Apr 15, 2025 7 min read

Nicholas McGarrity of Peters Township is making progress. In his first two scholastic seasons on the mats, the sophomore has improved by leaps and bounds.

After placing sixth as a freshman in the PIAA championships, McGarrity moved up three slots and finished third in the state.

McGarrity also gained improved prominence in the awards department. He had gone from Rookie Of the Year to Most Valuable Grappler on The Almanac’s annual all-star wrestling team.

The Almanac wrestling all-star team is selected with the help of the area coaches in the readership area. They are asked to nominate team members that deserve recognition and supply supporting data, including records. A wrestler is then selected in each weight classification. Final picks in each weight are based on where the wrestler finished the competitive season, regardless of record.

McGarrity topped all area grapplers by finishing the highest in the ultimate competition, the PIAA championships held at the Giant Center in Hershey. McGarrity took home the bronze medal in the 107-pound weight class.

While a state title was his goal, McGarrity rebounded from a 4-2 setback in the semifinals against Northampton’s Brayden Wenrich to secure his spot on the podium with major decisions against Tommy Gretz from Connellsville, 11-3, and Sam Culp from Read Land in the consolation bouts.

McGarrity’s success this season was based on two factors. The first was his freshman year and the second was a drop in weight, moving from 114 to 107.

“It was in the back of my head that I could drop and be even more dominant,” he said. “Especially coming back at the same weight class as last year when I had so much success.

“I feel like wrestling at 107 is much better for me,” he added.

Over two years, McGarrity has enjoyed tremendous success. He owns an overall record of 87-9.

He posted a 44-5 mark this year, complete with sectional, WPIAL and regional titles. As a freshman, McGarrity was 43-4. He also won sectional, district and regional crowns before going 3-2 in the PIAA tournament to finish sixth in the state.

CENTURY CLUB

Four members of the Almanac wrestling all-star team entered the Century Club this winter. They gained admission to the distinguished group by recording their 100th career victory during their senior season.

Talan Mizenko from South Fayette finished with 103 career wins. He posted a 38-10 this season and accumulated medals in three regular-season tournaments (third at Chartiers-Houston, runner-up at TRICADA, and fourth at the Allegheny County championships) before embarking on the season-ending individual wrestle-offs.

After earning runner-up acclaim in the Southern section, Mizenko finished fifth in the WPIAL championships at 139. His third-place showing in the western regional gained him a berth in the PIAA state tournament.

“Talan’s leadership is one by example,” said South Fayette mat boss Richard Chaussard. “He never said much but was one of the hardest workers in the room. His teammates responded to his hard work.”

Ethan Higgins was the leader on the Bethel Park squad. He helped the Black Hawks to back-to-back section banners and appearances in the WPIAL team tournament, finishing fourth as a junior and reaching the quarterfinals this year.

Individually, Higgins compiled a 127-52 record that featured 60 pins. This winter he posted a 44-11 mark in the 145 weight classification.

Higgins was a bronze medalist at the Allegheny County championships as well as the WPIAL and Western Regional tournaments. He was the Southern sectional runner-up. A PIAA qualifier, he was 2-2 at the state championships.

Darius McMillon was another successful Peters Township grappler. The senior, who will play football at Wheeling University, racked up 132 career wins in 162 bouts. He recorded 68 career falls.

This winter, he dominated the 152-pound weight class, posting a 53-9 record.

A two-time section champion, including this season, McMillon placed third in the WPIAL and fourth in the Western Regional to qualify for the PIAA championships. A two-time state participant, he did not place, withdrawing due to an injury. Injuries also prevented him from participating in the postseason as a junior.

At Mt. Lebanon, Ben Lloyd dominated the heavyweight class. For his career, he was 104-64 overall with 56 falls and one state tournament appearance. He finished 33-15 this season. After earning runner-up laurels in section, he placed seventh in the WPIAL.

“I am beyond proud of Ben and the work he put in over his time on the team,” said Mt. Lebanon head coach Marc Allemang. “He came in as an undersized freshman who only won 10 matches and just continued to get better each season. Ben had a great career and he will do well in everything he does.

Lloyd will continue his career at Gannon University.

LEBO ADDS 2

Two additional Lebo grapplers joined Lloyd on the all-star list.

