WPIAL Class 2A wrestling preview: Burrell looking for another title
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Wednesday, November 27, 2024 | 11:01 AM
A look at the 2024-25 WPIAL Class 2A wrestling season:
The Favorite
Burrell has a new head coach, Steve Ansani, but the goals haven’t changed. The Bucs are out to win a section title and WPIAL Class 2A title and finish top 4 in the state.
Ansani was hired to replace Josh Shields, who resigned after the season to spend more time with his young family. Shields said he’ll remain close to the program as an assistant.
Ansani takes over a program that has dominated Class 2A wrestling in the WPIAL. The Bucs are the defending team champions and have won 18 WPIAL titles, including 15 in a row from 2007-21.
Ansani served as an assistant at Burrell. He also was the head coach at Valley. He’s been coaching for 31 years.
Ansani inherits a team that returns 11 starters. His biggest losses were Cooper Hornack, who placed sixth in the state at 139, and Nico Zanella at 160.
The top returnees include junior Cam Baker (44-7), who placed sixth in the state at 107, junior Julian Bertucci (39-18) at 127, junior Jacob Stewart (24-19) at 133, senior Calio Zanella (24-19) at 145, Ben Catullo (27-23) at 152, senior Isaac Lacinski (21-12) at 172 and senior Luke Boylan (34-17) at 215.
Ansani is counting on freshman Logan Barrett at 107 and sophomore Vincent Guerrini at 113 to assume starting jobs.
“I recruited Vincent from the soccer team,” Ansani said. “He’s very athletic and is a quick learner. It’s a matter of him gaining mat time.
“We’re another year older and I feel these guys are ready to face challenges from other teams in 2A.”
Derry, which returns three PIAA qualifiers, is much improved and so are McGuffey, Quaker Valley, Highlands and Burgettstown.
Preseason Top 10
Teams are listed with last year’s record and final ranking.
1. Burrell (15-4) 1
2. Derry (11-4) 7
3. Burgettstown (15-3) 2
4. Quaker Valley (13-3) 3
5. McGuffey (12-2) 5
6. Bentworth (6-3) NR
7. Frazier (9-7) 8
8. Avonworth (8-10) NR
9. Freedom (10-3) 6
10. Highlands (13-5) 10
Teams to watch: Beth-Center, Greensburg Salem, Hopewell, Laurel, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland
Returning PIAA champions
None
Returning placewinners
Seniors: Nico Fanella, Indiana, 127, third (now in Class 3A); Gaven Suica, Burgettstown, 139, fifth; Braedon Welsh, Fort Cherry, 172, fifth; Isaiah Pisano, 160, sixth; Vitali Daniels, Bentworth, 189, seventh
Juniors: Dylan Pitzer, Mt. Pleasant/Derry, 285, fourth; Jackson Angelo, Frazier, 189, fifth
Sophomores: Cam Baker, So., Burrell, 107, sixth; Mason Horwat, So., Derry Area, 145, sixth
Returning WPIAL champions
107: Baker; 114: Anthony Mucci, Sr., Derry Area; 121: Antonio Boni, Jr., Central Valley; 172: Elijah Brown, Jr., Belle Vernon (now in CLass 3A); 145: Horwat; 189: Brady Brown, So., Derry Area.
Keep an eye on
Seniors: Ryan Celaschi, Frazier, 160
Juniors: Bruce Anderchak, Quaker Valey, 107; Emmett Wolfe, McGuffey, 121; Mason Wright, Beth-Center, 121; Lucas Barr, McGuffey, 127; Owen Ivcic, Bentworth, 145; Rook Smith, Montour, 145; Colin Whyte, West Greene, 215
Sophomores: Drake McClure, Bentworth, 114; Lucas Boyer, Elizabeth Forward, 139
2024 WPIAL playoffs
Preliminary round
Laurel 39, Central Valley 36
Hampton 38, Avonworth 21
First round
Burgettstown 55, Laurel 15
Montour 45, Frazier 30
Derry 47, Southmoreland 19
Mt. Pleasant 32, Indiana 30
Quaker Valley 60, Hopewell 15
McGuffey 50, Freedom 18
Burrell 60, Hampton 6
Bentworth 42, Highlands 33
Quarterfinals
Burgettstown 52, Montour 15
Mt. Pleasant 37, Derry 31
Quaker Valley 39, McGuffey 23
Burrell 47, Bentworth 25
Semifinals
Burgettstown 56, Mt. Pleasant 15
Burrell 44, Quaker Valley 17
Finals
Burrell 41, Burgettstown 20
Third place
Quaker Valley 42, Mt. Pleasant 28
Alignment
Southern Sectional
Section 1: Chartiers-Houston, McGuffey, Washington and West Greene.
Section 2: Avella, Burgettstown, Hopewell, Lincoln Park and Sth Side Beaver.
Section 3: Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brownsville, Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan.
