Walley Wins PIAA State Championship, First For LHS

Austin Walley is a state champion.

The Ellwood City senior became the first to bring home a PIAA Wrestling Championship for Lincoln High School as he a victory over Dylan Bennett of Montoursville Area HS to claim gold on Saturday.

Walley entered the 182-pound Class-AA championship match with only one loss on the season and squared off against an undefeated Bennett (39-0). Walley used a 6-5 decision to knock off Bennett.

Walley recorded two victories on Friday to secure his spot in the championship match — a 5-2 win over Jacob Freese of Line Mountain on Friday quarterfinals and a 5-3 win over Andrew Sharer of Penns Valley in the semifinals.

Walley (45-1 record) was the only WPIAL finalist to win in Class AA. He is only the second wrestler from Lawrence County to win a state title. The first was New Castle’s Richard Panella in 1969.

After the first five WPIAL wrestlers competing in the Class 2A finals came up short, it was up to Ellwood City’s Austin Walley to bring home the gold — and he delivered. Hear his thoughts on becoming the first PIAA champion in school history after a 6-5 win in the 182-lb. finals. pic.twitter.com/VMRmE0D7Zd

— Steve Rotstein (@SteveRotstein) March 7, 2020

FULL RESULTS:
182: Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) – DNP Champ. Round 16 – Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Vito Pilosi (Slippery Rock Area Hs) (TF 21-6 0:00) Quarterfinals – Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Jacob Feese (Line Mountain Hs) (Dec 5-2) Semifinals – Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Andrew Sharer (Penns Valley Area Hs) (Dec 5-3) 1st Place Match – Austin Walley (Ellwood City Hs) over Dylan Bennett (Montoursville Area Hs) (Dec 6-5)