Frazier grabs win vs. Southmoreland without state champ Lawrence
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Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | 10:53 PM
Southmoreland heavyweight Jacob Govern (right) attempts to escape the grasp of Frazier’s Conner Reams on Wednesday.
Frazier’s Jackson Angelo takes down Southmoreland’s Lewis Mains during the 215-pound match Wednesday.
Southmoreland’s Kashton Bish catches Frazier’s Adam Kortina with headlock during the 145-pound match Wednesday.
Frazier’s Jonah Erdely (top) attempts to pin Southmoreland’s Camren Lee during a 152-pound match Wednesday.
Ryan Celaschi of Frazier comtrols Wyatt Corvin of Southmoreland during the 172-pound match Wednesday.
Frazier won a wrestling match Wednesday and did it without three-time PIAA Class 2A champion Rune Lawrence.
The fourth-ranked Commodores recorded seven pins and defeated Southmoreland, 44-33, in a Section 2 battle for first place.
Lawrence weighed in and was dressed for the match, but he was there to root on his teammates. Lawrence (10-1) has a lower-body injury he suffered in the semifinals Saturday at the Ironman Invitational.
Frazier coach Buck Watkins said he’s not sure how much time Lawrence will miss. Frazier (4-2, 1-0) is scheduled to visit Belle Vernon on Dec. 20 and host West Greene on Dec. 22. It is entered in the Powerade Tournament on Dec. 29-30.
Lawrence said he hopes to return soon.
“We had a lot guys step up,” Watkins said. “We got the job done. I’m confident we can beat anyone. Rune just gives us a little more horsepower.”
The match started at 121 pounds, and Micah McGeary gave Southmoreland (4-3, 1-1) a 6-0 lead with a pin of Tanner Hayes.
Frazier responded with consecutive pins by Landon Hough (127), Chase Celaschi (133) and Ty Clark (139) for an 18-6 lead.
“I thought we’d win 121, but Landon and Chase came up big,” Watkins said.
Southmoreland coach Dan Boring said the match played out like he expected.
“That was a good win by Micah, and Landyn (Queer) gave us a good effort,” Boring said. “I expected Kashton (Bish) would win. He’s always seems to battle from behind. Down 2-0 was nothing for him.”
Bish caught Frazier’s Adam Kortina and got pinned at 145.
Frazier’s Jonah Erdely (152) and Southmoreland’s Shawn Hollis (160) exchanged pins before Frazier got consecutive pins from Ryan Celaschi (172), Austin Wilson (189) and Jackson Angelo (215) to clinch the win 42-18.
Southmoreland heavyweight Jacob Govern rallied to edge Conner Reams, 5-3, and Bryce Greeko (107) and Nicholas Lubuki (114) were awarded wins by forfeit.
“It was good to see my teammates step up,” Lawrence said. “It proved to them that they could win without me. It should help their confidence.”
Boring added: “Buck has done a nice job there. They got some really good wrestlers. It’s hard to match them in the upper weights. We were missing Landon Delara, and hopefully when we get him back we’ll be a better team.”
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.
Tags: Frazier, Southmoreland
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