Latrobe’s Luke Willochell becomes 4-time WCCA champion

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 8:56 PM

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It was mission accomplished for Latrobe senior Luke Willochell.

He came into the 72nd Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association wrestling tournament with two goals: becoming the tournament’s 14th four-time champion and getting four pins to reach 100 in his career.

With his pin of Franklin Regional sophomore Chase Smith in the third period of the 133-pound final, Willochell got it done.

“This one means a lot,” Willochell said. “We had a coach (Tyler Mears) who passed away before the beginning of the season.

“We talked about our goals, and I talked about my goals are with him all season, and two of those goals were accomplished (Saturday). I’m so glad I could do it for Tyler. We miss him.”

Tyler Mears, son of Latrobe coach Mark Mears, died suddenly in November.

Smith didn’t make it easy for Willochell. But the senior was confident in his abilities, and he knew he eventually would get the pin.

“Everyone knew what my plan was, so they were a little strategic,” Willochell said. “Chase had a good game plan. I knew the pin was coming.”

Willochell is only the second Latrobe wrestler to win four times at WCCAs. The other was Tom Bell (1961-64), the first wrestler in the county to do it.

Burrell junior Cam Baker (9-4) will have to wait a year to win his third county title.

Derry senior Anthony Mucci (21-4), who won his second consecutive title, used a five-point move from the down position (reversal and three-point nearfall) to defeat Baker, 6-3.

Baker was hoping to be the 49th three-time winner and third Burrell wrestler to accomplish the feat. He would join Jordan Shields (2006-08) and Dakota DesLauriers (2011-13) on the list.

Mucci, who won the 114 title last year, tied his dad (Blaise) as a two-time champion. Blaise Mucci won titles in 1996 and 1997.

“My dad was kind of teasing me a little bit about winning a second title,” Anthony Mucci said. “I had to show him. I came here to win.”

The battle was between two of the top 2A wrestlers in the WPIAL. Mucci was ranked No. 1 at 133 and Baker No. 1 at 127.

Mucci dropped for the tournament but plans to return to 133 this week.

He said this might not be the last time they meet.

“It’s great to be a two-time champion,” Mucci said. “It’s a goal I wanted to achieve.”

Mucci was one of four Derry champions, tying the 1987 team.

Also winning were sophomore Mason Horwat (152), junior Ewan Olson (160) and sophomore Brady Brown (189).

Horwat won his second county title by defeating Belle Vernon senior Kole Doppelheuer, 13-2.

Olson and Brown won their first county titles. Olson defeated Norwin junior Jack White, 6-1, and Brown grinded out a 9-4 win against Kiski Area senior Mark Gray.

Derry finished fourth with 179.5 points.

Franklin Regional won its fifth county title with 247.5 points and finished with two champions: freshman Beau Fennick (107) and freshman Max Firestine (145).

Fennick (22-3) earned his first county title in impressive fashion with a 16-0 victory against Derry freshman Rocco DeCario (14-4) at 107.

Fennick dominated the field by recording two pins and a technical fall. DeCario had two pins in his debut.

Firestine (25-4) had a tougher time in the finals. He defeated Norwin senior Gage Mamie, 4-0.

“It was a great effort,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “Everyone across the board came through. This is a special group that works really hard.

“We’re on the verge of doing some special things if we continue to get better, and that’s a credit to them. They love to wrestle.”

Penn-Trafford junior Dylan Barrett (18-2) achieved one of his goals for the season by winning his first county title.

He dominated Norwin freshman Coleton Klipa (15-8) for the second time in four days by winning the 114-weight class with a 16-3 victory. He defeated Klipa, 13-4, on Wednesday.

Latrobe senior Leo Joseph ended as a two-time county winner by pinning Penn-Trafford sophomore Luke DeSantis in 1:47 at 121.

Joseph (17-4) took advantage of his opportunity when Norwin sophomore Landon Sidun, the No. 1 ranked 121-pound wrestler in the country, did not compete.

Burrell junior Julian Bertucci (13-5) used an escape to defeat Belle Vernon senior Deydon Soto, 1-0, at 139.

Belle Vernon junior and Pitt commit Elijah Brown won the 215-pound weight class by denying Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky his second title. Brown won 4-0.

Kiski Area was second in the team standings with 204.5 points, and Burrell was third with 181.5.

The Cavaliers had two champions: freshman Mario Hutcherson (172) and senior heavyweight Ryder Ekas.

Hutcherson defeated Burrell’s Isaac Lacinski, 13-4, and Ekas pinned Latrobe’s Marco Scarton.

“I’m very pleased with our guys’ effort,” Kiski Area coach Chris Heater said. “I thought we wrestled well. We came here and continued to scrap.” We continue to grow.”

Always No. 1

Latrobe sophomore Gabby Roman forever will be known as the first girl to be a Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association champion.

This is the first year the county coaches’ association held the girls tournament, and Roman, with two pins at 100 pounds against Valley’s Zaryai Rucker-Felton, claimed the title.

“It’s a good feeling,” Roman said. “It’s kind of crazy. It feels a little too easy. I wish there would have been more girls here.

“But, at the same time, I’m glad that I was the first. This is my first year wrestling.”

The other first-time county winners were Valley’s Isabella Martinez (106), Derry’s Teryn Nuttal (112), Greensburg Salem’s Sadie Sarver (118), Burrell’s Carmen Bires (124), Burrell’s Bella Stewart (130), Valley’s Ariona Lineburg (136), Valley’s Ayhauna Miller (155), Linda Maxwell (170), Valley’s Arianna Bernard (190) and Latrobe’s Miranda Kantoris (235).

Valley girls were the team champions with 168 points. Latrobe was second with 114.

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, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Norwin