Quaker Valley’s Marcus Richey joins older brothers in 100-victory club

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 9, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Richey brothers are student-athletes in the truest sense of the term.

Not only are they exemplary in the classroom, they also are high-quality wrestlers.

Each has attained an “A” grade as a Quaker Valley grappler as all three are linked together as members of the program’s century club, where talent and exclusivity are requirements.

Little brother was determined not to be left behind.

• Justin Richey, a 165-pound junior on the Gettysburg wrestling team, finished with a 107-41 career record at QV from 2019-23.

• Logan Richey, a 157-pound redshirt freshman at Duke, racked up a career mark of 112-51 with the Quakers from 2018-22.

• Current QV senior Marcus Richey polished off his 100th career victory March 1 with an 8-3 win against Beth-Center’s Noah Layhue in the 172-pound weight class of the Southwest Regional held at Altoona.

“It means a lot,” Marcus said. “I have learned so much from Justin and Logan. They have supported me in every way. I will never forget when the three of us were in the starting lineup to beat Burrell for the WPIAL championship. That was probably the moment I love the most.”

QV coach Austin Heinl described each of the Richeys’ wrestling style.

“They have some similarities but also have some unique differences that make their style their own,” Heinl said. “All of them are students of the sport. They study technique, match tactics and film of top wrestlers to improve their game. Their work ethic and minds for the sport are similar and has made it really fun to coach them over the years.

“For what makes them different to one another, Justin is a better neutral wrestler. Justin uses a more physical hand-fighting style, which helps him grind his way to takedowns and control positions. While being physically strong, he is also super slick with some of his techniques that require a high-level technical skill.

“Logan is a better top and bottom wrestler. Logan has some similar skills in neutral, but what makes him stick out to me is how he uses his hips to wrestle in the neutral scrambles on top and on bottom. No matter how good the opponent was, he could get out or reverse him from the bottom position. And once he got on top, he would crush guys with leg rides and brutal turns.”

Marcus Richey’s accolades on the mat are impressive. And there are many.

He was a two-year team captain, three-time regional qualifier, a regional medalist, three-time WPIAL medalist, two-time section champion, three-time section medalist, MAC champion and medalist and an Allegheny County medalist.

He also was a member of a WPIAL championship team at QV as well as four section championship teams.

“Marcus has the benefit of learning from both of (his brothers),” Heinl said. “He’s taken bits and pieces from both and made them part of his own style.

“Marcus has become a very well-rounded wrestler. He has shown he can win matches from all three positions. He has developed a great leg attack, he is tough with leg riding and he can get out of the bottom position.”

In his four years of wrestling at QV, Marcus Richey posted records of 6-4, 14-12, 35-12 and 45-16.

“People probably thought Marcus wouldn’t be close to achieving 100 wins,” Heinl said. “His first two years on varsity, he came out with very (few) matches because of a bunch of wrestlers that kept him out of the lineup: Jack Kazalas, Logan Richey, Brandon Krul, Michael Carmody and Jack Diemert.

“Once Marcus saw our schedule for this season, he definitely made it a goal to reach 100 wins. For him to be able to achieve 100 is a huge accomplishment.”

Marcus Richey joined his older brothers in the school’s century club and is the ninth athlete to join the club in the nine-year history of the wrestling program.

“One hundred was important,” he said. “It feels good to be a part of that elite club. On the other hand, my true goal was to get on the podium at states, and I failed to achieve that. I need to work harder and reset my goals to, hopefully, make it onto an NCAA podium.”

QV’s century club consists of Jack Kazalas (2024), at 151-28; Patrick Cutchember (2022), 141-31; John Rocco Kazalas (2019), 134-33; Bruce Anderchak (2026), 119-26; Connor Redinger (2021), 112-20; Logan Richey (2023), 112-50; Jack Diemert (2025), 110-58; Justin Richey (2022), 107-41; and Marcus Richey (2025), 100-44.

Justin Richey is a business major at Gettysburg with a focus on organizations and management/economics.

Logan Richey is majoring in economics and public policy at Duke.

“The Richey boys are all stellar students,” Heinl said. “All of them place a high priority on academic achievement. Justin and Logan are both attending great schools in Gettysburg and Duke.”

And Marcus plans to join Justin in the Gettysburg wrestling program on a merit scholarship.

The Richey siblings have something else in common: All three have followed in their father’s footsteps.

Jason Richey, their father, was a 100-win wrestler from 1989-93 at Allegheny College following a high school career at Hopewell. He also is well-known in the area as the founder of the QV wrestling program in 2016-17.

“Some say the Quaker Valley wrestling program wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Richey family,” Heinl said. “Jason Richey led the charge and brought the right families and individuals together to lay the foundation for what QV wrestling is today.

“And Jason’s wife, Melissa, has supported her boys and the program throughout the years. She is a great resource to have. She works in the medical field, so having her help with coordinating with doctors and helping with nutrition has been great. She’s also at almost every event offering to help and support in any way she can.”

It undoubtedly will have a different feel for the athletes on QV’s 2025-26 team without a Richey presence in the lineup.

Tags: Quaker Valley