Pennsylvania
Local Media in Pennsylvania Ho-Hum on Zelensky Ammo Plant Visit
A high-profile visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to an artillery shell production facility in the do-or-die US election battleground state of Pennsylvania was a medium-grade news item in Keystone state media. Some outlets shoved the Ukrainian leader in news feeds crammed with information about weather, crime, sports and entertainment, while others just ignored his presence in the state entirely.
According to recent polls Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, an advocate of strong US military support to Ukraine, is locked in a near dead-heat with former President Donald Trump, who supports Ukrainian concessions to Russia and reduced US involvement in European conflicts. Both parties’ leadership have deemed Pennsylvania, with 19 electoral college votes and voters almost 50/50 on the candidates, as a must-win state.
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In Ukraine, Zelensky’s Monday tour of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, his first major media event during a planned five-day US trip for meetings on war-fighting policy with DC leadership, and later a speech at the UN, topped national news in his home country.
Major Ukrainian media flooded airwaves and websites with images of Zelensky shaking hands and patting shoulders with shop workers. Details about thousands more American 155mm shells possibly reaching Ukrainian battlefields dominated and usually led evening news reports during a busy Monday that saw a Russian glider bomb hit the city of Zaporizhzhia and injure civilians for the second time in 48 hours, the invasion of Russia by an elite Ukrainian assault infantry brigade widening Kyiv’s incursion in Russia’s Kursk region, and a Kremlin decision to de-crew Russia’s only aircraft carrier and convert hundreds of unlucky sailors into infantrymen.
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In Pennsylvania, on Monday, some news platforms limited coverage of Zelensky’s presence in Scranton to the Associated Press (AP) wire service story and one or two photographs. The Pittsburg Post-Gazette headlined “Ukraine’s Zelensky visits Pennsylvania ammunition plant to thank workers.”
The AP article itself laid out numbers about Scranton shell production, quoted a pair of local residents stating they support increased US ammunition support to Ukraine, but made reference neither to Trump nor the election.
A few outlets went the extra mile. ABC affiliate Action News 6 in Philadelphia offered viewers both the AP article and a 20-second video. CBS Harrisburg affiliate Local21 News published not only the AP article on the day of the visit, but a heads-up to readers two days prior to Zelensky’s arrival.
WWIA Radio, the local PBS/NPR affiliate, deployed reporter Borys Krawczeniuk to Scranton and the factory entrance, where he interviewed Zelensky supporters, snapped photos of citizens standing with blue-yellow Ukrainian flags, and watched a massive US-Ukrainian official motorcade roll past the plant’s guarded entrance.
Probably the most thorough coverage in all Pennsylvania, Kyiv Post researchers found, was in the Times Leader, a publication delivering news to northeastern Pennsylvania, Luzerne County and specifically Scranton for more than a century. Zelensky’s visit to the munitions plant led the Times Leader’s Monday daily news roundup, and reporter/columnist Bill O’Boyle in a 590-word article quoted Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) position on Ukraine in detail.
“Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American freedom – and our Commonwealth proudly stands with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom against naked aggression. I’m proud to welcome President Zelensky and his delegation to Scranton – to visit with the women and men who are fueling his country’s fight for freedom,” Shapiro said. His social media feeds showed him signing a 155mm shell with a patriotic slogan.
O’Boyle went on to inform readers that a Pennsylvania National Guard unit deployed in September to Germany to help train Ukrainian soldiers, and that Shapiro’s office had just signed a cooperation agreement with Ukraine’s industrial Zaporizhzhia region to help Pennsylvania businesses assist Ukraine with rebuilding after the war.
But some major Pennsylvania news outlets did not report the Scranton visit at all, Kyiv Post researchers found. Typical was the Pittsburg Tribune-Review, one of two major newspapers serving Pennsylvania’s biggest city, whose most recent searchable reporting on Ukraine, of any kind, was a three-week-old article on US technicians planning to help investigate the loss of a Denmark-donated F-16 fighter jet in combat in Ukraine.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania’s most widely read newspaper and one of the oldest news publications in the US, did not report the Zelensky visit either. That paper’s most recent reference to the Russo-Ukrainian War in context with US elections was printed on Sept. 20, in an opinion piece by columnist Trudy Rubin calling on the Biden/Harris administration to green light use by Kyiv of long-range American weapons against targets in Russia, and calling Trump an appeaser of dictators.
