Frazier’s Rune Lawrence set for anticipated rematch at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, March 29, 2024 | 3:40 PM

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Rune Lawrence’s senior season almost ended in the semifinals of the Ironman Tournament in December.

The Frazier star was in a battle against two-time Ohio state champion Max Shulaw and was decisively winning when the PIAA four-time champion hurt his knee on a questionable move by Shulaw, according to Frazier coach Buck Watkins.

Lawrence was able to hang on to defeat Shulaw, 10-5, but the injury forced Lawrence to withdraw from the finals, missing the Powerade Tournament and more than a month of the season.

“I knew Rune was looking forward to winning both Ironman and Powerade,” Watkins said. “The injury prevented that.”

Lawrence came back in late January and proceeded to roll to his fourth PIAA title and earn Outstanding Wrestler honors at the state meet and the TribLive Wrestler of the Year award.

Now Lawrence gets another shot against Shulaw, who replaces Sawyer Bartlett, the No. 1-ranked wrestler from South Dade High School, in Florida.

The two will square off at the 2024 Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic at 6 p.m. Saturday at Peters Township’s AHN Arena.

Shulaw, a Virginia recruit, wrestled for St. Francis Desales in Ohio.

Lawrence and three-time state champions Jack Consiglio of Malvern Prep, Connor Harer of Montgomery and Sean Kinney of Nazareth headline the Pennsylvania squad.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the Classic,” Lawrence said. “I’m going to continue to work hard.”

Lawrence is a West Virginia commit.

Two other WPIAL wrestlers — three-time WPIAL champions Cooper Hornack of Burrell and Chris Vargo — join Lawrence. Hornack was a 2023 PIAA champion. He was moved from the WPIAL squad to replace Central Mountain’s Luke Simcox, who is injured. Burgettstown’s Gaven Suica was added to the WPIAL team to replace Hornack.

Alex Braun of Woodbury, Minn., who has a career record of 256-37 and will face Consiglio, is among the top wrestlers on the U.S. squad. Parkersburg South’s Gage Wright, a Virginia Tech commit, is ranked No. 1 in the country at 172 pounds.

Wright and heavyweight Koy Hopke of Amery, Wisc., are three-time state champions.

Others selected to the WPIAL team are Chartiers-Houston’s Jorden Williams (114), Franklin Regional’s Tyler Kapusta (121), Canon-McMillan’s Andrew Binni (127), Bethel Park’s Mason Kernan (133), Suica (139), Penn-Trafford’s Hayden Coy (145), Hempfield’s Eli Carr (152), Hopewell’s Isaiah Pisano (160), Trinity’s Bodie Morgan (172), Norwin’s Nathan Campbell (189), Franklin Regional’s Juliani Marion (215) and Central Valley’s Brenan Morgan (285), the only PIAA champion on the squad.

The WPIAL All-Stars face the New Jersey All-Stars at 4 p.m.

Things kick off at 3 p.m. when the Pennsylvania Girls All-Star team faces an all-star squad from Ohio.

Headlining the Pa. team from the WPIAL are Ana Malovich of Butler (122) and Leyna Rumpler (155) of North Allegheny.

2024 Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic

3 p.m. Saturday, Peters Township High School

USA All-Stars

114: Abram Cline, Granite Hills HS, Chula Vista, Calif., 121-12

121: Beric Jordan, Noble HS, Okla., 164-4

127: J.J. McComas, Stillwater, Okla., 136-22

133: Adrian Meza, Valiant College Prep, Ariz., 109-19

139: Kyler Larkin, Valiant College Prep, Ariz., 112-16

145: Alex Braun, Woodbury, Minn., 256-37

152: Miguel Estrada, Frontier HS, Bakersfield, Calif., 71-3

160: Charlie Millard, Homestead, Mequon, Wisc., 175-5

172: Gage Wright, Parkersburg South, W.Va., 149-8

189: Karson Tompkins, Midlothian, Texas, 155-2

215: Max Shulaw, Sr. Francis DeSales, Columbus, Ohio, 187-10

285: Koy Hopke, Amery, Wisc., 168-2

Pennsylvania All-Stars

114: Ayden Smith, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 152-18

121: Louie Gill, Reynolds, 143-17

127: Chris Vargo, Bentworth, 133-12

133: Mason Gibson, Bishop McCort, 72-10

139: Cooper Burrell, Hornack, 156-27

145: Jack Consiglio, Malvern Prep, 131-18

152: Ryan Gavrick, Central Dauphin, 162-19

160: Conner Harer, Montgomery, 188-5

172: Hunter Hohman, Grove City, 136-15

189: Tucker Hogan, Daniel Boone, 155-5

215: Rune Lawrence, Frazier, 145-8

285: Sean Kinney, Nazareth, 125-5

WPIAL All-Stars

114: Jorden Williams, Chartiers-Houston, 100-40

121: Tyler Kapusta, Franklin Regional, 120-33

127: Andrew Binni, Canon-McMillan, 133-34

133: Mason Kernan, Bethel Park, 124-18

139: Gaven Suica, Burgettstown, 143-41

145: Hayden Coy, Penn-Trafford, 100-39

152: Eli Carr, Hempfield, 113-18

160: Isaiah Pisano, Hopewell, 108-27

172: Bodie Morgan, Trinity, 94-34

189: Nathan Campbell, Norwin, 96-40

215: Juliano Marion, Franklin Regional, 136-35

285: Brenan Morgan, Central Valley, 113-12

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.