Between the endless hours of finetuning the big and little things, a switch to home schooling to prioritize his health and sound coaching from Central Mountain’s seasoned staff, Kunes went from a borderline state medalist as a sophomore to a PIAA finalist as a junior. With that jump, the Central Mountain junior earned this year’s honor of Express Wrestler of the Year, doing so within a stacked cast of talent.

“He’s been a whole new person this year compared to years past,” said Central Mountain wrestling head coach Biff Walizer when discussing Kunes during his states run. “Just his confidence, you can tell that he’s focused on a mission. He goes out and shows it every time he’s out there.”

As a sophomore, Kunes started 27-5 before seeing his postseason impacted by a knee injury and going 11-7 in his last 18 matches. Even in injury, that downfall weighed on him throughout the entire year that followed, and he never stopped using those shortcomings as motivation to reach new heights.

After falling in the Top Hat final to open the season, the Air Force commit proceeded to win 34 matches in a row from December to late February.

DAVE KENNEDY/For the Express Central Mountain’s Aiden Kunes lands a shot against Nazareth’s Jack Campbell during the 145-pound semifinals at the PIAA Wrestling Championships.

Regular-season golds that stuck out within that stretch came at King of the Mountain (32 teams), Ultimate Warrior (47 teams) and the Penn Manor Holiday Tournament (41) teams, and he also dominated his way to a PHAC title in Central Mountain’s first crack at the event.

Come time for postseason, that dominance remained.

In February, he took back his District 6 Class AAA crown and reached his first West Regional final. And at states, he fell one point short of reaching a final with nothing but bonus-point victories, with that one 8-1 decision coming against the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the state in Nazareth’s Jack Campbell.

Overall, Kunes blew his 12-loss sophomore campaign out the water, going 41-3 with 32 bonus-point victories, 17 pins and 12 tech falls. Of his 41 wins, 18 came against state-ranked wrestlers – six ranked No. 6 or higher – and 11 came against returning state qualifiers – four of which medaled in both 2025 and 2026.

With his states run, Kunes became the sixth Wildcat in five seasons to reach a PIAA final, keeping the program’s impressive five-year streak of finalists alive.

DAVE KENNEDY/For the Express Aiden Kunes of Central Mountain takes down Jack Campbell of Nazareth Area during the PIAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

All three of his losses on the season came to eventual state champion Kai Vielma (Connellsville). And considering his recent track record in building off shortcomings, the sky is the limit for Kunes as he shoots to become Central Mountain’s first state champion since 2023 as a senior.

Apart from Kunes, Bald Eagle senior Caden Judice, Bald Eagle junior Tanner Guenot and Penns Valley sophomore Max Dinges were also heavily considered for the award. The latter two join Kunes as immediate candidates for next year’s award, a trio of returning state finalists that headline a tremendous returning cast for the area.

BREAKOUT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Gabe Fisher, Jersey Shore

When discussing his team heading into the season, the first two names Jersey Shore wrestling head coach Tony Owens mentioned were returning District 4 champions Louden Spotts and Tobias Morgret. The next? Freshman Gabe Fisher.

While he endured his fair share of growing pains through his first season of high school wrestling, Fisher more than lived up to the hype when it was all said and done. After starting 4-5, he finished the regular season winning 23 of his last 26 bouts before carrying that momentum into a solid postseason.

At the District 4 Class AAA wrestling championships, Fisher made it three Bulldogs to finish on top of the podium, joining Spotts and Morgret as they defended their titles. He then reached championship semifinals at a stacked Northeast Regional, winning the first four postseason bouts of his high school career.

His postseason ultimately ended in heartbreaking fashion, as he fell one win and five points short of qualifying for states. But earning a regional medal in his first crack was commendable in its own right, one of many cogs that made him stand out among the area’s talented newcomers.

On top of his district title and sixth place showing at regionals, Fisher finished as a PHAC runner-up and placed seventh at the 29-team Turner Holiday Classic early in the season. He was the lone area freshman to surpass 30 wins with 31, closing with a record of 31-11, and rivaled Wrestler of the Year candidates in tech falls with 14 (second in the area).

His first-year success sets the stage for what should certainly be an exciting career for the Bulldog. Other freshmen considered for the award included Bellefonte’s Colin Harter and Central Mountain’s Angelo Tarantella.

MOST IMPROVED

Robert Martin, Penns Valley

Among a particularly improved group of area wrestlers, Robert Martin stood out above the rest. Motivated to make the most of his senior campaign and make it to Hershey for the first time in his career, the Ram put in the hard work over the offseason to ensure that happened. And the result was an impressive breakout to say the least.

