Quaker Valley wrestlers show championship form at section tournament

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, February 23, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker’s Valley’s dominance on the mat was on full display at the WPIAL Class 2A Northern Sectional tournament Feb. 15 at Keystone Oaks.

Nine QV wrestlers finished as top-six placers, including five that advanced to the championship round. All nine qualified for the WPIAL tournament.

“I’m happy with how our team competed,” QV coach Austin Heinl said. “Nine out of 12 of the guys we sent qualified. The three that didn’t are freshman that I think will learn a lot from this first-time postseason experience.”

Bruce Anderchak (114 pounds), Matt Danna (139) and senior Marcus Richey (172) locked up section titles. Harper Sipes (133) and Brennan Breisinger (215) landed in second place.

Anderchak, Danna and Richey went 3-0 at the tournament.

“Bruce, Matt and Marcus all repeated as section champions in dominant fashion,” Heinl said. “They took care of business and checked the first box of reaching their individual goals.

“Harper Sipes and Brennan Breisinger got their first experience in the section finals, and I was happy with how they competed. This postseason experience will definitely propel them as they continue to develop.”

Anderchak, a junior, won his title with a forfeit victory over Ellwood City’s Derek Allen in the championship match.

“I thought I wrestled well,” he said. “I wanted to focus on scoring early and getting out fast, which I did in all my matches.

“At WPIALs, I’m looking to do the same and just take it one match a time and not look forward to anything besides the next match.”

Danna, also a junior, pinned Angelo Amelio of North Catholic at the 3:18 mark, and Richey, a senior, won via an 18-3 technical fall over Carlynton’s Jermell Lindsey.

“I feel that I wrestled well,” Danna said. “I want to continue to sharpen the things that I work on that my coaches will help me with.

“I want to carry that over to the WPIAL tournament and make sure that I’m wrestling at my best. There are going to be a lot of good wrestlers there, and I want to take it one match at a time. I think all of the QV wrestlers are going to do well.”

Anderchak improved to 42-2 overall and boosted his career mark to 113-33. He has captured two section titles and placed second once in his three-year career.

Danna improved to 43-4 and earned his second section championship in his two years as a QV wrestler. He boosted his career mark to 81-15.

Richey, who has committed to Gettysburg, improved to 40-11 and has won section titles in each of the past two seasons after placing third as a sophomore.

Richey also improved to 95-39 for his career.

Sipes lost a 10-6 decision to Central Valley’s Garen McDonald in his championship match. Breisinger was pinned by Laurel’s Kolton Carlson in 3:25.

Sipes, a sophomore, ended the section tournament with a 21-16 record; Breisinger, a freshman, was 33-10 on the year.

Also for QV, senior Jack Diemert (152) won via a 21-2 technical fall against Beaver County Christian’s Josiah Bosch to end up in third place. Diemert improved to 34-11 this season and 109-56 for his career.

QV senior Sebastian Juarez-Safran pinned Max Lindner of North Catholic in 38 seconds to wrap up third at 285.

“Sebastian really stepped up and wrestled his best section tournament of his career,” Heinl said. “He’s been consistent all year with practices and competing.

“He’s excited for the opportunity in his senior year to make as big of a push as he can. We’re excited to see how he competes.”

QV’s Eoin Parnell and Trey Dunlap both placed sixth.

Parnell, a junior, lost via a forfeit against Freedom’s Zackery Shiring at 121; Dunlap, a sophomore, dropped a 3-1 decision to Avonworth’s Dimitri Velisaris at 160.

Both QV grapplers eclipsed the 20-win mark for the season, Dunlap with 23 victories and Parnell with 21.

“We are taking this postseason one day at a time,” Heinl said. “The season flew by, and this is the most anticipated part. We want to make sure we enjoy the whole process and give it every opportunity the attention it deserves.

“We are excited to compete in the prestigious and historic WPIAL championships.”

Tags: Quaker Valley