Junior #6 Gus Solomon Commits to Navy

By Jeff Upson | November 19, 2015

DSC_0134-copy-2 (1)Despite not qualifying for the PIAA State Tournament in his two seasons with Franklin Regional, junior Gus Solomon is considered one of the top wrestlers in the State. As a freshman Solomon competed in limited action at 120 lbs. having suffered several injuries including an infected nail and a torn labrum that kept him out of the post-season. A season later Gus propelled onto the State and National scenes.

While his teammates Spencer Lee and Devin Brown were the names everyone knew it was not long before Gus Solomon climbed the rankings. In the first tournament of his sophomore season Solomon advanced to the semifinals at the Walsh Ironman, the Nation’s toughest in season Tournament, and ended up placing fourth at 126 lbs. against the top ranked competition. Later that month at the POWERade Christmas Tournament Gus again turned heads when he landed in the 126 lbs. finals in his first appearance at the top Tournament in Pennsylvania.

After helping Franklin Regional win their second straight WPIAL and PIAA State Dual Team Championships Solomon was ranked #1 in the State at 126 lbs. At the State Dual Tournament he defeated returning PIAA State Champion Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic) by riding him out for a period to win (1-0). After winning the WPIAL Section 1 Tournament over Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe) solomon was the #1 seed at the WPIAL/South West Regional the following week.

A deltoid injury that he suffered in the State Dual Team Tournament became too much for the sophomore as Gus was advised to be sidelined to prevent any further damage to his shoulder. The good news was he didn’t need an additional surgery but the bad news was the #1 ranked wrestler in the State would miss a chance at a State Championship for the second season in a row.

Now the junior is healthy and ready to begin another quest at a PIAA State Championship. Although he has two more seasons at Franklin Regional Gus knows where he will be heading giving a verbal commitment to Navy head coach Joel Sharratt. Solomon is the second commitment from the Class of 2017 with Cumberland Valley’s Wyatt Long gave a verbal to Navy earlier this year.

Posted in PA High School Wrestling News

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