Class 2A wrestlers to watch in the WPIAL during the 2021-22 season
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 4:30 PM
Mt. Pleasant’s Dayton Pitzer (right) looks to escape from Malvern Prep’s Nick Feldman in the 215-pound final of the Powerade tournament last season.
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 Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Paul by email at pschofield@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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