Frazier wrestler Rune Lawrence becomes 32nd 4-time WPIAL champion
By:
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 10:48 PM
Frazier’s Rune Lawrence reacts to pinning West Greene’s Colin Whyte in the 215-pound finals of the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley High School.
Frazier’s Rune Lawrence takes a moment to himself before competing in the 215-pound finals of the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley High School.
Frazier’s Rune Lawrence looks to turn West Greene’s Colin Whyte in the 215-pound finals of the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley High School.
Frazier’s Rune Lawrence has his hand raised after defeating West Greene’s Colin Whyte in the 215-pound finals of the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley High School.
Frazier’s Rune Lawrence pins West Greene’s Colin Whyte in the 215-pound finals of the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley High School.
Bentworth’s Chris Vargo maintains control of Indiana’s Nico Fanella at 127 pounds during the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Burrell’s Cooper Hornack looks to reverse position against Burgettstown’s Gaven Suica at 139 pounds at the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Hampton’s Alan Danner works to escape the grasp of Quaker Valley’s Marcus Richey in the seventh-place match at 152 pounds during the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling tournament Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Derry’s Anthony Mucci is presented with his first-place medal after he won the 114-pound title at the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Derry’s Mason Howart reacts to winning the 145-pound title at the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Burrell’s Cooper Hornack reacts to winning his third WPIAL Class 2A wrestling title at 139 pounds Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Fort Cherry’s Braedon Welsh maintains control of Belle Vernon’s Elijah Brown at 172 pounds at the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Quaker Valley’s Jack Kazalas takes down Burgettstown’s Parker Sentipal at 133 pounds during the WPIAL Class 2A wrestling championships Feb. 24, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
When Frazier senior Rune Lawrence began his high school career, his goal was to become a four-time champion.
One down, two to go.
Lawrence became the 32nd wrestler in WPIAL history to become a four-time champion when he pinned West Greene sophomore Colin Whyte in the 215-pound final at the WPIAL Class 2A championships Saturday at Chartiers Valley.
In doing so, he and his older brother Thayne became the first brothers to win four WPIAL championships apiece.
Now Lawrence’s sights are set on becoming a four-time Southwest Regional and PIAA champion.
Lawrence rebounded from an early season knee injury, which prevented him from winning the Ironman and the Powerade tournaments. He’s been unstoppable since.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s something me and my brother can share,” Lawrence said. “Probably look back at this when we are older. It’s something we can share with our kids.”
Lawrence (25-1) posted four pins in the tournament and now has 95 pins in his career. He’s 137-8 during his career.
The West Virginia commit said he’s looking forward to the next few weeks when the competition gets a lot tougher.
“It’s the name of the game, keep winning,” Lawrence said. “I’m not where I want to be right now. I still need to get a lot better. There is definitely stuff that I can improve at. I’m not in a bad spot right now.”
Bentworth senior Chris Vargo (127) and Burrell senior Cooper Hornack (139) became the 86th and 87th wrestlers to be three-time WPIAL champions.
Vargo defeated Indiana junior Nico Fanella, 7-2, and Hornack needed an overtime takedown to edge Burgettstown senior Gaven Suica, 3-1.
Repeating as champions were Central Valley’s Antonio Boni (121), Quaker Valley’s Jack Kazalas (133) and Central Valley senior Brenan Morgan, who won the battle of unbeaten heavyweights.
Morgan (35-0) defeated Mt. Pleasant sophomore Dylan Pitzer (37-1), 8-4. Morgan was able to secure four takedowns on the lanky Pitzer.
It was his second WPIAL title. He won the 215-pound title last year.
There were numerous wrestlers who were denied their second titles: Fanella, Frazier junior Ryan Celaschi, Fort Cherry junior Braedon Welsh, Burgettstown senior Parker Sentipal, Burgettstown senior Joe Baronick and Mt. Pleasant senior Jamison Poklembo.
Derry had three champions: Anthony Mucci (114), freshman Mason Horwat (145) and freshman Brady Brown (189).
The other champions were Burrell sophomore Cam Baker (107), Burgettstown senior Rudy Brown (152), Hopewell senior Isaiah Pisano (160) and Belle Vernon sophomore Elijah Brown (172).
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
More High School Sports
• Through the Years: 40 years ago, Freeport finally got the better of nemesis Jeannette• Kiski Area football coach Sam Albert hangs up head coach’s whistle after 3 decades
• Monessen girls basketball team sets sail under Schmidt
• Monessen looks to extend playoff streak to 43 years despite graduation of top scorer
• WPIAL Class 3A championship preview: Avonworth, Central Valley set for rematch
