Penn-Trafford wrestling getting healthy, looking to make a run

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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It’s been a while for the Penn-Trafford wrestling team, but the Warriors were on track to be at full strength for the first time this season at Mid-Winter Mayhem at IUP on Jan. 13.

Penn-Trafford wrestling coach Larry Hohman was set to welcome back senior Hayden Coy and sophomore Dylan Barrett to the lineup. Coy has been out since the first week of the season with a lower-body injury, and Barrett had an upper-body injury.

Wrestling short-handed, the Warriors fell to 1-2 in Section 3-3A and 3-9 overall.

“It’s been a grind,” Hohman said. “I’m not going to sacrifice a wrestler who is not 100% for a dual meet. I want them ready for the end of the season.”

Penn-Trafford finished sixth at the 71st Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Jan. 6.

The Warriors had two second-place finishers — freshman Luke DeSantis (121 pounds) and junior Tasso Whipple (189).

Barrett (107) and sophomore Logan Matrisch (152) placed third and sophomore Dylan Clayton (160) placed fourth.

Sophomore Ivan Ratesic (114) and junior Logan Ventura (133) finished sixth.

‘I feel Dylan, Luke and Logan (Matrisch) are having good seasons,” Hohman said. “Now that our lineup will be set, I’ll be able to make some moves in our last two section dual meets — at West Mifflin (Jan. 17) and Norwin (Jan. 24).

“I’m anxious to see how well Hayden does. He’s been out for more than a month.”

Coy, Barrett and Whipple were PIAA qualifiers last year. Coy and Barrett placed third at WPIALs and Whipple placed fourth. Joe Enick and Owen Ott also qualified for states.

“We want to build to where we were last year,” Hohman said. “We had five qualify for states a year ago, and we’d like to equal that this year.

“We need to continue to work hard. We’ve been doing that for the past six weeks. I believe we’ll surprise some people down the road.”

One other wrestler Hohman has big hopes for is sophomore Cael Ott.

“Cael didn’t finish strong at counties, but I’m confident he’ll do better,” Hohman said. “I’m just happy to get our guys back. At this time of the year, a lot of guys are battling injuries.”

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: Penn-Trafford