Defending WPIAL champ highlights talented lineup for Pine-Richland wrestling

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Vaughn Spencer went undefeated through the first 28 matches of his varsity career until an injury derailed his shot at his first state title last year.

Spencer, a junior, still won a WPIAL title and leads a formidable group of Pine-Richland wrestlers.

Bouncing back from injury is nothing new for Spencer. He missed his freshman season with shoulder and knee injuries.

New Rams coach Ian Abplanalp said Spencer is ready to go and determined as ever.

“That kid is indomitable in his mind,” Abplanalp said. “He shows it in practice and shows it on the mat. He’s also, and this goes for all of our kids, incredibly kind. We have a bunch of young kids come in this year and we have guys with four or five years experience breaking off their practice to work with the new kids. It’s really cool to see because it’s so unique and it’s not something I dictated to them.

“Vaughn is one of those kids that if he sees something needs done in the room, he doesn’t ask or complain. He just does it.”

Abplanalp was an assistant the last three years under Caleb Kolb, who stepped down as head coach but has stayed with the program as a volunteer assistant. Abplanalp wrestled collegiately at Mercyhurst.

The Rams got off to a good start, finishing fourth out of 26 teams at the Chartiers-Houston Invitational.

Spencer pinned his way to the 172-pound final, finishing with a first-period fall over Albert Gallatin’s Landon Conroy in the championship match.

Dom Ferraro (139) also took home a title, defeating Burgettstown’s Gavin Sucia with a 6-5 decision.

Ferraro went 24-10 last year. It’ll be a little different this year without his older brother Anthony, who’s now at Edinboro, on the team, but he’s poised to have a breakout.

“It’s his show now. He’s the sole Ferraro in our room until next year when (his younger brother) Bennett gets here,” Abplanalp said. “He’s been training really hard. He works out constantly, and he was a state champ in freestyle for us last spring. He wrestled for the PA national team against high-quality competition and succeeded with that.

“The times I saw him wrestle, he’s made nice changes and fixes to his technique. He’s got that X-factor where he can put anybody in danger. He’s going to have a great year if he continues the way he’s going.”

Maclane Miller (160) placed third at Chartiers-Houston. Miller had an outstanding freshman year, winning 37 matches. He was one win away from qualifying for states but settled for fifth place at WPIALs.

“He’s a really good kid that works super hard,” Aplanalp said. “He’s one of the most coachable kids in the room and he is also one of the ones that handles losses the best. He would take those losses last year and eat them like holes in his belly and day two, Mac could not be beaten. He’d take that loss and use it as fuel.”

Owen Long (114) finished fourth at Chartiers-Houston and Cole Wilson (215) was sixth.

They are a part of a group along with freshman Alden Rockacy (107) and junior Robert Hoy (132) that make up the core of the team.

“Alden is a little goer,” Abplanalp said. “He’s all gas, no brakes. He’s extremely coachable and everything he does is for a purpose. I think he’s going to shock some people and turn some heads. Robert has been working hard and made some considerable leaps. He’s one of those kids that are on the bubble for success, and if he continues to train hard, he can be one of those guys that can go to the next level.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland