Feb 1, 2026 By Eleanor Bailey 6 min read

Michael Lawrence considers last year’s wrestling season fruitless.

After suffering a season-ending injury, preventing individual post-season tournament competition, the Chartiers Valley senior recovered.

Currently, he is ranked among the top four in his weight classification with a 26-4 record. Fresh off entering the Century Club by registering his 100th career victory, he now finds himself in contention for section, regional, even state honors.

“I felt like I wasted my whole junior year,” Lawrence said. “I’m making up for lost time this year.”

Lawrence has set his sights on a berth in the PIAA tournament set for March 5-6 at the Giant Center in Hershey. He was a sectional runner-up and a WPIAL participant as a sophomore before his shortened junior campaign.

“I want to make it to Hershey,” he said. “It’s going to take hard work in practice and more conditioning. There’s a lot of competition. A lot of hard guys to wrestle,” he continued. “Any of us can end up on top of the podium. The goal is to stay on the same tract as I have been on.”

That path to the PIAA requires a one-match-at-a-time approach. According to Lawrence’s head coach Bill Evans, it is important to take things on a week-to-week basis in the postseason.

“The goal would be a state berth and potentially a state medal finish,” Evans said. “Getting ahead of yourself during that stretch can be dangerous, a win or a loss one week doesn’t guarantee the same result the following weekend. Keeping focused on the match and tournament that you are in that day is crucial.”

Lawrence certainly was focused on redemption when he recently competed in the Allegheny County Championships. It was during the tournament last year that Lawrence incurred his devastating injury. He dislocated his elbow and forfeited his consolation bout to finish sixth overall at 172.

In 2026, Lawrence turned misery into memory.

During the county championships held Jan. 16-17 at Fox Chapel, he not only earned a spot on the podium, he earned his 100th career victory to become the sixth Colt in school history to enter the Century Club.

“It really felt good to join that group,” Lawrence said. “It was a goal that took a lot of hard work and going to practice when I didn’t want to go.”

“It was very memorable because it was on the same mat at the same tournament that he had that injury last season,” Evans added. “I didn’t talk about it to anyone beforehand, but the irony of the situation was definitely not lost on me, and I was a little nervous leading up to the match.”

Lawrence admitted to being apprehensive, too. After posting pins in opening bouts against Will Felton from Hampton (1:22) and Jonathan McDowell from North Allegheny (0:32), Lawrence decisioned Caden Wills from West Mifflin for his 100th career win.

“I was nervous because I knew if I won it would be 100 but I also knew it was the same round and the same arena that I got injured previously,” Lawrence said.

“The match was harder because of that but I was getting my attacks in and I controlled the match at the end.”

While Lawrence could not control the outcome in the semifinals, falling to Liam Costa from Moon, 11-3, he defeated NA’s Brody Barnhart, 10-1, to assure a podium finish. He finished fourth overall after dropping a decision, 4-2, to Carter Morvay from North Hills.

Zachary LaBryer from Thomas Jefferson won the 172-pound weight class when he scored a major decision, 9-1, against Costa in the finals.

“Zachary looks very solid,” said Evans regarding Lawrence’s top WPIAL competition. “He wrestles well in every position.”

Lawrence wrestles best in neutral, his preferred position.

“He is super athletic, very fast, especially on his feet in neutral,” Evans said. “He gets off of the bottom pretty quickly, and has a solid knack for riding.

“His personal strengths are that he’s hard-working and focused,” Evans continued. “He’s become a great team leader and has really matured over the past four years in every way.”

For four years, Lawrence has been a two-sport athlete at Chartiers Valley High School, also excelling on the gridiron.

This fall, he earned first-team all-conference honors on both sides of the football. As a linebacker, he managed 95 tackles (6 for loss). He forced four fumbles and recovered three. He scored six touchdowns on offense.

Lawrence embarked on his athletic career thanks to his father, Mike, who played both sports at Carlynton before he went on to play football at NYU.

Lawrence appears on track to make the same commitment. He is being recruited to play linebacker by Clarion, Edinboro and Gannon universities.

“I prefer defense and I like football better,” said the 18-year-old son of Jessica Lawrence, who was a cheerleader in high school. “At first, it was wrestling but I like football way more. I really liked safety at first but we had a lot of defensive backs and I was a quarterback, too, but I really like to hit people.”

Lawrence sees correlations between football and wrestling, but acknowledges the latter is more challenging than the former.

“Wrestling has a different mindset and it’s way harder than football. It’s you against yourself. Wrestling is the hardest thing you’ll ever do.”

Lawrence noted the weight loss, diet and training as critical to success. In addition to training with his high school team, he trains at the Gladiators Club in Imperial. As a result, he has risen to No. 4 in the WPIAL at 172 pounds.

“In wrestling, you are cutting weight, eating well and working out. To be good, you have to work hard and condition. It takes a lot of perseverance. After my injury, I knew I would be back and stronger because I was willing to do what I had to do no matter how hard it was.”

Michael Lawrence

Info box

Who is he: Chartiers Valley High School senior who recently entered the Century Club, posting his 100th career victory on the wrestling mat.

Age: 18

Birthday: May 26

Parents: Jessica and Mike

Siblings: Paige and Myla

Sports: Wrestling, football

College choices: Clarion, Edinboro, Gannon

Major: Business

Color: Blue

Food: Cheeseburgers

Who makes the best burger: Five Guys

Athlete: Former Seattle Seahawk strong safety Kam Chancellor

Who will win the Super Bowl: Seahawks, 14-7

Life lesson sports has taught you: Perseverance. “No matter how hard it is, like when I was injured, you have to be strong, stick with it and do the work to succeed.”

Person with whom you would like to have dinner: Kevin Hart