Only WPIAL 2A finalist, Derry’s Mason Horwat, captures PIAA wrestling silver

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 10:05 PM

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HERSHEY — Mason Horwat’s dream of becoming Derry’s next PIAA champion will have to wait for another season.

Horwat gave up a takedown in the second period and another in the third and dropped an 11-2 decision to Montoursville senior Gage Wentzel (49-2 this season, 188-32 all time), who was a PIAA runner-up at 172 in 2025.

Horwat (53-5, 137-18) earned his third PIAA medal. He placed fourth in 2025 and sixth in 2024.

He was trying to become the 13th Derry wrestler to win PIAA gold.

“I had a great tournament,” Horwat said. “It was fun. I was not nervous. He stayed in position all the time. I must give him props.”

Horwat said he missed an early opportunity for a takedown, and he gave it up too quickly.

“I am shooting for No. 1 here after finishing sixth, fourth and second,” Horwat said.

All three Derry wrestlers in the consolation rounds won their final matches of the season.

Brady Brown defeated Chestnut Ridge junior Jayden Imler, 8-2, in the consolation semifinals at 189 pounds and then won the third-place match 4-2 against Montoursville junior Hayden Harvey.

“Obviously, third is never the goal,” Brown said. “You always want to win. But I am happy with how I wrestled. I have one more year to get it done.”

And Brown said preparing for next season begins soon.

“The plan is to get it going,” Brown said. “Hopefully we can build off this season’s success.”

Freshman Patrick Bulger finished fifth at 114 pounds. He defeated Montgomery freshman Gabe Oberheim, 11-6. He dropped a decision to Faith Christian freshman Cruz Little in the consolation semifinals.

Senior Ewan Olson finished his career at Derry with a medal. He placed seventh by defeating Bentworth senior Owen Ivcic, 4-3, at 160 pounds.

Ivcic is Bentworth’s all-time record holder for wins with 175. It was also his first medal.

Burrell senior Cam Baker finished his career with a sixth-place medal at 127 pounds.

He reached the consolation semifinals after falling in the quarterfinals. He defeated Delone Catholic freshman Jax Fuhrman, 14-4, and then was pinned by Chestnut Ridge senior Dominic Deputy and fell to Hanover sophomore C.J. Caines.

The other placewinners were: West Greene heavyweight Colin Whyte (third), McGuffey senior Lucas Barr (sixth at 133), Bentworth junior Drake McClure (sixth at 139), Elizabeth Forward sophomore Preston Bubash (seventh at 121) and Frazier senior Jonah Erdely (seventh at 152).

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: Derry Area