Top seeds announced for WCCA tournament

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, January 3, 2019 | 9:54 PM

In previous years, the opening night of the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association wrestling tournament went quickly.

There were a lot of lopsided matches and quick pins.

But that might not occur this weekend. There will be a lot of quality quarterfinal-round matches at some weight classes. Action begins 5 p.m. Friday at Norwin High School and resumes at 11 a.m. Saturday with the semifinals, consolation rounds, medal bouts and finals, which will begin around 6 p.m.

“Some of the top seeds will be facing some tough wrestlers on Friday,” Greensburg Salem coach Randy Parsley said. “A lot of the weight classes will be competitive.”

The toughest is at 132 pounds where there are four Powerade placewinners entered — Latrobe’s Gabe Willochell (fifth), Kiski Area’s Darren Miller (second), Norwin’s John Altieri (seventh) and Burrell’s Bryan Gaul (eighth). Franklin Regional’s Zach McCann, an American commit, missed the tournament with an injury.

“That weight class is loaded,” Norwin coach Vince DeAugustine said. “But there are others.”

The other tough weight classes include 113, 120, 126, 138 and heavyweight.

Franklin Regional senior Colton Camacho will be trying to become the 13 ^th four-time champion, while Kiski Area senior Darren Miller looks to become a three-time champion.

Other returning champions are Norwin junior Kurtis Phipps, Hempfield senior Kyle Burkholder, Belle Vernon junior Logan Seliga, Belle Vernon senior Scott Joll, Derry senior Dom DeLuca and Valley senior heavyweight Dave Schuffert.

The committee may also move the finals on Saturday to Norwin’s small gymnasium for the cozy atmosphere. DeAugustine said that decision will be made on Saturday depending on the crowds in the opening two sessions.

WCCA tournament seeds

106: 1. Carter Dibert, Franklin Regional (90); 2. Luke Geibig, Mt. Pleasant (31); 3. Colton McCallen (30); 4. Briar Priest, Hempfield (29); 5. Connor Henning, Norwin (11).

113: 1. Kyle Burkholder, Hempfield (118); 2. Marino Angelicchio, Latrobe (45); 3. Finn Solomon, Franklin Regional (37); 4. Kace Sabedra, Derry (35); 5. Noah Gnibus, Mt. Pleasant (23).

120: 1. Kurtis Phipps, Norwin (126); 2. Ian Oswalt, Burrell (117); 3. Logan Seliga, Belle Vernon (70); 4. Ethan Berginc, Hempfield (52); 5. Noah Teeter, Mt. Pleasant (36).

126: 1. Colton Camacho, Franklin Regional (128); 2. Tyler Cymmerman, Burrell (94); 3. Damian George, Mt. Pleasant (38); 4. Dom Giordano, Kiski Area (35); 5. Trent Valovchik, Burrell (23).

132: 1. Gabe Willochell, Latrobe (109); 2. Darren Miller, Kiski Area (86); 3. Zach McCann, Franklin Regional (31); 4. John Altieri, Norwin (64); 5. Bryan Gaul, Burrell (30).

138: 1. Ty Linsenbigler, Hempfield (101) 2. A.J. Corrado, Burrell (90); 3. Dajuahn Hertzog, Greensburg Salem (61); 4. Jason Baker, Derry (48); 5. Chase Kranitz, Norwin (26).

145: 1. Nick Coy, Penn-Trafford (111); 2. Enzo Morlacci, Kiski Area (24); 3. Noah Linderman, Burrell (11); 4. Frankie Gill, (2).

152: 1. Cam Connor, Kiski Area (130); 2. Ian Ewing, Greensburg Salem (56); 3. Trey Weinell, Derry (38); 4. Trevor Verkleeren, Hempfield (27); 5. Patrick Brewer, Mt. Pleasant (13).

160: 1. Jack Blumer, Kiski Area (102); 2. Austin Mele Burrell (73); 3. Bryce Long, Norwin (37); 4. Jake Sever, Yough (32); 5. Magnus Speal, Hempfield (23).

170: 1. Nick Delp, Kiski Area (100); 2. Noah Hutcherson, Valley (46); 3. John Bachar, Penn-Trafford (32); 4. Julian Chillinsky, Hempfield (13); 5. Brendan Moore, Southmoreland (5).

182: 1. Scott Joll, Belle Vernon (115); 2. Dayton Pitzer. Mt. Pleasant (48); 3. Lukas Johnson, Penn-Trafford (15); 4. Ricky Feroce, Burrell (11); 5. Brayden Mickinac, Derry (10).

195: 1. Justin Cramer, Hempfield (63); 2. John Meyers, Greensburg Salem (56); 3. Brayden Roscosky, Kiski Area (40); 4. Cole Weightman, Belle Vernon (23); 5. Tyler Ross, Latrobe (19).

220: 1. Dom DeLuca, Derry (121); 2. Dillon Ferretti, Hempfield (65); 3. Ryan Weinzen, Norwin (47); 4. Trent Patrick, Greensburg Salem (43); 5. Jack Dilts, Kiski Area (16).

285: 1. Dave Schuffert, Valley (110); 2. Isaiah Vance, Hempfield (92); 3. Bill McChesney, Greensburg Salem (35); 4. Zach Cypher, Norwin (15); 5. Dakota Marion, Belle Vernon (14).

*Point values for seeding are in parentheses.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Kiski School, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Valley, Yough