A-K Valley Class 3A wrestling preview: Talented duo returns to lead Kiski Area

By: Josh Rizzo
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 4:27 PM

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Six years have gone by since Kiski Area wrestling raised the WPIAL Class 3A team trophy, capping a stretch of three consecutive titles.

The Cavaliers advanced past the first round of the WPIAL playoffs last season and hope their still-young lineup will push them closer to title contention.

Kiski coach Chris Heater said he believes this is the deepest group he’s had in terms of having people bought into the program. The Cavaliers have 31 wrestlers out for the team. Heater said if they continue to work hard, expectations should be high.

“Absolutely,” Heater said. “They are capable, if they continue to work hard and put the time in, on determining what the ceiling is for this team. They are all in as a group.”

The Cavaliers are the most well positioned out of all of the Class 3A Alle-Kiski Valley schools for team success. Kiski finished 14-5 overall last season and beat Latrobe in the first round of the playoffs. The Cavaliers were eliminated by eventual WPIAL runner-up Connellsville.

Kiski will return Cooper Roscosky, who is 113-23 in his career and committed to wrestle at Buffalo in the offseason.

Roscosky was the WPIAL and state runner-up at 215 pounds last season. Sophomore Mario Hutcherson was 43-7 last season and made waves at the 16U Freestyle U.S. Marine Corps Junior nationals in Fargo, N.D., winning the 190-pound weight class.

Hutcherson finished second in the WPIAL at 172 pounds last season and battled through an ankle injury to place sixth at states.

“Those guys are both reaching for the stars,” Heater said. “In the upper weights in Pennsylvania, you have to be outstanding to win it all. You need to be healthy and have a little bit of luck. We were proud of Mario battling through the ankle injury and finishing with a medal last season.”

Paxton Newell, Gavin Murphy, John Deluca, Jackson Pollick, Tyler Bollinger and Travis Shearer qualified for WPIALs last season.

Fox Chapel was a strong contender for the section title the past two seasons. The Foxes, who lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs to North Allegheny last season, will be looking to rebuild.

Fox Chapel lost its lone state qualifier, Michael Worsen, to graduation. The Foxes also lost WPIAL qualifiers Jack Viti, Landon Funk, D’Angelo Hamilton, Milo Chiu and Youssef Abdelsalam.

“I knew it was coming,” Fox Chapel coach Michael Frank said. “I was prepared for it. But when we had the first practice about a week ago, you noticed it because of all of the new faces walking through the door.”

Senior Joey Geller, who will wrestle at 215 pounds, is a returning WPIAL qualifier and has a career record of 69-44. Frank said he expects fellow seniors Daniel Noel and Calyx Kimbrough to also fill holes in the lineup.

Fox Chapel will see a lot of changes throughout the season. Frank believes it will take some time before they find their ideal lineup.

“We have a lot of young guys who are ready to work,” Frank said. “It’s hard to know right now where everyone is going to settle in. We are going to have a lineup where about half of the kids are seeing varsity wrestling for the first time. We are looking forward to the competition.”

Plum will return a few experienced wrestlers to the lineup. Senior Owen Campbell placed fourth at WPIALs last season at 139 pounds. He has a career record of 94-31.

The Mustangs also have an experienced heavyweight coming back. Frank Grazulis picked up a pair of wins at WPIALs last season and was 28-11 overall.

Tags: Fox Chapel, Kiski Area, Plum