Norwin’s Sidun claims 1st WPIAL title; Butler’s Sloboda, Belle Vernon’s Brown win 3rd at 3A tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 8:12 PM

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It is hard to believe that the best 121-pound high school wrestler in the country, Landon Sidun, had not won a WPIAL championship.

You can now add that to his resume.

Sidun (44-0, 117-2) pinned Hempfield senior Nico Kapusta with a headlock in the second period for his first WPIAL title.

A last-second 5-4 loss in the 2024 finals, and a season-ending hand injury in 2025, prevented him from being a multiple champion.

“It is how it goes sometimes,” Sidun said. “I have not had the best luck here. I was excited that I got to compete.”

Sidun was his old self during the tournament by collecting three technical fall wins and the pin.

“I really enjoy wresting,” Sidun said. “I was happy to get out there and compete. It did not matter how I got it done.”

Sidun has won 79 consecutive matches since falling to Butler’s Santino Sloboda in the 2024 finals.

“I do not think about how many matches I have won,” Sidun said. “My focus is on my match. I have tunnel vision. I am looking forward to facing different opponents next week.”

The top seven wrestlers from each weight class return to Canon-McMillan on Feb. 27-28 to compete in the PIAA West Regional against wrestlers from the City League and Districts 6-9 and 10.

Sloboda, a senior, and Belle Vernon senior Elijah Brown won their third WPIAL titles. With Derry juniors Mason Horwat and Brady Brown in the Class 2A tournament, there are now 93 three-time champions in the WPIAL. There are 32 wrestlers who have won four titles.

Sloboda claimed his third title with a 4-0 victory against Trinity senior Dom Canali.

“When I beat Landon in 2024 that was probably the coolest match on my career,” Sloboda said. “He was a big favorite, and I found a way to defeat him.

“It is nice to be a three-time champion. Now I can focus on winning my first PIAA title.”

Brown did not allow a point (32-0) in his four matches in the tournament, including a 4-0 victory against Kiski Area senior Cooper Roscosky. It was his third WPIAL title and second in Class 3A. His first came in 2024 in Class 2A.

“It is really cool to be a third-time champion,” Brown said. “I was happy to get it done. I felt like I wrestled well, dominant. I tried to wrestle calm.”

Peters Township junior Nicholas McGarrity (114) also began the tournament looking to become a three-time winner, but he was upset by Pine-Richland sophomore Bennet Ferraro in the semifinals.

Connellsville junior Kai Vielma claimed his second title when he was awarded a victory by injury default against Norwin junior Nathan Klingensmith at 145.

Winning their first titles were Canon-McMillan freshman Lee Dreshman (107), Thomas Jefferson junior Zach Rehak (114), Moon senior Cael Yanek (133), Canon-McMillan senior Collier Hartman (139), Franklin Regional junior Michael Ruane (152), Mt. Lebanon senior Cole Gibbons (160), Thomas Jefferson senior Zach Labryer (172), Kiski Area sophomore Mario Hutcherson (189) and West Allegheny senior Cam Danna (285).

Hutcherson defeated Latrobe junior Hunter Snyder, 14-3, in the finals.

“It felt good to get that first WPIAL title under my belt,” Hutcherson said. “It is always good to wrestle in this type of environment. I went out and had fun.

“In the regionals, there will be a couple new faces. It is a steppingstone to the state tournament.”

Hutcherson finished sixth in the state in 2025.

Roscosky, who lost to Brown, said he was pleased how he competed.

“I had fun,” Roscosky said. “I felt I wrestled good in the finals.”

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, Butler, Kiski Area, Norwin