Mar 8, 2025
Brandt Harer of Montgomery and his dad, coach Denny Harer celebrate Brandt’s state championship during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
HERSHEY – A year after Austin Johnson’s heartbreaking state finals loss to cap his junior campaign, seeing that thwarted quest for two titles realized wouldn’t come easy for him in the runback.
With a minute and a half remaining, Bishop McDevitt senior Lucas Lawler held a 2-1 lead over the 2023 state champion. And though Johnson would tie it soon after with an escape, he had been pushed to his limit for the first time since Powerade.
That was just from the outer perspective though. To Johnson, it wasn’t a match he was going to lose.
Soon after his match-tying escape, he’d land a shot to Lawler’s right leg, getting him down to the mat and using a high cross to put him in prime position to drive his opponent down fully for the match-winning takedown.
From that moment on, Johnson’s smile crept up, turning into a full-blown pop off as the clock hit zero. To close out his career, he had just secured his second PIAA gold by 5-2 decision.
Brandt Harer of Montgomery “crowns” himself as he celebrates his state championship during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“I can’t really put it into words right now, but it’s amazing,” said Johnson on the accomplishment. “I put so much work and so much thought into this state title. I wanted to win it my senior year and I was thinking about it so much. I’m really glad I was able to win it.”
Having faced Lawler before, winning in a similarly tight decision in the semifinals at Powerade, Johnson respected the challenge Lawler posed but was confident he’d see it through no matter what. In the moment, he held unbreakable composure, a product of a shift in mindset brought on by his most recent loss to Michigan commit Jude Correa.
“I’m just trying to have fun and enjoy it, especially after that Powerade loss, I was a little stressed out,” said Johnson. “I started to change my perspective a little bit. I would have liked to not keep that match so close, but I was just having fun.”
Johnson closes things out at No. 2 in the program’s all-time wins category with 156, enduring just five losses throughout his career to produce an absurd win rate of .969. He was a four-time sectional and regional champion, a four-time state and district finalist and won back-to-back-to-back titles at the District 4 championships.
Riding off into the sunset as a champion, he sets his sights towards his next venture at Oklahoma State.
Brandt Harer of Montgomery ties up with Camden Baum of Bishop McDevitt during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“I just want to thank my parents, my family, grandparents and everyone that came out to see me. Coach Sparks, Coach Snyder, all my teammates support me,” expressed Johnson. “Me and Sparks have been through so many ups and downs throughout my career, Scott (Johnson) has always been there for me, always taking me to practices. They’ve done so much for me, big shoutout to them.”
“Just extremely proud of the time, the effort, hard work he’s put in, traveling 3-4 times a week to find partners to help him out,” said head coach Patrick Sparks on Johnson. “It’s just amazing to cap it off the way he capped it off. Phenomenal career, once in a lifetime athlete. A great kid. He’s definitely going to be missed.”
DEJA VU
With Brandt Harer matching up with Bishop McDevitt junior Camden Daum for the second straight time in the state finals, this time a weight up at 139, the end product was near-identical to their previous bout. It was another thriller, with typically potent offenses being walled off by stellar defense, leading to tense scrambles and moments that left fans on the edge of their seats.
It was similar for another reason as well, as Harer – now a two-time state champion – once again prevailed. With a second period escape out of bottom and masterful positioning amidst a dicey conclusion, the Montgomery junior took home the title by 1-0 decision, the same gap that separated the pair last year.
Brandt Harer of Montgomery takes a shot on Camden Baum of Bishop McDevitt during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“It was a great match, great atmosphere. I’m just super blessed to go out on the mat and do what I love,” expressed Harer. “Tonight was my night and I’m super thankful for that. I’m going to take time and enjoy this with my friends and family and my teammates.”
“After what he battled, and the fight he fought, it was pretty neat to watch,” said head coach Denny Harer on the match, referring to his battle with RIME. “He expected it and that’s what we expect. He went out and executed, and I’m really proud of him.”
One difference in the match came in Baum’s decision to go to neutral at the start of the third. With the clock ticking down, he forced Harer to act quickly on and off his feet as opposed to the attempted ride out.
He’d force a late scramble and keep the Red Raider one mistake away from defeat. But Harer stayed one step ahead, sealing things off and placing a metaphorical crown on top of his head when it was all said and done.
“I’m confident on the mat. I think he expected that, so in neutral, he was planning to get a takedown but I just had to hold good position and that’s what I did,” said Harer on the sequence. “Eventually, it made him have to score, go for something so I got in on his leg and was able to sneak it out.”
Austin Johnson of Muncy and Lucas Lawler of Bishop McDevitt tie up during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
With the win, the junior has now completed two straight undefeated seasons, going into his senior campaign repping 110 straight victories and plenty of accolades to go along with the span.
Like last year, he plans to take the ensuing days to enjoy this accomplishment with his family and teammates before getting right back to the mat to do it all again. Having gone through a lot ahead of his junior campaign, to make it back to where he landed last year is commendable, and he’ll look to carry that momentum forward as he shoots for a third title and the program record for wins.
“I’ve just got to stay confident in myself, put the pressure behind me,” said Harer. “It will all work out in the end.”
Outside of the pair of area champions, Montoursville junior Gage Wentzel competed in his debut finals bout on Saturday, falling to Faith Christian’s Nick Singer by 12-3 major decision but showed a lot of grit in the process.
Moving forward, the Warrior heads into his senior season a three-time state medalist, building upward every step of the way as he shoots for a spot at the top of the podium. Though losing at that stage was disappointing, he was grateful for the opportunity, and looks forwards to running it back come next season.
Austin Johnson of Muncy celebrates his state championship during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity and for the people who made the opportunity possible,” said Wentzel. “There’s a lot of things that I have to figure out and do with the sport behind me. That’s why I’m here, to be able to compete.”
Austin Johnson of Muncy celebrates his state championship during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Brandt Harer of Montgomery and Austin Johnson of Muncy smile as they pose for photos after both winning state championships during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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