Prior to the 2025-26 season, Martin put together two modest campaigns to kick off his varsity career, surpassing double-figure wins in both but never quite coming away with a District 6 medal. That changed in a big way this February, as he took fifth at the District 6 Class AA Wrestling Championships before going on to make it all the way to states.

“He’s put the time in over the offseason, doing freestyle with us and Greco here the last few years, and he’s reaping the rewards for it,” said Penns Valley head coach Joel Brinker on Martin after his run at districts.

As a senior, Martin surpassed his previous win total by 21, win rate by almost 15 percent and bonus-point win total by nine, finishing with a 36-21 record, a win rate of 63 percent and 22 bonus-point victories. Half of his wins came by pin, and he also came away with four major decisions, a testament to his offensive development.

On a deep dual roster, the Penns Valley senior matched his more proven teammates’ consistency, and by season’s end, he had accomplished a goal he’d been chasing for years. His 12-6 decision over state-ranked Tyson Grove (Everett) in the Southwest Regional’s second round clinched his top six finish, earning him a PIAA slot at 215.

Apart from Martin, a deep cast of area athletes were considered for this award. Central Mountain sophomores Hayes Donley, Todd Caris and Hayes Henry all took a large step forward from one season to the next, as well as Bellefonte junior Luke Hockenberry and Penns Valley junior Tripp Watson.

EXPRESS BOYS WRESTLING ALL-STARS (FIRST TEAM)

Colin Harter, Bellefonte

(107 pounds)

As a freshman, Colin Harter entered his first high school postseason dealing with an additional challenge. A leg injury suffered at Sharon Duals put his status in question and even when he was cleared, he was still forced to completely change up his style.

However, despite the obstacle, Harter managed to leave his mark. He took home bronze at the District 6 Class AAA Wrestling Championships to clinch a regional bid. And though he fell short of qualifying for states, he did manage to pick up a win at regionals – a first-period pin no less.

On the season, Harter capped things off with a 26-15 record, winning over 63 percent of his bouts with 22 of his 26 victories coming with bonus points and 12 coming by pin. He finished ranked in the state at 107 at No. 26 and showed he could hang with some of the state’s best time and time again, with only three of his losses featuring bonus points.

Of Bellefonte’s four regular-season tournaments, the freshman placed at three, most notably aiding in the team’s first place showing at Southern Tier Memorial by taking fourth. He’s the second Bellefonte freshman in two seasons to be considered for Newcomer of the Year, with Andrew Gall winning last year’s award.

Evan Lisowski, Penns Valley

(114 pounds)

Despite missing almost six weeks of action due to injury, Penns Valley sophomore Evan Lisowski still managed to leave his mark. He returned just in time for District Duals and hit the ground running, defeating a state-ranked opponent in his first bout back and carrying that success into his best individual postseason yet.

For the second straight season, Lisowski finished districts as a bronze medalist before taking a step forward two weeks later. His sixth place showing at the Southwest Class AA Regional was enough to clinch his first bid to states. And at the Giant Center, he opened by picking up his first PIAA win, defeating No. 13 Chase Smith (Hanover Area) by 6-4 decision.

On the season, Lisowski closed with a 22-8 record, career-high win rate of 73 percent and 16 bonus-point victories (nine pins). And though his regular season tournament catalog was slim, the one he competed in featured an impressive run, as he claimed silver at the 52-team Panther Holiday Classic in December.

Through two seasons, the Ram has racked up 52 wins, two District 6 bronze medals and has now experienced victory in front of the large Giant Center crowd. That sets up what should be an exciting second half of his career.

Max Dinges, Penns Valley

(121 pounds)

Coming off a bronze medal showing at states, Max Dinges had set the bar high when it came to building off his freshman campaign. However, that didn’t stop him from doing so anyway.

As a sophomore, Dinges got one step closer to becoming the first Penns Valley state champion in over 60 years, reaching the PIAA final at 121 and ultimately finishing as a state silver medalist. While he fell one win short of his primary goal, his season was a defining one for the area, one which warranted Wrestler of the Year contention.

Outside of his run at states, the Ram also finished as a District 6 and Southwest Regional runner-up, with all three of his postseason losses coming to the same wrestler in eventual state champ Keegan Bassett (Bishop McCort).

He earned titles at the Panther Holiday Classic and Fred Bell tournament and took silver at LHACs. And at one of the most anticipated national tournaments in Powerade, he earned silver, beating defending state champ Dom Deputy in the process.

