union. Comment: Team race with C-K, Heights and West Branch will be tight.
Todd Irwin can be reached at 946-7464 or at tirwin@altoonamirror.com. He can be followed on Twitter at ToddIrwin1.
