Trio of wrestlers become 3-time WCCA champions

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, January 6, 2024 | 7:45 PM

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There were no surprises in the finals of the 71st Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association wrestling tournament Saturday at Greensburg Salem.

The trio of wrestlers looking to become three-time champions — Latrobe junior Luke Willochell, Hempfield senior Eli Carr and Franklin Regional senior Juliano Marion — did so.

The list of three-time champions grew to 48, though if Willochell has something to say about it, he’ll become the 14th four-time champion next year.

Willochell (19-1 this season, 100-10) claimed his third county title and earned his 100th career win in doing so.

He pinned Penn-Trafford freshman Luke DeSantis (13-6) at 1 minute, 33 seconds in the 121-pound final. Willochell had four first-period pins.

“My coach (Mark Mears) always told me, before the fourth one, win the third one,” Willochell said. “”It was really cool to reach that milestone. My coach told me he worked hard to get me four matches so I’d do in the county final. Once he did that, I had to deliver.”

Carr (13-2) claimed his third title with a 1-0 victory against Mt. Pleasant senior Jamison Poklembo. Carr said he and Poklembo wrestle a lot at club and know each other well.

“I really don’t like low-scoring matches, but I knew that’s what it would be against Jamison,” Carr said. “Riding him out in the second period was the key. I would have liked to score from the top.”

Marion (18-5) claimed his third title with a 9-0 victory against Kiski Area sophomore Abrahm Taylor. He is the ninth Franklin Regional wrestler to win at least three titles.

Nico Megaludis, Josh Maruca, Josh Shields and Colton Camacho were four-time winners, while Tyler Smith, Michael Kemerer, Spencer Lee and Carter Dibert were three-time champions.

“I’m satisfied with my performance,” Marion said. “It feels good to be on the pedestal with the other guys.”

Marion bounced back from a tough loss this past week to Ringgold senior Jake Conroy. He said the loss made him a better wrestler, and he’s looking forward to the Mid-Winter Mayhem next week at IUP.

Winning his second title was Burrell sophomore Cam Baker, who edged Hempfield junior Nico Kapusta, 5-4, at 107.

A couple of wrestlers either joined their father or brother as county champions.

Derry junior Anthony Mucci joined his father, Blaise, with an 8-4 victory against Latrobe junior Leo Joseph at 114. Mucci is the 50th county champion from the school. His father won in 1996 as a junior.

Franklin Regional senior Tyler Kapusta joined his dad, Jeff, as a county champion when he pinned Franklin Regional freshman Chase Smith at 3:49 in the 127-pound final. Jeff was won in 1991 and 1992 at Greensburg Salem.

Kiski Area sophomore Cooper Roscosky (15-0) denied Penn-Trafford junior Tasso Whipple (15-5) a second county title with a 7-3 victory in the 189-pound final. Roscosky joined his brother Brayden as a champion. Brayden was a three-time champion.

“I was hoping to be a four-time champion, but now my goal is to be a three-time winner,” Roscosky said.

Mt. Pleasant sophomore Dylan Pitzer claimed the heavyweight title by pinning Southmoreland’s Jacob Govern in 27 seconds. Pitzer’s total time on the mat in four bouts was 1 minute, 41 seconds. He joins his brother Dayton as a county champion.

A couple of freshmen shined and came away with titles.

Derry had a second champion as freshman Mason Horwat (16-2) held off Belle Vernon junior Cole Doppelheuer, 8-5, in the 145-pound final.

Mt. Pleasant freshman Stephen Predajna (17-4) won the 160-pound title with a 5-0 victory against Latrobe junior Braden Bronson.

Latrobe freshman Hunter Snyder (18-4) held on to defeat Valley senior Chuck Perkins, 12-8. Snyder built a 10-2 lead only to have Perkins rally and pull within 10-8 in the third period.

Also winning were Latrobe senior Jacob Braun (133) and Belle Vernon senior Giovanni Weightman (139).

Braun defeated Burrell freshman Jake Stewart, 7-0, and Weightman breezed past Franklin Regional freshman Cohen Buccicone, 12-4.

Latrobe captured its third consecutive team title, giving them 15. The Wildcats finished with 189 points.

Franklin Regional was second with 180.5.

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.