WPIAL Class 2A wrestling preview: Burrell looking for another title

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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A look at the 2024-25 WPIAL Class 2A wrestling season:

The Favorite

Burrell has a new head coach, Steve Ansani, but the goals haven’t changed. The Bucs are out to win a section title and WPIAL Class 2A title and finish top 4 in the state.

Ansani was hired to replace Josh Shields, who resigned after the season to spend more time with his young family. Shields said he’ll remain close to the program as an assistant.

Ansani takes over a program that has dominated Class 2A wrestling in the WPIAL. The Bucs are the defending team champions and have won 18 WPIAL titles, including 15 in a row from 2007-21.

Ansani served as an assistant at Burrell. He also was the head coach at Valley. He’s been coaching for 31 years.

Ansani inherits a team that returns 11 starters. His biggest losses were Cooper Hornack, who placed sixth in the state at 139, and Nico Zanella at 160.

The top returnees include junior Cam Baker (44-7), who placed sixth in the state at 107, junior Julian Bertucci (39-18) at 127, junior Jacob Stewart (24-19) at 133, senior Calio Zanella (24-19) at 145, Ben Catullo (27-23) at 152, senior Isaac Lacinski (21-12) at 172 and senior Luke Boylan (34-17) at 215.

Ansani is counting on freshman Logan Barrett at 107 and sophomore Vincent Guerrini at 113 to assume starting jobs.

“I recruited Vincent from the soccer team,” Ansani said. “He’s very athletic and is a quick learner. It’s a matter of him gaining mat time.

“We’re another year older and I feel these guys are ready to face challenges from other teams in 2A.”

Derry, which returns three PIAA qualifiers, is much improved and so are McGuffey, Quaker Valley, Highlands and Burgettstown.

Preseason Top 10

Teams are listed with last year’s record and final ranking.

1. Burrell (15-4) 1

2. Derry (11-4) 7

3. Burgettstown (15-3) 2

4. Quaker Valley (13-3) 3

5. McGuffey (12-2) 5

6. Bentworth (6-3) NR

7. Frazier (9-7) 8

8. Avonworth (8-10) NR

9. Freedom (10-3) 6

10. Highlands (13-5) 10

Teams to watch: Beth-Center, Greensburg Salem, Hopewell, Laurel, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland

Returning PIAA champions

None

Returning placewinners

Seniors: Nico Fanella, Indiana, 127, third (now in Class 3A); Gaven Suica, Burgettstown, 139, fifth; Braedon Welsh, Fort Cherry, 172, fifth; Isaiah Pisano, 160, sixth; Vitali Daniels, Bentworth, 189, seventh

Juniors: Dylan Pitzer, Mt. Pleasant/Derry, 285, fourth; Jackson Angelo, Frazier, 189, fifth

Sophomores: Cam Baker, So., Burrell, 107, sixth; Mason Horwat, So., Derry Area, 145, sixth

Returning WPIAL champions

107: Baker; 114: Anthony Mucci, Sr., Derry Area; 121: Antonio Boni, Jr., Central Valley; 172: Elijah Brown, Jr., Belle Vernon (now in CLass 3A); 145: Horwat; 189: Brady Brown, So., Derry Area.

Keep an eye on

Seniors: Ryan Celaschi, Frazier, 160

Juniors: Bruce Anderchak, Quaker Valey, 107; Emmett Wolfe, McGuffey, 121; Mason Wright, Beth-Center, 121; Lucas Barr, McGuffey, 127; Owen Ivcic, Bentworth, 145; Rook Smith, Montour, 145; Colin Whyte, West Greene, 215

Sophomores: Drake McClure, Bentworth, 114; Lucas Boyer, Elizabeth Forward, 139

2024 WPIAL playoffs

Preliminary round

Laurel 39, Central Valley 36

Hampton 38, Avonworth 21

First round

Burgettstown 55, Laurel 15

Montour 45, Frazier 30

Derry 47, Southmoreland 19

Mt. Pleasant 32, Indiana 30

Quaker Valley 60, Hopewell 15

McGuffey 50, Freedom 18

Burrell 60, Hampton 6

Bentworth 42, Highlands 33

Quarterfinals

Burgettstown 52, Montour 15

Mt. Pleasant 37, Derry 31

Quaker Valley 39, McGuffey 23

Burrell 47, Bentworth 25

Semifinals

Burgettstown 56, Mt. Pleasant 15

Burrell 44, Quaker Valley 17

Finals

Burrell 41, Burgettstown 20

Third place

Quaker Valley 42, Mt. Pleasant 28

Alignment

Southern Sectional

Section 1: Chartiers-Houston, McGuffey, Washington and West Greene.

Section 2: Avella, Burgettstown, Hopewell, Lincoln Park and Sth Side Beaver.

Section 3: Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brownsville, Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan.

