Grove City wrestling ends 72-year drought in historic season
GROVE CITY, Pa (WKBN) – Grove City wrestling is coming off a historic 2024-2025 season with multiple school records and PIAA State Tournament medals.
Watch above for an in-depth interview with Grove City head wrestling coach Wes Phipps and school-record-holder senior Cody Hamilton.
'Whenever you have really good kids that compete the right way and the act the right way, I think that just has a really positive impact on that youth program,' said Phipps.
Five Eagles qualified for the 2025 PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships in Hershey at the GIANT Center in early March.
'Right now, the cool thing to do in Grove City is to be a wrestler and to go chase state titles and and state medals,' said Phipps.
The Eagles sent five wrestlers to states this season which broke the previous record of four state qualifiers.
'It's probably been the most successful season we've had in winning tournaments,' said Phipps.
Grove City took fourth place in the State with four wrestlers earning individual medals. Four wrestlers bringing home medals is now a record for the most medals in school history.
Freshman Chase Karenbauer took third place in the 107 Weight Class.
Freshman Ian Sterns got on the podium at eighth place in the 114 Weight Class.
Junior Hudson Hohman was the state runner-up in the 145 Weight Class.
Senior Cody Hamilton earned sixth place in the 152 Weight Class.
The Eagles made school history with a District 10 Region 1 title, the first conference championship in 72 years. The Eagles shared the conference title with Reynolds and Hickory.
Senior Cody Hamilton now has the all-time record in wins at Grove City with 157. He beat out Coach Phipps who held the record for 13 years after he graduated from Grove City.
'It was pretty cool it kind of felt like passing the torch to me, it was all good vibes,' said Hamilton. 'But this is especially cool knowing that my record is not going to last long at all. It's going to be broken most likely next year, and then the following year it can be broken.'
Hamilton held the single-season record for wins but the record was broken twice by two of his teammates this season.
'That's probably one of the best feelings showing them that it's possible,' said Hamilton. 'If I can do it, they can do it too. They're already all catching up to me.'
The Grove City wrestler now boasts three state medals, three Region Titles, three District Titles, and two Section Titles.
'I hope everyone just remembers me as a positive, hardworking guy,' said Hamilton. 'I always try to bring a positive attitude into the room, even when wrestling gets super hard. I always just try to find the things that make you happy.'
Hamilton will continue his wrestling and academic careers at Clarion University.
'It just makes me super happy knowing that all the hard work I put in wasn't for nothing,' said Hamilton. 'It worked out for me.'
Coach Phipps said Hamilton will graduate as one of the most decorated wrestlers in Grove City's history.
The Eagles ended this season with an overall record of (14-6) and (5-1) in league play.
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