Jan 29, 2021 3 min read

Could Andrew Binni and Ky Szewczyk be headed for a rematch?

If the first day of the Powerade Wrestling Tournament is any indication, the answer is possibly.

Binni, a freshman from Canon-McMillan, pinned Ty Braithwaite from West Allegheny in 1:03 in the second round of action at 106 pounds.

Szewczyk, a freshman from Waynesburg, defeated Aubree Donovan of Dubois by technical fall, 15-0, then dumped fourth-seeded Aaron Neel of Walsh Jesuit 5-3.

Binni and Szewczyk put on a tremendous show Wednesday night in Waynesburg gymnasium. Binni stopped Szewczyk 3-1 in sudden victory after the two wrestlers finished regulation in a 1-1 tie.

Both will have tough draws. In today’s quarterfinals, which get underway at 10 a.m. this morning at the Monroeville Convention Center, Szewczyk takes on Louie Gill of Hickory, who pinned his way to the quarterfinals.

The third-seeded Binni will battle Tanner Spaulding of LaSalle High School in Cincinnati in the quarterfinals. Branden Wentzel of Mountoursville, a returning PIAA champion, is top seeded. Tyler Chappell of Seneca Valley is the second seed.

“I look at this as another opportunity to get better,” said Binni. “Being a freshman, I’m looking to get better from the weekend competition. It’s the best tournament in the country. And I think I can win this tournament.”

Binni and Szewzcyk are 1-2 in just about every ranking in the WPIAL. Both are freshmen, which means they should meet on the wrestling mat many more times before graduation.

“Ky is fantastic and phenomenal opponent,” said Binni after Wednesday’s victory. “We haven’t wrestled since 6th grade. He is a great opponent. I was looking forward to this match.”

Binni said he doesn’t particularly care who he wrestles and doesn’t have anyone he’d like to wrestle in Powerade.

“I go out and expect to win,” Binni said. “I wrestle them one at a time.”

“They wrestled in 6th grade and Ky has grown a lot,” said Waynesburg head coach Joe Throckmorton after their midweek bout. “We’ve got some things to work on. Instead of December, we have to work on them in January.”

A number of surprises dotted the first day, including:

n Trinity’s Blake Reihner recorded a takedown with 11 seconds left to upset No. 5 seed Zander Phaturos of Waynesburg, 2-1, in the round of 16 at 126 pounds.

n Waynesburg’s Joseph Simon posted an 8-1 win against No. 7 seed Landen Duncan of Chalker, Ohio, in the round of 16 at 113 pounds.

n Canon-McMillan’s Jacob Houpt, the No. 3 seed at 120, pulled out a 3-2 overtime decision against West Allegheny’s Nick Jones in the round of 32.

n Norwin’s Colton Minerva recorded a 5-4 upset of No. 4 seed Sam Albright of Chestnut Ridge in the round of 32 at 132 pounds.

n Canon-McMillan’s Giani Martini recorded a 2-1 upset of No. 7 seed Isaac Cory of Montoursville in the round of 32 at 152 pounds.

n Mount Pleasant’s Greg Shaulis upset No. 6 seed Bryce Rodriguez of Carlynton, 5-2, in the round of 32 at 120 pounds.

n Unseeded Rune Lawrence of Frazier recorded his second pin at 172 pounds, this one against No. 6 seed Andrew Connolly of Malvern Prep in the round of 16.