Trib HSSN 2024 wrestling all-stars: Frazier’s Rune Lawrence joins state’s most exclusive club
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Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 11:19 PM
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.
Hempfield’s Eli Carr controls Keegan Demarest of Pocono Mountain East during a 152-pound match in the state tournament.
Ringgold’s Jake Conroy beats North Allegheny’s Aidan Buggey in the 215-pound bout during the WPIAL Class 3A wrestling championships Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Canon-McMillan High School.
Franklin Regional’s Ty Kapusta grabs the waist of Latrobe’s Jacob Braun in a 127-pound match Jan. 31, 2024.
Bethel Park’s Mason Kernan beats Connellsville’s Kai Vielma in a 133-pound bout during the WPIAL 3A wrestling Championships Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Canon-McMillan High School.
Thomas Jefferson’s Bode Marlow beats Baldwin’s Keith Mincin, 20-4, in the 160-pound bout Sunday, Jan. 21, 2014, during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship at Fox Chapel High School.
Trinity’s Bodie Morgan gets a pin at 172 pounds against Selinsgrove’s Luke Smith on Feb. 8, 2024.
Central Valley Brenan Morgan wrestles Brody Kline of Berks Catholic in a 285-pound match at the PIAA wrestling championship Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Connellsville Evan Petrovich wrestles Shane McFillin in a 145-pound match during the PIAA championships at Hershey’s Giant Center Saturday, March 9, 2024
Landon Sidun of Norwin is tied up with Penn Manor’s Travis Clawson in a 114-pound match during the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship at Hershey’s Giant Center Thursday, March 7, 2024 .
Landon Sidun of Norwin is tied up with Penn Manor’s Travis Clawson in a 114-pound match during the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship at Hershey’s Giant Center Thursday, March 7, 2024 .
Butler’s Santino Sloboda celebrates after beating Norwin’s Landon Sidun in the 114-pound final during the WPIAL Class 3A wrestling championships Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Canon-McMillan High School.
Pine-Richland’s Vaughn Spencer beats Plum’s Jack Tongel, 11-0, in a 172-pound bout Sunday, Jan. 21, 2014, during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championship at Fox Chapel 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.
Wrestler of the Year
Rune Lawrence
Frazier, sr., 215 pounds
2023-24 record: 33-1; Career record: 145-8
Winning four PIAA wrestling titles is not common.
When Frazier senior Rune Lawrence completed the task March 9, he became only the 14th wrestler to achieve such a goal. He also is the seventh WPIAL wrestler to do it.
Lawrence dominated Muncy’s Austin Johnson, 6-3, in the finals. The final score was closer than the match indicated as Johnson didn’t attempt to escape and wrestle against Lawrence on his feet.
Lawrence landed a back flip after his win and earned Class 2A Outstanding Wrestler honors.
He also is the TribLive Wrestler of the Year. He beat out Pine-Richland junior Vaughn Spencer, Thomas Jefferson junior Maddox Shaw, Central Valley senior Brenan Morgan and Norwin freshman Landon Sidun for the award.
The West Virginia commit will now compete in the Pittsburgh Classic.
“For anybody who thought that it was going to be a close match, it wasn’t,” Lawrence said. “I pretty much dominated.
“Winning four titles feels great. It’s a goal I set when I was a freshman. I envisioned myself getting my hand raised for years. This has been a dream of mine and it became reality. It’s quite an honor.”
Lawrence’s senior season was dampened by a knee injury that occurred during the Ironman Tournament. Not being able to compete for the title ended up being the only loss on his record.
The injury kept him out for more than a month.
“I know Rune wanted to win Ironman and Powerade,” Frazier coach Buck Watkins said. “The injury prevented that. I’m so proud of what he and his brother (Thayne) have accomplished. It was an honor to coach them.”
Thayne Lawrence was a two-time PIAA champion and a four-time WPIAL champion like his younger brother. They are the first brothers to each win four WPIAL titles.
First team
Eli Carr
Hempfield, sr., 152 pounds
2023-24 record: 36-3; Career record: 113-18
The Spartans senior claimed his second consecutive WPIAL title and placed third in the PIAA at 152 pounds. He’ll attend Brown.
Jake Conroy
Ringgold, jr., 215 pounds
2023-24 record: 45-4; Career record: 119-16
The WPIAL champion in Class 3A ended up placing fourth in the PIAA. He is committed to Cornell.
Ty Kapusta
Franklin Regional, sr., 121 pounds
2023-24 record: 45-7; Career record: 120-33
The Panthers senior finished second in the WPIAL and second in the PIAA in Class 3A. He’ll attend Bucknell.
Mason Kernan
Bethel Park, sr., 133 pounds
2023-24 record: 39-4; Career record: 125-18
The West Virginia commit finished third in the state in Class 3A. He was the WPIAL champion.
Bode Marlow
Thomas Jefferson, jr., 160 pounds
2023-24 record: 39-7; Career record: 112-27
The Pitt commit was a WPIAL Class 3A champion. He ended up placing third in the PIAA.
Bodie Morgan
Trinity, sr., 172 pounds
2023-24 record: 30-5; Career record: 94-34
The Hillers senior battled injuries early in the season but ended up finishing second in the state in Class 3A. He’s committed to Davidson.
Brenan Morgan
Central Valley, sr., 285 pounds
2023-24 record: 43-0; Career record: 113-12
Morgan is the first PIAA champion from Central Valley. The Virginia commit joins his father, Bruce, as a state champion.
Evan Petrovich
Connellsville, jr., 145 pounds
2023-24 record: 41-7; Career record: 110-27
The WPIAL Class 3A champion ended up placing third in the PIAA. He recently committed to Pitt.
Maddox Shaw
Thomas Jefferson, jr., 139 pounds
2023-24 record: 43-4; Career record: 128-12
The Thomas Jefferson junior is the second wrestler in school history to win a state title.
Landon Sidun
Norwin, fr., 114 pounds
2023-24 record: 42-2; Overall record: 42-2
The dynamic freshman captured his first PIAA Class 3A title, bouncing back after a loss in the WPIAL finals.
Santino Sloboda
Butler, so., 114 pounds
2023-24 record: 38-3; Career record: 78-6
The Butler sophomore upset Norwin freshman Landon Sidun in the WPIAL Class 3A finals. He finished sixth in the state.
Vaughn Spencer
Pine-Richland, jr., 172 pounds
2023-24 record: 43-2; Career record: 71-4
Spencer was a PIAA Class 3A champion. He also won a WPIAL title. He has committed to Lehigh.
Chris Vargo
Bentworth, sr., 127 pounds
2023-24 record: 41-3; Career record: 133-12
The Edinboro commit is a three-time WPIAL Class 2A champion. He lost in the PIAA Class 2A finals for the second consecutive season.
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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