Class 3A: Wrestlers to watch
In alphabetical order with last season’s record and career record. • Luca Augustine, Waynesburg (Sr., 43-10, 101-23) — Augustine, a Pitt recruit, is a two-time WPIAL placewinner and two-time PIAA qualifier. He placed fourth in the WPIAL and posted a 2-2 record in the state tournament as a 152-pound sophomore. Last season, he moved up to 160 pounds and won a WPIAL title and placed sixth in the PIAA.
• Ethan Berginc, Hempfield (Sr., 37-6, 90-34) — Berginc is a two-time PIAA qualifier and one-time champ. He placed fourth in the WPIAL as a 120-pound sophomore, then dropped to 113 last season and placed third. His second appearance at Hershey was a gold medal-winning performance. He was the only champion who had a match in the preliminary round.
• Dylan Chappell, Seneca Valley (Sr., 48-5, 127-23) — Chappell, a Bucknell recruit, is a two-time WPIAL champion and two-time PIAA runner-up. He competed at 106 as a sophomore, then moved up to 120 last season.
• Mac Church, Waynesburg (So., 47-6, 47-6) — Church had an impressive debut as a 106-pound freshman. He won a WPIAL title then placed third in the PIAA.
• Carter Dibert, Franklin Regional (Sr., 42-3, 115-15) — Dibert, an Arizona State recruit, is a three-time PIAA qualifier and onetime champ. He placed third in the WPIAL as a 106-pound freshman. He returned at 106 for his sophomore season and placed second in the WPIAL and first in the PIAA. Last season, he moved up to 113 and won a WPIAL title and placed third in the state.
• Wyatt Henson, Waynesburg (Sr., 50-4, 122-20) — Henson, an Iowa recruit, is the son of former Olympian Sammy Henson. He placed third in the WPIAL and fifth in the PIAA as a 120-pound freshman. He moved to Missouri as a sophomore and won a state title at 138 pounds. Last season, he won WPIAL and PIAA titles at 138 pounds.
• Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, Seneca Valley (Sr., 42-5, 136-14) — Herrera-Rondon, an Oklahoma recruit, is a three-time WPIAL finalist and two-time champ and a two-time PIAA champion. He placed second in the WPIAL and first in the state as a 106-pound freshman. He won both titles at 113 as a sophomore. Last season, he moved up to 132 and won another WPIAL title and placed fourth in the state.
• Cole Homet, Waynesburg (Jr., 44-15, 89-24) — Homet is a two-time WPIAL bronze medalist, at 120 pounds as a freshman and 132 last season. He placed fifth in the state last season after placing seventh the year before.
• Vinny Kilkeary, Latrobe (So., 30-7, 30-7) — Kilkeary placed second in the WPIAL as a 106-pound freshman, then surprised everybody at Hershey by upsetting the top three seeds en route to a PIAA title.
• Ty Linsenbigler, Hempfield (Sr., 42-4, 114-18) — Linsenbigler, a Lock Haven recruit, is a three-time PIAA qualifier. He placed third in the WPIAL as a 138-pound freshman. He stayed at 138 for his sophomore season and placed second in the WPIAL and fourth in the PIAA. Last season, he moved to 145 pounds and won a WPIAL title and placed fifth in the state.
• Finn Solomon, Franklin Regional (Jr., 29-7, 69-15) — Solomon, a North Carolina State recruit, made quite an impressive debut as a 113-pound freshman by placing third in the WPIAL and second in the PIAA. Last season, he fell one win short of a PIAA berth after placing fifth in the WPIAL at 126.
• Cole Spencer, Pine-Richland (Sr., 42-2, 104-16) — Spencer, a Penn recruit, is a two-time WPIAL finalist, two-time PIAA placewinner and three-year starter at 152 pounds. He placed second in the WPIAL as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore, and first last season.
• Mac Stout, Mt. Lebanon (Jr., 42-3, 74-13) — Stout became the third member of his family to win a WPIAL title when he won the 170-pound title last season. He joins brothers Kellan and Luke. He also placed second in the PIAA.
• Isaiah Vance, Hempfield (Sr., 41-2, 110-17) — Vance is the state’s top returning heavyweight. He was a two-time WPIAL bronze medalist before winning the title last season. He is also a three-time PIAA qualifier who placed fourth as a sophomore and second last season.
• Rocco Welsh, Waynesburg (So., 40-8, 40-8) — Welsh won a pair of silver medals in his debut with the Raiders. He placed second in the WPIAL and PIAA at 126 pounds, losing both times to Norwin’s Kurtis Phipps, a four-time WPIAL champion.