Derry freshmen make statement with upset wins in PIAA Class 2A wrestling
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Thursday, March 7, 2024 | 6:10 PM
Derry’s Brady Brown avoids a takedown by Bishop McDevitt’s Lucas Lawler in the 189-pound match during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Belle Vernon’s Elijah Brown is wrapped up by Carmine Lenzi of Berks Catholic in a 172-pound match during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Mt. Pleasant’s Dylan Pitzer takes on South Williamsport’s Ryan Casella in a 285-pound bout during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Mt. Pleasant’s Greg Shaulis wrestles Cole Hubert of Sauron Valley at 152 pounds during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Mt. Pleasant’s Jamison Poklembo wrestles Gavin Badger of Lancaster Catholic in a 145-pound bout during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships Thursday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Latrobe’s Jake Braun is tied up with Christopher Kelly of Easton at 127 pounds Thursday during the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Landon Sidun of Norwin is tied up with Penn Manor’s Travis Clawson at 114 pounds Thursday during the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Hempfield’s Nico Kapusta is tied up with Andrew Alexander of Mifflin County at 107 pounds Thursday during the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Franklin Regional’s Juliano Marion takes down Reagan McCullough of Central Bucks East at 215 pounds Thursday during the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Hempfield’s Nico Kapusta controls Andrew Alexander of Mifflin County at 107 pounds Thursday during the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship at Hershey’s Giant Center.
HERSHEY — For those in the wrestling community who didn’t know anything about Derry freshmen Mason Horwat and Brady Brown before Thursday, they do now after the opening round of the PIAA Class 2A tournament at Giant Center.
One bystander told his buddy, “That’s a freshman,” after he watched Brown defeat second-seeded Lucas Lawler, a junior from Bishop McDevitt, 2-1, in the opening round at 189 pounds. Lawler was ranked No. 4 by PA Power Wrestling.
Brown (39-4) had to win a preliminary-round match against Fort LeBoeuf senior Conner McChesney, 7-6, to get there.
But maybe the bigger win was by Horwat (36-4). He surprised many when he knocked off Faith Christian junior Chase Hontz, 2-0, at 145. Hontz was ranked No. 2 by PA Power Wrestling.
“I knew it was going to be tough,” Brown said. “He’s definitely a tough opponent. I did what I needed to get the win, so I’m happy.”
Brown got an escape and a penalty point in the second period to grab a 2-0 lead. He allowed Lawler to escape in the third period and then fended off numerous takedown attempts to secure the win.
The last came with 25 second left when it looked like Lawler would secure a takedown, but Brown used a funk counter and forced a stalemate with six seconds left.
“I was in danger, so I had to get my butt off the mat,” Brown said. “This win is incredible. Going into the match after watching my teammate get a win definitely helped me. I told myself I had to get the win.”
Horwat (36-4) used a tilt in the third period to secure a two-point nearfall for the win.
“I didn’t give him anything,” Horwat said. “I studied his matches, and I made sure I didn’t give him something he liked to get to.
“I was nervous at the beginning, but my coach got me ready for the match with hard work. It was awesome to watch Brady win. I just want to keep the momentum going here.”
The two dynamic freshmen have fed off each other all season. They were section champions and WPIAL champions.
Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. couldn’t have been prouder of his trio of wrestlers. Even though junior Anthony Mucci went 1-1, he’s feels Mucci is in a good spot in the bracket.
“It would be nice for all three to place,” Dolan said. “This went a little better than we scripted. It was great to see Mason and Brady wrestle well here as freshmen. It was a big ask for them coming in and knocking off some good guys when they were underdogs.”
Dolan said both are hard workers, and they both proved that hard works pays off.
Horwat will face Brookville junior Cole Householder, the No. 3 seed, and Brown faces a familiar foe, Frazier junior Jackson Angelo. They are wrestling partners at All-American Wrestling Club.
Mt. Pleasant sophomore Dylan Pitzer was the only Viking to advance to the quarterfinals at 8 a.m. Friday.
Pitzer survived a second-period scare, when he got put on his back, to defeat South Williamsport senior Ryan Casella, 15-6, in a 285-pound match. Pitzer (41-2) gets Berks Catholic senior Brody Kline in the next round.
Two Mt. Pleasant seniors — Jamison Poklembo and Greg Shaulis — dropped into the consolation round after preliminary-round matches.
Poklembo lost 3-1 in sudden victory to Lancaster Catholic senior Gavin Badger, then fell to Hontz 2-1.
Shaulis kept his medal aspirations alive with a 4-2 victory against Halifax senior Peter Ranck.
Belle Vernon sophomore Elijah Brown and junior Kole Doppelheuer lost in the first round. Brown dropped a 7-5 decision to Berks Catholic junior Carmine Lenzi at 172. Doppelheuer was beaten by Bishop McDevitt junior Ryan Lawler, 17-2. He opened with an 11-0 preliminary-round win against Blue Mountain sophomore Owen Woll at 145.
Burrell sophomore Cam Baker and senior Cooper Hornack advanced to the quarterfinals. Baker defeated Northwestern junior Sierra Chiesa, 4-2, at 107, and Hornack pinned Camp Hill junior Noah Doi at 139.
Valley senior Charles Perkins picked up a pin in the preliminary round but dropped a 17-1 decision to Faith Christian sophomore Adam Waters.
Frazier senior Rune Lawrence, who is looking to become the next four-time PIAA champion, picked up his 100th career pin when he beat Greenville junior Teague Calvin.
Sidun back on track
Norwin freshman Landon Sidun couldn’t wait to be back on the mat after falling short in the Class 3A WPIAL tournament March 2.
Sidun worked on a few of his mistakes and came out on Day 1 of the PIAA wrestling championships at the Giant Center with a new focus.
Sidun (39-2) recorded six takedowns in his first state match and rolled to a 12-6 win against Penn Manor senior Travis Clawson at 114.
The victory puts him in a quarterfinal match against the No. 1 seed, Pennridge senior Colby Martinelli. The Class 3A quarterfinals begin at 2:15 p.m. Friday.
“Landon is a little worried about his opponent and I’m sure his opponent isn’t excited to face Landon,” Norwin coach Kyle Martin said. “Landon is ready.”
Sidun said he was pleased with the way he attacked his opponent, especially getting six takedowns.
“I was very excited to get back on the mat,” Sidun said. “Last week was not my best performance. I was lucky enough to get right back out here. It felt good to get my takedowns in.”
While this is Sidun’s first high school state tournament, he’s shined on the big stage at Junior Olympic states and at nationals in Fargo.
“This is special because a lot of great wrestlers ended their high school careers here,” Sidun said. “It’s nice to be on the same mat. I can’t believe I’m here. It’s cool to be in the same arena where legends were made like Spencer (Lee).”
Sidun’s teammate, senior Nathan Campbell, advanced with a 4-3 win at 189.
Other wrestlers to advance include Latrobe junior Luke Willochell at 121, Hempfield senior Eli Carr at 152, Kiski Area sophomore Cooper Roscosky at 189, Penn-Trafford senior Hayden Coy (145), Franklin Regional senior Tyler Kapusta at 121 and Latrobe freshman Hunter Snyder at 172.
WPIAL champion Connellsville advanced four to the quarterfinals while Canon-McMIllan, Trinity and Thomas Jefferson each had two advance. There are 23 Class 3A wrestlers still alive in the winner’s bracket.
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.
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