Franklin Regional Junior Olympic team sends 11 wrestlers to state championships

Eighteen members of the Franklin Regional Junior Olympic (JO) wrestling team earned top-four finishes at the recent Area III state qualifier held Feb. 16 at Franklin Regional Senior High School.

Six wrestlers earned first-place finishes, Area III champion designations and spots in the 2020 PJW state tournament. Another five earned second-place finishes, also qualifying for a spot in the championships.

“Having 18 wrestlers place at the qualifier and sending 11 to the state tournament can be interpreted as nothing less than a great success for our youth program,” said Mike Ruane, head of recruitment for FR’s JO wrestling program.

Area III includes FR, Apollo-Ridge, Blairsville, Derry, Elderton, Greensburg Central Catholic, Greensburg, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Leechburg, Ligonier, Mount Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Saltsburg, Southmoreland and Yough.

“I’m truly inspired by the grueling work that these athletes put into their craft, and my hat is certainly off to the dedicated parents who drive this program and the first-class coaches who run it,” Ruane said.

JO wrestlers Nate Iampietro, Michael Ruane, Kaydon Ferrell, Beau Fennick, Titus Colangelo and Mason Harvey all brought home first-place championship titles.

Aaron Muraco, Weston Magilson, Chase Smith, Ethan Cartwright and Connor Visnick earned second-place finishes.

Ruane said wrestlers will have their hands full gearing up for the championships.

“The PJW Youth State Championships could be argued as the toughest youth wrestling tournament in the country,” Ruane said.

It will be held March 14 and 15 at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.