100-win club: Every Erie County high school wrestler who has won more than 99 career matches
Each wrestler’s path to 100 career wins is different.
It’s an accomplishment commemorated at high school gymnasiums across the United States. It’s one which requires sustained greatness — it can’t be accomplished in one year, or even two.
Each wrestler who has eclipsed that milestone has their own story, including the more than 100 who have done so in Erie County’s history. Their names are listed below.
While these names are immortalized, the 100-win club is ever-growing. Each time an active wrestler from Erie County reaches the mark, they’ll be featured here.
Latest rankings: Times-News Toughest: Updated District 10 individual and team wrestling rankings for 2023-24
Few active wrestlers can boast 100 career wins. The ones that can are exceptional.
These are their stories.
Jake Bennett, Fort LeBoeuf
Fort LeBoeuf senior Jake Bennett is a two-time PIAA tournament qualifier, two-time section champion and the 2023 District 10 Class 2A champion at 121 pounds. He logged his 100th career win Jan. 13 at Mid-Winter Mayhem.
“It was a steppingstone I had wanted to get over for awhile, so to finally get over that hurdle was nice,” said Bennett, who has competed at 127 and 133 pounds this year. “Coming off the mat and seeing all the guys, seeing the poster and all of them embracing me, it was nice.”
Bennett has wrestled since elementary school. A key moment early in his career, he said, changed his trajectory.
“Basically, I got sick of losing is what happened,” Bennett said.
He upped his training and began offseason wrestling with Bad Karma Wrestling Club. He’s since developed a style which favors scrambling and “funk” wrestling.
“I gravitate more toward funk and just kind of rolling around,” Bennett said. “Mat time is the best thing for me, and I just love to roll around. Once you get more used to it, it’s less thinking and more of just letting your body do it. Just wrestle.”
Bennett cited his 100th win and the 3-1 victory over Grove City’s Hudson Hohman, which won his D-10 title, as the biggest of his career. He was 13-10 as a freshman, 33-14 as a sophomore and 33-17 as a junior.
“It’s not a short journey. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s going to take a lot of time, but don’t get frustrated,” Bennett said. “Just keep working and grinding.”
Magnus Lloyd, General McLane
General McLane senior Magnus Lloyd is the only active three-time District 10 champion. His victory in the 189-pound quarterfinals at Mid-Winter Mayhem made him the 31st wrestler in McLane history to reach 100 wins.
“Once the whistle blew, I could hear from everywhere — my teammates, the fans in the stands, everyone’s parents — it was a big moment, and everybody was excited,” said Lloyd, who finished sixth at 189 at the 2023 PIAA Class 2A tournament. “That’s the best part about wrestling at a school like GM. The whole town is behind you.”
Lloyd grew up near PennWest Edinboro, a school entrenched in wrestling culture. His memories of a near-victory against mighty Iowa and watching Penn State’s David Taylor on television shaped him as much as the wrestling room at McLane, where he’s grappled since the age of six.
“I think I’ve consistently gotten better and worked hard,” Lloyd said. “It’s the drive and wanting to improve everything, to refine my techniques and moves. Just the drive and the want to be good.”
In a career filled with big wins, Lloyd said the 12-8 decision over Clearfield’s Carter Chamberlain, which sent him to last year’s state tournament, was his biggest. He was 19-5 as a freshman, 33-9 as a sophomore and 31-11 as a junior.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You can do it,” Lloyd said. “If you believe in yourself and what you can achieve, you can go get it.”
Jojo Przybycien, Fort LeBoeuf
Only one active Erie County wrestler had 100 wins before this season — Fort LeBoeuf senior Jojo Przybycien. He started his senior year with 103 and also boasts three section championships, two D-10 titles and two PIAA medals.
“I’ve always had good coaches by my side,” said Przybycien, who finished sixth at states as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore. “Coach (Shane) McChesney has been in my corner since fourth grade, and it’s been awesome having him, my dad and others along the way.”
Przybycien reached 100 wins at regionals last year. He started wrestling at age 5 after starting in gymnastics.
“I just went out there like any other match, did my thing and got the technical fall,” Przybycien said. “I looked up in the stands and they had this big old sign for me.”
Przybycien classified his style as aggressive. That’s always been the case, he said, but the same can’t be said for his success level – he’s grown from an “average” youth wrestler to an uber-successful varsity wrestler.
“We have a great tradition here with wrestling; all of the greats up on the wall,” Przybycien said. “I’m just trying to get my name up there, too.”
Przybycien said his biggest win came Dec. 19, an 8-6 victory over Girard’s Story Buchanan, which avenged his loss to Buchanan two weeks prior. The 160-pounder was 19-11 as a freshman, 42-6 as a sophomore and 42-8 as a junior.
“My biggest thing is to just have fun,” Przybycien said. “Don’t worry about stats or anything, just go out, have fun and brawl.”
D-10 tracker: Find District 10 high school scores, schedules, game stats for third week of January
All-time Erie County 100-match winners
Corry – Michael Pollard, 2010 (144); Austin Gillihan, 2011 (142); Jake Kondrlik, 2010 (140); Hayden Linkerhof, 2022 (128); Chris Bailey, 2001 (125); Dustin Taubert, 2011 (123); Shane McChesney, 1996 (122); Bobby Harrington, 1986 (115); Tyler Burlew, 2018 (115); Charlie Bucksaw, 1984 (106); Ed Burkhart, 1984 (105); Corey Murphy, 2003 (105); Eric Stultz, 1995 (103); Billy Harrington, 1989 (103); Jeese Blount, 2001 (102); Kris Rhodes, 2001 (102); Curtis Harrington, 1995 (101); Mark Frushone, 1989 (101); Brandan Eck, 2006 (101).
