Class 2A wrestlers to watch in the WPIAL during the 2021-22 season

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 4:30 PM

Dayton Pitzer, Mt. Pleasant

The senior Pitt commit has an 85-3 career record and captured his second WPIAL and PIAA titles by winning the 215-pound weight class. An injury prevented him from wrestling his sophomore season.

Rune Lawrence, Frazier

The sophomore (30-1) earned his first WPIAL and PIAA titles at 171 pounds last season. He was a two-time state junior high champion. His brother Thayne was a two-time PIAA champion.

Grant MacKay, Laurel

The junior (79-15) was the WPIAL and PIAA champion at 152 pounds last winter. He wrestled at North Allegheny in 2020. He made a verbal commitment to attend Pitt.

Cooper Hornack, Burrell

The sophomore (28-3) was the WPIAL champion at 106 pounds last season. He also placed first in the PIAA Southwest Regional and second in the state.

Chris Vargo, Bentworth

The sophomore (20-2) was the WPIAL and PIAA Regional champion at 113 pounds last winter. He finished third in the state tournament.

Others to watch:

Patrick Cutchember, Quaker Valley

The senior (97-23) was the WPIAL 189-pound champion and was one win away from earning a trip to the PIAA tournament. A shoulder injury prevented the Clarion University commit from competing in Hershey.

Kyle McCollum, Beth-Center

The senior (28-9) finished third in the WPIAL at 132 and qualified for the state tournament.

Jack Kazalas, Quaker Valley

The sophomore (28-8) was the WPIAL 106-pound runner-up and also qualified for the state tournament.

Jamison Poklembo, Mt. Pleasant

The sophomore (33-14) was the WPIAL 132-pound champion last winter but missed qualifying for the state tournament by one win.

Keep an eye on: Niko Ferra, Burrell; Damon Michaels, Elizabeth Forward; Bryce Rodriguez, Carlynton; Josh Harbert, Ligonier Valley; Ryan Harbert, Ligonier Valley; Justin Richey, Quaker Valley; Noah Gnibus, Mt. Pleasant; Nick Murphy, Elizabeth Forward.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.