Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) held the WPIAL Boys’ Wrestling Individual Championships this past Friday and Saturday. Class 2A competed at Chartiers Valley High School, and Class 3A wrestled at Canon-McMillan High School, with a total of 468 student-athletes competing and 26 wrestlers winning WPIAL titles across the two classifications.
There were 20 different schools that produced champions, with Derry and Thomas Jefferson leading the way with three each. Connellsville and Elizabeth Forward both had two gold medalists, and Avonworth, Baldwin, Belle Vernon, Bentworth, Butler, Central Valley, Fort Cherry, Frazier, Greater Latrobe, Hempfield Area, Highlands, McGuffey, Peters Township, Waynesburg Central, and West Greene all had one.
There were 12 student-athletes who added another WPIAL gold medal to their resumes, with Central Valley junior Antonio Boni and Thomas Jefferson senior Maddox Shaw becoming the 115th and 116th three-time champions in league history. The newest two-time champions are Belle Vernon junior Elijah Brown, Butler junior Santino Sloboda, Derry sophomores Brady Brown and Mason Horwat, Derry senior Anthony Mucci, Fort Cherry senior Braedon Welsh, Indiana senior Nico Fanella, Peters Township sophomore Nicholas McGarrity, Thomas Jefferson seniors Bode Marlow and Shepherd Turk.
The top seven finishers in Class 3A and top eight finishers in Class 2A in each of the 13 weight classes (107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 215) have qualified for Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Regional competition on Feb. 28-March 1. The PIAA Class 3A West Regional will be hosted by Canon-McMillan High School, and the PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional will be held at Altoona High School. The top five finishers in Class 3A and top seven fishers in Class 2A from their respective PIAA Regionals will advance to the PIAA Boys’ Wrestling Individual Championships, which will be held March 6-8 at the GIANT Center in Hershey.
107 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Peters Township sophomore Nichloas McGarrity defended his Class 3A title at the 107 weight class, winning by an 11-0 major decision over Connellsville sophomore Tommy Gretz. McGarrity reached the final with two falls of 0:28 and 1:09, followed by a 2-0 decision in the semifinals.
At Class 2A, Highlands junior Javeon Chambers captured the 107 title with a 10-0 major decision versus Burgettstown senior Darius Simmons. Chambers also won his first two matches by fall, doing so in 1:25 and 1:39, and then won via 7-0 decision in the semifinals.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Peters Township sophomore Nicholas McGarrity (1st), Connellsville sophomore Tommy Gretz (2nd), Franklin Regional freshman Beau Fennick (3rd), Thomas Jefferson sophomore Zach Rehak (4th), West Allegheny freshman Michael Johnson (5th), Moon junior Bryce Thomas (6th), and Pine-Richland freshman Bennett Ferraro (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Highlands junior Javeon Chambers (1st), Burgettstown senior Darius Simmons (2nd), Central Valley sophomore Angelo Boni (3rd), Jefferson-Morgan Brayden Hanning (4th), Elizabeth Forward freshman warren Woleslagle (5th), Derry freshman Rocco Decario (6th), North Catholic freshman Michael Pierro (7th), and South Park freshman Jake Guzek (8th).
114 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Hempfield Area junior Nico Kapusta won the Class 3A title at 114 by a narrow 13-12 decision over Penn-Trafford junior Dylan Barrett. Kapusta captured a pair of technical falls to begin the tournament, posting scores of 18-3 and 20-5, then won by 11-0 major decision in the semifinals.
