Burrell’s Cooper Hornack to miss WCCA tournament; finals moved up

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, January 4, 2024 | 8:48 PM

Burrell senior Cooper Hornack will not get a chance to win a second Westmoreland County Coaches Association wrestling title.

That’s because the reigning PIAA Class 2A champion will be sitting out the tournament because of an injury. He was injured during his match Wednesday against Derry freshman Mason Horwat.

The seeding meeting for the 71st Westmoreland County tournament, sponsored by the county coaches’ association for 70 years, was held Thursday at Greensburg Salem.

The tournament will begin at 5 p.m. Friday.

Because of the possibility of snow Saturday, the wrestling committee moved the finals up from 6 p.m. to 3 p.m. Action will begin 9 a.m. Saturday with the semifinals scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Latrobe junior Luke Willochell, top seed at 121 pounds, Hempfield senior Eli Carr, the No. 1 seed at 152, and Franklin Regional senior Juliano Marion, No. 1 at 215, will be attempting to become three-time county champions.

The other top seeds are Burrell sophomore Cam Baker (107), Latrobe junior Leo Joseph (114), Franklin Regional senior Tyler Kapusta (127), Latrobe senior Jacob Braun (133), Mt. Pleasant senior Joe Longhi (139), Mt. Pleasant senior Greg Shaulis (145), Southmoreland junior Landon Delara (160), Burrell junior Isaac Lacinski (172), Kiski Area sophomore Cooper Roscosky (189) and Mt. Pleasant sophomore Dylan Pitzer (285).

Baker, Joseph and Penn-Trafford junior Tasso Whipple are looking for their second titles.

Norwin is the only team from the county not participating.

Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association

71st Annual Wrestling Tournament

When: Friday and Saturday.

Where: Greensburg Salem High School

Times: (weather permitting) 5 p.m. Friday (first round through quarterfinals); 9 a.m. Saturday (consolation round 3); 11:30 a.m. (semifinals) and 3 p.m. (finals)

Teams: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Kiski Area, Kiski School, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Valley and Yough

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: Burrell, Greensburg Salem