Derry’s Mason Horwat reaches PIAA 2A finals thanks to upset of returning state champ
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Friday, March 6, 2026 | 10:19 PM
Derry’s Mason Horwat beats Warrior Run’s Max Wimsberger during a PIAA Class 2A 172-pound semifinal Friday at Giant Center. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Derry’s Brady Brown beats Greenville’s Hunter Cox during a PIAA Class 2A 189-pound quarterfinal bout Friday Giant Center. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Derry’s Brady Brown beats Greenville’s Hunter Cox during a PIAA Class 2A 189-pound quarterfinal bout Friday at Giant Center. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Derry’s Patrick Bulger beats Montgomery’s Gabe Oberheim during a PIAA Class 2A 114-pound quarterfinal bout Friday at Giant Center. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Derry’s Mason Horwat beats Faith Christian’s Nick Singer during a PIAA Class 2A 172-pound quarterfinal bout Friday at Giant Center. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Derry’s Mason Horwat beats Faith Christian’s Nick Singer during a PIAA Class 2A 172-pound quarterfinal bout Friday at Giant Center. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Derry’s Mason Horwat beats Warrior Run’s Max Wimsberger during a PIAA Class 2A 172-pound semifinal Friday at Giant Center. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
HERSHEY — Derry wrestling coach Troy Dolan Jr. insists that junior Mason Horwat thrives in big matches.
Horwat had two Friday at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships at Giant Center, and he now finds himself in the 172-pound final.
He was the only WPIAL wrestler to reach the Class 2A finals.
Horwat’s teammates — freshman Patrick Bulger (114 pounds) and junior Brady Brown (189) — and West Greene senior heavyweight Colin Whyte lost in the semifinals.
Horwat’s day began with a stunning upset of returning PIAA champion Nick Singer of Faith Christian Academy, 6-4, in the quarterfinals. Horwat secured a takedown with 1:11 left and held on for the win.
The semifinal was much easier. He defeated Warrior Run senior Max Wirnsberger, 7-2. He dominated from the start.
Horwat got a takedown with 1:30 left in the first period and controlled his opponent from the top position for most of the match. He got a second takedown in the third period.
“My goal this season was to win it,” Horwat said. “I took a big step in that direction. My coaches convinced me that I could beat anybody in the state. Nick is a super competitor, so I would say that is my biggest win of my career.”
Horwat said he stayed in position and limited his mistakes.
Horwat said the match in the PIAA team tournament was huge. It gave him confidence in Friday’s match.
“I knew I had a shot,” Horwat said. “I was not nervous. When I got that first takedown in the semifinals, I knew I was going to win the match.”
Bulger had a tough battle with Bishop McDevitt junior Braiden Lotier, losing 4-1. In the quarterfinals, he blanked Montgomery freshman Gabe Oberheim, 5-0.
Brown ran into a buzzsaw in the semifinals in Faith Christian Academy senior Adam Waters, losing 18-3. The returning PIAA champion has recorded three technical-fall wins.
Whyte was leading late in his match against Caleb Tyler of Fairfield only to lose 3-2 in ultimate tiebreaker.
Derry has four wrestlers earning medals.
Burrell senior Cam Baker lost in the quarterfinals but has fought back in the consolation rounds and is in line to win a medal.
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
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