Burrell duo claim WPIAL 2A titles, including gold No. 3 for Cooper Hornack

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 7:25 PM

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Winning a WPIAL wrestling title is not easy. Just asked Burrell senior Cooper Hornack.

He needed an overtime takedown and a couple of great scrambles to defeat Burgettstown senior Gaven Suica, 3-1, to win the 139-pound title, his third, at the WPIAL Class 2A championships Saturday at Chartiers Valley.

Twice, once in regulation and the other in overtime, Hornack fought off takedown attempts by Suica.

“I don’t know how I didn’t give up two that one time in regulation,” Hornack said. “This was the hardest to win. Gaven was a great opponent. I just kept fighting and wouldn’t let him get it.”

Hornack (34-4) is the returning PIAA champion. He knows next week will be even tougher because of Bishop McCort sophomore Beau Bassett.

“I’m not even thinking about him,” Hornack said. “There are other good wrestlers there. I just have to wrestle my style. The goal is to advance to states.”

Hornack wasn’t the only Burrell wrestler to win a title. Sophomore Cam Baker, who lost in the finals in 2023, rallied to defeat Quaker Valley sophomore Bruce Anderchak, 4-2.

Anderchak (36-3) scored the first takedown, but Baker (38-3) got an escape and takedown before the end of the first period for a 3-2 lead. He escaped early in the second period and wouldn’t allow Anderchak to get close to tying the score.

“It was exciting,” Baker said. “I gave up the first takedown, but I kept going because I was taught you’re always in the match if you keep working and I believed in myself.

“I’m able to takedown anyone as long as I stay in position. I knew I had to get back on my feet and continue to wrestle.”

Now that Baker has won, his photo will go on the wall in the wrestling room.

“I can’t wait to see that,” he said. “I’m excited to get on it after coming up short last year.”

Burrell advanced eight others to the PIAA Southwest Regional on March 1 and 2 at Altoona: Luca Rosa (fourth at 121), Luke Boylan (third at 215), Carter Thomas (fifth at 114), Julian Bertucci (fifth at 127), Ben Catullo (fifth at 152), Isaac Lacinski (sixth at 172), Jake Stewart (seventh at 133) and Calio Zanella (eighth at 145).

Three Highlands wrestlers advanced to the regionals and two — Aiden Burford (139) and Javeon Chambers (107) — placed third. Kyren Veasley placed fourth at 152).

Valley senior Charles Perkins (third at 172) and Riverview freshman Alex Wylly (sixth at 152) also earned a trip to Altoona.

Derry Area had three champions: junior Anthony Mucci (114) and freshmen Mason Horwat (145) and Brady Brown (189).

Frazier senior Rune Lawrence (28-1) became the 32nd wrestler to become a four-time champion when he pinned West Greene sophomore Colin Whyte. Lawrence had four pins in the tournament.

He and his older brother, Thayne, are the only brothers to become four-time WPIAL champions.

Bentworth senior Chris Vargo (127) joined Hornack as a three-time champion. Vargo defeated Indiana junior Nico Fanella, 7-2.

In a battle of unbeaten heavyweights, Central Valley senior Brenan Morgan (35-0) defeated Mt. Pleasant sophomore Dylan Pitzer (37-1), 8-4. Morgan was able to secure four takedowns on the lanky Pitzer.

It was his second WPIAL title after winning at 215 last year.

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