Belle Vernon’s Soto, a former Connecticut state champ, making noise at WCCA wrestling tournament
By:
Friday, January 10, 2025 | 9:55 PM
Belle Vernon senior Deydon Soto takes down Kiski Area’s Dom Rohland during a 139-pound match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Latrobe senior Luke Willochell takes Penn-Trafford’s Logan Ventura to his back during a 133-pound match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Mt. Pleasant sophomore Stephen Predajna looks to attack Kiski Area’s Ezra Keitzer in a 160-pound match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Kiski Area’s Paxton Newell picks up Franklin Regional’s Sal Colangelo during a 107-pound match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Belle Vernon freshman Rylee Doppelheuer puts Yough’s Chad Brown on his back during a 107-pound first-round bout at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Franklin Regional Nico Sarnic (right) gets Derry’s Hayden Hood on his back during a 139-pound first-round match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Mt. Pleasant’s Tristian Wtorkiewicz takes down Norwin’s Evan Suefhoff during a 145-pound first-round match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
Norwin’s Coleton Klipa takes Burrell’s Vincent Guerrini to his back in a 114-pound match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Greensburg Salem freshman Andrew Pohland controls Yough’s Tommy McPherson in a 114-pound match at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday.
Belle Vernon senior Deydon Soto already has won a state title. That was in Connecticut in 2024.
But Soto admits the wrestling in Pennsylvania is a lot stronger, and it has made him a better wrestler.
Soto’s mom started a business in the state, and she moved to Belle Vernon with her sons, Deydon and Leonidas.
Deydon Soto (18-1) advanced to the semifinals by defeating Kiski Area’s Don Rohland, 16-1, and pinning Yough’s Dom Liscotti in the quarterfinals at the 71st Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday at Greensburg Salem.
The top seed at 139 pounds will face Norwin’s Nathan Klingensmith in the semifinals at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The finals are slated for 3 p.m.
“So far, my season is going great,” Soto said. “I’m getting used to the toughness of Pennsylvania wrestling.
“I’m learning a lot of good techniques and doing things that helped me be more offensive and dominate my opponents. Coach A.J. (Sayles) and coach Todd (Miller) really helped me with that.”
Soto’s only loss came Dec. 29 to Gettysburg’s Myles Grossman, 7-4, in the semifinals of the MyHouse tournament in Chambersburg.
He is ranked No. 3 in the WPIAL 3A by TribHSSN behind Connellsville’s Kai Vielma and Pine-Richland’s Dominic Ferraro.
Soto and his brother transferred to Belle Vernon from Danbury, where he won the 132-pound title. He then placed third in the All-New England tournament.
“It’s so much tougher here,” Soto said. “It’s helping me jump up levels. My goal is to place top four in the state.”
Point to prove
Mt. Pleasant sophomore Stephen Predajna is one of nine past champions in the tournament. But Predajna did not have enough points to earn the No. 1 seed at 160 pounds.
That honor went to Franklin Regional’s Ethan Cartwright.
“I was a little disappointed, but, at the end of the day, you have to go out and wrestle,” Predajna said. “I just have to go out and wrestle my best.
“I have a little chip on my shoulder, but I felt I wrestled well (Friday). But I know I can wrestle better.”
Predajna defeated Kiski Area’s Ezra Keitzer, 17-2, in the opening round and pinned Greensburg Salem’s Elijah Miller in the quarterfinals.
He will face Norwin’s Jack White in the semifinals.
Snyder missing tournament
Norwin sophomore Landon Sidun was not the only top wrestler to miss the tournament.
Latrobe sophomore Hunter Snyder, the No. 1 seed at 189 pounds, was scratched from the tournament after sustaining injury at an extra practice Thursday. He was the returning 172-pound champ.
Latrobe coach Mark Mears said he doesn’t know the severity of the injury.
Without the talented sophomore, the chances of the Wildcats winning their fourth consecutive team title took a hit.
Still alive for titles
Latrobe senior Luke Willochell (133), Burrell junior Cam Baker (127), Latrobe senior Leo Joseph (121), Derry sophomore Mason Horwat (152), Derry senior Anthony Mucci (127), Penn-Trafford senior Tasso Whipple (189) and Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky (215) are still in line to defend their titles.
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.
More High School Sports
• Belle Vernon sprints to big lead, routs Greensburg Salem in 3-4A boys basketball• OF Claire Mitchell joins Hempfield pipeline to Division I softball
• High school scores, summaries and schedules for Jan. 9, 2025
• What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Jan. 10, 2025: More 1 vs. 2 showdowns set for Friday
• High school roundup for Jan. 9, 2025: South Fayette makes statement in section
