Ellwood City’s Austin Walley advanced to the PIAA Wrestling State Championships in Hershey in March by placing 1st overall in the 182-pound weight class at the Southwest Regional Championships held at IUP last weekend.
Walley used a 7-4 decision victory to defeat Patrick Cutchember of Quaker Valley. The victory, his third in nine days over Cutchember earned Walley first WPIAL championship.
“I’m feeling great,” said Walley in an interview with the Post-Gazette. “My training is going well.”
The WPIAL ended up with four champions. In addition to Walley (182-pound), South Park junior Joey Fischer (113), Elizabeth Forward senior Ryan Michaels (120) and Frazier senior Thayne Lawrence (160) each won titles.
“I’ve just got to stay focused on the right things – the wrestling matches and practices. Not about the state tournament or the gold,” said Walley, now 41-1 on the season.
FULL WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:
182: Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) – DNP Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Zack Lash (Tyrone Area Hs) (TF 17-2 0:00) Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Ian Eckenrode (Cambria Heights Hs) (Fall 2:50) Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Myles Baney (Huntingdon Area Hs) (Fall 3:28) Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Patrick Cutchember (Quaker Valley Hs) (Dec 7-4)
The PIAA Individual Championships are scheduled for March 5-8, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Last year, the then-junior Walley placed 4th overall in the 182-pound weight class in the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Tournament. [READ MORE]
EC Wrestling… Walley 1st ever Regional Champ!! Hershey in 2 weeks.. Go EC!!!! #EC_Proud pic.twitter.com/IFurQiDeOv
— Curt Agostinelli (@curta51) February 23, 2020
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