Hempfield’s Kapusta, Belle Vernon’s Brown keep rolling, 49 from WPIAL qualify for 3A states
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Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 7:31 PM
Hempfield junior Nico Kapusta attempts a takedown during Saturday’s West Regional tournament.
Latrobe’s Luke Willochell tries to control Indiana’s Nico Fanella during their match Saturday at the Class 3A West Regional.
Hempfield’s Nico Kapusta hugs his dad Brian after winning his weight class at the West Regional tournament Saturday.
Conenllsville sophomore Kai Vielma cradles Pine-Richland’s Dom Ferro during their match at the Class 3A West Regional.
Belle Vernon junior Elijah Brown tries to control Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky during a 215-pound final at Saturday’s West Regional.
Central Mountain’s Dalton Perry tries to escape from Baldwin’s Ramil Islamov during their match Saturday at the Class 3A West Regional.
Hempfield’s Nico Kapusta celebrates his victory at Saturday’s Class 3A West Regional tournament.
Latrobe’s Leo Joseph tries to take down Altoona’s Braiden Weaver during their bout at the Class 3A West Regional on Saturday.
So far, so good for Hempfield junior Nico Kapusta.
Even though he missed most of the regular season with a left elbow injury he suffered during a preseason tournament, which made him doubtful to compete, Kapusta healed faster than expected.
Now he has his eye on winning a PIAA Class 3A title Thursday-Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey.
Kapusta (17-0) remained undefeated when he beat DuBois freshman Mateo Gallegos, 6-5, in the 114-pound final Saturday at the Western Region tournament. Kapusta built a 5-0 lead with a takedown and nearfall points a minute into the match, but Gallegos rallied to tie the score 5-5 in the second period.
“One more week,” Kapusta said. “Getting the early five-point move was huge, but I kind of stopped wrestling after that. It’s going to happen in big matches, but, at the end of the day, I got the job done.”
Kapusta then escaped with 53 seconds left and fought off Gallegos’ attack for the win.
“He was super good on top,” Kapusta said. “I had to find a way. I eventually got out.
“Now I head to Hershey. It’s crazy. The season flew by. Being out three-and-a half months, I’m ready to go.”
Belle Vernon junior Elijah Brown, ranked No. 1 in the state by PAPowerWrestling.com, won the 215-pound title by defeating Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky, 1-0. He defeated Roscosky in the WPIAL finals last week and is 4-0 this season against him.
Brown got an escape in the second period for the winning point. Roscosky opted to stand on his feet in the third period but was unable to take down Brown.
“I was surprised that he took neutral,” Brown said. “I turned him last week, and he knows I’m good on top. He’s very good, and it’s hard to widen that gap.”
Other WPIAL winners were Peters Township junior Nicholas McGarrity (107), Butler junior Santino Sloboda (127), Indiana senior Nico Fanella (133), Connellsville sophomore Kai Vielma (139) and Thomas Jefferson seniors Maddox Shaw (152) and Shepherd Turk (heavyweight).
The WPIAL will be sending 49 wrestlers to Hershey compared to a total of 16 from Districts 6, 8, 9 and 10.
Thomas Jefferson, thanks to Turk’s pin in the finals, edged Connellsville for the team title, 118.5 to 116.
Connellsville had the most wrestlers to qualify with six, and Thomas Jefferson is advancing five.
Other Westmoreland County wrestlers to advance were Latrobe seniors Leo Joseph (121) and Luke Willochell (133) and sophomore Hunter Snyder (189), Penn-Trafford junior Dylan Barrett (114) and sophomore Luke DeSantis (121), Franklin Regional junior Titus Colangelo (114) and freshman Max Firestine (145) and Kiski Area freshman Mario Hutcherson (172) and senior Mark Gray (189).
Joseph finished second, falling to Altoona junior Braiden Weaver, 10-8, in the 121-pound final, and Willochell fell to Fanella for the second consecutive week, 6-4, at 133.
Weaver built a 10-3 lead in the second period and held on for the win. Fanella used a reversal and two-point nearfall in the third period to edge Willochell.
“Winning last week gave me confidence this week against Luke,” Fanella said. “I like wrestling against good wrestlers.”
Joseph said he learned that he has to protect his lead leg.
“He scored a lot off re-attacks and getting me out of position,” Joseph said. “I am happy to move on.”
Altoona senior Luke Sipes won his fourth regional title, defeating Connellsville senior Lonzy Vielma, 8-1, at 160.
Kai Vielma defeated Pine-Richland’s Dom Ferraro, 9-4, in a rematch from last week’s WPIAL final at 139.
Central Mountain senior Dalton Perry used a late escape to defeat Baldwin senior Ramil Islamov, 7-6.
One wrestler living on Cloud 9 is Fox Chapel senior Michael Worsen.
He learned Thursday that the District 8 (Pittsburgh City League) champion at 121 pounds pulled out of the tournament, and he was taking his place.
Worsen took full advantage of his chance. He finished fifth and earned a trip to Hershey.
“A week ago, I thought my season was over,” Worsen said. “Now I’m representing my school in Hershey.
“I had to work hard and get back down to weight. I can’t wait to go out and have fun.”
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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