South Fayette leads list of Almanac wrestling all-stars
Matt Rundell of Illinois maintains control against Jared Walker from South Fayette during Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic action. Representing the WPIAL all-stars, Walker dropped an 8-2 decision to Rundell.
Mike Carr capped an undefeated season with a PIAA state championship.
Eli Grape posted one of the best sophomore seasons in USC wrestling history.
South Fayette experienced another successful season in wrestling, claiming a section banner, reaching the Final Four in the WPIAL AA tournament and qualifying for the PIAA team tournament. Five grapplers spearheaded the Lions’ attack on the mat. State medalists Jared Walker and Mike Carr headlined the list of achievers for South Fayette, followed by Andrew John, Shane Ging and Brett Beltz.
Walker stepped into the record books this winter. He became the 25th wrestler in WPIAL history to win four straight titles. Walker also ended his career as the all-time winningest wrestler in school history with 152 victories.
“(Jared) has set the bar high for everyone else who follow him through his being a leader in and out of the room,” said his coach Rick Chaussard. “I know a lot of the young kids look up to him.”
Walker added to his legendary status when he was selected to participate in the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic at the close of the season. Walker finished the year with a 39-5 record. He was a three-time placewinner at the PIAA championships. After collecting seventh place as a sophomore, Walker was a state runner-up as a junior and a bronze medalist as a senior at 160 pounds. He will major in geology and wrestle at Kent State University.
Chaussard predicts more success in Walker’s future. “I see him being very successful,” he said. “(Jared’s) work ethic will help drive him in whatever he decides. On the mat I fully expect to see him somewhere on the podium in the NCAA tournament.”
Atop the podium was Carr. In every tournament in which he participated, he claimed a championship. Carr capped an undefeated, 45-0, season with a PIAA title at 138. A two-time WPIAL and Southwest Regional champion, Carr owns a career record of 118-15.
“PIAA state champion, need I say more?” said Chaussard when asked to comment regarding Carr’s season. He added he expects Carr to repeat the feat. “What else is there left to do? Mike has a bright future ahead of him on the mat and in life. He wants to be a doctor and I’m sure he would make a good one. He’s very good with young kids.”
Youth, in regards to experience, did not deter Andrew John. In only his third year of wrestling, he produced 30 wins. The senior finished 30-14 overall this winter and 68-35 for his career. A section runner-up, he finished eighth in the WPIAL.
“That’s quite a feat for a young man with little experience,” said Chaussard.
While wrestling with a “severe” elbow injury, Shane Ging accomplished much for the Lions. He posted a 24-10 record and won a section title. Ging also claimed a WPIAL runner-up spot at 132. The junior owns an 80-50 record in his career.
Brett Beltz joined the Century Club this season. The senior finished his career with a 116-40 record. He was 39-8 this season. A section champion, he placed second in the district, third in the region and fifth in the state. “All at the 182-pound weight class while moving up two weight classes and wrestling 10 pounds under weight,” noted Chaussard.
BP places 3
Bethel Park placed three wrestlers on the Almanac all-star team: Paul Dunn, Santino Bonaccorsi and Adam Montgomery.
A senior, Dunn capped his career with an appearance in the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. He was the only area participant to pick up a victory. He competed for the WPIAL all-stars.
Dunn is another member of the Century Club. He compiled a career record of 133-44. This winter, he was 42-6 overall. Dunn earned his second straight bronze medal at this year’s PIAA championships. He was the WPIAL runner-up at 160 and a section champion.
“Paul is one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached,” said Bob Stewart. “What he accomplished these past two years is a true testament that hard work pays off. He has a bright future ahead of him at the college level and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
A sophomore, Bonaccorsi served as Dunn’s training partner in the room as he wrestled at 152. He produced a record of 40-9 this season. He finished fourth in the WPIAL and Southwest Regional and placed sixth at the PIAA championships.
“Nino had a tremendous season,” said Steward. “Placing sixth in the state as a sophomore is a huge accomplishment. It’s only going to be a stepping stone to what he does these next two years. With his work ethic and his will to win, the sky is the limit.”
Montgomery capped his career with an appearance in the WPIAL and Southwest Regional tournament. He posted a 23-13 record that included a bronze medal showing in the sectional meet.
USC duo shine
Brooks Wilding and Eli Grape submitted sensational seasons for Upper St. Clair.
A senior, Wilding has been a three-year captain for the Panthers. He joined his brothers, Austin and Corey, in the Century Club with more than 100 career victories. He finished 103-46 overall. “That a feat accomplished by only a handful of families in WPIAL history,” said USC head coach Sean O’Rourke. Wilding also qualified for the PIAA tournament. “Despite having to wrestle three days after having an appendectomy,” added O’Rourke.
At 170 pounds, Wilding posted a record of 33-10 this winter. He finished fourth in the district, second in the section and fourth in the county. The three-time WPIAL qualifier capped his career with an invitation to participate in the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic.
“Brooks embodies hard work, determination and grit,” said O’Rourke.
Grape possesses those characteristics, too. Plus, he has time to blossom into one of the program’s finest grapplers because he is just a sophomore. The 195-pound wrestler produced 34 victories against 10 losses. He is 58-15 for his career. A two-time WPIAL qualifier, Grape grabbed third place in the county and in the district. A section champion, he took third in the regional and placed eighth in the state championships.
“Eli had perhaps one of the best sophomore seasons of any wrestler in USC history,” O’Rourke said. “His biggest accomplishment was qualifying for the state tournament and working his way through the consolation bracket to take eighth. With a little more hard work and devotion to training, Eli will be a force to be reckoned with in Hershey for the next two years.”
Big Macs attack
The future of wrestling is bright at Canon-McMillan in part because of Logan Macri and Tim Hritsko. Both are freshmen that produced 20-plus seasons for the Big Macs, who claimed their 14th straight section title and 36th banner overall.
At 106, Macri rolled up a 31-12 record. He qualified for the PIAA championships, posting a 2-2 record in the tournament. He finished fourth in the WPIAL and second in the section.
At 120, Hritsko mounted a 23-16 record. He placed third in the section and qualified for the WPIAL tournament.
Micah Kusturiss also will return to the Big Macs’ line-up. The junior completed a season featuring 30 victories against only nine losses. A PIAA state qualifier, he finished third in the district and Southwest Regional.
Lebo repeat
Despite suffering a season-ending injury, Zeynul Zaynullayev makes his second straight appearance on the Almanac all-star list.
Ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL, he had just beaten Canon-McMillan’s Brendan Furman and had placed sixth in the prestigious Powerade tournament when he tore ligaments in his knee. An eighth-place finisher at the 2014 PIAA state championships, Zaynullayev posted a 14-6 record this winter. He owned a career record of 86-39. He was a WPIAL runner-up.
Mary caps list
Phil Mary capped his career with an appearance in the WPIAL and Southwest Regional tournament. The senior posted a 26-7 record at 126.