High school wrestling notebook: Derry continues to make noise

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | 4:25 PM

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Derry’s wrestling team did not win the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association team title Saturday, but it did walk away with the most individual champions: four.

The Trojans finished fourth in the team race with 179.5 points behind Franklin Regional (247.5 points), Kiski Area (210.5) and Burrell (181.5).

Winning their second titles were senior Anthony Mucci (127 pounds) and sophomore Mason Horwat (152). Claiming their first were junior Ewan Olson (160) and sophomore Brady Brown (189). Derry now has 55 county champions.

Freshman Rocco DeCario (107) placed second, senior Brett Klim (139) was fifth and freshman Dylan Bateman (121) was sixth.

The four champions tied the 1987 team that had four winners. They were Todd Kantor (132), Keith Enos (145), Jarrett Bambery (155) and heavyweight Harry Jellison.

“I was really impressed with our guys,” Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said. “Even Rocco had a great tournament as a freshman. Super proud of him.

“And for some of our older guys to go out and deliver when we needed them, it was awesome. They had a lot of fun.”

Derry is ranked No. 2 by TribHSSN behind No. 1 Burrell. They could be headed for a showdown at the end of the season.

The Trojans’ performance caught the attention of the Burrell staff. Derry’s middle school and junior teams are strong, and the future looks bright.

“It was cool to be in the counties and be competitive,” Dolan said. “We’re starting to make some noise. It’s awesome.”

Dolan said he was proud of all his wrestlers, especially Mucci, who tied his dad (Blaise) as a two-time champion, and Brown, who reversed a loss to Kiski Area’s Mark Gray at the Powerade Tournament.

“Anthony lost to Cam (Baker) before, and Brady lost to (Mark) Gray at Powerade,” Dolan said. “Brady turned around that match that quickly after he had a rough time at Powerade. He pushed himself in the room, and to see it transpire on the mat that way was just awesome.”

Brown said: “I had something to prove to myself. I worked hard in the room. I was focused on every match. It was nice to see my hard work pay off.”

Franklin Regional claims 5th title

The No. 2-ranked team in Class 3A by TribHSSN Live continued the upward trend by winning its fifth county title and first since 2021.

The Panthers had two champions — freshmen Beau Fennick (107) and Max Firestine (145) — and 11 other place finishers.

Franklin Regional finished with 247.5 points. Kiski Area was second with 210.5.

Sophomore Chase Smith (133) finished second, and sophomore Ethan Cartwright (160), senior Luke Ankney (152), sophomore Mikey Ruane (127), senior Nico Sarnic (139) and sophomore Titus Colangelo (114) placed third. Senior Henry Patts (189) placed fourth.

Coach Matt Lebe said he hopes the performance sets up the next two weeks when the Panthers face Penn-Trafford (Wednesday) and at Norwin (Jan. 22) to conclude Section 9 action. Norwin is ranked No. 4.

TJ 2nd without Shaw

Thomas Jefferson placed second at the Mid-Winter Mayhem at IUP with 151.5 points, and it did it without returning PIAA champion Maddox Shaw, who is out with a lower-body injury suffered Dec. 22 at the Beast of the East tournament.

Shaw returned to the lineup Jan. 8 against Ringgold.

Senior Bode Marlow defeated Abington Heights’ Brian Heard, 26-17, to win the 172-pound title. Senior heavyweight Shepherd Turk was pinned in the finals by Somerset senior Rowan Holmes.

Freshmen Zach Rehak (107) and Brayden White (160) placed third, and Zach LaBryer (189) placed fourth.

Butler junior Santino Sloboda won the 121 title, and Highlands’ Javeon Chambers finished second at 107. Butler’s Kase Chopp (145) placed third.

Duals of the Week

Here are some of the top dual meets Wednesday:

In Class 3A: Penn-Trafford at Franklin Regional; Peters Township at Canon-McMillan; Indiana at Fox Chapel; Armstrong at Kiski Area; and Waynesburg at Trinity.

In Class 2A: Derry at Ligonier Valley; Mt. Pleasant at Greensburg Salem; Beth-Center at Jefferson-Morgan; and McGuffey at West Greene.

The Brookville Ultimate Duals are Saturday. Teams competing include Burrell, Penn-Trafford, Reynolds, Chestnut Ridge and Brookville.

Allegheny Counties set

The annual Allegheny County championships will be Friday and Saturday at Fox Chapel.

Action begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday. The Parade of the Championships is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

There are 33 teams from the county and four from the City League entered.

Returning champions are Quaker Valley’s Bruce Anderchak (107), Fox Chapel’s Landon Funk (114), Moon’s Cael Yanek (121), Pine-Richland’s Dominic Ferraro (139), Thomas Jefferson’s Maddox Shaw (145), Thomas Jefferson’s Bode Marlow (160), Central Catholic’s Nez Green (189), Central Catholic’s Roman Thompson (215) and Thomas Jefferson’s Shepherd Turk (285).

Marlow is looking to become the sixth four-time champion. There are 13 three-time champions.

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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