On Sept. 24 Rubin in another opinion piece praised Vice President Kamala Harris for respecting the voting weight of Pennsylvania’s 700,000-member Polish-American community.
The Keystone Newsroom, a local web-based outfit focusing on delivering weighted news and analysis to people unlikely to be willing to negotiate mainstream media paywall (“Pennsylvania News You Can Use”) in a Sept. 23 piece, mentioned neither Zelensky nor Scranton, but reported in detail on an endorsement Harris had just received from the Polish-American activist group Pennsylvania Polonia.
“Trump bowed to dictators like Putin before and he will do it again if he is reelected… The last presidential election in Pennsylvania was decided by just 80,000 votes, which is why we are calling on our friends and neighbors to cast their votes for the leaders who will maintain alliances that make our world safer, expand our freedoms here at home, and protect the American dream for us all,” the endorsement said in part.
The article points out that 800,000 Pennsylvania residents have Polish backgrounds. The Pennsylvania Polonia endorsement argues that since Pennsylvania is one of the most critical swing states, if not the most critical, in upcoming Presidential elections, Pennsylvania’s Polish-Americans can and should become Harris’ victory margin in the Keystone state.
The influential Philadelphia Inquirer on Sept. 11 seemed to see the numbers and voting groups much the same way, praising Harris for mentioning Pennsylvania’s Polish-American residents by name during debate with Trump and her telling him she thought Pennsylvanians are opposed to appeasing the Kremlin. The Inquirer called it a “shout-out on the national debate stage… (to) a group that is consistently civically engaged.”
Political reporter Nick Field in a Sept. 23 editorial in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star on voter trends in the state said that falling Democratic voter registration in central regions of the state might play to Trump’s advantage, but, the former President’s stance on Ukraine could damage his election chances even more.
“With Scranton Joe [Biden] off of the ballot, Trump has a unique opportunity to pick up votes throughout this region, especially in Lackawanna [county]. However, there remains a danger that the Trump/Vance team’s hostility to Ukraine could hurt them in the heavily Ukrainian-American rural areas out here,” Field wrote.
Is Pennsylvania the most wrestling-centric state in the country? Does the Keystone State have the most talent? Or even the top talent? Is it harder to win a state title there than anywhere else?
These all are terrific questions, and the answers may vary depending on who you ask and where they’re from, much like our nation’s great pizza debate, where the answers will vary by region.
What we do know for sure, is that Pennsylvania is well-represented in the 2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings, but with the 2026 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships on the horizon, where do the competitors rank amongst their peers?
If you follow high school wrestling, you’ve probably already heard many of the names, whether it was at past PIAA events, national tournaments, international competition, college recruiting news or signings, etc.
Now, here they are listed by weight class in FloWrestling’s latest Pennsylvania-only rankings.
Among the most recognizable are Bishop McCort senior Bo Bassett (152 pounds), his brother and teammate Melvin Miller (172 pounds) and Adam Waters (189 pounds) from rival school Faith Christian Academy.
As you get ready to see who takes home the titles at the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships, set for March 5-7 at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, here’s a look at where everyone falls in the pecking order:
What Are The Weight Classes For High School Wrestling In Pennsylvania?
- Boys: 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285
- Girls: 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235
Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA State Championships
As of Feb. 22, 2026
Boys
Girls
When Are The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships?
The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-7, live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.
The first girls wrestling champions in PIAA action were determined in 2024.
The road back to GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, began with regional competition across 12 sites (eight boys, four girls) in February (Feb. 20-21; Feb. 22; Feb. 27-28; Feb. 28)
Among the highlights at the 2025 event was Bassett winning his second individual PIAA state championship and helping Bishop McCort to a Class AA runner-up finish behind Faith Christian.
Read more: 2025 PIAA Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets
How To Watch The 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships
Live coverage of the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships on March 5-7 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.
Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.
If you’re going to be in the area and want to catch the action in person, click here for spectator and ticket information.
