Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) hosted its WPIAL/UPMC Sports Medicine Class 2A Boys’ Wrestling Individual Championships presented by Pennsylvania Laborers’ Union this past Friday and Saturday at Chartiers Valley High School. A total of 229 student-athletes competed over the two days, with 13 wrestlers claiming WPIAL gold.
 
Nine different schools produced championships, with Derry’s three champions leading the pack. Burrell and Central Valley both had two gold medalists, while Belle Vernon, Bentworth, Burgettstown, Frazier, Hopewell, and Quaker Valley were also represented at the top of the podium.
 
Among the 13 individual champions, six student-athletes had previously topped the WPIAL podium. Frazier senior Rune Lawrence became the 31st different wrestler to win four WPIAL titles, besting the 215 field after winning at 172 in 2021 and 2022, and at 189 in 2023. Bentworth senior Chris Vargo and Burrell senior Cooper Hornack joined a club of 111 wrestlers to claim three WPIAL gold medals, while Central Valley sophomore Antonio Boni, Quaker Valley senior Jack Kazalas, and Central Valley senior Brenan Morgan each won their second WPIAL title.
 
The top eight finishers in each of the 13 weight classes (107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285) have qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Southwest Regional Championships, which will be held on March 1-2 at Altoona High School.
 
107 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Burrell sophomore Cam Baker took gold at 107, winning with a 4-2 decision against Quaker Valley sophomore Bruce Anderchak. Baker collected a pair of pins in under a minute (0:45, 0:24) to begin the tournament, then used a 9-0 major decision to reach the final. Anderchak won via fall in 0:54 and 1:42, then won his semifinal with a 3-0 decision.
 
McGuffey freshman Tucker Main placed third with a 2-0 sudden victory decision against Highlands sophomore Jaevon Chambers. The remaining four place winners were: North Catholic freshman Victor Wagner (5th), Burgettstown junior Darius Simmons (6th), Central Valley freshman Angelo Boni (7th), and Laurel freshman Archer Brua (8th).
 
114 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Derry junior Anthony Mucci captured the 114 championship, topping Chartiers-Houston senior Jorden Williams with a 3-2 decision. Mucci had falls of 3:04 and 0:47 to open the tournament, before winning with a 9-4 decision in the semifinals. Williams collected two pins in under a minute (0:53, 0:33) and won his semifinal match with a 4-1 decision.
 
Bentworth freshman Drake McClure took home bronze with a 6-0 decision over Avonworth sophomore Auston Kosanovic. The remaining four place winners were: Burrell freshman Carter Thomas (5th), West Greene sophomore Noah Collins (6th), Laurel freshman Logan Ketzel (7th), and Bethlehem-Center sophomore Alex Medlen (8th).
 
121 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Central Valley sophomore Antonio Boni won gold at 121 with an 8-1 decision against Bethlehem-Center sophomore Mason Wright. Boni won via fall in each of the first three rounds, doing so in 0:49, 2:40, and 3:14. Wright had a first-round pin in 3:57, then took the next two matches with decisions of 9-4 and 6-3.
 
McGuffey sophomore Emmett Wolfe claimed third by default against Burrell sophomore Luca Rosa. The remaining four place winners were: Derry junior Giovanni Beatrice (5th), Fort Cherry junior Shawn Robertson (6th), Montour senior Anthony Esposito (7th), and Burgettstown sophomore Daniel Smith (8th).
 
127 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Bentworth senior Chris Vargo reigned in the 127 weight class, winning over Indiana junior Nico Fanella on a 7-2 decision. Vargo reached the final with three pins, doing so in 0:13, 1:19, and 1:53. Fanella had two falls under a minute (0:45, 0:50) to start the tournament before winning his semifinal with an 8-6 decision.
 
McGuffey sophomore Lucas Barr defeated Central Valley senior Don Lindsey in an 11-0 major decision to take third. The remaining four place winners were: Burrell sophomore Julian Bertucci (5th), Burgettstown senior Dylan Slovick (6th), Derry junior Brett Klim (7th), and Keystone Oaks sophomore Jeremy Wagner (8th).
 
133 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Quaker Valley senior Jack Kazalas claimed the gold at 133, winning with an 8-5 decision over Burgettstown senior Parker Sentipal. Kazalas began the tournament with falls in 1:21 and 1:10, then picked up a 20-5 technical fall to reach the final. Sentipal started with a pin in 1:31 and claimed a 17-2 technical fall in the quarterfinals, then won in the semifinals with a 3-2 decision.
 
Frazier senior Tyler Clark placed third with a 3-0 decision against Indiana junior Carter Putt. The remaining fourth place winners were: Hampton sophomore Dustin Kerr (5th), Montour senior Anthony Orlandini (6th), Burrell sophomore Jake Stewart (7th), and West Greene senior Seth Burns (8th).
 
139 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Burrell senior Cooper Hornack took home the title at 139, defeating Burgettstown senior Gaven Suica with a 3-1 sudden victory decision. Hornack began bracket play with a fall in 0:55, then used decisions of 6-0 and 4-2 to qualify for the final. Suica had pins in 3:18 and 3:59 in the first round and semifinals, with an 11-6 decision sandwiched in between.
 
