SPRING GROVE — Chambersburg continued its strong wrestling campaign on Friday on the first day of the District 3 Class 3A Wrestling Championships, putting three into the semifinals.

Luke Mentzer (127 pounds), Aiden Hight (189) and Zack Evans (215) each had two dominant bouts and will wrestle Saturday morning in the semifinals at Spring Grove H.S.

Aiden Hight

After the first day, the Trojans sit in third place in the team standings behind Central Dauphin and Gettysburg. Chambersburg had 10 pins for the day.

“Our kids wrestled hard,” Trojan coach Matt Mentzer said. “They’ve done it all year and have earned their stripes. They came out and wrestled hard the entire match. All three of the kids who won twice controlled their matches well.”

Shippensburg also has a semifinalist, and he’s not a surprise. Dominic Frontino had a quick pin and a technical fall to advance at 160. The quarterfinal win was the 100th victory of Frontino’s career.

Luke Mentzer, after scoring a pin in 1:44 over Mason Harvey of Red Lion in the first round, put a 9-1 major decision over Barrett Keiffer of Manheim Central on the board in the quarterfinals.

Mentzer hit for two slick takedowns right at the edge of the mat, one in each of the first two periods to take control. He also rode Keiffer for the vast majority of the bout.

“You do try to get a pin, but you can’t put yourself in danger to do it,” Mentzer said. “In that second match, if I can’t get to my bars, and he keeps a good base, it’s pretty had to turn him.”

Mentzer (32-6) takes on Tyler Adams of York Suburban (32-2) in the semifinals.

Hight (27-8) did not waste much time in notching a pair of pins at 189, decking Aiden Grim of Dallastown in 1:48 and Levi Bearinger of Cocalico in 1:12.

“I was hoping for some quick pins, just to get them over with,” Hight said. “I was confident. But I’ve got some really tough matches tomorrow.”

That starts with a semifinal vs. Tucker Hogan of Daniel Boone (38-0), the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the state.

“I know he’s a hammer on top, so I’ll try to stay off bottom and hope to score from my feet,” Hight said.

Evans had a difficult time with Tucker Bellanca of Muhlenberg in his first match, but he still led 10-3 after one period. Bellanca had closed the gap by late in the match, but Evans took him down to his back for a fall in 5:59.

“He was ranked in the top four or five in the district all year, but then got fourth in sectionals,” Evans said. “I knew I had to beat one of the best. I was only about 50% (healthwise) last week, but I’m maybe 85-90% this week.”

In his second match, Evans stuck Tyler Quinter of Milton Hershey in 1:22. Evans (39-7) will take on Ryan McMillan of Wilson (44-6) in the semifinals.

Chambersburg’s Zach Sherman (114), Rylan Carter (121), Tyler Frye (145) and Avery Kuhns (285) each won in the first round and were defeated in the quarterfinals.

Sherman, Frye and Kuhns then won consolation bouts to advance to Saturday and are alive for places.

Frontino (30-1) matches up with Mike Beers of Central Dauphin (41-11) in the semifinals.

The Greyhounds’ Diesel Koser won in the first round, was handled 8-0 by unbeaten Jose Garcia of McCaskey in the quarters, and then won his first consolation bout, so he can still place.

NOTES: Franklin County wrestlers went 11-7 in the first round, and 4-7 in the quarterfinals … Central Dauphin has 61 points, Gettysburg 54 and the Trojans 53 after the first day.

District 3 Class 3A Wrestling
Friday’s Area Results
FIRST ROUND
107 — Ashton Kriss (Elco) d Ben Hoover (Chbg), 7-3
114 — Zach Sherman (Chbg) p Eli Leiphart (Dover), 2:55
121 — Rylan Carter (Chbg) p Zane Trostle (Elco), 3:42
127 — Luke Mentzer (Chbg) p Mason Harvey (Red Lion), 1:44
133 — Jayden Rooney (Way) md Nathan Thomas (Elizabethtown), 10-2
145 — Tyler Frye (Chbg) d Bryn Hess (Warwick), 6-3; Braden Edwards (Hempfield) p Eddie Alcantara (Ship), 1:11
152 — Garrett Lowans (Way) md Landon Eberly (Cocalico), 12-3
160 — Dominic Frontino (Ship) p Finn Strauss (Exeter), 1:51; Luke Needham (Conestoga Valley) d Nathan Brake (JB), 6-0
172 — Collin Neal (Boiling Springs) d Titus Mong (Way), 10-4; Isaiah Feeney (Dallastown) p John Gleason (Ship), 2:59
189 — Aiden Hight (Chbg) p Aiden Grim (Dallastown), 1:48; Cole Bartram (Northern) p Caden Shockey (Way), 1:42
215 — Zach Evans (Chbg) p Tucker Bellanca (Muhlenberg), 5:59; Diesel Koser (Ship) d Kyle Miller (Elco), 2-0
285 — Avery Kuhns (Chbg) p Ethan Nelson (Red Lion), 2:40
QUARTERFINALS
114 — Kaedyn Williams (Manheim Twp.) p Sherman (Chbg), 1:27
121 — Marco Tocci (Warwick) d Carter (Chbg), 11-7
127 — Mentzer (Chbg) md Barrett Keiffer (Manheim Central), 9-1
133 — Rocco Fratelli (Northern) md Rooney (Way), 10-2
145 — Aiden Swann (Cocalico) p Frye (Chbg), 2:50
152 — Gabe Belga (Cumberland Valley) md Lowans (Way), 13-4
160 — Frontino (Ship) tf Christian Burd (Hershey), 17-2, 5:19
189 — Aiden Hight (Chbg) p Levi Bearinger (Cocalico), 1:12
215 — Zach Evans (Chbg) p Tyler Quinter (Milton Hershey), 1:22; Jose Garcia (McCaskey) md Koser (Ship), 8-0
285 — Nicholai Brotzman (Donegal) d Kuhns (Chbg), 10-7

CONSOLATIONS
First Round
107 — Caden Rutt (Solanco) d Hoover (Chbg), 8-4
145 — Alcantara (Ship) md Brett Marchiano (Daniel Boone), 11-1
160 — Brake (JB) p Lane Johnson (New Oxford), 4:30
172 — Khyre Inmen (Daniel Boone) d Gleason (Ship), 5-1; Brodie Daugherty (Manheim Central) p Mong (Way), 4:22
189 — Blake Weaver (Garden Spot) d Shockey (Way), 6-1
Second Round
114 — Sherman (Chbg) p Omar Vargas (Conestoga Valley), 2:13
121 — Jackson Orrell (Red Lion) d Carter (Chbg), 4-3
133 — Jacob Grzybek (Twin Valley) d Rooney (Way), 8-2
145 — Frye (Chbg) d Matteo Garcia (Wilson), 9-3
152 — Ruben Mumper (DOnegal) d Lowans (Way), 8-5
160 — Burd (Hershey) d Brake (JB), 1-0
215 — Koser (Ship) d Bellanca (Muhlenberg), 7-0
285 — Kuhns (Chbg) p Micah Smith (New Oxford), 4:53