Elizabeth Forward freshman Preston Bubash took home the Class 2A gold medal at 114 with a 3-2 decision over Quaker Valley junior Bruce Anderchak. Bubash won his first match with a fall in 1:30, earned a 21-5 technical fall in the quarterfinals, and reached the final with a 16-4 major decision.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Hempfield Area junior Nico Kapusta (1st), Penn-Trafford junior Dylan Barrett (2nd), Connellsville junior Zachary Franks (3rd), Franklin Regional sophomore Titus Colangelo (4th), Norwin freshman Coleton Klipa (5th), Trinity freshman Parker Jennings (6th), and North Hills sophomore Brady Rohaly (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Elizabeth Forward freshman Preston Bubash (1st), Quaker Valley junior Bruce Anderchak (2nd), McGuffey freshman Clayton Ealy (3rd), Bethlehem-Center junior Alex Medlen (4th), North Catholic sophomore Victor Wagner (5th), Valley junior Raydn Thomas (6th), Jefferson-Morgan freshman Caleb Dulaney (7th), and Chartiers-Houston sophomore Kamden Stamm (8th).
121 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Greater Latrobe senior Leo Joseph earned the Class 3A championship at the 121 weight class, winning with a 6-3 decision in the sudden victory period against Connellsville sophomore Nolan Rice. Joseph collected pins of 2:49 and 5:14 in his first two matches before posting a 21-8 major decision in the semifinals.
Avonworth junior Auston Kosanovic became the first WPIAL wrestling champion in school history with a 13-1 major decision against Burrell sophomore Carter Thomas in the Class 2A final at 121. Kosanovic compiled three technical falls to reach the championship match, posting scores of 16-0, 15-0, and 17-2.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Greater Latrobe senior Leo Joseph (1st), Connellsville sophomore Nolan Rice (2nd), West Allegheny freshman Thomas Bencho (3rd), Hempfield Area junior Nate Caracciolo (4th), Penn-Trafford sophomore Luke Desantis (5th), Canon-McMillan freshman Gionno Gardner (6th), and Bethel Park sophomore Pierce Reinhart (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Avonworth junior Auston Kosanovic (1st), Burrell sophomore Carter Thomas (2nd), Derry freshman Dylan Bateman (3rd), McGuffey sophomore Tucker Main (4th), West Greene junior Noah Collins (5th), Washington freshman Noah Patton (6th), Avella junior Drake Buzzard (7th), and Highlands junior Dejamire Suber (8th).
127 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Butler junior Santino Sloboda continued his undefeated season and won his second WPIAL title with a 18-2 technical fall over Trinity junior Dom Canali at the Class 3A 127 weight class. Sloboda earned wins of 19-4 and 20-3 technical fall in the first two rounds, then recorded a 17-8 major decision in the semifinals.
Central Valley junior Antonio Boni became the first new member of the three-time WPIAL champion club with a fall in 3:27 against Burgettstown sophomore Danny Smith in the Class 2A championship match at 127. Boni pinned his first opponent in 0:09, then recorded technical falls of 19-4 and 17-1 to qualify for the final.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Butler junior Santino Sloboda (1st), Trinity junior Dom Canali (2nd), Indiana senior Carter Putt (3rd), Ringgold sophomore Evan Tolliver (4th), Franklin Regional sophomore Mikey Ruane (5th), Mt. Lebanon sophomore Evan Sala (6th), and Connellsville freshman Daniel Smith (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Central Valley junior Antonio Boni (1st), Burgettstown junior Danny Smith (2nd), Derry senior Giovanni Beatrice (3rd), The Summit Academy sophomore Rocco Zugai (4th), Keystone Oaks junior Jeremy Wagner (5th), Jefferson-Morgan sophomore James Dulaney (6th), South Park freshman Lucas Guzek (7th), and Laurel sophomore Archer Brua (8th).
133 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Indiana senior Nico Fanella came away with the Class 3A title at the 133 weight class with a 7-5 decision against Greater Latrobe senior Luke Willochell. Fanella, the 2023 Class 2A champion at 114, won his first two matches via falls in 1:30 and 1:44, then added an 18-3 technical fall in the semifinals.
Derry senior Anthony Mucci successfully defended his Class 2A championship at 133 with a 3-2 decision against Bentworth sophomore Drake McClure. Mucci reached the final with a trio of technical falls, registering scores of 19-4, 17-2, and 19-4 along the way.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Indiana senior Nico Fanella (1st), Greater Latrobe senior Luke Willochell (2nd), Canon-McMillan junior Collier Hartman (3rd), Moon junior Cael Yanek (4th), Franklin Regional sophomore Chase Smith (5th), West Allegheny junior AJ Snatchko (6th), and North Allegheny junior Gus Stedeford (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Derry senior Anthony Mucci (1st), Bentworth sophomore Drake McClure (2nd), Burrell junior Jacob Stewart (3rd), Bethlehem-Center junior Mason Wright (4th), McGuffey junior Emmett Wolfe (5th), Burgettstown freshman Carter Katus (6th), Central Valley sophomore Garen McDonald (7th), and Valley freshman Juzef Betts (8th).
139 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Connellsville sophomore Kai Vielma won the Class 3A gold medal at 139 with a fall in 3:20 against Pine-Richland senior Dominic Ferraro. Vielma pinned his first two opponents in 1:03 and 2:58, then earned a 4-0 decision in the semifinals.
McGuffey junior Lucas Barr garnered a 10-4 decision against Burrell junior Julian Bertucci to capture the Class 2A title at the 139 weight class. Barr earned two falls of 2:34 and 4:44 in the first round and semifinals, respectively, with a 17-1 technical fall sandwiched in between.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Connellsville sophomore Kai Vielma (1st), Pine-Richland senior Dominic Ferraro (2nd), Trinity senior TJ Allison (3rd), Plum junior Owen Campbell (4th), South Fayette senior Talan Mizenko (5th), Belle Vernon senior Deydon Soto (6th), and Norwin sophomore Nathan Klingensmith (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: McGuffey junior Lucas Barr (1st), Burrell junior Julian Bertucci (2nd), Quaker Valley junior Matthew Danna (3rd), Highlands senior Aiden Burford (4th), North Catholic junior Angelo Amelio (5th), Derry senior Brett Klim (6th), Washington junior Jahvon Woods (7th), and Valley junior Josue Martinez (8th).
145 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Baldwin senior Ramil Islamov became his school’s first WPIAL wrestling champion in nearly 60 years, collecting the Class 3A honors at 145 with a 17-2 technical fall against Butler senior Kase Chopp. Islamov, who joins 1966 champion Jack Kuhn at the 180 weight class among the Fighting Highlanders’ wrestling champions, won all his matches by technical fall, posting scores of 19-4, 23-7, and 21-5.
Elizabeth Forward sophomore Lucas Boyer took home the Class 2A title at the 145 weight class with a 7-0 decision versus Knoch junior Owen Layhew. Boyer blanked all his opponents over the tournament, winning by 15-0 technical fall in the first round, 12-0 major decision in the quarterfinals, and 5-0 decision in the semifinals.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Baldwin senior Ramil Islamov (1st), Butler senior Kase Chopp (2nd), Bethel Park senior Ethan Higgins (3rd), Franklin Regional freshman Max Firestine (4th), Canon-McMillan freshman Mason Calgaro (5th), Mars senior Liam Hein (6th), and Trinity sophomore Devin Junko (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Elizabeth Forward sophomore Lucas Boyer (1st), Knoch junior Owen Layhew (2nd), Mt. Pleasant sophomore Tristan Wtorkiewicz (3rd), Washington junior Caleb Patton (4th), Valley freshman Antonio Perkins (5th), Burrell sophomore Cadyn Crawford (6th), McGuffey junior Victor Bonus (7th), and Derry junior Jeremiah Gess (8th).
152 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Thomas Jefferson senior Maddox Shaw became the 116th three-time WPIAL wrestling champion with a narrow 1-0 decision over Connellsville senior Evan Petrovich in the Class 3A 152 final. Shaw collected falls of 0:55 and 1:20 in the first two rounds, then won via a 21-5 technical fall in the semifinals.
