Franklin Regional wrestling shifts focus to individual season

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 11:00 PM

In the Class AAA team tournament last month, the Franklin Regional wrestling team was bounced by Seneca Valley in the round of 16, the earliest exit for the Panthers since 2012.

There is plenty of optimism for Franklin Regional with the individual sectional on the horizon, however, as the Panthers expect to have a strong showing. Franklin Regional will send eight competitors to the Section 1 tournament Saturday at Kiski Area.

“Those guys have wrestled at a high level all year, and hopefully we should get some good results out of them,” second-year Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said.

Carter Dibert, a freshman who competes in the 106-pound weight class, is 24-6. He's ranked No. 3 in the WPIAL in his class, but both of the top wrestlers also reside in Section 1. To that point, Dibert finished third in the prestigious Westmoreland County Coaches Association Tournament in January.

“He's been getting better all year, and he's certainly one of our hardest workers,” Lebe said.

At 113 pounds, freshman Garrett Thompson is 13-4. Thompson missed several weeks in December and January with a shoulder injury.

Another freshman, Mario Sarnic, competes at 120 pounds. Lebe expects Sarnic (17-10) to be in the mix to advance to the WPIAL tournament.

Zach McCann, a junior 126-pounder, is 27-9, including a fourth-place finish in the WCCA Tournament.

The Panthers' top grappler this season has been 132-pound junior Colton Camacho (30-2). who took gold at the WCCA Tournament and third at the Powerade Tournament. One of those setbacks came by a 5-4 decision against Jefferson-Morgan's top-ranked Gavin Teasdale.

Camacho, a section champion and state qualifier last year, has been an anchor this season.

Senior Nate Smith will compete at 138, and sophomore Mason Spears will wrestle at 145.

Smith came in fourth at the WCCA Tournament despite missing early portions of the season with a knee injury. With a record of 13-2, he's aiming to make a deep run after a disappointing conclusion to last season. He was unable to compete in the postseason after suffering a torn meniscus.

Spears (14-8) finished third in the section to qualify for the WPIAL tournament last year.

Senior Jimmy O'Neil will compete at 152, dropping down in weight for the first time this season. O'Neil (23-11) finished fourth at the WCCA Tournament. He also reached the WPIAL tournament last year.

Another wrestler who likely would have been in contention to reach the WPIAL tournament is heavyweight Dylan Singleton, but the sophomore's season ended early because of a torn labrum.

Wrestlers must place in the top five of the sectional to advance to the WPIAL tournament and from there must finish in the top four to move on to the state bracket.

The recent legacy of the Panthers looms large. Over the past decade, an array of Franklin Regional wrestlers have captured WPIAL and PIAA titles, including Nico Megaludis, Devin Brown, Josh Shields, Michael Kemerer and Spencer Lee.

“We got these banners in our room. We got pictures of all of these guys when they won state titles,” Lebe said. “Our guys are aware of that legacy, and they work really hard and they have high goals to try to put themselves in there with that group and kind of write their own story.”

Sean Meyers is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional