As Penn-Trafford wrestlers get healthy, optimism grows
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Sunday, January 11, 2026 | 11:01 AM
Penn-Trafford wrestling coach Travis McKillop said he feels good about his squad despite a 2-4 record to start the season.
Injuries have slowed the team’s progress.
The Warriors opened the season by finishing third at the Hickory Invitational and followed that by defeating Plum in a Section 9-3A match, 38-26. The Warriors won eight matches and got pins from Jax Brentzel (107 pounds) and Sidney Hand (172).
The Warriors defeated Peters Township, 40-29, at the Kiski Area Duals, but fell to Canon-McMillan, North Allegheny, Fort LeBoeuf and Hempfield.
“I felt we wrestled well against North Allegheny,” McKillop said. “But that is where some injuries occurred. We are getting healthy.”
The Warriors placed fourth behind University (W.Va.), Trinity and Franklin Regional at the NursePro Plus tournament in Morgantown but had a tough time at Powerade.
“We have competed well in all the tournaments except Powerade,” McKillop said. “It was a learning experience for the wrestlers. It will make us better.”
Dylan Barrett (121) and Luke DeSantis (127) were champions at Hickory and Brentzel (107), a freshman, placed second. Logan Matrisch (160), who is committed to Seton Hills for baseball, and Sidney Hand (172) placed third and Jake Lang (133) was fifth.
Barrett and DeSantis were champions at NursePro Plus while Brentzel and Hand placed fourth and Matrisch and Dylan Clayton (157) placed fifth.
“Dylan (Barrett) is wrestling well,” McKillop said. “His goal is to be at the top of the podium in Hershey. He got a taste of the medal stand last year.”
Barrett is 10-2, Brentzel is 13-6, DeSantis is 14-3, Hand is 16-6 and Matrisch is 18-6.
“Logan is a good baseball player,” McKillop said. “If he would have dedicated himself to wrestle, he would be very good too. He’s a great athlete.”
The Warriors lineup got a boost Jan. 7 with the return of Cael Ott, who was out with an injury. He was recently cleared to return.
“I feel we are going to continue to improve,” McKillop said. “The team is coming together. I am excited about the postseason. Valentine’s Day, when the individual tournaments begin, is not far away.”
The team was scheduled to compete in the county tournament Jan. 9-10 and will compete in the Brookville Ultimate Duals on Jan. 17. Barrett was a returning champion in the county tournament.
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: Penn-Trafford
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