Derry sophomore Mason Horwat made it two-for-two in WPIAL gold medals with a 21-5 technical fall against Frazier junior Jonah Erdely in the Class 2A championship match at 152. Horwat won all his matches by technical fall, registering tallies of 21-6, 21-6, and 18-3 in the first three rounds.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Thomas Jefferson senior Maddox Shaw (1st), Connellsville senior Evan Petrovich (2nd), Peters Township senior Darius McMillon (3rd), South Fayette senior Luke Dunlap (4th), North Allegheny junior Griffen Reid (5th), Mt. Lebanon junior Cole Gibbons (6th), and Belle Vernon senior Kole Doppelheuer (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Derry sophomore Mason Horwat (1st), Frazier junior Jonah Erdely (2nd), Freedom Area senior Gavyn McCray (3rd), Burrell senior Calio Zanella (4th), Burgettstown junior Logan Noyes (5th), McGuffey junior Garrett Newman (6th), Laurel junior Braxton Carr (7th), and South Park sophomore Joshua Kuczma (8th).
160 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Connellsville senior Lonzy Vielma earned the Class 3A title at the 160 weight class with a 5-4 decision over Thomas Jefferson senior Brayden White. Vielma took his first two matches by technical falls of 17-2 and 19-3, then won his semifinal with a 12-5 decision.
Bentworth junior Owen Ivcic captured the 160 crown in Class 2A with a 10-2 major decision against Frazier senior Ryan Celaschi. Ivcic won his opening match with a fall in 1:40, earned a 21-5 technical fall in the quarterfinals, and reached the final with a nail-biting 15-14 decision.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Connellsville senior Lonzy Vielma (1st), Thomas Jefferson senior Brayden White (2nd), Waynesburg Central senior Brock Evans (3rd), Montour junior Rook Smith (4th), Ringgold sophomore Cristian Lowther (5th), Penn-Trafford junior Logan Matrisch (6th), and Moon sophomore Liam Costa (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Bentworth junior Owen Ivcic (1st), Frazier senior Ryan Celaschi (2nd), Jefferson-Morgan freshman Alex Palko (3rd), Ellwood City senior Gabe Lilly (4th), The Neighborhood Academy freshman Chaney Lewis (5th), Burrell sophomore Ben Catullo (6th), Derry junior Ewan Olson (7th), and Mt. Pleasant sophomore Stephen Predajna (8th).
172 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Thomas Jefferson senior Bode Marlow gave his school its second Class 3A gold medal of the day, winning the 172 championship with a 10-2 major decision against Kiski Area freshman Mario Hutcherson. Marlow won his first round and semifinal matches with respective technical falls of 18-3 and 21-6, and paired those with a quarterfinal fall in 0:53.
Frazier junior Jackson Angelo took home the Class 2A title in the 172 weight class with a 10-6 decision versus Burrell senior Isaac Lacinski. Angelo won each of his matches leading to the final by fall, doing so in 0:40, 1:37, and 1:00.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Thomas Jefferson senior Bode Marlow (1st), Kiski Area freshman Mario Hutcherson (2nd), North Hills junior Carter Morvay (3rd), Pine-Richland junior Maclane Miller (4th), Armstrong sophomore Kaleb Kinzey (5th), Moon junior Michael Olszewski (6th), and Canon-McMillan senior Ayden Solomon (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Frazier junior Jackson Angelo (1st), Burrell senior Isaac Lacinski (2nd), Bethlehem-Center junior Noah Layhue (3rd), Quaker Valley senior Marcus Richey (4th), McGuffey senior Reid Teagarden (5th), Southmoreland senior Landon Delara (6th), Carlynton senior Jermell Lindsey (7th), and Greensburg Salem senior Ethan Miller (8th).
189 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Waynesburg Central senior Jake Stephenson added his name to his school’s long list of WPIAL wrestling champions, winning the Class 3A crown at 189 with a 7-1 decision against Central Catholic junior Nezumiiro Green. Stephenson opened the tournament with a 17-2 technical fall, then earned decisions of 4-2 and 6-5 to reach the final.
