By Dan Stefano

Published: Thursday, December 15, 2011

Central Catholic wrestler Jason Luster, last year's WPIAL champion and state runner-up at 160 pounds, will miss his senior season.

In a move partially aimed at protecting his promising future, the West Virginia recruit decided just before the season began to have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder —• an injury he's dealt with for more than a year.

"It was his choice not to wrestle," said Eric Luster, Jason's father. "It was actually torn at the end of his sophomore year. He wrestled last year with it torn."

Sophomore Kyle Coniker will take Luster's spot at 160, Central Catholic coach Sunny Abe said.

Before this season, the Vikings were perhaps the strongest team in the WPIAL at the competitive middle weights. Even with the loss of Luster, they still have a pair of returning WPIAL champs in 195-pounder Perry Hills and 152-pounder Tyler Manion, who recently committed to Maryland.

"It's tough," Abe said, "but it's something we'll have to deal with."

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