Overall, Dinges closed out the season with a 46-5 record, win rate of 90 percent and 36 bonus point victories – including 15 pins and 13 tech falls. 21 of his victories came against state-ranked opponents – ten within the Top 15 and 11 featuring bonus points. And against 14 returning state qualifiers, he went 10-4.

Through two seasons, he has 93 wins and two top three finishes at states, having already produced one of the most storied careers in program history as just a sophomore. He heads into his junior campaign a primary candidate for next year’s Wrestler of the Year award.

Conner Myers, Penns Valley

(127 pounds)

After falling just short of two coveted milestones as a junior, Conner Myers managed to crack both in the run back. Years of consistent improvements led him to securing his first District 6 Class AA title as a senior. Then, he carried that momentum into regionals, taking fourth to punch his first ticket to Hershey.

With those accomplishments, the Penns Valley senior closed out his high school career on a high note. He even managed to pick up a win at the Giant Center, pinning No. 13 Carden Wagner (Montgomery) to extend his states run to Day 2.

Apart from the postseason, Myers also put together an impressive regular season. He took home a title at the 40-team Fred Bell Tournament, claimed silver at Southern Tier Memorial and at the Panther Holiday Classic, he defeated three returning state qualifiers in a row on his way to bronze.

On the season, Myers finished with a 37-9 record and career-best win rate of 80 percent. 30 of his 37 victories featured bonus points, including 21 pins. And he was notably consistent against top tier talent, going 6-7 against returning state qualifiers.

Career wise, he surpassed 100 wins, finishing his career with a 115-49 record, five postseason medals (three district, two regional) and 66 pins.

Tanner Guenot, Bald Eagle

(133 pounds)

Despite earning his second state medal in 2025, Bald Eagle junior Tanner Guenot entered the season unsatisfied. He knew he was capable of a higher placement than eighth and showed it and then some throughout his junior campaign.

After falling in a heartbreaking district final, Guenot proceeded to win seven postseason bouts in a row, avenging said loss to earn Southwest Regional gold and making it all the way to a state final. The streak ultimately fell one win of glory, but he had certainly proven himself, defeating the No. 2 and 3 ranked wrestlers in the state on his way to PIAA silver.

Prior to the postseason, Guenot showed signs of what was to come.

He ran a particularly difficult gauntlet featuring multiple state-medal candidates to take gold at Ultimate Warrior. That added to an impressive regular-season catalog, which featured runner-up showings at King of the Mountain (32 teams) and Trojans Wars (47 teams) and a bronze-medal showing at Mid-Winter Mayhem (57 teams).

The West Virginia commit surpassed 40 wins for a second straight season, finishing with a 44-5 record and win rate a few ticks short of 90 percent. Of those wins, 19 came against state-ranked opponents – 11 within the Top 10 – and 73 percent featured bonus points, with Guenot amassing 17 pins, seven tech falls and eight major decisions.

From a career standpoint, Guenot stands the same number of wins short of the Bald Eagle wins record heading into his senior campaign, a factor that adds what should be an exciting season as he pursues a state title. Alongside Kunes and Dinges, he’s a very early candidate for next year’s Wrestler of the Year award.

Tripp Watson, Penns Valley

(139 pounds)

After breaking out with 31 wins as a sophomore, Tripp Watson took things a step – or a few steps – further in the run back. He manged to build on every facet, warranting Most Improved consideration and earning a spot on this year’s all-star team.

His claim to fame was his Southwest Regional run, which saw him go from a non-placer as a sophomore to a runner-up as a junior. In that run, Watson scraped out three tough wins over state-ranked opponents, including a two-tiebreaker thriller against three-time state qualifier Mason Wright.

While his run at states ended abruptly, the Ram put together his stronger postseason by far.

He earned his first regional medal, made states for the first time and posted his highest placement at districts in bronze. That climb was hinted at with his runner-up showing at Southern Tier Memorial as well, highlighting a regular season that also included placements at the Panther Holiday Classic and Fred Bell Tournament.

On the season, Watson finished with a 40-15 record and won 73 percent of his matches, a 10 percent bump-up compared to his sophomore season. He finished with career highs in bonus-point victories (31) and pins (22) and was considerably consistent amidst a strong dual season for the team.

Heading into his senior season, he stands just 17 wins away from 100. Back-to-back jumps hint at a continued climb, as he looks to build on his PIAA debut.

