Lawrence, Vargo among Mat Warriors all-star honorees

By Jonathan Guth
MVI Sports

The Mon Valley Independent has announced its MVI-BeeGraphix Mat Warriors all-star team and award winners following another exciting year of high school wrestling.

The awards are for wrestler of the year, breakthrough wrestler of the year and coach of the year. The staff has also included a first and second team of top grapplers in the area.

Wrestler of the year

You win a state title, you are pretty much guaranteed to be at least a co-wrestler of the year, and that honor goes to Frazier’s Rune Lawrence.

The freshman came into the season highly regarded after winning two junior high state championships. Plus the expectations were high given his brother, Thayne, was a two-time state champion for the Commodores.

The younger Lawrence was able to forge his own destiny in winning the PIAA Class AA gold in the 172-pound weight class.

Early in the season, Lawrence showed the wrestling world he was for real with a second-place finish at the prestigious Powerade Wrestling Tournament. Lawrence’s 3-2 setback to Dillon Walker of Moeller, Ohio, was his lone loss in 31 bouts this season.

Lawrence finished his freshman campaign in style with a 9-7 decision over Penns Valley’s Malachi DuVall in the 172-pound final March 12 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Lawrence turned DuVall for two near-fall points late in the third period to break a 7-7 tie and proceeded to slam head coach Buck Watkins in celebration.

Lawrence also won Section, WPIAL, Southwest Region and West Super Region titles.

Breakthrough wrestler of the year

Bentworth freshman Chris Vargo, who is a student at Charleroi, wanted the same spot as Lawrence, but still showed the state he has what it takes to win a state championship after finishing third in the PIAA Class AA State Championships in the 113-pound weight class.

Vargo (20-2) dropped his quarterfinal bout to Athens’ Gavin Bradley in the quarterfinals at states but rebounded to win his final three matches for the bronze. Vargo avenged a loss to Bald Eagle Area’s Coen Bainey in the consolation finals. Bainey defeated Vargo at the Wes Super Regional. Bradley went on to finish second in the state.

Vargo was a section, WPIAL and Southwest Region Championship in his debut season for the Bearcats.

Coach of the year

Buck Watkins started as the head coach of Frazier after working with Thayne Lawrence as a freshman in fall 2017 with a program that had five wrestlers. The Commodores had 14 on their roster this season and Watkins expects the numbers to climb in the near future.

In addition to Rune Lawrence’s success, Jake Thomas qualified for the WPIAL tournament after placing second in the section championships.

In addition to our annual award winners, we are pleased to unveil this year’s all-star team:

First team

Damon Michaels – EF (113): 27-6

Chris Vargo – Bentworth (113): 20-2

Kale Buckiso – TJ (145): 24-7

Michael Zacur – TJ (152): 20-10

Austin Halazynski – SA (152): 25-10

Rune Lawrence – Frazier (172): 30-1

Brian Finnerty – TJ (172): 30-7

Logan Hoffman – BVA (189): 21-7

Cole Weightman – BVA (215): 29-9

Nicholas Murphy – EF (285): 20-6

Second team

Max Ivcic – Bentworth (106): 11-3

Shane Momyer – Yough (113): 8-4

Gabe Galioto – TJ (113): 14-8

Jack Duncan – Ringgold (120): 16-5

Jake Thomas – Frazier (120): 6-6

Justin Patton – EF (132): 15-8

Caden Brock – EF (138): 12-9

Bolivar Campusano – McKeesport (172): 15-4

Chad Metikosh – BVA (285): 20-9

Vitali Daniels – Bentworth (285): 13-2