Frazier’s Rune Lawrence ready for showdown as he tries for 4th state wrestling title
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Friday, March 8, 2024 | 11:05 PM
Connellsville’s Nolan Rice attempts to control Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon at 107 pounds at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Pine-Richland’s Vaughn Spencer controls Brayden Zuercher of Nazareth at 172 pounds at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Connellsville’s Evan Petrovich takes on Shane McFillin of Bethlehem Catholic at 145 pounds at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Canon-McMillan’s Andrew Binni controls McKaden Speece of Wilson West Lawn at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Bethel Park’s Mason Keman breaks loose from CJ Ferree of Central Dauphin at 133 pounds at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Indiana’s Nico Fanella controls United’s Gideon Bracken at 127 pounds at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Frazier’s Jackson Angelo keeps Derry’s Brady Brown from escaping at 189 pounds at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Hopewell’s Isaiah Pisano wraps up Faith Christian’s Cael Weidemoyer at 160 pounds at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Trinity’s Will Detar is controlled by Chartiers Houston’s Jordan Williams at 114 pounds at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Bentworth’s Chris Vargo controls Ben Straub of Mifflinburg at 127 pounds at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Thomas Jefferson’s Bode Marlow controls Central York’s Carter Davis at 160 pounds at the PIAA Class 3A championships Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
HERSHEY – The PIAA Class 2A showdown between returning state champions is set.
Now it’s time to see who is the best 215-pound wrestler in the state.
Is it three-time champion Rune Lawrence, a senior from Frazier? Or is it returning 215-pound champion Austin Johnson, a junior from Muncy?
Both cruised into Saturday’s finals, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the Giant Center.
Lawrence (31-1), the 189-pound champion in 2023, has posted three consecutive falls, giving him 102 in his career. Lawrence pinned Brookville junior Gavin Hannah at 2:13 in the semifinals.
Johnson (31-1) has only allowed four points in his three wins, which included an 18-2 tech fall in the semifinals against Faith Christian Academy sophomore Jason Singer.
Lawrence is brimming with confidence after his pin.
“If I go out and perform, I don’t think anyone here can stop me,” Lawrence said as he attempts to become only the 14th wrestler and seventh from the WPIAL to win four PIAA titles.
“I’ve wrestled all right. I’m not where I want to be at. I’m not mad at how I’m wrestling. I wish I could do better.”
Lawrence said he pinned Johnson years ago in Junior Olympics.
The other WPIAL finalists in Class 2A are Bentworth senior Chris Vargo (127) and Central Valley senior Brenan Morgan (286).
Vargo pinned Reynolds freshman Logan Stewart in the semifinals to set up a rematch with Bishop McCort sophomore Jax Forrest. Vargo defeated Forrest in the regional tournament last week at Altoona.
Forrest defeated Indiana junior Nico Fanella, 21-6.
Morgan is looking to become Central Valley’s first state champion. He pinned Burgettstown senior Joey Baronick in the semifinals. He’ll face Berks Catholic senior Brody Kline.
Burrell sophomore Cam Baker (107), Quaker Valley senior Jack Kazalas (133) and Frazier junior Jackson Angelo (189) lost in the semifinals.
In Class 3A, Norwin freshman Landon Sidun (114), Franklin Regional senior Ty Kapusta (121), Thomas Jefferson junior Maddox Shaw (139), Trinity senior Bodie Morgan (172) and Pine-Richland junior Vaughn Spencer (172) reached the finals.
Kapusta reached the 121-pound finals with two impressive wins Friday.
He knocked off Quakertown senior Mason Ziegler, 3-2, in the quarterfinals and followed that with a 7-2 victory against West Scranton senior Tyson Cook.
Now he’s in the 4 p.m. Saturday finals against Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Keanu Dillard, who defeated Latrobe junior Luke Willochell, 4-2, in overtime.
“Someone mentioned to me about meeting Ziegler in the quarterfinals,” Kapusta said. “I figured if you want to be a state champion, I had to beat him at some point.
“This is what I’ve been practicing for all season. I knew I had it in me, trust me. I have a lot of support.”
Sidun reached the finals, as expected. But it’s not the opponent he was hoping to face.
Sidun (41-2) won a high-scoring match, 9-8, against Northampton freshman Gabriel Ballard. Sidun rallied from a 5-4 deficit late in the second period. He got an escape to tie the score, and then a reversal and a two-point nearfall to build a 9-5 lead.
The surprise came in the other semifinal when Ridley junior Curtis Nelson stunned Butler sophomore Santino Sloboda with a reversal and a three-point nearfall in the final 10 seconds for a 6-4 victory.
“I would have liked to wrestle Santino again,” Sidun said. “I got it done. You have to respect everyone. Every match I’m prepared to go to war.
“Curtis is having a good tournament and is beating guys at the end. I watch what he does tonight and get ready for Saturday.”
Shaw advanced with a pin of Central Bucks West junior Patrick Kelly at 139.
Morgan defeated Latrobe freshan Hunter Snyder, 5-3, and Spencer pinned Owen J. Roberts senior Sam Gautreau at 172.
Canon-McMillan senior Andrew Binni dropped a 1-0 decision to Northampton sophomore Trey Wagner at 127.
Bethel Park senior Mason Kernan fell to Nazareth junior Tahir Parkins, 11-4, and Baldwin junior Ramil Islamov dropped a 9-2 decision to York Suburban senior Tyler Adams at 133.
Connellsville junior Evan Petrovich dropped a 1-0 decision to Central Mountain senior Luke Simcox at 145.
Hempfield senior Eli Carr was beaten by Quakertown junior Collin Gaj, 11-1, at 152.
Thomas Jefferson junior Bode Marlow fell to State College junior Asher Cunningham, 7-1, at 160.
Norwin senior Nathan Campbell was pinned in the semifinals by Northern York senior Cole Bartram at 189.
Ringgold junior Jake Conroy was pinned in his match against Abington Heights senior Caleb Marzolino at 215.
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.
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