At midway point, these 12 breakout wrestlers have earned a reputation in District 10

District 10 has never been short on talented wrestlers.

These newcomers have shown the local talent pool is still growing.

The following are a dozen wrestlers who have broken onto the D-10 scene this season. They’re all fairly new names, as all those included on the Erie Times-News’ Top 25 District 10 Wrestlers to Watch list were ineligible for this one.

Here are District 10 Midseason Breakout Wrestlers, listed in ascending weight order.

Tanner Hamilton, Grove City

Freshman, 114 pounds, 19-4 record

• His older brother, Cody, already owns a PIAA medal. The younger brother will aim to join him at Hershey this March. Tanner Hamilton finished second at the Burgettstown and Pin City tournaments and owns notable victories over Angelo Lomonte, of Reynolds, and Ben Miller, of Meadville.

Brady Slicker, Hickory

Fr., 114, 25-5

• One of several uber-talented freshmen on this list, Slicker is perhaps the best of Hickory’s high-quality lightweights. Slicker won his home tournament in December, placed seventh at Mid-Winter Mayhem and owns three wins over wrestlers ranked by Times-News Toughest.

100-win club: Every Erie County high school wrestler who has won more than 99 career matches

Bryson Galloway, North East

Fr., 121, 17-7

• Galloway made an immediate impact for the Grapepickers, starting his varsity career 7-0. He’s 7-3 in matches decided by decision and is hoping to win his first varsity hardware come this postseason.

Logan Stewart, Reynolds

Fr., 127, 18-5

• Stewart’s dominance has been as impressive as any freshman. He’s only lost to two PIAA wrestlers, including a 4-3 decision to returning Class 2A medalist Hudson Hohman.

Clay Kimmy, General McLane

So., 133, 15-10

• Kimmy’s team may have lost its Jan. 17 dual meet to Fort LeBoeuf, but it was a breakthrough evening for the sophomore, who finally bested Jake Bennett after three prior losses. That came on the heels of Kimmy’s breakout performance at Mid-Winter Mayhem, where he placed fifth.

Hunter Cox, Greenville

Fr., 139, 23-3

• Cox won his first 11 varsity matches and has continued to roll since. He’ll be a serious contender in the Class 2A postseason at 139.

Gabe Dorman, Cathedral Prep

Fr., 145, 19-5

• Each of Dorman’s five losses were against wrestlers hailing outside of Pennsylvania. Will anyone in District 10 have an answer for the freshman? Time will tell.

Riley Horn, Girard

Jr., 145, 17-4

• Horn has 63 career wins but has never placed at districts. He’s taken a step forward this season and is in the midst of a 10-2 January.

Cash Morrell, Cochranton

So., 160, 22-3

• Morrell has carried momentum from last season’s sixth-place finish at regionals and asserted himself among the top class of D-10 middleweights. He avenged his loss to Meadville’s Brighton Anderson a week after the Tool City finals and has not lost since.

More: Vote in the latest Erie Times-News Male and Female Athlete of the Week polls for Jan. 22-24

Kaleb Brunst, Titusville

Sr., 189, 23-4

• A district place winner as a sophomore, Brunst has returned to the Rocket lineup in an impactful manner after missing his junior year. A trip to Hershey is a real possibility for the senior.

John Duran, Fort LeBoeuf

Jr., 285, 23-9

• Like others on this list, Duran was just a rung below the elite of his weight class last season. Not anymore. The junior has been steady atop LeBoeuf’s loaded lineup and will be among the top 2A contenders at heavyweight.

Owen Nickerson, Corry

So., 285, 24-10

• Another heavyweight who has taken a step forward, Nickerson will be a rare underclassman contender at this class come postseason. Six of his losses this season have been decided by two points or less.

Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @realjuveino.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 wrestling: Midseason breakout performers for 2023-24