Two in 3A going for third title
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Albert Gallatin senior Tim Wallace can break a school record with his third WPIAL championship this weekend at the Class 3A WPIAL/Southwest Region tournament, which begins Friday at Canon-McMillan High School.
Wallace is a two-time WPIAL champion who has won titles at 160 and 170 the past two years. He shares the school record with Frank Rich, who won titles in 1979 and 1980 at Albert Gallatin, and Todd Lowry, who won in 1986 an 1987 at German before the merger.
“His goal is to wrestle as hard as he can and win another WPIAL championship,” Albert Gallatin coach Duane Dupont said. “If he wrestles his best, everything will fall into place.”
Wallace, who is seeded No. 1 at 182 pounds with a 31-2 record, is one of two entries who have won two previous WPIAL titles. The other is Waynesburg senior Caleb Morris.
Morris (37-6) won his titles as a 106-pound freshman and 132-pound junior, but has moved to 126 for this year’s postseason tournaments.
“Caleb decided to move down at the end of January,” Waynesburg coach Joe Throckmorton said. “It’s been a while since he’s competed at that weight. He felt 126 would be the best weight for him.”
Despite being a two-time WPIAL champ, Morris is seeded No. 2 behind North Hills sophomore Sam Hillegas (25-1), who won WPIAL and PIAA titles last year at 113.
“It’s the only weight class with two returning WPIAL champs,” North Hills coach Jose Martinez said. “They’ve never wrestled before. It should be a good match if theymeet in the finals.”
Wallace, Morris and Hillegas are among eight entries who have previously won a WPIAL title. The others are: Norwin sophomore Kurtis Phipps, Seneca Valley senior Louis Newell, Hempfield senior Luke Kemerer, Belle Vernon senior Zach Hartman and Laurel Highlands senior Ian Edenfield.
Phipps (32-0) is the defending champ at 106 and also one of three unbeaten WPIAL wrestlers.
Newell (35-3) is a two-time WPIAL finalist who won as a 106-pound sophomore and placed second as a 113-pound junior. He is seeded No. 2 at 120, behind Canon-McMillan senior Logan Macri (312), who has beat Newell twicethis season.
Kemerer (33-1) is a twotime WPIAL finalist who placed second as a 132pound sophomore and first as a 138-pound junior. He has moved up to 152 and is seeded No. 1.
Hartman (36-1) is a threetime WPIAL finalist. He placed second as a 120-pound freshman, first as a 132pound sophomore and second as a 160-pound junior. Heis the top seed at 160.
Edenfield (26-5) is the defending champ and top seed at 220. He is competing as an independent since his school no longer has a team.
Silver lining
Hartman is one of four entries who have placed second in the WPIAL twice. The others are Macri, PennTrafford senior Job Chishko and Kiski Area senior Isaac Reid.
Macri placed second as a 113-pound sophomore and 120-pound junior.
Chishko (31-6) placed second at 106 as a freshman and sophomore, then finished third at 132 last year. He is the top seed at 145.
Reid (15-0) has been the runner-up at 285 the past two years. He returns as the top seed in the same weight class. He missed the first six weeks recovering from a blood clot.
“I know how Job feels,” said Penn-Trafford coach Rich Ginther. “I was a twotime runner-up [in 1987 and 1989] when I wrestled at Penn-Trafford. I really want to see Job win this year.”
WPIAL dominates in 2A
The WPIAL will have a record number of entries in the PIAA Class 2A tournament. The WPIAL dominated the Southwest Regional, held over the weekend at IUP, as 40 entries placed among the top six in their weight class to earn a PIAA berth. The previous record of 37 qualifiers was set in 2011.
Seven WPIAL entries won a regional title, including two from South Side Beaver: Seniors Joe Demor (41-1 at 145) and Bishop McCoy (39-1 at 285).
“Joe and Bishop are the second and third wrestlers in school history to win a regional title,” Rams coach Bear McCoy said. “It was great to have both win in their senior year.”
The other five regional champs from the WPIAL are Quaker Valley freshman Conner Redinger (35-1 at 106), Jefferson-Morgan senior Gavin Teasdale (36-2 at 126), Mount Pleasant senior Alex Miscovich (40-8 at 132), Bentworth junior Jon Vargo (30-6 at 182) and Freedom junior Bryson Miller (32-4 at 195).