McMurray, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) hosted its WPIAL/UPMC Sports Medicine Wrestling Team Championships on Saturday, Feb. 1 at AHN Arena on the campus of Peters Township High School. After a full day of wrestling, Franklin Regional emerged with its first Class 3A title in 10 years, while Burrell repeated as the Class 2A winner.
 
Franklin Regional is now a three-time WPIAL wrestling team champion, having previously won back-to-back in 2014 and 2015. This was the Panthers’ first WPIAL championship match since the 2015 championship, and they are now the 15th different school to win three WPIAL wrestling team titles.
 
Burrell successfully defended its Class 2A championship, bringing its haul to an impressive 19 WPIAL wrestling team championships – the third most in league history behind Canon-McMillan/Canonsburg (22) and Waynesburg Central (21). The Buccaneers also won in 1997 and 2004, then rattled off 15 consecutive from 2007 to 2021.
 
The top three teams in Class 3A and top four teams in Class 2A have qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Wrestling Team Championships, which begin with preliminary and first round matches on Tuesday, February 4 before the remainder of the tournament is held on February 7-8 at Altoona High School.
 
CLASS 3A RECAP
Behind eight victories, including two falls and a pair of major decisions, Franklin Regional garnered its first Class 3A team title in 10 years with a 32-25 triumph against Connellsville this past Saturday.
 
Franklin Regional (17-0, 4-0 Section IX) opened the championship match with a 9-0 lead, thanks to a pin by freshman John Montgomery at the 189 weight class and a 2-1 decision by senior Henry Patts at 215. After a 3-2 decision in favor of Connellsville (11-2, 3-0 Section VIII) senior Tyler Gallis at 285, the Panthers extended their lead to 15-3 with two more decision victories – 6-4 for freshman Beau Fennick at 107 and 9-4 by sophomore Titus Colangelo at 114.
 
Falcons sophomore Nolan Rice brought his team within six points with a fall in the 121 weight class, but Franklin Regional picked up a 10-1 major decision at 127 by sophomore Mike Ruane and a 7-3 win from classmate Chase Smith at 133. Connellsville would take three of the next four matches – sophomore Kai Vielma by fall at 139, senior Evan Petrovich by 19-4 technical fall at 152, and senior Lonzy Vielma by 22-7 technical fall at 160 – but Panthers freshman Max Firestine grabbed a crucial pin at 145 to keep his team ahead. In the final match of the day, Franklin Regional sophomore Ethan Cartwright posted a 9-0 major decision at the 172 weight class to clinch the championship.
 
Franklin Regional reached the championship match with victories over Moon (54-11), North Allegheny (37-23), and Thomas Jefferson (37-36), while Connellsville defeated Shaler (57-12), Kiski Area (52-22), and Norwin (40-18) in its attempt to defend last year’s WPIAL title.
 
In the third-place consolation match, Norwin topped Thomas Jefferson, 36-30, to claim the final PIAA qualifier slot.
 
Franklin Regional will open the PIAA Championships by hosting the preliminary round winner of Norwin and District VIII champion Obama Academy, while Connellsville squares off against District IX/X champion DuBois in the first round.
 
Franklin Regional is making its fifth PIAA team tournament appearance and own a 15-3 all-time record with championships in 2014 and 2015. Connellsville was the 2005 PIAA Class 3A champions and is making its 10th appearance with an all-time mark of 15-13. This will be Norwin’s PIAA Wrestling Team Championships debut.
 
CLASS 2A RECAP
Burrell collected seven out of 13 bout wins to repeat as the Class 2A team champion, as it defeated Derry, 33-27, this past Saturday.
 
Burrell (14-1, 4-0 Section IX) scored two falls, two decisions, a technical fall, a major decision, and a forfeit to accumulate its 33 points. The Buccaneers opened the match with a 4-1 decision by junior Jacob Stewart at the 139 weight class, followed by a 14-3 major decision from classmate Julian Bertucci at 145.
 
Making its first WPIAL championship match appearance since 2018, Derry (18-3, 3-0 Section VIII) overcame the early deficit with a 20-5 technical fall from sophomore Mason Horwat at 152 and an 8-1 decision by junior Ewan Olson at 160 to go ahead 8-7. Burrell then picked up a forfeit at 172 to regain the lead, 13-8, but Trojans sophomore Brady Brown eked out a 1-0 win at the 189 weight class to make it 13-11.
 
The Buccaneers responded with a pair of pins at 215 and 285 with senior Luke Boylan and sophomore Ayden Kun respectively doing the honors. Derry answered with a couple of big results of its own, scoring a fall at 107 by freshman Rocco DeCario and a 16-0 technical fall from classmate Matthew Fernell at 114, to cut the gap to 25-22. Despite a 19-4 technical fall from senior Anthony Mucci in the final match at 133, Burrell secured the championship with a 3-1 decision by sophomore Carter Thomas at 121 and a 15-0 technical fall from junior Cam Baker at 127.
 
Burrell reached its 23rd consecutive WPIAL championship match after claiming victories against Knoch (58-15), Southmoreland (55-15), and Quaker Valley (55-13), while Derry returned for the first time in seven years after defeated Avella (68-6), Burgettstown (49-15), and McGuffey (46-21).
 
In the third-place consolation match, McGuffey topped Quaker Valley by a 44-21 score.
 
Burrell beings the PIAA Championships by hosting the preliminary round victor of Quaker Valley and District VI runner-up Penns Valley, Derry will take on District V champion Chestnut Ridge in the first round, and McGuffey faces District X runner-up Corry in the preliminary round with the winner to square off versus District VI champion Bishop McCort.
 
Burrell is making its 22nd PIAA team tournament appearance, previously recording a 40-34 all-time record with the 2008 PIAA title. This is the fourth PIAA appearance for Derry and McGuffey and the fifth for Quaker Valley, with only the Highlanders previously winning a match.
 
PIAA PREVIEW
Start Date: Tuesday, Feb. 4
Championship Dates & Location: Feb. 7-8 at Altoona High School
Total Champions from WPIAL: 13 (12 in Class 3A, 1 in Class 2A)
          - Previous Champions: North Allegheny (4), Canon-McMillan (3), Franklin Regional (2), Burrell (1),
                                                    Chartiers-Houston (1), Connellsville (1), Waynesburg Central (1)
Last Class 3A Champion from WPIAL: Waynesburg Central (2021)
Last Class 2A Champion from WPIAL: Burrell (2008)
 
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