Burrell, Derry could battle for WPIAL Class 2A wrestling title

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 | 5:13 PM

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Burrell and Derry come into the season ranked 1-2 in the TribHSSN Class 2A wrestling rankings.

Both return numerous starters.

The county has some talented underclassmen who should excite Westmoreland County wrestling fans.

One wrestler missing is junior Dylan Pitzer, whom the WPIAL ruled ineligible for the season after he transferred from Mt. Pleasant to Derry. Pitzer placed fourth in the PIAA and second in the WPIAL in the 285-weight class.

Derry sophomore Mason Horwat (145) and Burrell’s junior Cam Baker (107) are the only returning PIAA placewinners. Each placed sixth.

Class 2A

Burrell

Coach: Steve Ansani

Last year’s record: 15-4 (Section 6-2A)

Section: 9-2A

Postseason medalists: Cam Baker, Jr., 107 (WPIAL champion, PIAA sixth). Luke Boylan, Sr., 215 (WPIAL third).

Lettermen: Baker (44-7); Carter Thomas, So., 114 (32-20); Luca Rosa, Jr., 121 (30-19); Julian Bertucci, Jr., 127 (39-18); Cadyn Crawford, So., 133 (10-8); Jacob Stewart, Jr., 139 (24-19); Calio Zanella, Sr., 145 (24-19); Ben Catullo, So., 152 (27-23); Patrick Nee, So., 160 (12-15); Isaac Lasinski, Sr., 172 (21-12); Logan Shank, So., 189 (8-17); Jacob Taylor, So., 215 (5-4); Boylan (34-17); Ayden Kun, So., 285 (26-17).

Newcomers: Logan Barrett, Fr.; Odin Diaz, Fr.; Vincent Guerrini, So.; Josh Martin, Jr.; Braiden Tanilli, So.; Aedan Sosa, Fr.; Byler Spiering, So.; Caydn Crawford, So.

The skinny: Ansani takes over as new coach replacing Josh Shields, who resigned to be with his young family. … The Bucs return 11 starters.

Derry

Coach: Troy Dolan Jr.

Last year’s record: 11-4 (Section 6-2A)

Section: 8-2A

Postseason medalists: Anthony Mucci, Sr., 114 (WPIAL champion, PIAA qualifier); Mason Horwat, So., 145 (WPIAL champion, PIAA sixth); Brady Brown, So., 189 (WPIAL champion, PIAA qualifier).

Lettermen: Teryn Nuttall, Sr., 107 (8-14); Mucci (35-8); Christopher Kubistek, So., 121 (4-9); Giovanni Beatrice, Sr., 121 (24-14); Brett Klim, Sr., 127 (30-14); Jeremiah Gess, Jr., 139 (14-11); Horwat (38-7); Max Doperak, Jr., 152 (15-13); Richard Daniels, Jr., 160 (8-12); Brown (39-6); Chase Lukon, Sr., 215 (3-3); Levi Haase, Jr., 285 (7-8).

Newcomers: Dylan Bateman, Fr., 127; Adam Chesla, So., 220; Rocco DeCario, Fr., 107; Matt Fernell, Fr., 121; Jayden Gess, So., 152; Hayden Hood, So.; John Itchue, Fr.; Ewan Olson, Jr., 152; Justin Papuga, Jr., 285; Dylan Pitzer, Jr., 285 (transfer, currently not eligible).

The skinny: The Trojans return three PIAA qualifiers including Horwat, who placed sixth at 145. … Expected to challenge Burrell for the Class 2A title.

Greensburg Salem

Coach: Randy Parsley

Last year’s record: 2-10 (Section 6-2A)

Section: 8-2A

Postseason medalists: none

Lettermen: Nicholas Reinhart, Sr., 121 (8-8); Sadie Sarver, Jr., 127 (6-16); Elijah Miller, So., 139 (5-13); Keegan Young, Sr., 145 (22-16); Gabriel Doppelheuer, Jr., 152 (7-7); Ethan Miller, Sr., 160 (13-15); David Peters, So., 285 (17-18).

