High school wrestling notebook: Albert Gallatin’s Wallace, Waynesburg’s Morris seek 3rd WPIAL titles

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, February 27, 2018 | 9:27 PM

Albert Gallatin senior Tim Wallace and Waynesburg senior Caleb Morris will look to make history at the WPIAL/Southwest Regional Class AAA tournament this weekend.

Both are trying to become three-time champions.

Wallace (31-2) is seeded No. 1 at 182 pounds, while Morris (37-6) is seeded No. 2 at 126 pounds behind returning WPIAL and PIAA champion Sam Hillegas of North Hills.

Wallace won at 160 pounds in 2016 and at 170 in 2017.

Morris won the 106 title in 2015, placed fourth at 120 in 2016 and then won his second title in 2017 at 132.

The other returning WPIAL champions are Norwin sophomore Kurtis Phipps (106), Hillegas (113), Hempfield senior Luke Kemerer (138), Laurel Highlands senior Ian Edenfield (220), Seneca Valley senior Louis Newell (106, 2016) and Belle Vernon senior Zack Hartman (132, 2016).

Patrick surprised

Ligonier Valley senior Robby Patrick was a little surprised at the final score between Chestnut Ridge junior Jared McGill and Frazier sophomore Thayne Lawrence at the Class AA Southwest Regional last weekend.

McGill won 10-1.

Both are Patrick's practice partners at Young Guns; he grapples with Lawrence on Mondays and McGill on Tuesdays.

“Both are very good,” Patrick said. “Thayne is really good, and I expect him to be a state champion by his senior season.”

Patrick won his fourth Class AA Southwest Regional title Saturday with a 16-0 victory against Penn Cambria junior Derek Brown at 170 pounds.

He and Jefferson-Morgan senior Gavin Teasdale became the seventh and eighth wrestlers in the 32-year history of the Class AA tournament to win four titles.

Few unbeatens

There are only three wrestlers with undefeated records heading into this weekend's Class AAA tournament at Canon-McMillan — Phipps (32-0) at 106, West Allegheny junior Rocky McGeary (32-0) at 220 and Kiski Area senior Isaac Reid (15-0) at heavyweight.

There are only five wrestlers with one loss — Shaler junior Ryan Sullivan (34-1) at 113, Hillegas (24-1) at 126, Kemerer (33-1) at 152, Hartman (36-1) at 160 and West Mifflin senior Gerald Brown (33-1) at heavyweight.

Levett seeded No. 1

Kiski Area senior Noah Levett (36-4) received the No. 1 seed at 138 pounds despite two losses to Waynesburg senior Jackson Henson during the season.

Henson is seeded third behind Canon-McMillan's Tim Hritsko, who beat Henson in the Section 4 final.

Levett is a three-time WPIAL place winner and PIAA qualifier.

He defeated Hritsko twice this season, and Hritsko is 1-2 against Henson.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Canon-McMillan, Frazier, Hempfield Area, Kiski School, Laurel Highlands, Ligonier Valley, North Hills, Norwin, Seneca Valley, Waynesburg, Waynesburg Central, West Allegheny, West Mifflin