Feb 24, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 6 min read

BRIDGEVILLE – When Bentworth senior Chris Vargo is wrestling in college at Edinboro next year, “three for Vargo,” will be what the Fighting Scots’ coaches want to hear many times, as collegiate rules have changed a takedown from two to three points.

“Three for Vargo” was only mentioned when he received his gold medal Saturday afternoon at the WPIAL Class 2A Individual Wrestling Championships, but the quality far outweighed the quantity as Vargo earned his third district championship with a 7-2 decision over Indiana’s Nico Fanella in the finals at 127 pounds.

Vargo won WPIAL titles as a freshman and sophomore before finishing as runner-up last year to Burrell’s Cooper Hornack. The Charleroi student, who wrestles for the Bearcats as part of a co-op, will be seeking his fourth PIAA southwestern regional championship next weekend in Altoona.

“I wrestled all right but it doesn’t mean anything because we have next week,” Vargo said. “I will be focusing on winning next week and moving on to states.”

Fanella took a 1-0 lead with an escape in the second period before Vargo scored a takedown with three near-fall points for a 5-1 advantage. He scored a second takedown in the third and allowed another escape but was never in danger of losing the bout.

“I have respect for him (Fanella),” Vargo said. “He went through a hardship this summer, so I feel for him. I think I did a little too much feeling out in the finals match. I need to do better.”

Burgettstown’s Rudy Brown won his first district title with a 5-2 decision over Elizabeth Forward’s Damon Michaels at 152. Brown scored a takedown with 56 seconds left in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Michaels escaped to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Brown added a second takedown with nine seconds remaining to clinch the match.

“I just knew I had to get to my offense,” Brown said. “I started a little slow and had to get the nerves out, but I was able to finish that one shot and was able to stay strong at the end. My goal is to get on the podium at states.”

Brown, a senior, is unsure if he will wrestle in college, but has enjoyed the ride, and is looking forward to the next few weeks of high school wrestling. He qualified for states as a sophomore.

Brown was also glad to get some redemption for his teammates, as Parker Sentipal (133) and Gaven Suica (139) lost close matches in the finals. Sentinel dropped an 8-5 decision to Quaker Valley’s Jack Kazalas and Suica lost to Hornack, 3-1, in sudden victory.

“I think we definitely have the best class that ever came through Burgettstown,” Brown said. “We won the WPIAL team title last year and have a really good group of seniors. We pulled in some underclassmen that really put us together. Mark my words, ‘Gaven and Parker will both beat those guys the next time they wrestle.'”

Belle Vernon sophomore Elijah Brown escaped with 1:42 left in the second period and rode out Fort Cherry’s Braedon Welsh in the third period for a 1-0 decision and his first WPIAL title in the finals at 172. Brown and Welsh have faced each other four times this season, with Brown winning all four bouts.

“I know what he (Welsh) likes to do from neutral, so I tried to defend that,” Brown said. “I have been working on my escapes, so that was a big part of my victory. I was able to hold him down in the third period and not let him escape, but it was really tough.”

Brown is happy with the victory and looks forward to the regional tournament next weekend. He anticipates another battle with Welsh.

“The goal is to get to states,” Brown said. “He (Welsh) is my No. 1 competitor so I anticipate another match with him.”

West Greene’s Colin Whyte was pinned in the finals at 215, but the Pioneer sophomore still advances to the regional tournament and can say he wrestled a four-time WPIAL champion, as Frazier’s Rune Lawrence won the title in typical dominant fashion.

Beth-Center’s Mason Wright placed second at 121 and Bentworth’s Vitali Daniels was the runner-up at 189.

Chartiers-Houston’s Jorden Williams finished second in the WPIAL finals for the second straight year after dropping a 3-2 decision to Derry’s Anthony Mucci in the finals at 114.

Williams scored a reversal to tie the match at 2-2 in the third period, but Mucci escaped with 1:42 left and Williams couldn’t secure the winning takedown. Mucci escaped twice and received a point on a technical violation.

The top eight finishers in each weight class will represent District 7 in the PIAA southwestern regional tournament next Friday and Saturday at Altoona High School.

The Blue Devils led the way in regional qualifiers with seven, as Joseph Baronick (3rd at 285), Darius Simmons (6th at 106), Dylan Slovick (6th at 127) and Daniel Smith (8th at 121) will join Brown, Sentipal and Suica in Altoona.

Burgettstown’s coaching staff was awarded prior to the finals, as head coach Joey Vigliotti was named the WPIAL Coach of the Year. Louie Vigliotti was named the assistant coach of the year and Gary Havelka was the junior high coach of the year.

The Bearcats’ Drake McClure (3rd at 114), Owen Ivcic (4th at 145) and Brayden Taggart (5th at 172) advanced to regionals.

Beth-Center’s Jacob Layhue (4th at 189), Noah Layhue (7th at 172), Malachi Peak (7th at 215) and Alex Medlen (8th at 114) have at least one more week in the wrestling season.

Belle Vernon’s Kole Doppelheuer (3rd at 145), Giovanni Weightman (4th at 139) and Austin Hoffman (6th at 189) advanced to regionals.

Fort Cherry’s Anthony Salvini finishes in fifth place at 189. The Ranger senior also won his 100th-career match Saturday in the third round of consolations. Teammate Shawn Robertson was sixth at 121.

Jefferson-Morgan’s Chase Frameli (3rd at 160), Adam McAnany (4th at 215) and Mason Sisler (5th at 285) finished in the top eight to qualify for the regional tournament.

The Pioneers’ Noah Collins (6th at 114) and Seth Burns (8th at 133) are headed to Altoona next weekend. Washington’s Joe Wilson placed sixth at 285.