Pine-Richland’s Dom Ferraro, Vaughn Spencer claim county titles, look forward to postseason

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, January 27, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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For Dom Ferraro, the Allegheny County wrestling tournament was about getting over the hump.

Vaughn Spencer was there to defend.

Both Pine-Richland juniors achieved their goals.

Ferraro won the 139-pound title to become a county champ for the first time, while Spencer successfully navigated the 172-pound bracket to win his second county crown.

The success has given them confidence with the section, WPIAL and state tournaments around the corner.

Ferraro was a runner-up each of the last two years, but earned a 12-3 major decision to secure a long awaited victory in a county final.

“It was good,” Ferraro said. “I’m proud of myself. The last two years was frustrating, coming up just short, so it means a lot. I was pretty confident that I could do it.”

Prior to the final Ferraro had a pair of first period pins over Chartiers Valley’s Danish Hussain and Plum’s Dylan Overcash in the early rounds. He then scored three straight decisions over Elizabeth Forward’s Lucas Boyer, Highlands’ Aiden Burford and North Allegheny’s Griffen Reid to get to the championship match.

Spencer blitzed through the 189-pound bracket. The Lehigh commit recorded first period pins over Elizabeth Forward’s Justin Frank, Highlands’ Jayden Calhoun, Avonworth’s Luke Hollywood and Thomas Jefferson’s Trent Miller en route to the final.

In the final he wanted to complete the bracket with another pin, but settled for a comfortable 11-0 major decision over Plum’s Jack Tongel.

“Last year, I pinned my way through the tournament, but unfortunately there was another guy that also pinned his way through and I was second on time, so I didn’t get the pin award,” Spencer said. “This year I was hunting for that pin award and going into the final I had the most pins in the quickest amount of time. I knew if I pinned him I would’ve got the plaque, but I just could not get him over. I’m sure if I cut him and went for points I could’ve ended the match a lot earlier, but I was looking for that pin.”

Ferraro has bumped up from 127 to 139 pounds this year and carried an 18-2 record heading into an important Section 2-3A dual with Butler last week.

Getting the county win and being comfortable on the mat has him confident heading into the postseason.

“I like my weight and the bracket I’m in, so I feel really good about it,” Ferraro said.

Spencer (18-2) has gone the opposite direction from 189 to 172 pounds. He said it was hard to get up to 189 last year, but felt it was his best avenue to win a WPIAL title.

“It feels good to be at my weight now,” Spencer said. “I feel a lot bigger and stronger.”

Now Spencer will try to win a second WPIAL title in his two years on the mat. Injuries sidelined him for his freshman year. He made it all the way to the state quarterfinals last year unbeaten but had to bow out due to injury.

“I’m definitely excited about WPIALs and states this year. I think I can go win it,” Spencer said. “My body has been feeling great this year. Even coming back last year was a little bit iffy, because I was having knee problems. I was trying to stick it out, but unfortunately I couldn’t finish the state tournament. I came back in November and I’m feeling good. There’s still a lot of scar tissue and I’m still working on mobility, but I feel a lot better in my body.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland