Franklin Regional Lives Up to Expectations and Wins State Dual Championship

It is a special season for Franklin Regional and reaching their goal of capturing the PIAA State Dual Team Championship was well received by all those involved in the process. A season ago Franklin Regional was competing in their first ever PIAA State Dual Team Championships and earned a Third Place trophy. It was at that point the buzz started going around about this young and impressive team from the WPIAL that had been associated with the name Nico Megaludis in years prior. With the two teams finishing ahead of them, Canon-McMilan and Central Dauphin, losing talent due to graduation it soon became clear Franklin Regional would be considered one of the top teams of 2014 and improve on their third place in 2013.

Then the Panthers went from contenders to clear favorites over the summer when it was learned the State and Nation’s top freshman wrestler Spencer Lee would begin his high school career at Franklin Regional. If that wasn’t enough 2013 PIAA Class AA State Champion Devin Brown, despite initially being ruled ineligible by the WPIAL, received word from the PIAA that he would be eligible to compete for the Panthers in 2014 after his move from District 10’s Saegertown High School. With all the pieces in the right place it was clear Franklin Regional and head coach Eric Mausser were poised for success in 2014.

Listen to Devin Brown and Spencer Lee talk about success.

But State Championships aren’t won on expectations and rankings. The Panthers learned early on that despite compiling one of the most talented line-ups in the State, work still would need to be done. In their first competition of the season Franklin Regional went 3-1 at the Blue Knight Duals falling to host Wyoming Seminary 60-13 in a surprisingly one-sided contest. The Panthers gave up 8 pins and a forfeit in the process.  Yes Wyoming Seminary is a loaded program that includes wrestlers from across the Nation, however, Mausser was without studs Devin Brown and Michael Kemerer, and overall the team  learned it needed to mature and develop before any type of Championship would be earned. The next weekend Franklin Regional travelled to Wash Jesuit High School in Ohio for the Ironman Tournament considered the best in-season Tournament in the Country. There the Panthers were again without Devin Brown who had not been ruled eligible by the PIAA yet, and senior State Champion Tyler Smith who was still completing his descent to 132 lbs. Regardless Franklin Regional finished seventh in team points which was four points ahead of Wyoming Seminary.

Continuing to improve on the season Franklin Regional’s full range of talent became more apparent and at the 2013 POWERade Christmas Tournament the Panthers were flat out dominant. They won the team Championship title with ease over second place team Greater Latrobe with five champions winning POWERade gold.

When the team post-season arrived the Panthers were a much different team that faced Wyoming Seminary early in December 2013. While the murders row between 132 lbs. and 152 lbs., in addition to having back-to-back #1 State ranked wrestlers at 106 lbs. and 113 lbs., is more than impressive it was the wrestlers between 160 lbs. and 285 lbs. that made the difference in strength. Wrestlers Brandon Yant, Nate Painter, John Wohlin, Jake Pickup, Brett Zanotto, and Charlie Mazon were key parts to the success of this team.

It was no surprise when for the third time this season Franklin Regional downed fellow WPIAL program Greater Latrobe 37-23. It was, however, a better performance by the Latrobe Wildcats who lost 46-28 and 42-19 in two prior meetings this season. It was only their second trip to Hershey and their first ever PIAA State Dual Team Championships but, with only graduating four seniors from the starting line-up, there is a good chance PA Wrestling fans see more of the Panthers in years ahead.

PIAA Class AAA State Dual Team Finals