Caden Judice, Bald Eagle

(145 pounds)

While his fourth place showing at states fell short compared to the area’s three state finalists, context warranted Caden Judice’s inclusion in Wrestler of the Year talks. For the second straight season, he took on the toughest weight class Pennsylvania had to offer. And by season’s end, he had shown what he was truly capable of.

In the final match of his high school career, Judice went toe-to-toe with Bishop McDevitt’s Greyson Music, falling one takedown short of sudden victory against the No. 7 ranked wrestler in the country. He defeated two returning state medalists to get to that bronze medal match, majoring Matthew Santoro to kick off the event’s Day 3.

Of his four postseason losses, all four came against wrestlers that were nationally ranked inside the Top 10, two being to arguably the best wrestler in PIAA history in Bishop McCort’s Bo Bassett. Alongside his PIAA fourth, he finished as a District 6 and Southwest Regional runner-up, edging out two-time state medalist Josef Garshnick in both runs.

Regular season wise, Judice had a similarly impressive track record, earning titles at stacked tournaments in King of the Mountain (32 teams) and Ultimate Warrior (47 teams) and bronze at LHACs and Mid-Winter Mayhem (57 teams).

Of his three seasons wrestling in Pennsylvania, none were more complete than the last. He finished with a 47-8 record, a win rate above 85 percent and 34 bonus-point victories, including an area-high 15 tech falls. 17 of his wins came against state-ranked opponents – eight within the Top 10 – and 11 were over returning state qualifiers.

The Lock Haven commit heads into his next chapter having already accomplished a lot. He won a Louisiana state champion as a freshman, took home three PIAA medalists and plenty of other hardware and finished with a career record of 175-33 (128-26 in PIAA).

Ezra Swisher, Bellefonte

(152 pounds)

While it certainly didn’t end the way he wanted it to, Bellefonte senior Ezra Swisher still put together one of the most decorated stints in program history when it was all said and done. Since breaking out for 32 wins as a freshman, he’s remained one of the most consistent wrestlers in the area, as well as becoming one of its winningnest.

In postseason, Swisher bounced back from a tough District 6 final, gritting out a bronze-medal placement at the West Regional – the highest placement of his career. He picked up two wins at states, finishing his career with five, and ultimately fell just two points short of a second medal.

Outside of postseason, Swisher placed at every tournament he competed at, taking silver at LHACs and Southern Tier Memorial and fourth at King of the Mountain.

Swisher surpassed 40 wins for a third straight season, finishing with a 40-12 record and winning 77 percent of his matches. He went 14-10 against state-ranked opponents, notably going 1-1 against Wrestler of the Year candidate Caden Judice, and racked up 30 bonus-point wins and 17 pins.

Even in heartbreak, Swisher had an incredible career. He finished second all time in program wins with 155, earned four district and three regional medals, made it to states thrice, taking eighth as a junior.

Tobias Morgret, Jersey Shore

(160 pounds)

After breaking out at the start of Jersey Shore’s new era, Tobias Morgret managed to build on that success the following season. As a junior, he defended his District 4 title and surpassed 30 wins, factors which earned him a spot on this year’s all-star team.

While his state prospects were halted two wins short, he managed to get one step closer to the coveted feat, finishing his second stint at the stacked Northeast Regional going 2-2. And at PHACs in January, he went 3-2 to finish fourth in the league at 160.

On the season, Morgret finished with a 30-12 record, blowing his previous win rate out of the water by winning over 71 percent of his matches. Of his 30 wins, a staggering 27 came with bonus points, as he racked up 12 pins, five tech falls and six major decisions.

Heading into his senior season, the Bulldog stands 35 wins away from 100, a lofty but surmountable number that could be achieved with an additional jump. He’s a two-time District 4 Class AAA champion and a big reason Shore’s midweight group will be one of the deepest in the area in 2027, with returning state qualifier Louden Spotts also set to return.

Brayden Lisowski, Penns Valley

(172 pounds)

After years of regional hardships, Penns Valley senior Brayden Lisowski entered his final push at states harboring an injury suffered in the team’s last regular-season tournament. Not being 100 percent, he proceeded o put together his best postseason despite the obstacle.

At districts, Lisowski upset returning state qualifier Rocco Reifer to reach his second straight district title, going on to earn District 6 silver before carrying that momentum forward. And at regionals, he left little room for question when it came to extending his season, going 2-0 on Day One to clinch his first PIAA bid and finishing in fourth.

He’d close out his season by joining teammate Erik Carlile in the blood round at states. Though he fell one with short of a state medal, Lisowski closed out his high school career on a high note, accomplishing a dream he’d been chasing for years.

