Beth-Center’s Wright gets redemption after last year’s heartbreak
ALTOONA – Mason Wright’s trip to Altoona last season wasn’t a fond memory.
The Beth-Center wrestler lost in the blood round to finish one victory shy of advancing to the state tournament as a freshman in the PIAA Southwest Class 2A Regional Championships.
Wright’s second trip to the regional tournament is one he will never forget.
The Bulldog sophomore earned an 8-1 decision over Fort Cherry’s Shawn Robertson in Friday night’s quarterfinals at 121 pounds to clinch a spot in the semifinals.
After a scoreless first period, Wright scored a takedown and scored three near-fall points for a 5-0 lead in the second. Robertson escaped but Wright added a second takedown for a 7-1 lead heading into the third. Wright escaped for the match’s final point.
Regardless of what happens the rest of the tournament, Wright has punched his ticket to the state tournament next week in Hershey at the Giant Center, as six wrestlers in each weight class qualify from the Southwest Region.
“It is a great feeling knowing that I am going to Hershey,” Wright said. “I wanted to make sure I won in the quarterfinals because you never know what will happen in the other rounds. I was injured during states in junior high, so to come back and work hard to get to this point is great.”
Wright trailed Penns Valley’s Jack Darlington 2-0 in the first period before escaping to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into the second. Wright rode Darlington the entire second and scored a reversal and three near-fall points for a 6-2 decision.
Darlington defeated Wright by major decision in last year’s round of 16 match in the regional tournament.
“My first match tonight was a big one because I lost to him last year,” Wright said. “We were looking at past matches in the room and just working real hard to get to this point.”
Wright attends California but wrestles for Beth-Center as part of a co-op. Teammates Noah and Jacob Layhue and Malachi Peak attend school with Wright.
“I don’t play any other sports, so there is really no rivalry with me attending Cal,” Wright said. “All my family went to Beth-Center, so it is in my heart.”
Bentworth’s Chris Vargo is headed back to the state tournament for the fourth time after winning his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts at 127. Vargo is seeking his fourth regional championship. He was the state runner-up last year.
Bearcat teammates Drake McClure (114), Owen Ivcic (145) and Vitali Daniels (189) will join Vargo in Hershey. Daniels, a senior, will be wrestling at the Giant Center for the third team. Ivcic will be making his second trip as a sophomore and McClure his first as a freshman.
McClure will wrestle Chartiers-Houston senior Jorden Williams in the semifinals. Williams has locked up his third trip to the state tournament.
Burgettstown has two semifinalists in Parker Sentipal (133) and Gaven Suica (139). The senior duo will be making their third trip to the state tournament.
McGuffey sophomore Lucas Barr will be wrestling at the Giant Center for the second straight year after advancing to the semifinals at 127.
Fort Cherry junior Braedon Welsh is headed back to states after advancing to the semifinals at 172.
Belle Vernon’s Kole Doppelheuer (145) and Elijah Brown (172) will compete in the semifinals. The duo has also qualified for their first state tournament.
Wrestlers that lost in the quarterfinals can still come back and qualify for the state tournament via the consolation bracket.