Derry sophomore Brady Brown successfully defended his Class 2A gold medal in the 189 weight class, winning with a 19-4 technical fall over South Side senior Slayton Williams. Brown won all his matches in technical fall fashion, recording scores of 20-3, 17-2, and 21-1 leading into the final.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Waynesburg Central senior Jake Stephenson (1st), Central Catholic junior Nezumiiro Green (2nd), Greater Latrobe sophomore Hunter Snyder (3rd), Thomas Jefferson junior Zach LaBryer (4th), North Allegheny senior Mason Hartung (5th), Kiski Area senior Mark Gray (6th), and Franklin Regional senior Henry Patts (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Derry sophomore Brady Brown (1st), South Side senior Slayton Williams (2nd), Bethlehem-Center junior Malachi Peak (3rd), South Park senior Wyatt Markovich (4th), Freedom Area junior Zeshawn Williams (5th), Ligonier Valley sophomore Jake Mundorff (6th), Avonworth sophomore Bryce Metz (7th), and McGuffey junior Aaron Supler (8th).
215 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Belle Vernon junior Ellijah Brown paired his 2024 Class 2A title at 172 with a Class 3A gold medal in the 215 weight class, winning with a 6-4 decision against Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky. Brown began the bracket with technical fall shutouts of 16-0 and 15-0, then recorded a fall in 3:40 in the semifinals.
Fort Cherry senior Braedon Welsh became a two-time WPIAL champion, winning the Class 2A title at 215 with a 19-2 technical fall over Carlynton senior Braiden Sudor. Welsh, the 2023 Class 2A gold medalist at 172, started Friday’s action with a fall in 1:13, then recorded technical falls of 17-1 and 19-3 to qualify for the championship match.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Belle Vernon junior Elijah Brown (1st), Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky (2nd), Central Catholic sophomore Roman Thompson (3rd), Ringgold senior Jake Conroy (4th), Waynesburg Central junior Roan Tustin (5th), Canon-McMillan sophomore Brayden Collins (6th), and Bethel Park senior Hunter Goelz (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: Fort Cherry senior Braedon Welsh (1st), Carlynton senior Braiden Sudor (2nd), Laurel junior Kolton Carlson (3rd), Burrell senior Luke Boylan (4th), Southmoreland junior Kaden Shannon (5th), Quaker Valley freshman Brennan Breisinger (6th), Avonworth senior Justin Beck (7th), and Central Valley senior Noah Taylor (8th).
285 LB. WEIGHT CLASS RECAP
Thomas Jefferson senior Shepherd Turk defended his Class 3A gold medal at 285 and gave the Jaguars their third winner of the weekend with a 4-1 decision against Armstrong junior Philup Rearick. Turk won his first two matches with falls under a minute, earning them in 0:57 and 0:16, then claimed a 5-0 decision in the semifinals.
West Greene junior Colin Whyte claimed the final Class 2A gold medal of the weekend with a 10-4 decision versus Carlynton senior Henry Barbisch. Whyte earned two falls in 1:45 and 2:34 to begin the tournament, then earned a 6-0 semifinal decision.
The PIAA West Regional qualifiers in Class 3A are in order: Thomas Jefferson senior Shepherd Turk (1st), Armstrong junior Philup Rearick (2nd), West Allegheny junior Cam Danna (3rd), North Allegheny junior Bradyn McConneha (4th), Canon-McMillan sophomore (5th), Fox Chapel senior D’Angelo Hamilton (6th), and Mt. Lebanon senior Ben Lloyd (7th).
The PIAA Southwest Regional qualifiers in Class 2A are in order: West Greene junior Colin Whyte (1st), Carlynton senior Henry Barbisch (2nd), Bentworth senior Alex Rusilko (3rd), South Park senior Parker Cunningham (4th), Laurel junior Casey Wilson (5th), Burgettstown senior Teddy Gray (6th), Mt. Pleasant junior Peyton Schaum (7th), and Burrell sophomore Ayden Kun (8th).
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