Newcomers: Royce Boatright, So., 285; Aden Krug, Jr.; Chase Lenart, So., 172; Andrew Pohland, Fr., 172; Robert Schwartz, So.; Noah Somerville, So., 139.

The skinny: The Golden Lions look to rebound from a disappointing season. … Peters won the Southwest Classic 285-pound title, and Somerville finished second at 139.

Ligonier Valley

Coach: Larry Mulheren

Last year’s record: 3-17 (Section 6-2A)

Section: 8-2A

Postseason medalists: Jake Mundorff, So., 189 (WPIAL eighth)

Lettermen: Hunter Steele, Sr., 107 (13-7); Caleb Wible, Jr., 127 (6-6); Luke Kinkaid, Jr., 139 (4-18); Aiden Mulheren, Sr., 152 (21-16); Eli King, Jr., 160 (0-8); Cody Cornish, Sr., 160 (0-3); Xavior Reynolds, Sr., 160 (1-20); Drake Simmons, Jr., 172 (5-10); Mundorff (15-22); Lucas Krieger, Jr., 215 (11-20).

Newcomers: Carter Bizup, Fr., 133; Knourth Drury, Fr., 114; Rolland Steffens, Jr., 145; Brody Stitt, Jr., 172; Anthony Tuschong, Jr., 121.

The skinny: The Rams return 10 lettermen and hope to contend for a WPIAL playoff berth after strengthening their schedule.

Mt. Pleasant

Coach: Gio Vonne Sanders

Last year’s record: 12-5 (Section 2-2A)

Section: 8-2A

Postseason medalists: Stephen Predajna, So., 160 (WPIAL fifth).

Lettermen: Nick Stabile, So., 107 (22-12); Lowen Springer, Jr., 114 (3-14); Tristan Wtorkiewicz, So., 127 (27-12); Predajna (32-15); Zach Dill, Jr., (6-10).

Newcomers: Justin Bazzar, So., 152; Harlen Brehun, So., 139; Gage Marker, So., 189; Nick Morelli, Fr.; Payton Schaum, Jr., 285; Aidan Teeter, Jr., 215; Anthony True, So., 133.

The skinny: Sanders replaced Tommy Dolde Jr., who resigned before the season. … The Vikings graduated six starters, and Pitzer transferred to Derry from a section champion in 2024.

Southmoreland

Coach: Terry Quashnock

Last year’s record: 8-5 (Section 2-2A)

Section: 7-2A

Postseason medalists: Kaden Shannon, Jr., 215 (WPIAL sixth); Jake Govern, Jr., 285 (WPIAL eighth); Landon Delara, Sr., 160 (WPIAL eighth).

Lettermen: Bryce Greeko, Jr., 107 (3-13); Nicholas Lubecki, So., 114 (13-14); Micah McGeary, Jr., 121 (10-16); Landyn Queer, So., 127 (11-17); Kolten Lewandowski, So., 133 (4-20); Hunter Ryan, So., 145 (8-11); Camren Lee, Jr., 139 (6-15); Kaleb Kisow, Sr., 145 (2-11); Connor Clawiter, Jr., 152 (0-4); Shawn Hollis, Sr., 152 (18-17); Delara (24-15); Wyatt Corvin, So., 160 (9-10); Ethan Kenney, Sr,. 172 (13-17); Lewis Mains, Sr., 189 (19-14); Shannon (18-20); Govern (22-18); Kohen Neiderhiser, So., 285 (1-7).

Newcomers: Peyton Bann, Fr. 189; Alex Boone, So., 189; Colton Cochran, So.; Adam Ferrell, Fr.; Aidan Mains, Jr.; Logan McFarland, So.; Talan Nelson, Fr.; Hunter Pepiot, So., 160; David Sager, So., 145; Parker Thompson, Fr., 114; Dawson Wolfe, So., 215.

