Penn-Trafford’s Tasso Whipple part of marquee bracket at WCCA wrestling tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, January 4, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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When the 71st annual Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association wrestling tournament gets underway, there is one weight class that will draw the most attention.

The 189-pound class features some of the top wrestlers in the WPIAL. The tournament will be held at Greensburg Salem High School on Jan. 10-11.

Those who could compete included Latrobe sophomore Hunter Snyder, Penn-Trafford senior Tasso Whipple, Kiski Area senior Mark Gray (15-2), Derry sophomore Brady Brown (15-3), Ligonier Valey 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 (20-2) 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 (16-4) was the 172-pound champion in 2023 and was runner-up at 189 to Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky in 2024. Whipple, an outstanding running back for the Warriors, was a PIAA qualifier in 2023.

He 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, Linsy 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. He 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.”

The other Warriors looking forward to the county tournament include Luke DeSantis (13-5), who placed second at 121, Dylan Barrett (13-2), who placed third at 107, Logan Matrisch (9-7), who placed third at 152, Dylan Clayton (6-6), who placed fourth at 160, and Logan Ventura (8-8), who placed sixth at 133.

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