HERSHEY -- Brayden Wenrich, like many other returning state runners-up, is motivated by last year's silver medal.
"I'm on edge because of last year," the Northampton sophomore said. "I'm ready to go for 4 p.m. tomorrow. Hopefully, I can right the wrong from last year."
Wenrich took care of business with three workmanlike victories, including an 8-1 decision over Council Rock South's John Segata in Friday night's 114-pound semifinals. He'll face Hazleton Area sophomore Gabe Benyo in Saturday final which is a rematch of last Saturday's Northeast Regional final.
"I think I let the moment get to me," Wenrich said of last year's state finals loss. "Hopefully, I can use that to my advantage this time. My first match is the hardest because you're trying to beat mental game of coming back to Hershey.
"Once I got that first match, I felt pretty confident coming into today."
Emmaus' Emilio Albanese (127) and Northampton teammate Gabe Ballard (152) are others with revenge on their minds.
Albanese has two state medals from his first two seasons, but the Green Hornets junior made his first state final with a 4-3 decision over Manheim Township freshman Frank Leanza in Friday's semis.
"I've always had that confidence that I can get it done, get that state title," Albanese said. "It just hasn't happened my first two years. This year, I've wanted to assert myself to my opponents, rise above my opponents. I think I've been doing that."
Ballard, a state runner-up last year to Bethlehem Catholic's Keanu Dillard, continued to dominant the 152-pound field with a 17-2 technical fall Friday night over State College junior James Whitbred in 4:08.
The Konkrete Kid, who also has 10-4 and 13-2 victories, faces Franklin Regional junior Michael Ruane in Saturday's final.
Bethlehem Catholic's Keanu Dillard moved within one victory of a fourth consecutive state title with a 1-0 decision over Nazareth's Caleb Kosko. He rode out Kosko in the third period after escaping in the second. He'll take on Whitehall's Willmont Kai for the third weekend in a row.
Kai pinned Altoona's Braiden Weaver in 2:36 to reach the state final for a second year in a row. He won 114 gold last season.
"I'm just trying to leave a legacy at my school," Kai said, "become the first two-time state champion. I feel like I'm wrestling great, getting to my offense, moving guys around.
"I think my gas tank is better than last year. I was big for 114. I think I'm an average 133-pounder, taller. I'm just going wrestle like I know I can and get the job done tomorrow."
Notre Dame-Green Pond's Dom Sumpolec reached his first state final with a 17-2 technical fall in 4:46 over Greater Latrobe's Hunter Snyder. He'll face Kiski sophomore Mario Hutcherson, who beat Nazareth's Brayden Zuercher 11-4 in the other semifinal.
Notre Dame-GP's Cael Muller (114), Bethlehem Catholic's Reef Dillard (139), Kosko and Southern Lehigh's Brock Frable (172) lost their semifinals.
Muller lost 4-2 to Hazleton Area's Gabe Benyo. Dillard lost 6-3 to Cranberry's Dalton Wenner. Frable came up on the short end of a 1-0 decision after being ridden out in the third period by Central Bucks West's Chris Dennis.
Frable has 99 career wins.
There were 17 other Lehigh Valley-area wrestlers in consolations Friday night who secured state medals earlier in the day.
Notre Dame-GP's Max Quarry reached Saturday morning's consolation semifinals at 107 with a decision over Moon's Bryce Thomas.
Emmaus' Teagan Caciolo secured his first PIAA medal with a 2-1 decision over Franklin Regional's Titus Colangelo in the 121 blood round. It was the junior's 100th career victory. He lost later Friday night 4-2 to Hazleton Area's Jake Benyo.
Caciolo will wrestle Bethlehem Catholic's Nico Emili for seventh place. Emili lost to Norwin's Landon Sidun in the quarterfinals and 8-5 in sudden victory to Wilson-West Lawn's Abramm Schaffer.
Notre Dame-GP's Gavyn Kelton finished his career with 99 victories after losing to Nazareth's Jack Campbell in the 145 blood round. It was the senior's fourth loss in the last 35 days to Campbell.