Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: John Vargo
School: Bentworth
Class: Senior
Sport: Wrestling
Vargo’s week: Vargo added two gold medals to his collection, winning the 195-pound weight class in the WPIAL Section 1-AA Tournament Friday and the WPIAL Class AA Championship the following day at Canon-McMillan High School.
He entered the section tournament as the No. 2 seed and pinned Robbie West of Fort Cherry to reach the finals against top-seeded Dom Fundy of Beth-Center.
Fundy injured his knee in the second period and would default at 2:24 and the bout tied, 2-2. Fundy would later default out of the postseason.
In the WPIAL tournament, Vargo pinned his way to the finals, sticking Ethan Cain of Elizabeth Forward in 4:49 and Gavin Hutchinson of Keystone Oaks in 3:25.
In the finals, Vargo rolled to a 17-2 technical fall over Jeff Magin of Quaker Valley to raise his record to 23-4.
Vargo expressed regret and well-wishes to Fundy, who has been a friendly rival through his varsity career.
“There is a lot respect there between both of us,” Vargo said. “He was at the state tournament last year with me and he watched me and helped me. It really showed what a class act he is. I really wanted to wrestle the full match with him, but hey, things happen.”
Vargo’s next step is the PIAA’s Class AA Southwest Regional Tournament this weekend at Indiana University.
Vargo’s first-round opponent is Tanner Dluhos, a sophomore from Westmont Hilltop. Dluhos finished in sixth place in District 6 and has a 25-12 record.
The top six wrestlers from the region advance to the PIAA Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
And I would walk 500 miles: It’s easy to pick out Vargo before a bout. He’s the one pacing back and forth near the mat, sort of like a caged tiger waiting to be let loose on his prey.
So what is he thinking about?
“I’m just thinking about going out there and wrestling as hard as I can every time,” he said. “I just think about pushing the pace every every time I wrestle.”
Bentworth head coach Mike Shrader said his pacing is an offshoot off his physical conditioning.
“Most kids would get tired from that,” Shrader said. “That’s a testament to his work ethic. He puts in two practices, one with us and one with Young Guns. That’s one of his things. Our fans appreciate that he pushes the pace. He’s a blue collar kid and he has to work for everything he’s got.”
Compiled by Joe Tuscano