PIAA WRESTLING: DAVIDSON REACHES SEMIS AT CLASS AAA NORTHEAST REGIONALS; FOUR OTHER WILDCATS ALIVE IN WRESTLEBACKS (February 27, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
BETHLEHEM — Junior Connor Davidson is one win away from a berth at the PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships after reaching the semifinals of the Northeast Regionals here Friday night.

Davidson was 2-0 on the night, while freshman Chace VanDyke, and juniors Lucas Persun and Zaine Campbell won their opening-round matches but dropped their quarter-final matches.

Junior Brendan Cooke dropped his first match of the night, and senior Ryan Howard dropped both his matches.

At 172 pounds, Davidson opened the night with a 16-6 major decision win over Whitehall's James Hopkins in the round-of-16.

Davidson scored the initial takedown just 21 seconds into the bout, then recorded another takedown and had Hopkins on his back at the buzzer to take a 10-1 lead into the second period.

Davidson scored an escape and a takedown to lead 14-2 heading into the final two minutes.

In the quarterfinals, Davidson scored a takedown 26 seconds into the bout, and turned Hazleton Area's Jaxson Johnson to his back for a fall at 30 seconds.

Davidson, now 27-8, will face Southern Lehigh's Brock Frable (37-5) in the semifinals.

VanDyke, at 107 pounds, kicked off the night with a 16-1 technical fall of Kyle Phouansouvanh of the Academy at Palumbo.

VanDyke hit a seven-point move in the final eight seconds of the first period, and led 7-0 heading into the second period.

After adding a takedown in the second period to make it 10-0, VanDyke added a pair of takedowns, the second top finish of the technical fall at 5:02.

In the quarterfinals, Notre Dame-Green Pond's Maximus Quarry scored a five-point move midway through the first period, and finished off the fall of VanDyke at 1:24.

VanDyke (19-13) will face Pittston Area's David Krantz (35-9) in the second round of wrestlebacks.

Campbell, at 127 pounds, scored an 18-0 technical fall over Roman Catholic's Jayden Monroe in the opening round. He scored a pair of takedowns to take a 6-0 lead with 42 seconds remaining in the first period, then tacked on three sets of four near-fall points to close out the technical fall at 1:54.

In the quarterfinals, Campbell lost by fall to Bethlehem Catholic's Andre Cerrato in 2:18.

Campbell, now 22-8, will face Williamsport's Collin Nasdeo (17-8) in the second round of wrestlebacks Saturday.

Persun, at 133 pounds, scored a takedown midway through the first period, and another in the opening moments of the second period to take a 6-1 lead, then held on for a 6-4 win over Northampton's Matthew Sommer in the opening round.

In the quarterfinals, Persun lost via fall to Whitehall's Wilmont Kai in 2:24.

Persun, now 23-9, will face St. Joseph's Prep's Maddox Rosenblatt (31-13) in the second round of wrestlebacks.

After dropping a 13-2 major decision to Bethlehem Catholic's Conner Gillahan in the opening round, Cooke forged a major decision of his own in a 17-4 decision over Hezekiah Womack of Academy at Palumbo in the opening round of wrestlebacks.

Cooke, at 189 pounds, scored two takedowns in the first period to take a 6-1 lead, and two more in the second period to take a 12-3 lead into the final two minutes.

Cooke, now 26-7, will square off with Crestwood's Mariusz Bibla (36-9) in the second round of the consolation bracket.

Howard was 0-2 in the 160-pound weight class.

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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Connor Davidson. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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