Burrell wrestlers begin push for another team title, advance to WPIAL Class 2A semifinals

By: Josh Rizzo
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | 8:58 PM

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Burrell senior wrestler Jacob Stewart looks forward to this stretch of the season. When the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs start, the Buccaneers are always on the hunt for more hardware.

The two-time defending district champions inched closer to another appearance in the finals by beating Southmoreland, 51-20, in the first round and Beth-Center, 51-19, in the quarterfinals Wednesday night at home.

“It’s fun. I love doing it,” Stewart said. “I look forward to this time of year. We know we are capable of winning it.”

Stewart picked up a pair of pins at 139 pounds in the dual meets, crossing the 100-win threshold for his career. Stewart, who is 29-3 this season, said he is eager to pursue more of his goals.

“It’s just another step,” Stewart said. “I have more goals ahead of me I’d like to achieve, and I want to get there.”

Burrell (14-2) flexed its muscles against the Bulldogs. The Buccaneers collected seven pins from Cam Baker (127 pounds), Stewart, Dylan Sanchez (145), Julian Bertucci (152), Antonio Perkins (160), Ben Catullo (172) and Ayden Kun (215).

Perkins scored the fastest pinfall at 23 seconds, and Bertucci wrapped up his match in 32 seconds.

Burrell coach Steve Ansani said he was happy with how aggressive the Buccaneers were against Beth-Center (9-5).

“The first match I don’t think we wrestled well,” Ansani said. “I thought we were lax. We went upstairs and regrouped. We came out and did what we were supposed to do: went for the falls, attacked the positions we wanted to be in.”

The Bulldogs led twice. Alex Medlen opened with a pin at 121 pounds. After Baker tied the score, Mason Wright beat Carter Thomas, 11-4, by decision in a match between two returning state qualifiers to give the Bulldogs a 9-6 lead.

Beth-Center coach Gary Welsh said it was a good match for Wright.

“They were in the same bracket last week at Bedford,” Wright said. “That matchup is going to happen a few more times this year. I thought Mason got a few gritty takedowns where he was in on the legs, and Carter dropped the legs and Mason had to grit his teeth and fight through it.”

Burrell went back ahead following Stewart’s first-round pin.

The closest match of the quarterfinal contest was when Burrell freshman Levi Speer beat Brody Quigley, 11-6, at 107 pounds. Speer led 7-5 in the third period before securing a late takedown to grind out the win.

“I was looking for the moves I know how to do best,” Speer said.

Malachi Peak (189) also won for the Bulldogs via a major decision, and Noah Layhue picked up a pin at heavyweight.

“I thought this was a good result for where we are as a team,” Welsh said.

Burrell will take on the winner of Laurel and Jefferson-Morgan in the semifinals.

“That’s what we strive for,” Ansani said. “It’s something we do. We want to continue on with the Burrell legacy.”

Tags: Beth-Center, Burrell