Northern Sectional
Section 1: Ellwood City, Knoch, Laurel, North Catholic and The Summit Academy.
Section 2: Ambridge, Beaver, Central Valley and Freedom Area.
Section 3: Avonworth, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks and Quaker Valley.
Eastern Sectional
Section 1: Elizabeth Forward, South Allegheny, South Park, Southmoreland and Yough.
Section 2: Derry Area, Greensburg Salem, Ligonier Valley and Mt. Pleasant.
Section 3: Burrell, Highlands, The Neighborhood Academy, Riverview and Valley.
Important dates
Nov. 29: Season begins
Dec. 11: First section play date
Dec. 25: 2-pound growth allowance
Jan. 23: Playoff pairings released
Jan. 27: WPIAL team tournament preliminary round
Jan. 29: WPIAL team tournament first round and quarterfinals
Feb. 1: WPIAL team tournament semifinals and finals at Peters Township
Feb. 3: PIAA team preliminary round
Feb. 6-8: PIAA team championships
Feb. 11: WPIAL individuals pairings released
Feb. 15: WPIAL girls championships at North Allegheny
Feb. 15: WPIAL 2A section tournaments (Eastern at Greensburg Salem; Northern at Keystone Oaks; Southern at Burgettstown).
Feb. 15: WPIAL 3A section tournaments (Eastern at Norwin; Northern at Fox Chapel; Southern at South Fayette).
Feb. 21-22: WPIAL 2A championships at Chartiers Valley
Feb. 21-22: WPIAL 3A championships at Canon-McMillan
Feb. 28-March 1: PIAA 2A Southwest regional at Altoona
Feb. 28-March 1: PIAA 3A West regional at Canon-McMillan
March 1: PIAA girls West regional at Canon-McMillan
March 6-8: PIAA championships at Giant Center, Hershey
Important tournaments
Nov. 29-30: Southwest Classic at Valley
Dec. 6-7: Chartiers-Houston Invitational, Houston
Dec. 6-7: Hickory Invitational, Hermitage
Dec. 6-7: North Coast Classic, Independence, Ohio
Dec. 6-7: Tom Best Invitational, Williamsport
Dec. 6-7: Ironman, Walsh Jesuit Ohio
Dec. 7: Babbit Duals, River Valley
Dec. 7: Carrick Duals
Dec. 7: Trinity Duals, Washington
Dec. 13-14: Panther Holiday Classic, Mount Aloysius
Dec. 14: Hampton Duals, Hampton
Dec. 14: Kiski Area Duals, Kiski Area
Dec. 14: St. Edwards Quad, Cleveland
Dec. 14: Upper St. Clair Duals, Upper St. Clair
Dec. 20-21: King of the Mountain, Lock Haven
Dec. 21: NursePro Plus Tournament, Morgantown, W.Va.
Dec. 21-22: Beast of the East, Newark, Del.
Dec. 27-28: Powerade, Canon-McMillan
Dec. 27-28: Southmoreland Holiday Classic
Dec. 27-28: Steve DeAugustino Classic, West Mifflin
Jan. 3-4: Tri-County AD Association Ringgold
Jan. 4: Ed Driscoll MAC Tournament, Laurel
Jan. 10-11: Burgettstown Invitational
Jan. 10-11: Mid-Winter Mayhem, Indiana
Jan. 10-11: WCCA Tournament, Greensburg Salem
Jan. 17-18: Allegheny County Champion, Fox Chapel
Jan. 18: Ultimate Duals, Brookville
Jan. 18-19: Escape the Rock, Council Rock South
Jan. 24-25: Fred Bell Tournament, Grove City
City League
Preseason rankings
1. Obama Academy (6-6)
2. Allderdice (9-9)
Returning champions: 107: Xander Henteleff, Jr., Allderdice (16-15); 114: Jaidon Jones, Sr., Carrick (17-11); 121: Isaac Werner, Jr., Obama (30-11); 127: Charles Bottom, Jr., Obama (17-15); 133: Javen Wood, Sr., Allderdice (12-12); 152: Elijah, Elser, Jr., Brashear (22-8); 172: Zayn Dixon, Jr. Obama (16-14); 215: Tom Paternoster, Sr., Allderdice (5-2); 285: Jhamir Rainey, Sr., Allderdice (13-14).
Girls wrestling
Returning WPIAL champions: 124: Saphia Davis, Sr., Plum (33-4); 130: Haley Smarsh, So., Moon ((28-1); 136: Ava Golding, Jr., Kiski Area (31-5); 142: Josephine Dollman, Jr., Norwin (27-5); 148: Contessa Cotelesse, So., Laurel (18-5); 170: Octavia Walker, so., Norwin (29-10); 190: Natalie Rush, Sr., Canon-McMillian (34-3); 235: Alaina Claassen, Jr., Plum (23-5).
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.
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