WPIAL, City League teams set for preliminary round matches in PIAA wrestling tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, February 4, 2024 | 12:53 PM

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Three WPIAL teams and one City League program will begin the PIAA wrestling tournament with preliminary-round matches Monday. Trips to Hershey later this week will be on the line.

Franklin Regional, which placed third in the WPIAL Class 3A tournament, travels to Carrick High School at 7 p.m. to face City League champion Obama Academy.

The Panthers (19-1) edged Bethel Park, 28-27, in the third-place match Saturday and will be favored against Obama Academy. No City League team has beaten a WPIAL team in the state tournament.

Obama Academy defeated Allderdice, 40-36, in the City League final Saturday.

“We have to refocus and prepare to face Obama Academy,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “I’m extremely proud how the team wrestled and responded after a tough loss to Connellsville.”

In Class 2A, Quaker Valley, which placed third, and Mt. Pleasant, which placed fourth, will be on the road. Both matches begin at 6 p.m.

Quaker Valley travels to Wingate to face District 6 runner-up Bald Eagle Area, and Mt. Pleasant heads to Waterford in Erie County to battle District 10 runner-up Fort LeBoeuf.

Bald Eagle Area dropped a 58-15 decision to Bishop McCort in the District 6 championship match and then defeated Huntingdon in the True Second final, 37-30.

Reynolds defeated Fort LeBoeuf, 33-27, in the District 10 final.

Monday’s winners advance to the first round Thursday at Giant Center in Hershey.

Burrell kicks things off in Class 2A at 2 p.m. against District 2 champion Honesdale, and Burgettstown faces District 9 champion Clearfield at 4.

District 4 champion Warrior Run awaits the Mt. Pleasant/Fort LeBoeuf winner at 2, and the Quaker Valley/Bald Eagle Area winner gets District 11 champion Notre Dame-Green Pond at 4.

In Class 3A, the Franklin Regional/Obama Academy winner faces District 1 champion Council Rock South, and Trinity faces District 3 champion Selinsgrove at 6.

Connellsville faces the winner of Monday’s match between District 3 third-place finisher Wilson and District 1 fourth- place winner Quakertown.

Visit piaa.org for complete brackets.

2024PIAATeamagate

PIAA Team Wrestling Championship

Class 3A

First Round

Monday’s schedule

(District and finish)

(8-1) Obama Academy vs. (7-3) Franklin Regional at Carrick, 7 p.m.; (3-4) Central Dauphin at (1-3) Boyertown, 7 p.m.; (11-2) Easton vs. (12-2) St. Joseph Prep at Catasauqua, 6 p.m.; (1-4) Quakertown at (3-3) Wilson, 6:30 p.m.

Giant Center, Hershey

Second Round

Thursday’s Schedule

6 p.m.: (1-1) Council Rock South vs. Obama Academy/Franklin Regional winner; (6-1) Central Mountain vs. (3-2) Boiling Springs; (4-1) Selinsgrove vs. (7-2) Trinity; (11-1) Bethlehem Catholic vs. Boyertown/Central Dauphin winner.

8 p.m.: (3-1) Gettysburg vs. (12-1) La Salle College; (2-1) West Scranton vs. Easton/St. Joseph Prep winner; (10-1) Erie Cathedral Prep vs. (1-2) Pennridge; (7-1) Connellsville vs. Wilson/Quakertown winner.

Finals

Saturday at 1 p.m.

PIAA Team Wrestling Championship

Class 2A

First Round

Monday’s schedule

(11-2) Saucon Valley vs. (3-3) West Perry at Catasauqua, 7:30 p.m.; (7-4) Mt. Pleasant at (10-2) Ft. LeBoeuf, 6 p.m.; (7-3) Quaker Valley at (6-2) Bald Eagle Area, Wingate, 6 p.m.; (1-1) Faith Christian wins by forfeit over (12-1),

Giant Center, Hershey

Second Round

Thursday’s Schedule

2 p.m.: (7-1) Burrell vs. (2-1) Honesdale; (6-1) Bishop McCort vs. Saucon Valley/West Perry winner; (5-1) Chestnut Ridge vs. (3-2) Berks Catholic; (4-1) Warrior Run vs. Ft. LeBoeuf/Mt. Pleasant winner.

4 p.m.: (3-1) Bishop McDevitt vs. (4-2) Montoursville; (9-1) Clearfield vs. (7-2) Burgettstown; (11-1) Notre Dame-Green Pond vs. Bald Eagle Area/Quaker Valley winner; (10-1) Reynolds vs. (1-1) Faith Christian Academy.

Finals

Saturday at 1 p.m.

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: Burgettstown, Burrell, Connellsville, Franklin Regional, Mt. Pleasant, Quaker Valley, Trinity