The skinny: Quashnock takes over as coach after Dan Boring resigned to take a job at Derry. … The Scotties return numerous lettermen and hope to challenge for a section title.

Valley

Coach: Dane Johnson

Last year’s record: 6-6 (Section 6-2A)

Section: 9-2A

Postseason medalists: None

Lettermen: Raydn Thomas, Jr., 114 (7-11); Xavier Ross, Sr., 121 (13-9); Brendon Knuckles, Jr., 133 (3-3); Josue Martinez, Jr., 133 (15-10); Keiz Hernandez, Jr., 145 (4-14).

Newcomers: Brenden Andrzejczuk, Fr., 285; Juzef Betts, Fr., 133; Nolan Bodycombe, Fr., 160; Kameron Brink, 114; Isiah Cain, So.; Antonio Perkins, Fr., 152; Simeon Pitts, Fr., 127; Caden Shurina, So., 189.

The skinny: The Vikings return five lettermen. … Johnson is counting on 13 freshmen to restore the roster. … Betts and Perkins are wrestlers to watch.

Yough

Coach: Larry Hixson

Last year’s record: 1-15 (Section 2-2A)

Section: 7-2A

Postseason medalists: None

Lettermen: Dominic Liscotti, So., 114 (14-12); Michael Albright, So., 127 (2-14); Bryce Harvey, Sr., 172 (5-14); Raidon Kuroda, Sr., 215 (12-11); Aiden Humenik, Sr., 285 (5-8); Jose Ramirez, Salazar, Jr., (2-9).

Newcomers: Chad Brown, So. 114; Thomas McPherson, Fr., 121,; Jackson Nightman, Fr., 285; Talon Shearer, Fr., 139.

The skinny: Kuroda, Liscotti and Humenik are the team’s most experienced wrestlers.

Dual of the Week

Top-10 teams square off in a nonsection match at 7 p.m. on Wednesday as No. 2 (2A) Derry visits No. 7 (3A) Latrobe. The match features PIAA placewinners and qualifiers from both teams.

Derry went 5-1 at the Babbit Duals at River Valley High School, Blairsville. Latrobe placed second at the Hickory Invitational in Hermitage.

Other big duals Wednesday have Freedom at Mt. Pleasant, Frazier at Bentworth, North Hills at North Allegheny and Yough at Southmoreland.

A look ahead

Here is a look at this weekend’s many tournaments that involve WPIAL teams.

The sites include Mount Aloysius College (Panther Holiday Classic) and Cumberland Valley (PennStro Leasing Kick-Off Classic). Dual meets Saturday include at Ringgold, Hampton, Point Pleasant (W.Va.), Kiski Area, North Hills, Moon, St. Edwards (Ohio) and Upper St. Clair.

Last week notes

• No. 1 (3A) Connellsville grabbed first-place honors at the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat Tournament in Williamsport. The Falcons finished with 220.5 points, and Easton followed with 212.5. The Falcons had 10 placewinners including three champions: Tommy Gretz (107); Kai Vielma (139) and Evan Petrovich (152).

• Latrobe took second to host Hickory, which finished with 263.5 points. Latrobe had 242.5. The Wildcats had five finalists. The champions were Kai Maxwell (107); Luke Willochell (133) and Hunter Snyder (189). Leo Joseph (127) and Marco Scarton (285) placed second. … Penn-Trafford placed fourth and had three finalists: Dylan Barrett (121) and Sidney Hand (145) won titles, and Tasso Whipple (189) placed second.

• Bethel Park claimed the title at the Chartiers-Houston Invitational. The Black Hawks scored 206.5 points, and Butler followed with 188.5. Bethel Park had five finalists and three champions: Pierce Reinhart (121); Seth Miller (133) and Brennan Breisinger (215). Butler’s Santino Sloboda won the 127-pound title. Peters Township had two winners: Nicholas McGarrity (114) and Darius McMillon (152).

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Bethel Park, Burrell, Butler, Connellsville, Derry Area, Greensburg Salem, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Southmoreland, Valley, Yough