Latrobe’s Luke Willochell looks to make history at Westmoreland County Wrestling Tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 | 4:21 PM

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The Westmoreland County Wrestling Tournament has been held since 1954, and only 13 wrestlers have won four titles.

Latrobe senior Luke Willochell could become the 14th if things work out as planned when the event begins at 4 p.m. Friday at Greensburg Salem High School. This is the 72nd County Tournament and 71st sponsored by the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association.

Willochell, who has signed a letter of intent to attend Wyoming where he’ll join his brother Gabe, hopes to rebound from the tough Powerade Tournament, where a shoulder injury prevented him from placing.

“I was pleased how I was wrestling until the injury,” Willochell said. “I was beating the No. 6 wrestler (Manuel Sladate of Slam Academy, Nev.) in the country 6-1 before I strained my shoulder. But coach (Mark) Mears gave us some time off, and I am a lot better. The time off came at the right time.”

Willochell (140-14 career record, 18-2 this season) could also record his 100th pin in the finals.

“I got four matches in last year’s tournament,” Willochell said. “I haven’t looked to see who will be in my weight (133 pounds) class.”

If Willochell does win, he’ll join Tom Bell as Latrobe’s only four-time winners. Bell (1961-64) was the first wrestler in the county to win four titles.

Willochell will look to become a four-time WPIAL 3A champion in late February and try to win a PIAA title in early March. He’s a three-time PIAA placewinner, finishing second in 2022 and fifth in 2023 and 2024.

“Being a four-time county champion is something I’ve thought about all season,” Willochell said. “To be only the second Latrobe wrestler to do it would be an honor.”

The county’s last four-time champion was Franklin Regional’s Colton Camacho in 2019.

Latrobe has won the county title for the past three seasons, and Willochell could be the first wrestler to do so on winning teams.

“We have a shot at winning it again if we follow Coach Mears’ game plan of getting four or five in the finals, get a couple champions and high placewinners,” Willochell said.

There have been 49 three-time champions. Burrell junior Cam Baker looks to join that club.

Looking for their second county titles are: Latrobe senior Leo Joseph (2022) and sophomore Hunter Snyder (2024), Derry senior Anthony Mucci (2024) and sophomore Mason Horwat (2024), Mt. Pleasant’s Stephan Predajna (2024), Penn-Trafford’s Tasso Whipple (2023) and Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky (2024).

All eyes on 189

The weight class that will draw the most attention this weekend is the 189-pound class, which features some of the top wrestlers in the WPIAL.

Those who could compete include Snyder (20-2), Whipple (16-4), Kiski Area senior Mark Gray (15-2), Derry sophomore Brady Brown (15-3), Ligonier Valley sophomore Jake Mundorff (17-2) and Franklin Regional senior Henry Patts (17-6).

Snyder is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by Trib HSSN. Whipple is ranked No. 2 and Gray No. 3. Brown is ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, and Mundorff slides into the No. 4 spot in 2A.

Snyder is the returning 172-pound champion and will be seeded No. 1. He also was the WPIAL runner-up and placed sixth in the PIAA as a freshman.

He recently placed fourth at the Powerade Tournament and won the title at the King of the Mountain tournament.

Whipple was the 172-pound champion in 2023 and was runner-up at 189 to Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky in 2024.

Whipple placed sixth at the prestigious Powerade Tournament last month. Snyder has defeated Whipple twice this season, including at Powerade.

Despite the loss, Whipple said he was pleased with his performance.

“Knowing that you’re able to be one of the top guys in the Powerade Tournament is a huge achievement for me,” Whipple said. “Now I’ll prepare for the county tournament. The weight class is loaded, and it will prepare you for later in the season.”

Whipple defeated DuBois’ Carter Wilson, Linsly School’s (W.Va.) Griffen Kernik, Thomas Jefferson’s Zach LaBryer, Baylor School’s (Tenn.) Dylan Reed and Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Connor Smalley. Whipple went 5-3 during the two days.

“The county tournament is always exciting,” Whipple said. “This season, the field is stronger than usual.”

Snyder said going against the top wrestlers at Powerade showed him what he needs to work on.

“You learn a lot from your opponents,” Snyder said. “A lot of the good wrestlers use heavy hands. And you must continue to move your feet.”

Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association

71st boys and first girls wrestling tournament

Where: Greensburg Salem High School

When: Friday and Saturday

Times: Friday: Boys first round, quarterfinals and early consolation rounds, 4 p.m.; Saturday: Girls first round and boys consolations, 9 a.m.; semifinals, noon; and scholarship awards, parade of champions and finals, approx: 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: Friday: $7 adults, $3 students; Saturday: $10 adults, $5 students

Schools: Belle Vernon, Burrell*, Derry, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem*, Hempfield, Kiski Area*, Kiski School*, Latrobe*, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant*, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Valley*, Yough

Returning champions (2024 weights): 107: Cam Baker (Burrell), 114: Anthony Mucci (Derry), 121: Luke Willochell (Latrobe), 145: Mason Horwat (Derry), 160: Stephen Predajna (Mt. Pleasant), 171: Hunter Snyder (Latrobe), 189: Cooper Roscosky (Kiski Area)

Notable: This is the first year that the WCCA is sponsoring a girls tournament. … Latrobe senior Luke Willochell looks to become the 14th four-time champion and only the second Latrobe wrestler to achieve that milestone. Tom Bell (1961-64) was the first wrestler to win four. … Burrell junior Cam Baker is looking to become a three-time champion, while Latrobe senior Leo Joseph (2022 winner) and Penn-Trafford senior Tasso Whipple (2023) are looking for their second titles along with Mucci, Horwat, Predajna, Snyder and Roscosky. … Derry junior Dylan Pitzer, who won the 2024 heavyweight title while at Mt. Pleasant, has been ruled ineligible to wrestle because of the transfer.

* denotes boys and girls teams participating

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: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Kiski Area, Kiski School, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Valley, Yough