Erie* – Craig Costello, 1983 (124); Jake Jurkiewicz, 2006 (113); Nate Carr (105); Melvin Crosby (104); Mike Carr (101); Soloman Carr.
Cathedral Prep – Carter Starocci (162); Kawaun DeBoe (160); Dorian Crosby (134); Rocco Wellek (126); Paniro Johnson (123); Dorian Hager (123); Jack Gromacki (123); Jake Van Dee (111); Kaemen Smith (102).
Fairview – Josh Eckendorff, 2009 (132); Jeff Pollard, 2008 (124); Ty Perry, 2008 (116); Ben Corbin, 1992 (112); Nate Gennaro, 2001 (105); Nick Lohrer, 2009 (100).
Fort LeBoeuf – Greg Kuzma; Chris Keene; Dan Chase; Joe Przybycien; Josh Fiske; John Brooks; Dan Shields; Karl Richardson; Scott Waite; Ron Dombkowski; Kody Hiner; Jeff O’Connell; Joe Charlton; Jeremy King; Charlie Lennox; Isaac Crowell; Julian Gorring; Kory Hiner; Steve Waite; Brandon Bradney; Casey Pace; Riley Smith; Brandon Puckly; Kody Pace; Evan Daley; Taylor Fox; George McGuire; Tyler Kuzma; Garrett Reinwald; Jarrette Carter; Abe Guarriello; Danny Church; JoJo Przybycien; Jake Bennett; Conner McChesney.
Three-peat: Fort LeBoeuf wrestlers clinch another region crown in thriller against rival General McLane
General McLane – Ethan Laird, 2017 (138); Hayden Harrison, 2004 (135); Joe Wheeling, 2014 (132); Hadley Harrison, 2006 (130), Tim Wheeling, 2012 (126); Keller Watkins, 2015 (126), DJ Myers, 2012 (124); Caleb Baker, 2011 (121); Mike Sutton, 2014 (120); Donald Osinski, 2006 (120); Matt Leehan, 2021 (118); Wilson Spires, 2023 (117); Tommy Kirdahy, 1999 (116); Eric Zelina, 2007 (113); Andrew Brest, 2019 (112); Chris Laird, 2014 (112); Branden Stearns, 2005 (112); Greg Leehan (111); Hudson Harrison, 2003 (110); Cyrus Parlin, 2008 (106); Bill Kirdahy (104); Owen Watkins, 2017 (103); Jake Keene, 2004 (103); Shawn Trapp (103); Monty Kuligowski (103), Deane Twitchell, 2014 (102); Phil Frndak (101); Frank Myers (100); Kyle Feikles (100); James Laird, 2021 (100), Magnus Lloyd, 2024.
Girard – Joe Ciotti, 1997 (115); Aaron Diehl, 1997 (106); Shane Nolan, 2007 (104); Trevor McCray, 2013 (106); Jordan Schell, 2021 (105); Abe Keep, 2023 (114); Story Buchanan, 2024.
Harbor Creek – Sam Sallot, 2018 (156); Jeff Catrabone, 1993 (146); Sam Kuhn, 2009 (142); Joe Nowakowski, 2008 (134); Tim McAndrew, 2008 (134); Nick Oosterkamp, 2018 (133); Tyler Pier, 2010 (113); Lucas Folmar, 2018 (112); Josh Voelker, 2006 (107); Matt Krysiak, 2007 (106); Justin Blose, 2000 (105); Collin Askins, 2018 (105); Shane Watkins, 2018 (100).
Iroquois – Not available.
McDowell – Not available.
North East – Jeff Langdon, 2006 (136); Tony Langton, 2008 (132); Matthew Gregory, 2009 (128); Kyle Eisaman, 2009 (118); Cody Warr, 2007 (116); Jack Locke, 1992 (115); Jason Locke, 1992 (112); Alex Svetz, 2012 (110); Andrew Kimmy, 2005 (106); Christian Drain, 2009 (100).
Northwestern – John Wheeler (129); David Osterberg, 2011 (127); Caiden Mooney (115); Zach Schaefer, 2003 (113); Mike Garlick, 1988 (11).
Seneca – Matt Mongera, 2012 (144); Nate Smith, 2011 (131); Vern Roberts, 2001 (127); Brian Komisarski, 1994 (121); Kevin Komisarski, 1995 (119); Cyle Yaple, 2013 (116); Mike Shumac, 2001 (115); Chris Hibbler, 2016 (115); Adam Fish, 2016 (113); Kevin O’Sullivan, 1991 (111); Bill Reigel, 1998 (110); Garret Smith, 2012 (110); Keith Shumac, 2004 (105); Joe Hibler, 2012 (103).
Union City – Jared Burger, 2010 (157); Shane Rankin, 2011 (157); Gavin Henry, 2019 (124); Tim Vargo, 2013 (123); Jeff Burger, 2013 (121); John Mangol, 2007 (119); William Burgess, 2019 (118); Shawn Adams, 2003 (115); Josh Reinke, 2013 (114); Matt Long, 2019 (108); Todd Rose, 1991 (106); Bo Bedow, 1999 (106); Josh Lesik, 2003 (106); Greg Reinke, 2011 (103); Scott Bacon, 2007 (102).
*Erie's entry includes wrestlers from each of the city's former high schools: Strong Vincent, Central Tech and East High.
Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @realjuveino.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County PA high school wrestling: 100-match winners historical list
