State championship hunt gets started for local wrestlers

By DAN PALM
MVI Sports
The high school wrestling season concludes this weekend and six local wrestlers have their own story to tell in the PIAA Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
No story is bigger than Frazier’s Thayne Lawrence. He’s looking to become the 60th wrestler to win three or more state championships. A Lehigh recruit, Lawrence has won four section and WPIAL titles as well as two Southwest Regional championships to go along with his two PIAA golds.
“Thayne is wrestling at a very high level right now, but I believe he has yet to wrestle his best. That’s going to happen this weekend,” said third-year Commodores coach Buck Watkins. “Two things that hinder people the most is the fear of failure and the pain of regret. Thayne has changed his mindset since his freshman year. He wrestles without fear and always walks off the mat with his head held high.”
In the Class 2A bracket, the four region champs are seeded based on this season’s record and how they performed in last year’s state tournament. Lawrence (21-1) is the top seed at 160 pounds with a perfect score.
“I expect a great weekend of wrestling although it’s tough knowing this will be the last time I walk out with him in Hershey,” Watkins said. “I knew Thayne had the ability to become something special but he’s exceeded expectations.”
Three wrestlers from Elizabeth Forward join Lawrence in the 2A brackets.
Seniors Ryan Michaels and Ethan Cain and sophomore Dylan Bruce will represent the Warriors.
Michaels (42-2) has unfinished business to take care of in Hershey.

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