Senior joining 100-win club highlights strong season for Bethel Park wrestlers

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, January 20, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Mason Kernan, a senior at Bethel Park, came away from the star-studded Powerade holiday wrestling tournament with a seventh-place finish at 139 pounds.

Kernan defeated Carter Nogle of Mount St. Joseph (Md.) by a 7-5 score, giving him a 2-2 record in the prestigious national event.

It also landed the talented Bethel Park grappler, who will continue his career at West Virginia, exactly at the century mark in career wins.

“I’m very blessed to have been able to hit 100 wins, due to limited matches my freshman year because of covid,” Kernan said. “I knew it would make it much harder for wrestlers in the class of 2024 to reach (100).

“It is an accomplishment to my lifestyle outside of the room, doing the right things to make sure I am on the mat competing for the Hawks as much as possible. The 100 wins was never really a goal of mine but something that is a part of the process. My main goal in high school is to be a state champ, then after high school an NCAA Division I champ.”

Kernan is in his fourth season with the Black Hawks and finished the Powerade tournament with a 100-17 career record.

He joined a distinguished list of Bethel Park wrestlers who won 100 or more career matches: Nick Bonaccorsi (2011, 158) Nino Bonaccorsi (2017, 147), Adam Lazenga (2010, 135), Paul Dunn (2015, 133), Ted Hoag (2005, 126), Mike Ganley (2009, 124), Anthony Bonaccorsi (2009, 122), Phil Kail (2011, 110), Ryan Coyne (2007, 110), Rob Heuler (2011, 109), Dom Bonaccorsi (2006, 105), Rico Borz (2008, 103), Dylan Morgan (2012, 102), Martin Sams (2010, 100) and Mike Toth (1999, 100).

“Mason is very talented in all three positions of wrestling (neutral, top and bottom),” Bethel Park coach Tyler Nauman said. “He likes to be neutral and get takedowns but also has the ability to earn top turns and get off bottom when he wants and needs. Right now, Mason is focusing on growing better at what he does best and fix or clean up the small things that make the big difference in matches against the best wrestlers.

“I have said it since my first practice with Mason. This kid is extremely talented. Last year didn’t end his way but the rest of the season before WPIALs and this offseason, Mason has proven how good he really is. He can wrestle and wrestle well in all three positions. I look forward to Mason to complete for a WPIAL and state title.”

Kernan started the new year by rolling past Upper St. Clair’s Kurt Baran, 25-10, and Mt. Lebanon’s Franco Busalacchi, 23-8, to boost his career record to 102-17.

He improved to 17-3 to add to his 38-5 and 33-5 records as a sophomore and junior, along with his 14-4 showing in his freshman season.

Kernan has won one section title and is a two-time section runner-up. He also has finished fourth and sixth at WPIALs.

“Mason is a very well-mannered young man who tries to and wants to succeed at everything he does,” Nauman said. “He is very hard working, focused and driven to be the best there is.

“The Black Hawks along with Mason are improving day in and day out. Our improvement of over 25 places from last year’s Powerade tourney displays just that. They are becoming more and more committed not just to improving their skills but the team or family culture or pushing one another to be the best each of them can be for themselves and their team. They are starting to sacrifice things the best athletes sacrifice, and that’s a big reason they are finding success. As a staff, we are looking to continue to push them to do just this and excited to see where they can finish this season.”

Bethel Park improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in section with a 62-6 thrashing of USC and a 56-9 triumph at Mt. Lebanon.

Along with Kernan, who had a team-high 11 technical falls, the Black Hawks have been led by juniors Aden Stout, 9-2 at 133 with five falls, Ethan Higgins, 12-6 at 145, and Seth Miller, 11-6 at 127.

Higgins was 24-18 and 25-13 the past two years while Stout was 22-17 last year. Miller won 20 times in his freshman season.

The team leader in pins this season is 215-pound senior Landon Hartman (10-7) with seven falls along and one technical fall. Hartman posted a 26-16 record as a sophomore and was 26-7 last year.

Several others on the team had .500 or better records, including freshman Pierce Reinhart (9-6), juniors Hunter Goelz (8-7) and Jaden Palombine (8-7), senior A.J. Tomaino (7-7), junior Maksim Miller (5-3), senior Cordan McDonnell (5-5), freshman Aws Al Saadi (4-4), senior Aiden Bench (3-2), freshman Caleb Crawford (3-2), freshman Colton Fisher (2-2) and sophomore Diyor Islomov (1-0) and junior Ryan Walsh (1-0).

“This team has a chance to do and be something special with a variety of seniors along with various talented freshman,” Nauman said. “They will need to continue to work to improve and push one another, but if they can do that, I believe they can fight for a spot in the top four in the WPIAL.

“I said last year’s team was tough and injuries depleted us. No excuse, but this year’s team even better and also bigger. We look forward to competing in the toughest region in the country and growing better each day.”

And if you were counting, there are five top freshman prospects figuring in the team’s plans for this season.

“I have big expectations for our freshmen,” Nauman said. “There is a group of them that have grown up wrestling together for a while and it shows.

“They are good buddies, they like to compete and challenge themselves, and they are very skilled. Each of them should have a positive effect on our lineup and can do very well individually.”

At press time, the Bethel Park wrestlers were gearing for the Pine-Richland Duals set for Feb. 10, followed by a nonsection match Feb. 14 at home against Butler.

The Black Hawks were ranked ninth in Class 3A in the Trib HSSN WPIAL wrestling rankings.

Kernan was No. 2 at 139. Higgins was rated fourth-best at 145.

Tags: Bethel Park