Feb 23, 2017 3 min read

No one is more thankful to be on the wrestling mat than Bryce Wilkes.

The freshman from Peters Township High School spent the first month of the season watching, not participating, and it drove him crazy.

Wilkes was on the mend from a shoulder injury sustained before the season while working out at his wrestling club at Pitt.

“It was pretty hard not being able to come back (for the start of the season),” said Wilkes. “I missed two big tournaments: West Mifflin and Chartiers-Houston. When I got the doctor’s release, it was the best day of my life.”

Wilkes’ next objective is winning his weight at the Section 2-AAA Tournament, which begins at Connellsville High School Saturday. The one-day section tournaments are the first postseason individual event for Class AAA wrestlers. Other tournaments also are taking place at Trinity (Section 4), Fox Chapel (Section 3) and Kiski (Section 1). The top five wrestlers in each weight class advance to the WPIAL Championships, which will be held March 3-4 at Canon-McMillan High School.

Wilkes is the top seed at 106 pounds, thanks in part to his 18-2 record and his undefeated red headgear.

“I’m 18-0 when I wear it,” said Wilkes. “I’ve only had it for this year.”

Wilkes won his first tournament – the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association event – last month at Albert Gallatin High School. He would love to add the section title to his resume. Wilke’s first-round opponent is Andrew Wharton, a junior from Upper St. Clair with a 4-16 record.

Tairen Bundy, a sophomore from Ringgold with a 16-10 record, is expected to be his main opposition to winning the section title.

“I’m very pleased with his progress,” said Peters Township head coach Jason Carpetta. “I definitely knew he had the talent. I knew he was very special.”

Wilkes is one of two top seeds in this tournament from Peters Towmship. Brandon Mathews, a sophomore with a 22-11 record, is the other. Mathews will wrestle the winner of the bout between Shelby Rhodes, a senior at Ringgold with a 1-4 record, and Andrew Latorre, a sophomore from McKeesport with a 3-5 record.

“Brandon is a go-getter,” said Carpetta. “He guts it out on the mat. He’s having a good season. He went up in weight a little bit this year and it’s been a little adjustment for him. He doesn’t back down from anyone.”

Other local top seeds at the Section 2 tournament are Jacob Dunlop (113), Brock Gozdin (152) and Zach Hartman (160) of Belle Vernon.

Local top seeds in Section 4 are Ken Hayman (113), Logan Macri (120), Matt Oblock (126), Tim Hritsko (138), Gerrit Nijenhuis (152), Blaze Kansco (170), Bryan Milligan (182) and Brendan Furman (Hvy) for Canon-McMillan; and Caleb Morris (132), Colin McCracken (195) and Connor Main (220) of Waynesburg.