On the season, Lisowski finished with a 31-12 record and win rate of just above 72 percent. Of his 31 wins, 23 featured bonus points, including 15 pins, three tech falls and four major decisions.

His successful postseason came with the added bonus of him surpassing 100 career wins, as he wrapped up his career with a 106-47 record, four District 6 and Southwest Regional medals and one appearance at states. He heads into his next chapter at Clarion with plenty to be proud of and will be sorely missed at Penns Valley.

Jackson Long, Bellefonte

(189 pounds)

Coming off a gut-wrenching postseason, Bellefonte senior Jackson Long entered the offseason motivated and regular season improved in all facets. The result was a last hoorah that saw him check two huge boxes, boxes which he fell one win short of as a junior.

At districts, he ran the table to earn his first District 6 title, sharing the honor with his brother, Wyatt, who took gold at 139. And one week later, he was celebrating the next milestone, as he went 4-2 to take fourth at the West Regional and clinch his first PIAA bid.

Ultimately, Long fell two wins short of his third goal – a state medal. But he did manage to pick up a victory at the Giant Center, which helped him surpass 40 wins for the first time.

Outside of postseason, Long also claimed silver at King of the Mountain and took fourth at LHACs. That King of the Mountain run was particularly impressive, featuring upsets over returning state medalist Tyler Ulrich and eventual state medalist Jayden Imler.

On the season, Long closed things out with a 40-9 record, good for a career high in wins and win rate (81 percent). He also posted career highs in bonus-point victories (32) and pins (19). And amidst a strong dual season for the Red Raiders, he never dropped a bout.

With a pin at Powerade, Long surpassed 100 career wins. He wrapped up his career with a 126-46 record, 63 pins, four district medals, three regional medals and one appearance at states, and will be sorely missed at Bellefonte.

Luke Hockenberry, Bellefonte

(215 pounds)

After improving considerably from his freshman to sophomore season, Luke Hockenberry’s next jump was arguably bigger than the first. As a junior, he went from being on the cusp of a state ranking to consistently within the top ten, breaking out as one of the area’s top wrestlers overall.

At districts, he pinned his way all the way to a title and regional bid, both of which were the first of his career. And though his regional run ended in disappointing fashion, as he fell one win short from states, he went toe-to-toe with returning state finalist Cooper Roscosky and eventual state medalist Brayden Collins within that run.

Outside of postseason, Hockenberry put together a strong tournament resume, placing at every regular-season tournament the Red Raiders competed at. He claimed silver at King of the Mountain and LHACs, bronze at Southern Tier Memorial and was the only Bellefonte wrestler to place at Powerade, where he took eighth.

On the season, the Bellefonte junior finished with a 40-9 record and win rate above 81 percent. From his career-high 40 wins, other career highs that were eclipsed included bonus-point victories (31), pins (18) and tech falls (seven).

Heading into his senior season, Hockenberry stands just five wins away from 100 in his career. Every campaign has featured a tremendous jump from one to the next, so it’ll be interesting to see how far he can climb.

Gage Gardner,

Bald Eagle

(285 pounds)

A season-ending injury in 2025 held Gage Gardner back from glory in a lot of ways. But even amidst the shortcomings, he never stopped pushing himself, checking multiple new boxes as a senior.

At the District 6 Class AA Wrestling Championships, Gardner posted the highest placement of his career in fourth, qualifying for the first regional tournament since his freshman season. And while he fell one win short of states, he closed out his career by earning his first regional medal in eighth.

Outside of postseason, Gardner claimed bronze at LHACs and put together an impressive run at King of the Mountain, upsetting eventual state qualifier Noah Johnson on his way to fourth. He finished with 29 wins for a second straight campaign and elapsed a new career high in pins with 18.

Through four seasons with the Eagles, he finished with a career record of 98-55, winning over 64 percent of his matches while racking up 46 pins. He’ll be sorely missed for both his impact on the mat and overall leadership.

SECOND TEAM

107: Hunter Nace, Central Mountain; 114: Angelo Tarantella, Central Mountain; 121: Gabe Fisher, Jersey Shore; 127: Gavin Heverly, Central Mountain; 133: Erik Carlile, Penns Valley; 139: Wyatt Long, Bellefonte; 145: Andrew Gall, Bellefonte; 152: Dawson Lomison, Bald Eagle; 160: Dalton McDermott, Central Mountain; 172: Mario Serafini, Central Mountain; 189: Hunter Donley, Central Mountain; 215: Robert Martin, Penns Valley; 285: Hayes Henry, Central Mountain.