Nov 29, 2016 2 min read

Area wrestlers return to defend titles

The 2016 wrestling season debuts with three area grapplers attempting to defend their titles at the Chartiers-Houston Tournament. Eli Grape of Upper St. Clair, South Fayette’s Mike Cusick and Brandon Matthews from Peters Township are returning champions.

A senior, Grape owns a 94-22 overall record. He wrestled at 195 last season and compiled a 35-5 record, complete with an eighth-place showing at states. He is a three-time WPIAL qualifier and two-time section champion. Grape, who also excels on the football field, was a WPIAL runner-up last season.

A junior, Cusick compiled a 31-15 record last year. He was a section runner-up and a seventh-place finisher in the WPIAL at 160. Despite wrestling up four weight classifications, he qualified for the regional tournament.

A sophomore, Matthews qualified for the WPIAL championships. He finished 28-17 in his first year of varsity competition.

South Fayette and Peters Township are the top two returning teams to the field, which includes 25 participating schools. Among the other entrants are: Albert Gallatin, Annville-Cleona, Avella, Avonworth, Beaver, Beth-Center, Brashear, Burgettstown, Butler, Central Valley, Elizabeth-Forward, Fort Cherry, Frazier, Freedom, Laurel, Montour, North Hills, Pine-Richland, South Park, South Side Beaver, West Greene and the host, Buccaneers.

In addition to other returning champions, such as Hunter Baxter and Garrett Burnham from Pine-Richland and Beth-Center’s Anthony Welsh, eight runner-ups from 2015 hope to reach the top of the podium in 2016. Among the locals are: Colin Dunn from South Fayette, USC’s Grant Walnoha and Jake Slinger as well as C-H’s Trey Lober. P-R’s Alex Salas, S.S.B.’s Joe Demor, Butler’s Caleb Baxter and AG’s Tim Wallace are also returning runners-up.

Opening-round action begins at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Second-round consolations commence the next day, at 10 a.m. Semifinals start at 11:30. Consolation and championship finals are scheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 9.