Franklin Regional wrestlers ready to make a run at a WPIAL title
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Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Franklin Regional’s Mike Ruane celebrates beating Bethel Park’s Pierce Reinhart in the 114-pound bout during the WPIAL Class 3A team consolation match Feb. 3.
Franklin Regional’s Luke Ankney gets a two-point reversal to defeat Norwin’s Jack White at 152 pounds. Referee Chris Edenfield singals the winning points, and Franklin Regional wresters celebrate in the background.
Franklin Regional wrestling coach Matt Lebe knew how good his team was in 2023-24, except few believed him.
The Panthers ended up third in the WPIAL Class 3A team tournament, losing to WPIAL champion Connellsville in the semifinals and edging Bethel Park in the consolation match, qualifying for the PIAA team tournament.
While Lebe must replace three key starters — Tyler Kapusta, Juliano Marion and Troy McClelland — the Panthers should be one of the teams to challenge the returning champions.
The Falcons graduated one starter and return two PIAA placewinners.
The Panthers enter the season ranked No. 2 and are in a section that includes No. 5-ranked Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Plum and Gateway.
Two teams from each of the nine sections plus two wild cards selected by the wrestling committee will compete in the WPIAL Class 3A team tournament.
“Our goal is to work hard, improve, win the section, win the WPIAL and place in the PIAA,” Lebe said as he begins his ninth season as coach. “The key is staying healthy. We’ll be in the mix, for sure.”
Connellsville edged Franklin Regional, 31-28, and then nipped Trinity, 33-32. The Panthers bounced back to edge Bethel Park, 28-27.
“Connellsville, Norwin, Bethel Park, Trinity and North Allegheny are just some of the of teams,” Lebe said. “We have a good group that is working hard.”
Kapusta placed second in the WPIAL (and PIAA) at 121 pounds and Marion placed fifth at 215. Kapusta is now at Bucknell and Marion is at Pitt.
Franklin Regional was a young team in 2023-24. The Panthers started six freshmen.
They are Titus Colangelo (32-15) at 107, Mike Ruane (32-14) at 114, Sal Nassif (12-17) at 121, Chase Smith (21-10) at 127, Cohen Buccicone (18-17) at 139 and Ethan Cartwright (24-13) at 152.
Also back are senior Nico Sarnic (12-12) at 133, senior Luke Ankney (24-14) at 145, Jordan Perks (10-16) at 160, senior Henry Patts (23-14) at 172 and senior heavyweight Elisua Daugherty (7-22).
Two freshmen challenging for jobs are Beau Fennick at 106 and Max Firestine at 145.
Lebe said he expects Colangelo, Ruane, Smith, Sarnic, Buccicone, Ankney, Cartwright and Patts to be much improved and possibly PIAA qualifiers.
“They all have potential,” Lebe said. “We’ll have some nice battles for starting spots in the room.”
Lebe has put together a good schedule that he hopes toughens up his team.
The Panthers open the season Nov. 29 at Valley at the Southwest Kickoff Classic.
They will compete at the Trinity Duals on Dec. 7, the Jason Eades Memorial Duals at Point Pleasant, W.Va. on Dec. 14, the NursePro Tournament at University High School in Morgantown, W.Va. on Dec. 21, Powerade on Dec. 27-28, and the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association meet Jan. 10-11.
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: Franklin Regional
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