Faith Christian’s Adam Waters and Bethlehem Catholic’s Keanu Dillard have an opportunity in March to join the PIAA’s short list of four-time state champions.
There are 14 on that chart, including only one from District 11: Catasauqua’s Matt Gerhard, who won at four weight classes from 1981-84.
Waters and Dillard top the list of the Lehigh Valley area’s top returning wrestlers based solely on what they have done leading up to this season.
There are six other returning state champions and five more who have reached a PIAA final.
Lehigh Valley’s top 10 wrestlers entering 2025-26
1. Sr. Adam Waters, Faith Christian: Three-time state champion has won his last 70 matches
2. Sr. Keanu Dillard, Bethlehem Catholic: Three-time state champion committed to Lehigh
3. Jr. Joe Bachmann, Faith Christian: Two-time state champion with an 85-2 record
4. Jr. Nick Singer, Faith Christian: Ohio State commit who won his first state title last season in his first year as a starter
5. So. Freddy Bachmann, Faith Christian: Iowa commit with 46-0 career record
6. Sr. Nick Salamone, Easton: Virginia commit; returning 3A state champion; three-time state medalist
7. Sr. Willmont Kai, Whitehall: Returning state 3A champion; three-time District 11, Northeast Regional medalist
8. Sr. Trey Wagner, Northampton: Air Force commit; 2024 state champion; three-time District 11 and Northeast Regional top-2 finisher
9. Jr. Gabe Ballard, Northampton: Lehigh commit; two-time state top-4 finisher; two-time District 11 and Northeast Regional top-2 finisher
10. Sr. Mark Effendian, Faith Christian: Princeton commit; two-time state 2A top-3 finisher; three-time District 1 and Southeast Regional finalist
Honorable mention (listed alphabetically): Emilio Albanese, Emmaus; Carter Chunko, Saucon Valley; Cade Campbell, Nazareth; Jack Campbell, Nazareth; Luke Fugazzotto, Northwestern Lehigh; Quinn McBride, Pennridge; Dominic Sumpolec, Notre Dame-GP; Cael Weidemoyer, Faith Christian; Brayden Wenrich, Northampton; Brayden Zuercher, Nazareth
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
