Four WPIAL wrestlers advance to Class 2A semifinals in Hershey
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Friday, March 7, 2025 | 4:43 PM
Derry sophomore Mason Horwat (white uniform) takes down Schuylkill Valley senior Ian Vitalo during their 152-pound quarterfinal Friday at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Medical staff prepare to put Derry sophomore Brady Brown on a stretcher after he was slammed in his 189-pound match at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Friday at the Giant Center in Hershey. Brown’s father Jason said his son complained of neck soreness.
Derry senior Anthony Mucci (left) battles Bentworth sophomore Drake McClure during a consolation round match at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Friday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Burrell senior Isaac Lacinski controls Warrior Run junior Max Wimsberger during their 170-pound quarterfinal Friday at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Highlands junior Javeon Chambers pins Montoursville freshman Branden Eisenhour to earn a PIAA medal on Friday at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling champioships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
HERSHEY – Derry sophomore Mason Horwat placed sixth in the PIAA 2A Championships in 2024.
With his win in the 152-pound quarterfinals Friday morning, Horwat is guaranteed another medal.
This year, he wants to be higher on the podium.
Horwat is one of only four wrestlers from the WPIAL to advance to the semifinals Friday night at the Giant Center. The others are Central Valley junior Antonio Boni (127), Fort Cherry senior Braedon Welsh (215) and West Greene junior heavyweight Colin Whyte.
Horwat (45-4) defeated Schuylkill Valley senior Ian Vitalo, 10-0. He will face Bishop McDevitt senior Ryan Lawler in the semifinals.
“I achieved one goal. Now I want to get higher on the podium,” Horwat said. “I’d like to win it. I was able to fend off his attacks.”
Horwat had three takedowns, one coming when it looked like Vitalo was going to get a takedown.
Boni used a first-period takedown and built a 4-0 before holding on for a 5-4 victory against Reynolds’ Logan Stewart. He’ll face Mifflinburg’s Bradley Wagner.
Welsh had a strong performance. He defeated Towana’s Sawyer Robinson, 16-3. His semifinal opponent is Bishop McDevitt’s Lucas Lawler.
Whyte reached the semifinals with a 9-6 win against Brookville’s Gavin Hannah. He’ll meet Faith Christian Academy’s Mark Effendian.
The WPIAL has six other wrestlers who earned medals and will be competing in the consolation rounds for placement.
They are Highlands junior Javeon Chambers (107), Bentworth sophomore Drake McClure (133), Elizabeth Forward sophomore Lucas Boyer (145), Frazier junior Jackson Angelo (172), Derry sophomore Brady Brown and Laurel junior Casey Wilson (285).
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.
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