Plum’s Citrano, Highlands’ Burford claim Allegheny County wrestling titles
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Saturday, January 15, 2022 | 9:31 PM
Plum’s Vince Citrano celebrates winning against Maddox Shaw of Thomas Jefferson in the 132-pound final Saturday.
Highlands’ Jrake Burford signals with two fingers on each hand to celebrate winning his second Allegheny County wrestling title Saturday at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Plum’s Vince Citrano, left, wrestles Maddox Shaw of Thomas Jefferson in the 132-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
North Allegheny’s Dylan Coy wrestles atop Pine Richland’s Anthony Ferraro in the 126-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Montour’s Peter Chacon wrestles Thomas Jefferson’s Bode Marlow in the 138-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Pine Richland’s Anthony Ferraro wrestles Dylan Coy of North Allegheny in the 126-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Pine Richland’s Kelin Laffey grips opponent Dylan Evans of Chartiers Valley by the legs during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Chartiers Valley’s Christopher Beatty wrestles against North Allegheny’s AJ Rohan in the 160-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Montour’s Aaron DeLuca wrestles Mason Diemert of Quaker Valley (left) in the 172-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Mt. Lebanon’s Mac Stout wrestles Quaker Valley’s Patrick Cutchember in the 189-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Mt. Lebanon’s Mac Stout wrestles Quaker Valley’s Patrick Cutchember in the 189-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Fox Chapel Area High School.
clutch performance
Mt. Lebanon’s Mac Stout (left) wrestles Quaker Valley’s Patrick Cutchember in the 189-pound final during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship on Saturday at Fox Chapel Area High School. Stout won the match by major decision.
Plum senior Vincent Citrano and Highlands senior Jrake Burford sure celebrated after winning their second Allegheny County Wrestling titles Saturday at Fox Chapel.
Citrano and Burford captured their first titles in 2020. The 2021 tournament was canceled because of covid-19.
Citrano (16-0) defeated Thomas Jefferson super freshman Maddox Shaw, 3-2, to win the 132-pound title, and Burford (21-3) collected his fifth pin of the weekend when he decked North Allegheny sophomore Travis Stipetich in 2 minutes, 39 seconds to earn the 145 crown.
Both celebrated by holding two fingers up to the crowd.
“It was a big win, but that’s not the goal,” Citrano said. “The goal is to win the state title, and this helps it along. I see where I am every week and improving off it.
“Not being invited to Powerade and stuff, and I wrestled a guy who is nationally ranked, and he beat some guys who I wanted to wrestle, it meant that I should have been there and I belong with the best.”
Shaw (27-3), who finished second at the Powerade tournament at 126, bumped up to 132 for the competition.
“I respect that he came up,” Citrano said. “He’s going to be a great wrestler.”
Citrano said the plan is to stay at 132 pounds for the remainder of the season.
“I feel strong. I don’t cut a lot of weight, and it’s where I feel the best,” Citrano said. “I get to lift every day, wrestle every day and feel good.”
Plum had two finalists. Freshman Rylen Campbell was beaten by North Allegheny’s Casey Walker, 10-6, in the 106-pound final.
The Mustangs finished with 11 placewinners, third overall in the team race with 198.5 points.
North Allegheny won the team title with 222.5 points, and Quaker Valley was second with 209. Pine-Richland was fourth with 195.5, and Thomas Jefferson rounded out the top five with 168.5.
“It was a very big match for Vincent,” Plum coach Mike Supak said. “He’s been working hard and been successful, but this was one of his biggest matches in his high school career so far. He definitely wanted it.”
Supak said he felt the team did well overall.
“We did very well for being a young team,” Supak said. “He had to do it the hard way through the consolation brackets.”
The Mustang placewinners were Antonio Walker (fourth, 126), Jack Tongel (fifth, 160), Andrew Claassen (fifth, 172), Sam Snyder (seventh, 113), Carson Yocca (eighth, 113), Charlie Campbell (eighth, 138), Dakoda Pisano (eighth, 145), Frank Macioce (eighth, 215) and heavyweight Ollie Freeman (seventh).
Jrake Burford and his brother, Aiden, were among the six Rams to earn medals. Aiden placed fifth at 126 pounds. The others were Noah Leslie (fourth, 285), Brayden White (fifth, 132), Bryan Randolph (sixth, 152) and Tyler Bender (sixth, 189). Highlands finished sixth with 162 points.
While Jrake Burford was a little disappointed he didn’t win the award for most pins in the least amount of time, he was pleased with his overall performance.
“Winning means a lot,” Burford said. “Allegheny County is not easy, but to win it not once but twice is something to be proud about.
“It also feels great to get a pin in the finals. This is Year 2 that it has happened.”
While Burford is proud to win counties again, his goals are much larger. He wants to be a state champion.
“I wanted seven, but we got six places,” Highlands coach Grant Walters said. “We had a super improvement because two years ago, we had one county champion and one placewinner.
“I’m proud of my guys. All the work is finally paying off. I’m really excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”
Fox Chapel ended up ninth with 140.5 points.
The Foxes’ placewinners were Ray Worsen (third, 138), Alexander Kaufmann (fourth, 145), Trevor Katz (sixth, 172), Landon Funk (seventh, 106), Josh Alexander (seventh, 126) and Jacob Patterson (189).
Mt. Lebanon’s Mac Stout captured his third county title by defeating Patrick Cutchember, 11-3, in the 189-pound finals. He was named most outstanding wrestler.
Pine-Richland heavyweight Joey Schneck won two awards: most pins in the least amount of time and Ron Harrison Brotherhood of Wrestling Award for sportsmanship.
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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