Highlands junior Aiden Burford claimed third with an 8-6 decision over Belle Vernon senior Giovanni Weightman. The remaining four place winners were: Elizabeth Forward freshman Lucas Boyer (5th), Quaker Valley sophomore Matthew Danna (6th), Mt. Pleasant senior Joseph Longhi (7th), and South Side junior Ryder Goe (8th).
 
145 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Derry freshman Mason Horwat topped the 145 podium thanks to a 5-1 decision victory over Montour sophomore Rook Smith. Horwat won his first round match with a fall in 2:28, then topped the next two opponents with a 17-1 technical fall and 6-3 decision. Smith started the tournament with a 17-0 technical fall before winning with decisions of 6-1 and 5-3 – the latter coming in sudden victory.
 
Belle Vernon junior Kole Doppelheuer finished third with a 5-2 decision against Bentworth sophomore Owen Ivcic. The remaining four place winners were: Ellwood City junior Gabe Lilly (5th), Mt. Pleasant senior Jamison Poklembo (6th), Quaker Valley junior Jack Diemert (7th), and Burrell junior Calio Zanella (8th).
 
152 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Burgettstown senior Rudy Brown won gold at 152, besting Elizabeth Forward senior Damon Michaels via 5-2 decision. Brown pinned each of his first three opponents, doing so in 0:55, 0:56, and 2:35. Michaels collected falls in 5:35 and 0:57 to begin the tournament, then won his semifinal match with a 5-4 decision.
 
Mt. Pleasant senior Greg Shaulis earned bronze with an 8-4 decision against Highlands junior Kyren Veasley. The remaining four place winners were: Burrell freshman Ben Catullo (5th), Riverview freshman Alex Wylly (6th), Hampton senior Alan Danner (7th), and Quaker Valley junior Marcus Richey (8th).

160 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Hopewell senior Isaiah Pisano captured the title at 160, winning over Frazier junior Ryan Celaschi with a 5-3 decision. Pisano had falls of 0:52 and 1:52 in the first round and semifinals, respectively, with a 6-0 decision sandwiched in between. Celaschi started the tournament with a pin in 0:42, then won with an 18-2 technical fall and a 4-3 decision to reach the final.
 
Jefferson-Morgan senior Chase Frameli came in third with a 5-0 decision against Indiana senior Will Turner. The remaining four place winners were: Mt. Pleasant freshman Stephen Predajna (5th), Freedom Area junior Gavyn McCray (6th), Albert Gallatin senior Landen Conroy (7th), and Southmoreland junior Landon Delara (8th).
 
172 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Belle Vernon sophomore Elijah Brown reigned in the 172 weight class, topping Fort Cherry junior Braedon Walsh with a narrow 1-0 decision. Brown won his first two matches with 15-0 technical falls and defeated his semifinal foe with a 6-3 decision. Welsh started with a 16-1 technical fall, won his quarterfinal match with a fall in 2:47, and reached the final with a 3-0 decision.
 
Valley senior Charles Perkins placed third with a 4-1 decision over Indiana sophomore Dominic Fanella. The remaining four place winners were: Bentworth sophomore Brayden Taggart (5th), Burrell junior Isaac Lacinski (6th), Bethlehem-Center sophomore Noah Layhue (7th), and Ligonier Valley freshman Jake Mundorff (8th).
 
189 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Derry freshman Brady Brown claimed the Trojans’ third gold medal of the day, winning over Bentworth senior Vitali Daniels with a fall in 3:07. Brown began the tournament with pins in 0:47 and 1:08, then topped his semifinal opponent with a 5-4 decision. Daniels had three falls to reach the final, doing so in 0:54, 3:52, and 2:28.
 
Frazier sophomore Jackson Angelo claimed bronze with a 6-2 decision against Bethlehem-Center Jacob Layhue. The remaining four place winners were: Fort Cherry senior Anthony Salvini (5th), Belle Vernon senior Austin Hoffman (6th), South Side junior Slayton Williams (7th), and Laurel sophomore Kolton Carlson (8th).
 
215 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Frazier senior Rune Lawrence took home the title at 215, defeating West Greene sophomore Colin Whyte with a fall in 0:53. Lawrence pinned each of his opponents over the two days, winning the first three rounds in 0:52, 0:57, and 2:25. Whyte also collected three pins, doing so in 1:46, 1:36, and 5:42.
 
Burrell junior Luke Boylan claimed third over Jefferson-Morgan senior Adam McAnany with a fall in 4:33. The remaining four place winners were: Albert Gallatin senior James Standish (5th), Southmoreland sophomore Kaden Shannon (6th), Bethlehem-Center sophomore Malachi Peak (7th), and Montour senior Alex Dusch (8th).
 
285 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Central Valley senior Brenan Morgan was victorious at 285, winning with an 8-4 decision over Mt. Pleasant sophomore Dylan Pitzer. Morgan earned his first three victories with falls in 1:38, 0:24, and 2:28. Pitzer claimed pins in 0:36 and 2:32 to begin the tournament, then reached the final with an 8-0 major decision.
 
Burgettstown senior Joseph Baronick took bronze by defeating Carlynton junior Henry Barbisch with a fall in 3:21. The remaining four place winners were: Jefferson-Morgan senior Mason Sisler (5th), Washington sophomore Joe Wilson (6th), Laurel sophomore Casey Wilson (7th), and Southmoreland sophomore Jake Govern (8th).
 
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