After hard-working offseason, Penn Hills junior ready to help wrestlers return to team competition

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, November 24, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Bradley Repovich’s resolve was consistently tested during his first season on the Penn Hills wrestling team.

Wrestling isn’t a sport that is typically kind to newcomers, especially at the varsity level. Repovich, who will be a junior and wrestle at 145 pounds this season, went through his share of adversity. He finished with a 3-20 record and lost 18 times by fall as a sophomore.

But Repovich wasn’t discouraged. Having the opportunity to compete in the sport has been an experience he has cherished.

“Wrestling is where I know I have a place,” Repovich said. “I feel like I’m an important cog in the machine. It’s something I look forward to throughout the day, knowing that I have it after school.”

Repovich hopes to show everyone what the time and work he put in this past spring and summer can do for his wrestling career. Penn Hills will open the season Dec. 4 by hosting a tri-meet with Woodland Hills and Riverview.

Repovich trained at the Mat Factory during the offseason, competing in freestyle wrestling.

“The hardest thing for me was learning how to finish my shots,” Repovich said. “I would get stuffed a lot.”

Repovich knows he’s at a major disadvantage when it comes to his experience level. In addition to wrestling with a club, Repovich dedicated most of his offseason to spending time in the weight room and training on the mat.

“He is a guy who may surprise everyone from Year 1 to Year 2,” Penn Hills wrestling coach Jeremy Packer said. “He wrestled all year. He got a lot of repetitions in and should see improvement from working every day and seeing a different style.”

The Indians, like Repovich, are trying to surprise teams around the WPIAL. Penn Hills returned to team competition for this enrollment cycle.

The Indians had withdrawn from consideration for the team playoffs the previous two seasons while Penn Hills worked on building its numbers back up. The Indians have 18 kids out for the team this season.

Penn Hills will be in Section 6-3A along with Central Catholic, North Hills and Shaler. The top two teams in each section will advance to the WPIAL playoffs, while there will be two wild card spots available.

“This is the first time where I will have all of the weight classes filled,” Packer said. “We have some depth in some spots. Most of our lineup has wrestled. I think making the playoffs is an upper-end goal for this team.”

Penn Hills will bring back some upperclassmen who will be a big help in team competition. Senior Levi Smith (133 pounds) won 20 matches last season, while Darnell Jackson (139) went 14-9.

Junior Daemon Phipps has been a major player for the Indians since his freshman season. Phipps went 25-8 last season and will be after his first trip to the WPIAL tournament.

Both of Penn Hills’ WPIAL qualifiers from last season, Julian Lavender and Jacen Wright, graduated.

The Indians lineup has a lot to be motivated for.

“I’m looking forward to the team matches,” Repovich said. “I want to be a safe bet to get points for my team.”

Tags: Penn Hills