Homet off to good start for Waynesburg
By Joe Tuscano/Staff writer/jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
Cole Homet of Waynesburg (background) works on Bruce Hook of Bentworth during their 120-pound match in the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association Wrestling Tournament Friday. Homet won by fall.
By Joe Tuscano/Staff writer/jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
Michael Dedi of South Fayette works for a pin of Jefferson-Morgan’s Colby Rutan in the 170-pound match in the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association Wrestling Tournament Friday.
When it comes to wrestling, Cole Homet does not have a lot in common with his brother Kyle.
Kyle Homet was a tall and strong, wrestling in the 170-pound weight class for Waynesburg High School. He’s now a freshman wrestler for Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Cole, five years younger than his brother, is a promising 120-pound freshman for the Raiders.
The one thing the Homets do have in common is the ability to win wrestling matches. Kyle Homet finished his scholastic career with a 132-40 record and as a PIAA qualifier in Class AAA in his senior season.
Cole Homet is 19-5 and coming off an impressive performance in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School last week. He finished in sixth place in the 120-pound weight class.
He also got his first taste of the Beast of the East tournament and came within one win of earning a medal.
On Friday’s first day of the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association Wrestling Tournament at Trinity High School, Homet added two victories to move into today’s semifinals (10:30 a.m.). Finals are set for 2:30 p.m.
“The two tournaments we went to definitely were tough, but I was happy to place in the one,” said Cole Homet. “(Kyle) told me that it doesn’t matter who I wrestle, when I step on the mat, I’m out there to beat whoever is out in front of me. My goal is to outwork them, outwork everybody.”
Cole Homet opened the Tri-CADA tournament with a pin in 1:28 of Bruce Hook of Bentworth. Homet, the second seed in the weight class, followed with a pin in 3:14 of Ashtin Slavick of Ringgold in the quarterfinals.
Homet will take on Trinity’s A.D. Nelson in today’s semifinals. Top-seed Jimmy Gwyer of Beth-Center made it to the semifinals, where he wrestles Jacob Gardner of Canon-McMillan.
“My goals are the same, still to be a state champion,” said Homet. “I’m still gunning for that.”
Homet is one of a talented group of younger wrestlers in the lineup. Sophomore Hunter Shriver (113), freshman Colton Stoneking (126), freshman Nate Kirby (132), sophomore Nate Stephenson (138), sophomore Luca Augustine (152), sophomore Darnell Johnson (170), freshman Noah Tustin (182) and sophomore Ryan Howard (220) assure Waynesburg will be competitive over the next few years.
Waynesburg also has two promising eighth-graders in Mac Church and Rocco Welsh, both multiple Junior Olympic champions, scheduled to join the varsity next season.
“The future is looking good for us,” said Waynesburg head coach Joe Throckmorton. “We won junior high states last year and they are all around the same weight. We’ve got some of the best workout partners in the country. We’ll do what we have to do in the room to be successful.”
Each of the top two seeds in this tournament advanced to the semifinals.