Franklin Regional, Norwin to wrestle for PIAA Class 3A title
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Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 3:53 PM
Chase Smith of Franklin Regional looks to turn a Bethlehem Catholic opponent on Feb. 7, 2026 during the PIAA Class 2A semifinals. (Paul Schofield | TribLive)
Derry’s Brady Brown (right) goes for a takedown against Reynolds on Feb. 7, 2026 at the PIAA Class 2A tournament. (Paul Schofield | TribLive)
Franklin Regional’s Jordan Perks celebrates pin against Bethlehem Catholic on Feb. 7, 2026 in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals. (Paul Schofield | TribLive)
Norwin’s Ethan Cartwright earns win in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals against Council Rock South on Feb. 7, 2026. (Paul Schofield | TribLive)
JOHNSTOWN – The Franklin Regional and Norwin wrestling teams will meet in a third consecutive title match Saturday afternoon.
Franklin Regional has won the previous two meetings between the rivals, 30-28 on Jan. 21 for the Section 9-3A title and 31-27 in the WPIAL finals Jan. 31.
This one is the PIAA Class 3A title.
They both advanced with impressive victories in the semifinals on Saturday at 1st Summit Arena.
The Panthers (21-0) defeated District 11 runner-up Bethlehem Catholic, 37-31.
The Knights (15-3) breezed to a 37-29 victory against District 1 runner-up Council Rock South.
Both teams got clutch wins in their matches.
Beau Fennick things started for the Panthers with a pin at 114, Chase Smith defeated Reef Brown, 4-0, at 139, and Max Firestine scored a pin at 152. But the biggest win was a pin by Jordan Perks (172) and victory by John Montgomery (285).
The Knights got a key win at 121 pounds and but not from standout Landon Sidun. Cash Mitchell won by technical fall, and the move allowed Sidun to move up to 127 where he got a pin.
Coleton Klipa also moved up and won by technical fall. The Knights got key wins from Brooks Blasko (145) and Nathan Klingensmith (152), pins by Noah Curren (160) and Jack White (172) and a major decision by Riley Shaffer (189).
With the Knights leading 37-11, Norwin coach Kyle Martin decided to forfeit the final three bouts.
Derry achieves goal
Derry wrestling coach Troy Dolan Jr. said his team took a step Saturday in the PIAA Class 2A tournament.
After earning a fourth-place finish, Dolan wants the team to aim for higher goals in 2026-27.
“We want to be No. 1,” Dolan said. “I am proud how we competed. Now we must take it to another level.”
Derry, which won its first WPIAL title Jan. 31, finished as the highest public school in the Class 2A tournament following wins against Reynolds, 34-29, and Chestnut Ridge, 44-23, in the consolation rounds.
The Trojans lost to Bishop McDevitt in the third-place match.
Freshman Patrick Bulger’s 6-5 win against Garrett Weyandt at 114 highlighted the victory against Chestnut Ridge.
The Trojans also got pins from William McNeal (152), Mason Horwat (172), Brady Brown (215) and heavyweight Justin Papuga.
Bulger and Horwat had pins against Reynolds.
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: Connellsville, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Norwin
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