May 7, 2014 3 min read

Tyler Buckiso visited the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville with his grandparents. The Peters Township senior has also been to Ground Zero in New York City. Plus, as a varsity wrestler, he has helped and participated in the school’s annual Match For A Marine, where funds have been raised to support Doug Vitale. The sergeant was seriously injured while on patrol in Afghanistan, losing both legs and suffering several strokes.

“It opens your eyes to how amazing people who serve are and what they do for our country,” said the son of Michael and Marci Buckiso.

The more Buckiso learns about service to the United States, the more he leans toward duty and commitment to the nation. He is enrolled at the Citadel as a member of the 2014-15 wrestling squad, receiving a scholarship that will cover approximately 65 percent of his tuition costs. He has not yet committed to becoming a cadet.

“I didn’t think of it before I signed with the Citadel,” Buckiso said of a military career, “but the more questions I ask and the more I think about it, the more I am considering it. I’m keeping an open mind. I’m undecided but I still can choose.

Buckiso, who said he loves his country and what it stands for, also commented on the Citadel’s academic program. “It’s a regimented education, all the military classes and a strict lifestyle,” he added.

Ah, but so is wrestling, and that’s a sport in which Buckiso has excelled. In fact, he is the Peters Township High School record holder for most wins with 133 victories. A Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic participant for Team WPIAL, Buckiso secured all-state honors with his sixth-place showing at the PIAA championships this winter in Hershey. He was the district and regional bronze medalist, as well as a section champion.

A four-year letterwinner, he captained the Indians to back-to-back Section 2-AAA runner-up title and WPIAL team playoff appearances.

Individually, he’s been a three-time section runner-up, four-time WPIAL medalist and two-time PIAA qualifier. He is a two-time Tri-County champion and four-time placewinner at the Chartiers-Houston Tournament, earning gold-medal honors in 2012. He placed seventh in the 2013 PowerAde Tournament.

In Junior Olympics competition, Buckiso has captured six regional championships. He is a five-time Pennsylvania state qualifier and two-time state place winner. In All-State Pennsylvania Freestyle wrestling, he is a three-time place winner.

In National High School Coaches Association action, he gained All-American honors twice with second-place finishes for Team Danger and Team Diesel. He also wrestles for Team Quest.

Buckiso earned the coveted “Black Hat” at the J. Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp and has had Top 6 or better finishes in five Tournament of Champions events, with a title in 2012.

Among his other top finishes included fourths at the War At the Shore and second and fourths in the Cliff Keen Worlds.

Buckiso plans to major in business while he wrestles at the Citadel.