Freshmen making their marks
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Jason Hillegas introduced his son Sam to the sport of wrestling when he was 6 years old.
“Sam was a bit high strung,” Jason Hillegas said. “We just wanted something to keep him active.”
After a year, Sam Hillegas found that he really enjoyed the sport.
“It didn’t come easy for me at first, but once I started learning the sport I really liked it,” Sam Hillegas said.
Sam Hillegas soon became one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the state. He won six Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state titles and three Super 32 Middle School titles.
“I’ve been to tournaments in Texas, Utah, Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida and Pennsylvania,” Sam Hillegas said. “It’s a good way to see the country.”
Hillegas entered his freshman year at North Hills High School with impressive credentials, but could he perform at that level as a varsity starter for the Indians?
“I thought he might have a rough time,” Jason Hillegas said. “I was not expecting the great success he’s had.”
Hillegas enters Friday’s Class 3A WPIAL/Southwest Regional Tournament at Canon-McMillan with a 35-0 record and is ranked No. 1 in the state at 113 pounds.
“I’m not surprised at all by Sam’s success,” North Hills coach Jose Martinez said. “Sam is a freshman with the maturity of a senior. Jason has taken Sam all over the country to tournaments. Knowing how how
For WPIAL Class 3A individual rankings, visit postgazette.com/sports. much he trains, I was expecting him to be successful.”
Hillegas got off to a great start, but didn’t step into the high school spotlight until his appearance at the Powerade Christmas Tournament. Despite being unseeded in the 50-team tournament, which attracts some of the top teams in the country, Hillegas won the 113-pound title. His biggest win came in the semifinals, when he recorded a 4-2 upset of top seed Louis Newell, a Seneca Valley junior who was a PIAA runner-up last year.
“I’m a little surprised, if not shocked, that I’m still unbeaten,” Hillegas said. “Beating Newell was a real confidence booster. At that point, I realized that winning WPIAL and PIAA titles was possible.”
Hillegas works out at the Quest School of Wrestling.
“I do extra practices at Quest as often as possible,” Hillegas said.
Hillegas is one of four freshmen who are seeded among the top four in their weight class at this weekend’s WPIAL tournament.
Canon-McMillan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis (38-5) is seeded No. 2 at 152 pounds, while Mt. Lebanon’s Luke Stout (30-3) is seeded No. 4 at the same weight class. Also, Norwin’s Kurtis Phipps (293) is seeded No. 4 at 106 pounds.
Class 2A
Frazier freshman Thayne Lawrence has already stamped his ticket to Hershey for the PIAA Class 2A tournament. Lawrence (32-5) claimed the 138-pound title at the WPIAL tournament, then placed second at the Southwest Regional.
“I got a late start [into the sport of wrestling],” Lawrence said. “My Little League baseball coach introduced me to wrestling when I was in third grade. At first, I thought he was talking about the WWE.”
Lawrence wasn’t sure what to expect when he made his varsity debut, especially since Frazier was making its WPIAL debut into wrestling.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Lawrence said. “I just set small goals and when I reached those, I set another goal.”
Lawrence began the season at 145 pounds. He placed fifth at the Chartiers-Houston tournament, second at the Southmoreland Holiday tournament, and second at the Tri-County tournament. His first title came at the Burgettstown tournament.
“Winning the Burgettstown tournament opened my eyes to what I could do,” Lawrence said. “It gave me the confidence I needed to win the WPIAL tournament.”
Lawrence recorded three pins in the WPIAL tournament.
“It feels great to be the first WPIAL champ in school history,” Lawrence said. “I’ve become kind of a celebrity.”
“Having a WPIAL champion in our first year of competition is a real boost to the program,” Frazier coach Greg Boggs said. “Thayne also turned in an impressive performance at the regional tournament.”
Lawrence recorded a pin and two major decisions to advance to the Southwest Region finals. He then dropped a 5-1 decision to Central Cambria’s Max Murin, a two-time PIAA finalist and one-time champ, in the title match.
Lawrence believes a key to his success has been his extra workouts at AllAmerican Wresting and Quest School of Wrestling.
“The PIAA tournament is a great opportunity for Thayne,” Boggs said. “I don’t just see him being a freshman happy to be there. He’s wants to be on the podium.”
Lawrence is one of two freshmen from the WPIAL who will be at Hershey. Burrell’s Trent Valovchik (34-11) qualified at 106.