Devin McCauley wrapped up his career with a championship at the Southern sectional. At 172 pounds, he finished 27-16 this season. He added eighth place in the WPIAL championships.

A sophomore, Evan Sala managed a 20-7 record. He finished runner-up in the section and secured sixth place in the WPIAL championships. He wrestled three matches in the Western Regional.

“This was a breakout season for Evan,” said Allemang. “He was injured a good portion of last year so he was never really able to get in a rhythm.

“Evan had a productive off season and came into this year with purpose and it showed in his wrestling throughout the season. Being able to get through the competition of the WPIAL and move through to the regional tournament will be valuable experience for him next year.”

BP ADDS 3

While Maksim Miller and Hunter Goelz graduate this June, Pierce Reinhart has a bright future ahead on the mats at Bethel Park. The trio join Higgins on the all-star list.

Reinhart is a talented sophomore, having amassed a 30-11 record this winter. At 121, he captured an Allegheny County championship, a bronze medal in the sectional and a seventh-place showing at the WPIAL championships.

Miller won 19 matches. He finished fifth at 160 during the Southern sectional.

Goelz posted a 29-16 record. A fourth-place medalist at the county championships, Goelz went on to grab runner-up honors in the section. He added seventh place at the WPIAL championships at 215.

CV GETS 3

Chartiers Valley placed three grapplers on the Almanac all-star list, including claiming newcomer of the year laurels.

Cooper Knorr earned Almanac Rookie of the Year recognition after a standout freshman year. He posted a 24-10 record, complete with 10 falls and a pair of tech falls. He finished fifth in the Southern sectional at 107 pounds.

Meanwhile, Logan Connolly earned honors at 133. For the second year in a row, he racked up 30 victories.

This winter, the senior compiled a 30-11 record. He qualified for the WPIAL championships by placing fourth in the sectional.

Connolly finished his career with a 90-50 overall record

At 189, Howard Clellen posted an 18-16 mark, complete with 12 falls. The senior secured sixth place in the sectional.

USC WITH 1

Alisher Abdurakhmanov of Upper St. Clair rounds out the list of Almanac wrestling all-stars. The junior won 15 matches. He finished fifth at 114 during the sectional and qualified for the WPIAL championships.

Almanac Wrestling All-Stars

107 – Nicholas McGarrity, Peters Township Sophomore 44-5

114 – Alisher Abdurakhmanov, Upper St. Clair Junior 15-18

121 – Pierce Reinhart, Bethel Park Sophomore 30-11

127 – Evan Sala, Mt. Lebanon Sophomore 20-7

133 – Logan Connolly, Chartiers Valley Senior 30-11

139 – Talan Mizenko, South Fayette Senior 38-10

145 – Ethan Higgins, Bethel Park Senior 44-11

152 – Darius McMillon, Peters Township Senior 53-9

160 – Maksim Miller, Bethel Park Senior 19-20

172 – Devin McCauley, Mt. Lebanon Senior 27-16

189 – Howard Clellen, Chartiers Valley Senior 18-16

215 – Hunter Goelz, Bethel Park Senior 29-16

285 – Ben Lloyd, Mt. Lebanon Senior 33-15

Most Valuable Grappler Nicholas McGarrity, Peters Township

HONORABLE MENTION: Colton Fisher (23-13), Seth Miller (27-13), Aden Stout (31-13), Ian Bucheli (30-17), Michael Gibson (30-15) – Bethel Park; Michael Lawrence (25-4) – Chartiers Valley; Cole Gibbons (33-13), Jonathan Emma (24-9), Ben Mares (20-13) – Mt. Lebanon; A.J McGarrity (25-15), Parker Nave (33-13), Colton Stocker (22-17), Zack Stromock (30-18) – Peters Township; Brock Dennison (30-11), Peter Leventis (27-11), Luke Dunlap (38-11) – South Fayette; Alex Tucker (16-17), Matteo Amorosa (16-8), Kurt Baran (17-9), George Drutis (18-9), Derek Worstell (31-12), Bryce Catanzaro (28-9), Alex Zevallos (24-16) – Upper St. Clair

Rookie of the Year Cooper Knorr, Chartiers Valley 24-10

WRESTLERS TO WATCH: Spencer Hills (25-11), Luca Coury (21-17)- Upper St. Clair

Coach of the Year Tyler Nauman, Bethel Park