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Holmes collects 3rd straight Somerset All-County Outstanding Wrestler honor

adam ripple, the daily american
·2 min read

SOMERSET — Somerset junior wrestler Rowan Holmes continued his winning ways this past season. He earned his second-straight District 5 Class 2A title, this time at 215 pounds, a third-place finish at the Southwest Regional, and finished an impressive campaign with a PIAA bronze medal.

Holmes collected his third consecutive Somerset County Outstanding Wrestler honor and was once again named the Nick Roberts Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient at the annual banquet on Sunday at the Oakhurst Grille & Event Center.

Bringing home bronze Somerset's Holmes earns PIAA Class 2A wrestling bronze medal

"It was a pretty good year," Holmes said. "The injury at the end was unfortunate, but I accomplished a lot of what I wanted to do."

Holmes turned in a 44-3 mark this season. He earned the Codispoti-Maslak Most Falls Award with 32. Holmes has 71 career falls and is seventh in Somerset County history, 18 behind Meyersdale alum Michael Warnick for the top spot.

"I am glad I was able to improve from last season, going from fourth to third at states," Holmes, who is recovering from MCL surgery, said. "Next year, I am looking to improve again. The plan is to come back even stronger."

Somerset's Rowan Holmes was selected Outstanding Wrestler and the Nick Roberts Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient at the Somerset All-County banquet, April 28, in Somerset.
Somerset's Rowan Holmes was selected Outstanding Wrestler and the Nick Roberts Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient at the Somerset All-County banquet, April 28, in Somerset.

Somerset went 5-0 against county teams and 11-4 overall, earning the Somerset County team trophy. The Golden Eagles led the way with six all-star selections and an honorable mention. Along with Holmes, Logan Baker, Colin Wood and Zane Hagans won D5 gold for the Golden Eagles this season.

Meyersdale senior Jared Geiger picked up the Walter “Pip” Jarosick Fastest Fall Award for a victory in 14 seconds.

Members of the 2023-24 Somerset All-County Wrestling All-Stars are, front row, from left, Conemaugh Township's Tristen Hawkins and Rydell Walylko, North Star's Colton Frazier, Somerset's Michael Bridge and Deshonn Valentine, Berlin Brothersvalley's Moriek Jones and Lukas Smith, and Meyersdale's Sam Deist, back row, Somerset's Colin Wood and Logan Baker, Conemaugh Township's Colten Huffman, Somerset's Zane Hagans and Rowan Holmes, Berlin Brothersvalley's Trace Hay and Meyersdale's Cooper Porter at the Somerset All-County wrestling banquet, April 28, in Somerset. Absent from the photo was Meyersdale's Jared Geiger and Caleb Snyder and Berlin Brothersvalley's Grant Fisher.

2023-24 Somerset County Wrestling All-Stars

Berlin Brothersvalley: Grant Fisher, sr., 27-15; Trace Hay, jr., 26-15; Moriek Jones, fr., 16-15; Lukas Smith, fr., 30-11

Conemaugh Township: Colten Huffman, sr., 31-9; Rydell Walylko, fr., 14-18; Tristen Hawkins, sr., 32-9

Meyersdale: Caleb Snyder, so., 23-16; Sam Deist, sr., 24-15; Jared Geiger, sr., 26-14; Cooper Porter, fr., 20-18

North Star: Colton Frazier, jr., 15-11

Somerset: Deshonn Valentine, jr., 24-14; Logan Baker, sr., 37-11; Colin Wood, sr., 24-13; Rowan Holmes, jr., 44-3; Zane Hagans, jr., 31-6; Michael Bridge, sr., 26-10

From left, Meyersdale's Brennan Schardt, Conemaugh Township's Dylan Hovanec, Somerset's Sammy Sheeler and North Star's Braden Livingston were honorable mention selections at the Somerset All-County wrestling banquet, April 28, in Somerset. Absent from the photo was Berlin Brothersvalley's Braden Durst.
From left, Meyersdale's Brennan Schardt, Conemaugh Township's Dylan Hovanec, Somerset's Sammy Sheeler and North Star's Braden Livingston were honorable mention selections at the Somerset All-County wrestling banquet, April 28, in Somerset. Absent from the photo was Berlin Brothersvalley's Braden Durst.

Honorable Mention

Berlin Brothersvalley: Braden Durst, so., 21-11

Conemaugh Township: Dylan Hovanec, jr., 23-9

Meyersdale: Brennan Schardt, fr., 25-15

North Star: Braden Livingston, sr., 18-13

Somerset: Sammy Sheeler, fr., 25-13

Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County wrestlers honored at annual banquet