Derry wrestlers look to build on great season as Southwet Regional looms

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 9:27 PM

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The Derry wrestling team did something Feb. 22 that has not been done since 1947: have six WPIAL champions on one season.

The Trojans joined Canonsburg (1947, 1939 and 1936) and Waynesburg (1942 and 1943) as the only teams to accomplish that feat.

They did it at the WPIAL 2A championship. The Trojans had seven in the finals, and six walked away with titles at Chartiers Valley.

Now they try to continue their success at the PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional on Friday and Saturday at Altoona High School.

The top seven finishers advance to the PIAA championship on March 5-7 at Giant Center in Hershey.

Winning their third titles were juniors Mason Horwat (172 pounds) and Brady Brown (189). Horwat is seeded No. 1 for the regional.

Senior Ewan Olson (160) won his second title, and freshmen Mason Keesecker (107), Patrick Bulger (114) and Michael McNeal (139) their first.

Freshman Cam Olson (133) placed second, and freshmen William McNeal (145) and Ty Blasko (215) finished fourth. Senior Justin Papuga (285) finished eighth.

“I was really pleased how well we wrestled,” coach Troy Dolan Jr. said. “The guys who were expected to win delivered.

“I was not surprised that Michael won. He had a tough semifinal, and we felt good for him going into the finals. Everyone did their jobs. We took 11 to WPIALs and advanced 10.”

It has been quite a season for the Trojans, who won their first WPIAL title and finished fourth in the PIAA.

Now the team wants to continue to shine.

“It is going to be a lot tougher this weekend,” Dolan said. “But If we continue to perform, we will do well.

“We had a tough scheduled this season, and we are peaking at the right time.”

Burrell advanced nine to the regional and had two champions at the WPIALs: seniors Cam Baker (127) and Julian Bertucci (145).

Also advancing were Antonio Perkins (160), Jacob Stewart (139), Ayden Kun (215), Ben Catullo (172), Liam Jones (152), Carl Thomas (107) and Carter Thomas (133).

Other Westmoreland County wrestlers advancing were Greensburg Salem’s Elijah Miller (172) and heavyweight David Peters, Mt. Pleasant’s Tristan Wtorkiewicz (152) and heavyweight Payton Schaum, Ligonier Valley’s Carter Bizup (145), Southmoreland heavyweight Kaden Shannon (285) and Yough’s Chase Brown (121).

Looking to repeat

There are five wrestlers from the WPIAL looking for their second PIAA West Regional titles this weekend at Canon-McMillan.

They are Peters Township junior Nicholas McGarrity, Hempfield senior Nico Kapusta, Butler senior Santino Sloboda, Connellsville junior Kai Vielma and Belle Vernon senior Elijah Brown, a returning state champion.

Norwin senior Landon Sidun, who missed last year’s regional with a hand injury, said he is looking forward to tougher competition in the regional.

DuBois sophomore Mateo Gallegos is seeded No. 2 behind Sidun, who was a 2024 PIAA Class 3A champion.

“I do not look ahead,” Sidun said. “I have tunnel vision. My focus is my next opponent. I am sure the competition will be strong.”

Sidun is one of eight Norwin wrestlers to advance.

Kiski Area sophomore Mario Hutcherson, who is ranked No. 1 at 189, said he needs to be sharp.

“I have things to work on if I want to be a PIAA champion,” Hutcherson said.

Hutcherson’s teammate, Cooper Roscosky (215), said he was pleased how he performed in the WPIAL finals against Brown. Even though he dropped a 4-0 decision, he said he felt good how he I wrestled.

“The match was fun,” Roscosky said. “I just need to continue to battle.”

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.