Muncy Freshman Boozer Kicks Off New Era with PIAA Medal

Chase Boozer takes fourth place at 139 pounds in his PIAA debut, setting high expectations for Muncy wrestling's future.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:03am

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As Muncy wrestling legend Austin Johnson graduated, expectations were low for the program's incoming freshman class to match his impact. However, freshman Chase Boozer proved those doubts wrong, taking fourth place at 139 pounds in his PIAA debut and kicking off a promising new era for the Muncy wrestling team.

Why it matters

Boozer's strong freshman campaign provides hope that Muncy wrestling can maintain its status as a powerhouse program in District 4 and the state of Pennsylvania, even after the departure of all-time great Austin Johnson. His success as a freshman sets high expectations for the future of the program.

The details

Boozer, a Muncy freshman, finished fourth at 139 pounds in the PIAA Championships, narrowly missing out on a spot in the finals. His only losses came against the eventual state champion, Camden Baum, and Bishop McCort senior Owen McMullen. In between those losses, Boozer avenged a prior defeat against Bentworth's Drake McClure, winning 2-1 in the consolation round. Boozer finished his freshman season with a 45-5 record and 27 pins, along with District 4 and Northeast Regional titles.

  • Boozer took fourth place at the PIAA Championships in March 2026.

The players

Chase Boozer

A freshman wrestler at Muncy High School who took fourth place at 139 pounds in his PIAA debut, kicking off a promising new era for the Muncy wrestling program.

Austin Johnson

A former two-time state champion and four-time finalist for Muncy wrestling who graduated, representing the end of an exciting era for the program.

Patrick Sparks

The head coach of the Muncy wrestling team, who praised Boozer's exceptional freshman campaign.

Camden Baum

The eventual state champion at 139 pounds, who Boozer narrowly lost to in the PIAA tournament.

Owen McMullen

A senior wrestler from Bishop McCort who defeated Boozer in the PIAA tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I know I can compete with the top guys in the state, so my goal for this season was top four and I accomplished that. But there's a lot of work of work that needs to be done and a lot of things I can improve on.”

— Chase Boozer, Muncy Freshman Wrestler

“I think every wrestler's goal is to be a state champion. But for him to come out here as a freshman at 139 pounds and have the run that he had is pretty spectacular.”

— Patrick Sparks, Muncy Head Coach

“Lost him earlier in the year so coming back and beating him by a point is pretty cool. On top, I've done really well. I've turned a bunch of kids on top this year, and that's kind of been my strong suit.”

— Chase Boozer, Muncy Freshman Wrestler

What’s next

Boozer will look to build on his strong freshman campaign and aim for a state championship as a sophomore, focusing on improving his footwork and shot setups.

The takeaway

Boozer's impressive PIAA debut has set high expectations for the future of Muncy wrestling, providing hope that the program can maintain its status as a powerhouse even after the departure of all-time great Austin Johnson.