Read more: 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule & Brackets
2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Brackets
Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships:
2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule
Here’s a look at when everything is going down:
All Times Eastern
Wednesday, March 4
- 4-7 p.m. – Media registration
- 4-7 p.m. – School registration (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 4-7 p.m. – Qualifying wrestlers’ workout (AA/Girls/AAA) (six mats)
- 6 p.m. – Officials’ meeting
Thursday, March 5 (Session 1)
- 7:30 a.m. – Media registration
- 7:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
- 7:30 a.m. – Late school registration (AA)
- 7:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
- 8 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
- 9 a.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AA), six mats (52/104 matches)
- 12:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (AA), six mats
- 12:30 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
- 12:30 p.m. – Late school registration (Girls)
- 12:45 p.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
- 1 p.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
- 2 p.m. – First round (Girls), six mats (104 matches)
- 3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
- 3 p.m. – Late school registration (AAA)
- 3:15 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
- 3:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
- 3:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
- 4:30 p.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AAA), six mats (52/104 matches)
- 8 p.m. – First-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)
Friday, March 6 (Session 2/Session 3)
- 6:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
- 6:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
- 7 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
- 8 a.m. – Quarterfinals (AA), three mats (52 matches)
- 8 a.m. – Second-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
- 10:15 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
- 10:30 a.m. – Third-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
- 10:30 a.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
- 10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
- 11:45 a.m. – Quarterfinals (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
- 12:45 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
- 1 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
- 1:15 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
- 1:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
- 2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinals (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
- 2:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
- 4:45 p.m. – Third-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)
- 6:15 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 7 p.m. – Semifinals (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (26/26/26 matches)
- 9 p.m. – Fourth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
- 9 p.m. – Third-round consolations (Girls), two mats (26 matches)
Saturday, March 7 (Session 4/Session 5)
- 8 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 8:15 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 8:30 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 8:45 a.m. – Skin condition check, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 9 a.m. – Weigh-in, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 9:30 a.m. – Fifth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
- 9:30 a.m. – Fourth-round consolations (Girls), 2 mats (26 matches)
- 11:30 a.m. – Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (39/39/39 matches)
- 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 3:40 p.m. – Parade of Champions (AA/Girls/AAA)
- 4 p.m. – Championship Finals (AA/Girls/AAA), 1/1/1 mats (13/13/13 matches)
When Was The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships?
The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships took place Feb. 6-7 at the 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and included 20 teams that survived the preliminary and first round of the tournament, which was held Feb. 3 at host schools across the state.
The advancing teams made their way to Johnstown for two more days of intense competition, with the 1st Summit Arena hosting the quarterfinals through the championship matches.
In Pennsylvania this year, there were 475 schools participating in boys wrestling.
They were divided into two classifications – 228 schools in AA and 247 schools in AAA – which are further split into 12 districts. Class AA is for schools with 1-308 male enrollees, and Class AAA wrestling includes schools with 309-9999 male students.
Read more: 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships Schedule & Brackets
Did You Know: PIAA Wrestling Has A Long History
The first state wrestling championships in Keystone State happened in 1938, while the girls were added to the action in 2024. The PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships debuted in 1999.
There are 14 four-time individual state champions in Pennsylvania. Another 30 have won three times.
2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings
Top 20 as of Feb. 18, 2026
Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?
Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.
FULL DUAL: Bishop McCort vs. Faith Christian | 2026 PIAA AA Team State Finals
Faith Christian has been dominant in team wrestling in Pennsylvania, and Bishop McCort keeps falling just short.
Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling
Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform.
Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.
This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.
FloWrestling Archived Footage
Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.
Join The State Wrestling Conversation On Social
A man has been cited after police said he drove a vehicle into a frozen pond at a country club in Pennsylvania, left the scene, then spent the night in a hotel.
According to the East Lampeter Township Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, around 10:38 a.m., officers were called to the Lancaster Country Club after receiving reports about a vehicle in a pond.
Police said that, through an investigation, it was learned that Sung Chun, a 50-year-old man from Hoboken, New Jersey, had driven onto the property the day before around 8:30 p.m., crossed portions of the golf course, and ultimately ended up in a pond.
Chun then exited the vehicle and walked away without reporting the incident and spent the night at a nearby hotel, according to police.
Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department
Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department
Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department
Police said Chun returned to the location while police were on scene investigating the incident and was ultimately cited with “Trespass by Motor Vehicle.”
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