Team effort guides WPIAL wrestling teams into PIAA tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, February 2, 2026 | 4:42 PM

It takes more than the team’s stars to win a wrestling title.

Many times, the unexpected wrestler steps up in the clutch.

That is what happened Saturday during the WPIAL team wrestling championships: Franklin Regional, Norwin, Connellsville and Derry had various wrestlers come through in the clutch.

For Class 3A champion Franklin Regional, it was sophomore Kaydon Ferrell and junior Salvatore Colangelo who produced key points against Norwin in the finals, and juniors Titus Colangelo and Ethan Cartwright against Connellsville in the semifinals.

Norwin was able to defeat Canon-McMillan thanks to juniors Mark Hall and Riley Shaffer. Hall defeated Matt Rothka (152 pounds), and Shaffer pulled off a stunning 7-3 win against Bryce Collins at 189.

“These kinds of moments are part of the sport,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “Some of the matches on paper did not go our way.

“But we are super confident on whoever we send out on the mat. It was a great opportunity for them to make a name for themselves.”

Ferrell defeated Norwin’s Dane Petrarco, 11-0, at 215 pounds, and Salvatore Colangelo clinched the title 31-27 by rallying to defeat Luca Butera, 5-3, at 107.

The Panthers trailed Norwin, 27-15, with four bouts left. They defeated Connellsville, 29-25.

“Kaydon has a great wrestling background,” Lebe said. “He was a multiple Junior Olympics state champion. Thumb injuries sidelined him as a freshman.

“He is an outstanding football player and was not going to wrestle this year. But we got him to come out. Wrestling makes a super football player. We are happy he came out.”

Salvatore Colangelo, who defeated Butera in the teams’ dual Jan. 21, gave up an early takedown. But he rallied and took the lead with a takedown late in the second period.

“These are the moments that make this sport special,” Lebe said.

Titus Colangelo defeated Tommy Gretz, and Cartwright edged Jake Lilley in the Connellsville match.

Norwin coach Kyle Martin said despite the loss, it was great to be part of the competition. This was Norwin’s first trip to the finals.

“We need to be put in these situations to help the team believe they belong here,” Martin said.

Franklin Regional (18-0) opens PIAA tournament action at 6 p.m. Tuesday at home against the winner of the Obama Academy (6-5) and Palmyra (19-4) match, which is set for 4:30 p.m.

Lebe said the winner will be a solid test, and his wrestlers need to be focused.

A win would send Franklin Regional to the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Friday at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown.

Norwin (12-3) travels to DuBois (8-8) for its first-round match at 7 p.m.

Connellsville (17-3) faces La Salle College (11-5) at Gettysburg at 4:30 p.m. The winner will face Gettysburg (21-1) at 6:30 p.m.

Connellsville defeated Gettysburg on Jan. 10. Junior Lane Richey picked up two wins, and senior Landon Lynn pulled off key victories for the Falcons. Richey won two matches Saturday, and Lynn’s huge win came against Franklin Regional.

In Class 2A, Derry (13-0) is looking for its first win in the PIAA tournament. The Trojans will host Penns Valley (14-1) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Trojans won their first WPIAL title in five tries as they rolled over perennial power Burrell, 37-13, on Saturday.

They also steamrolled McGuffey, 48-16, in the semifinals.

“Penns Valley is good,” Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said. “We will have our hands full.”

Derry has a good mix. It starts three seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and six talented freshmen.

“They have done a nice job,” Dolan said about the freshmen. “They still have things to work on. But they are doing the job.”

Sophomore Dylan Bateman (127 pounds) and freshman William McNeal (145) did not win in the finals, but they did prevent Burrell from earning bonus points.

Both limited their opponents to decisions.

Burrell (16-3) will attempt to rebound from its loss to Derry and travels to District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge (11-3) on Tuesday. The Bucs defeated Chestnut Ridge, 34-29, on Jan. 17 at the Brookville Duals.

“We needed to win a couple of the close ones and did not,” Burrell coach Steve Ansani said of Saturday’s runner-up finish. “I expected us to be better at 160, 127 and 145. Now we must regroup.”

McGuffey (17-2) and Laurel (17-5) are also on the road.

The Highlanders travel to Bishop McCort in Johnstown to face General McLane (12-3). The winner plays Bishop McCort (13-0).

Laurel visits Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt to take on Mifflinburg (19-1). The winner gets Bishop McDevitt (16-0).

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: Burrell, Connellsville, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Laurel, McGuffey, Norwin