Not that it's set in stone, but the stage is set for Exeter senior Austin DeSanto to get his year-long awaited rematch with one of the best wrestlers in state history, Franklin Regional senior Spencer Lee.

DeSanto (49-0) and Lee (32-0) are on opposite sides of Class 3A 126-pound bracket and wouldn't wrestle each other in the PIAA Wrestling Championships until the final Saturday night.

Each will have to win three bouts against high-caliber opponents before they would meet in the three-day tournament that starts Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Giant Center with the Class 2A preliminary round.

DeSanto was 50-0 last year until losing in 120-pound championship bout by a second-period technical fall to Lee, who won his third state title.

DeSanto is one of nine Berks wrestlers who will be joined by 12 wrestlers from the Tri-County area in the 3A tournament, which begins Thursday at 4 p.m.

DeSanto's chances of winning a state title diminished when he dropped from 132 to 126 to get another shot at Lee. Before he can wrestle Lee again, DeSanto may have to defeat Boyertown two-time state medalist Jakob Campbell (35-4) in the semifinals.

Campbell is one of six Boyertown wrestlers to qualify for the state tournament.

Most other Berks wrestlers also have roadblocks in their way to winning a state title, many before the finals.

Exeter senior Tyler Bagoly (35-3) has won 26 straight bouts and hasn't lost since Dec. 30. But Bagoly could face a major obstacle in the semifinals in returning champion Michael Labriola (39-0) of Bethlehem Catholic.

"Mikey Labriola is a real hammer," Bagoly said. "He's ranked No. 1 in the country. He beat me over the summer pretty well. I just have to battle against him."

Also at 170, in the other half of the bracket are Wilson's Tommy O'Brien (30-5) and Pottsgrove's Ryan Finn (31-4).

Check out a video of this story on WFMZ..

Exeter Sending 3 to Hershey - WFMZ

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