Norwin’s Landon Sidun, Latrobe’s Hunter Snyder unfazed at PIAAs, reach semifinals
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Friday, March 8, 2024 | 7:09 PM
Canon-McMillan’s Andrew Binni controls McKaden Speece of Wilson West Lawn in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Connellsville’s Nolan Rice attempts to control Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon at 107 pounds in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Franklin Regional’s Tyler Kapusta takes down Quakertown’s Mason Ziegler in the PIAA Class 3A 121-pound quarterfinals Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Connellsville’s Evan Petrovich takes on Shane McFillin of Bethlehem Catholic at 145 pounds in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Bethel Park Mason Keman breaks loose from CJ Ferree of Central Dauphin at 133 pounds in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
HERSHEY – There doesn’t seem like anything fazes Landon Sidun and Hunter Snyder.
The two freshmen showed that to the large wrestling crowd at the Giant Center on Friday during the quarterfinals at the PIAA Class 3A championship.
They were two of 17 WPIAL wrestlers to advance to the semifinals at 7 p.m.
Sidun (40-2) dominated No. 1 seed Pennridge junior Colby Martinelli at 114 pounds. He was leading 9-2 when he won by pin in the third period. He’ll face Northampton freshman Gabriel Ballard in the semifinals.
Snyder (38-5) blanked No. 1 seed Council Rock South senior Bekhruz Sadriddinov, 5-0. Snyder dropped an 8-5 decision to Sadriddinov on Dec. 29. Snyder will face Trinity senior Bodie Morgan, who defeated Abington Heights junior Brian Heard, 6-5.
One of the bigger upsets came at 121 pounds when Franklin Regional senior Ty Kapusta defeated Quakertown senior Mason Ziegler, 3-2. Kapusta used an escape and takedown in the second period to secure the win.
“If you want to win a state title, you have to beat the best,” Kapusta said. “That kid has a great motor. He never stops. I’m exhausted.”
Latrobe junior Luke Willochell also reached the semifinals with a 12-2 win against Council Rock South senior Luke Reitter. He’ll face Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Keanu Dillard in the semis.
Hempfield senior Eli Carr (34-2) advanced with an 8-2 victory against Pocono Mountain East senior Keegan Demarest at 162. He’ll face Quakertown junior Collin Gaj.
Kiski Area sophomore Cooper Roscosky and Norwin senior Nathan Campbell advanced at 189. Roscosky pinned Strath Haven sophomore Michael Spielman while Campbell pinned Freedom senior Jared Karabinus. Both are on the opposite sides of the bracket.
Roscosky (40-2) faces Daniel Boone senior Tucker Hogan while Campbell (37-8) battles Northern York senior Cole Bartram.
Also advancing were Butler sophomore Santino Sloboda (114), Canon-McMillan senior Andrew Binni (127), Bethel Park senior Mason Kernan (133), Baldwin junior Ramil Islamov (133), Thomas Jefferson juniors Maddox Shaw (139) and Bode Marlow (160), Connellsville junior Evan Petrovich (145), Pine-Richland junior Vaughn Spencer (172) and Ringgold junior Jake Conroy (215).
The WPIAL will finish with 24 placewinners in Class 3A.
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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