Willochell in loaded PIAA weight class; Kapusta looking to stay hot

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 | 8:24 PM

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Things have not gone the way Latrobe senior Luke Willochell had planned for the past two weeks.

Indiana senior Nico Fanella has kept Willochell from becoming a Class 3A four-time champion in the WPIAL and PIAA Regional tournaments.

But Willochell can erase that bad memory this weekend at the PIAA championships at Giant Center in Hershey.

Willochell (41-4) is seeded sixth in the 133-pound weight class, which many wrestling experts around the state say is the toughest in the tournament.

“I got excited when I saw my draw and my side of the bracket,” Willochell said. “My goal is to get into the finals and let it fly. There is no reason I cannot get there.”

During a PaPowerWrestling podcast Monday, a couple of wrestling gurus from around the state said they feel Willochell might get the job done, and the Fanella side of the bracket is loaded with talent because of an upset in the Northeast Regional when Nazareth junior Jack Campbell beat Northampton junior Trey Wagner.

Fanella is one of four WPIAL wrestlers to be seeded No. 1 in the tournament. The others are Peters Township sophomore Nicholas McGarrity (107), returning champion Maddox Shaw (152) of Thomas Jefferson and Belle Vernon junior Elijah Brown (215).

“The goal is to be a PIAA champion,” Willochell said. “I’m a three-time placewinner, so I’d like to finish on top. I just must continue to wrestle my style.”

Willochell, who placed second as a freshman, won’t have an easy time. He will face Central Bucks West freshman Daniel Dennis (33-7) in the first round. Dennis placed third in the Southwest Regional.

“I am in the best spot of the bracket I could have asked for,” Willochell said. “Now I just have to do it.”

Willochell has a funky style. Fanella is funky, too.

“I practiced with Nico in the past,” Willochell said. “Nico is a roller, too. People have to change their style to score points against me because of my funky style.”

Also on his side of the bracket are West Perry senior Jackson Rush, Campbell and Pennridge senior Colby Martinelli.

Fanella (39-2) must contend with Council Rock South senior Anthony Mutarelli and Wagner.

“I’m wrestling with a lot of confidence,” Fanella said. “Defeating Luke on consecutive weeks has built up my confidence. I am going to ride that win into the state tournament.”

Another wrestler riding a hot streak is Hempfield junior Nico Kapusta.

He is seeded fourth at 114 pounds with a 17-0 record. He will face the winner of the preliminary-round matchup between Perkiomen Valley junior Max Tancini and Penn Manor sophomore Caden Boland.

Kapusta has looked sharp since returning from a left elbow injury Feb. 8.

“The regional tournament was new for all of us,” Kapusta said. “Getting to wrestle against new kids was super exciting.

“I’ve got more in me. One more week. It is crazy. This month has flown by after being out for three-and-a-half months. I am ready to go.”

Other top seeds from the WPIAL include Butler junior Santino Sloboda, third at 127; Connellsville sophomore Kai Vielma, fourth at 139; and Thomas Jefferson senior Shepherd Turk, third seed at heavyweight.

Other Westmoreland County wrestlers ready to compete in Class 3A are Franklin Regional sophomore Titus Colangelo (114) and freshman Max Firestine (145), Latrobe senior Leo Joseph (121) and sophomore Hunter Snyder (189), Kiski Area freshman Mario Hutcherson (172), senior Mark Gray (189) and junior Cooper Roscosky (215), and Penn-Trafford sophomore Luke DeSantis (121) and junior Dylan Barrett (114).

Connellsville qualified a record six wrestlers to the championship, tying the 1997 team. Joining Vielma are sophomores Tommy Gretz (107) and Nolan Rice (121), junior Zachary Franks (114) and seniors Evan Petrovich (152) and Lonzy Vielma (160).

The county wrestlers competing in Class 2A are Derry freshman Dylan Bateman (121), senior Giovanni Beatrice (127), senior Anthony Mucci (133), sophomore Mason Horwat (152), junior Ewan Olson (160) and sophomore Brady Brown (189); Burrell sophomore Carter Thomas (121), junior Julian Bertucci (139), senior Calio Zanella (152), sophomore Ben Catullo (160) and senior Isaac Lacinski (172); and Southmoreland senior Landon Delara (172).

Highlands junior Javeon Chambers (107) and Frazier junior Jonah Erdely (152), senior Ryan Celaschi (160) and junior Jackson Angelo (172) are also in the field.

PIAA Wrestling Championship

Where: Giant Center, Hershey

When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Thursday times: Class 2A: 9 a.m.; Girls: 2 p.m.; Class 3A: 4:30 p.m.

Rounds: Preliminary and first round; first round of consolations

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.