Milheim headlines HAC-III returnees

Warrior Run senior Reagan Milheim has a chance to accomplish something that not many wrestlers in the state have been able to do.

Milheim has made it to the state final three times — winning one as a sophomore — and is looking to end his career on the top of the podium once again.

Milheim isn’t the only wrestler from the Heartland Athletic Conference-Division III who’s looking for state gold. Each of the four area schools in the division is returning at least one state qualifier.

Like last season, Warrior Run will have a small roster with 10 wrestlers, but the Defenders are poised to make some noise once the individual postseason rolls around. The Defenders were runners-up in the District 4 and Northeast Regional Class 2A tournaments last season.

Milheim, who will join his two older brothers at American next year, is coming off an 11-2 loss to Bishop McCort’s Melvin Miller in the 160-pound final last season. Milheim received a bonus-point loss for the first time in his career and entered the state final with 50 consecutive wins.

The senior has a career record of 143-9, and is six wins away from becoming the program’s all-time wins leader. Zackery LeBarron is the current record-holder with 148 wins.

Milheim was one of three Defenders to find the medal stand at Hershey last season. Max Wirnsberger, a California Baptist recruit, finished fifth at 172 for his second career medal while Seton Hill pledge Tyler Ulrich placed seventh at 189 for his first state medal.

Wirnsberger’s younger brother, Chase, qualified for states as a freshman at 114. Chase Wirnsberger will compete at 133 and 139 this year. The Defenders are also bringing back regional qualifier Noah Johnson at heavyweight. Warrior Run graduated two-time regional qualifier Isaiah Betz.

Southern Columbia had three wrestlers compete at Hershey last year, and the Tigers are bringing back two of them. Although Jude Bremigen graduated after finishing eighth at 215, the Tigers return state qualifiers Rowen Humphrey and Brayden Andrews.

The Tigers are also bringing back regional qualifier Braylin Smith at 285, and district qualifiers Caius Morrow, Gavin Brown and Kaden Zachman. Freshman Gavin Richard will also look to make an impact after finishing fourth in the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling championships last year.

Southern won the District 4 Class 2A South Sectional title after sending nine wrestlers to districts last year.

Mifflinburg sent four wrestlers to states last year, and all of them are coming back. Two Wildcats, Bradley Wagner (127) and Ben Straub (133), found the medal stand. Wagner, who recently committed to Bucknell, finished sixth for his second medal in as many years. Straub collected his first career medal after finishing seventh.

Mifflinburg’s two other state qualifiers were Lane Kenamond (139) and Landon Tucker (215). The Wildcats are also bringing back regional qualifiers Jack Gramly and Landon Moser, and district qualifier Wesley Smith.

Mifflinburg finished fourth in the Northeast Regional standings, finishing behind Montoursville, Warrior Run and Towanda. The Wildcats were also one match away from qualifying for the PIAA dual tournament after losing to Montgomery in the third-place match.

Lewisburg is returning its long state qualifier in Landen Wagner. Wagner earned eighth at 152 to become the program’s first state-medalist since his older brother, Kaiden, took bronze at 145 in 2022. Landen Wagner, a senior, will compete at 160 this season.

The Green Dragons are also bringing back two-time regional qualifier Landon Michaels (139) and two-time district qualifier Nolan Altoft (133). Lewisburg coach Justin Michaels also expects Ethan Long (172) and Lennon Barner (189) to be key contributors as well. Lewisburg will have to replace four-time regional qualifier Chase Wenrich, who wrestled at states as a sophomore in 2023.

Bloomsburg, Hughesville and Loyalsock will also compete in the HAC-III.