Northern Sectional

Section 1: Ellwood City, Knoch, Laurel, North Catholic and The Summit Academy.

Section 2: Ambridge, Beaver, Central Valley and Freedom Area.

Section 3: Avonworth, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks and Quaker Valley.

Eastern Sectional

Section 1: Elizabeth Forward, South Allegheny, South Park, Southmoreland and Yough.

Section 2: Derry Area, Greensburg Salem, Ligonier Valley and Mt. Pleasant.

Section 3: Burrell, Highlands, The Neighborhood Academy, Riverview and Valley.

Important dates

Nov. 29: Season begins

Dec. 11: First section play date

Dec. 25: 2-pound growth allowance

Jan. 23: Playoff pairings released

Jan. 27: WPIAL team tournament preliminary round

Jan. 29: WPIAL team tournament first round and quarterfinals

Feb. 1: WPIAL team tournament semifinals and finals at Peters Township

Feb. 3: PIAA team preliminary round

Feb. 6-8: PIAA team championships

Feb. 11: WPIAL individuals pairings released

Feb. 15: WPIAL girls championships at North Allegheny

Feb. 15: WPIAL 2A section tournaments (Eastern at Greensburg Salem; Northern at Keystone Oaks; Southern at Burgettstown).

Feb. 15: WPIAL 3A section tournaments (Eastern at Norwin; Northern at Fox Chapel; Southern at South Fayette).

Feb. 21-22: WPIAL 2A championships at Chartiers Valley

Feb. 21-22: WPIAL 3A championships at Canon-McMillan

Feb. 28-March 1: PIAA 2A Southwest regional at Altoona

Feb. 28-March 1: PIAA 3A West regional at Canon-McMillan

March 1: PIAA girls West regional at Canon-McMillan

March 6-8: PIAA championships at Giant Center, Hershey

Important tournaments

Nov. 29-30: Southwest Classic at Valley

Dec. 6-7: Chartiers-Houston Invitational, Houston

Dec. 6-7: Hickory Invitational, Hermitage

Dec. 6-7: North Coast Classic, Independence, Ohio

Dec. 6-7: Tom Best Invitational, Williamsport

Dec. 6-7: Ironman, Walsh Jesuit Ohio

Dec. 7: Babbit Duals, River Valley

Dec. 7: Carrick Duals

Dec. 7: Trinity Duals, Washington

Dec. 13-14: Panther Holiday Classic, Mount Aloysius

Dec. 14: Hampton Duals, Hampton

Dec. 14: Kiski Area Duals, Kiski Area

Dec. 14: St. Edwards Quad, Cleveland

Dec. 14: Upper St. Clair Duals, Upper St. Clair

Dec. 20-21: King of the Mountain, Lock Haven

Dec. 21: NursePro Plus Tournament, Morgantown, W.Va.

Dec. 21-22: Beast of the East, Newark, Del.

Dec. 27-28: Powerade, Canon-McMillan

Dec. 27-28: Southmoreland Holiday Classic

Dec. 27-28: Steve DeAugustino Classic, West Mifflin

Jan. 3-4: Tri-County AD Association Ringgold

Jan. 4: Ed Driscoll MAC Tournament, Laurel

Jan. 10-11: Burgettstown Invitational

Jan. 10-11: Mid-Winter Mayhem, Indiana

Jan. 10-11: WCCA Tournament, Greensburg Salem

Jan. 17-18: Allegheny County Champion, Fox Chapel

Jan. 18: Ultimate Duals, Brookville

Jan. 18-19: Escape the Rock, Council Rock South

Jan. 24-25: Fred Bell Tournament, Grove City

City League

Preseason rankings

1. Obama Academy (6-6)

2. Allderdice (9-9)

Returning champions: 107: Xander Henteleff, Jr., Allderdice (16-15); 114: Jaidon Jones, Sr., Carrick (17-11); 121: Isaac Werner, Jr., Obama (30-11); 127: Charles Bottom, Jr., Obama (17-15); 133: Javen Wood, Sr., Allderdice (12-12); 152: Elijah, Elser, Jr., Brashear (22-8); 172: Zayn Dixon, Jr. Obama (16-14); 215: Tom Paternoster, Sr., Allderdice (5-2); 285: Jhamir Rainey, Sr., Allderdice (13-14).

Girls wrestling

Returning WPIAL champions: 124: Saphia Davis, Sr., Plum (33-4); 130: Haley Smarsh, So., Moon ((28-1); 136: Ava Golding, Jr., Kiski Area (31-5); 142: Josephine Dollman, Jr., Norwin (27-5); 148: Contessa Cotelesse, So., Laurel (18-5); 170: Octavia Walker, so., Norwin (29-10); 190: Natalie Rush, Sr., Canon-McMillian (34-3); 235: Alaina Claassen, Jr., Plum (23-5).

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.