Trio of returning champs advances
HERSHEY, Pa. — Friday night’s Class 2A semifinal session at the PIAA individualchampionships got off to a rough start for the WPIAL, but a trio of returning state champions closed things out witha bang.
Mount Pleasant senior Dayton Pitzer (44-0), Frazier sophomore Rune Lawrence (36-3) and Laurel junior Grant MacKay (40-1) each earned a return trip to the state finals with wins Friday night. Five other WPIAL wrestlers lost in the semifinals, sending them to the consolation bracket with a chance to wrestle back for thirdplace on Saturday.
Pitzer, a two-time PIAA championwho missed his entire sophomore year with an injury, continued his dominant reign over the 215pound division. The Pitt recruit pinned Brookville’s Bryce Rafferty in 1:23 to secure the 99th pin of his career. Pitzer has won all three of his matches by first-period fall at this year’s PIAA tournament.
“Iwouldn’t say it surprises me,” Pitzer said about his knack for pinning opponents even at the highest level of competition. “I train hard, so I just go out and wrestle my matchand push the pace, and whenever that pin comes, I takeit.”
Lawrence, the defending 172-pound champion, had to work a bit harder than usual for his semifinal win. After a scoreless first period, he executed a smooth double-leg takedown then transitioned to an armbar, pinning Canton’sRiley Parker in 3:43.
“It feels great. All the work I’m putting in is paying off,” Lawrence said. “Even though last year I got it done, that’s not my ultimate goal. My ultimate goal is to be a four-timestate champ.”
Last year’s 152-pound champion, MacKay had to scrape by against Newport’s Ganon Smith to secure his second consecutive state finalsbid.
MacKay led, 3-0, going into the third period, but Smith scored a reversal to cut his lead to 3-2 — a rare sight against MacKay. MacKay escaped from bottom late in the period, though, then took Smith down in the final secondsto clinch the 6-2 win.
“I can’t remember the last personwho got out on bottom against me,” MacKay said. “I could have definitely stalled to a victory, but what’s the funin that?”
Burgettstown sophomore Parker Sentipal (41-4), Bentworth sophomore Chris Vargo (29-3), Central Valley senior Ambrose Boni (36-4), and Quaker Valley seniors Justin Richey (38-9) and Patrick Cutchember (43-5) each lost in the semifinal round.
Overall, the WPIAL had 15 wrestlers earn a spot on the podium in Class 2A, with seven wrestlers advancing through the consolation bracket along with the eight semifinalists.
In the Class 3A quarterfinals, 20 of 29 WPIAL wrestlerswon to advance to Saturday morning’s semifinal round. Fourteen more WPIAL entries clinched a podium spot by winning their “bloodround” matches in the consolation bracket, giving the WPIAL 34 state medalists inClass 3A.
Belle Vernon senior Cole Weightman (12-2), a Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection in football, knocked off Carl DiGiorgio of Central Bucks West — the No. 1 seed at 215 pounds— to reach the semifinals with an 8-7 win. Weightman missed the majority of the season while recovering from knee surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered during football season — and he’s still wrestling with a torn meniscus in his leftknee.
“I was tired. I’ve only been wrestling for six weeks,” Weightman said. “The doctors said I should be good right now, because I couldn’t get two surgeries at once. … I just decided, ‘[Forget] this left side — I’m going to go wrestle.’”
Of the 20 WPIAL wrestlers still alive in the semifinals, four are returning state champions — Latrobe junior Vinny Kilkeary (45-2), Waynesburg junior Mac Church (37-2), Hempfield senior Briar Priest (37-2) and Franklin Regional senior FinnSolomon (40-2).
Kilkeary advanced to the semiswith a 7-2 win vs. Quakertown’sMason Ziegler at 120 pounds, while Church eked out a 2-0 decision vs. Williamsport’s Braden Bower at 132. Priestpicked up a 3-0 decision vs. Wilson’s Dominic Jurado at 138, and Solomon pinned Williamsport’s Riley Bower in3:03 at 145.