WPIAL Class 2A wrestling preview: Derry ready to stare down Burrell

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

A look at the 2025-26 WPIAL Class 2A wrestling season:

The favorite

For years, the path to the WPIAL Class 2A team title went through Lower Burrell.

That may change.

Derry has a program that could supplant Burrell, which has won 19 team titles, including 17 in the last 19 years.

The Trojans finished second to Burrell in 2025. They return 10 starters, and Trojans coach Troy Dolan said there is a good chance six freshmen will crack the starting lineup.

Derry returns four PIAA qualifiers, including junior place winners Mason Horwat (fourth at 152) and Brady Brown (fifth at 189).

Do not discount Burrell. The Bucs return 10 starters and added Valley transfer Antonio Perkins to the lineup.

McGuffey returns a strong team, and Quaker Valley, Burgettstown, Laurel and Southmoreland will challenge for playoff berths.

Preseason top 10

1. Derry (18-4): The Trojans have a deep squad with six freshmen competing for starting jobs. Horwat is a Pitt commit, and Brown is a Purdue commit.

2. Burrell (15-3): The Bucs will not go down without a fight. There is a lot of pride in the Burrell program. The Bucs return three PIAA qualifiers.

3. McGuffey (16-6): The Highlanders return 13 starters from a team that finished third in the WPIAL. They are led by seniors Lucas Barr (50-6 at 139) and Emmett Wolfe (44-11 at 133).

4. Quaker Valley (12-7): The Quakers return 13 starters from a team that finished fourth in the WPIAL. Seniors Bruce Anderchak (48-7 at 114) and Matthew Danna (51-10 at 139) are two leaders.

5. Laurel (17-4): The Spartans return 12 starters and could challenge for a top-four spot. Senior heavyweight Casey Wilson, who placed sixth in the state, leads the way.

6. Jefferson-Morgan (14-5): The Rockets return 12 starters and should be a contender. Sophomore Alek Palko (20-9) leads a young squad.

7. Freedom (16-5): The Bulldogs return 10 starters from a team that reached the quarterfinals. Senior Zeshawn Williams (40-13 at 189) was a PIAA qualifier.

8. Burgettstown (13-4): The Blue Devils return 12 starters. Senior Logan Noyes (41-19 at 152) leads the team. He was a PIAA qualifier.

9. Highlands (9-4): The Rams return nine starters, led by senior Javeon Chambers (45-7 at 107), who finished seventh in the state.

10. Southmoreland (11-7): The Scotties return nine starters but must replace three key seniors. Senior Kaden Shannon (31-15 at 215) is the top returner.

Wrestlers to watch

Jonah Erdely

Frazier, senior, 152 pounds

A Seton Hill commit, Erdely is the returning WPIAL 152-pound runner-up. He is a two-time PIAA qualifier. His career record is 92-22. He has 43 career pins.

Lucas Barr

McGuffey, senior, 145 pounds

A returning WPIAL champion and three-time PIAA qualifier, Barr has 62 career pins and his career record is 129-28.

Javeon Chambers

Highlands, senior, 121 pounds

The reigning WPIAL champion finished seventh in the PIAA. He placed third in the WPIAL in 2024. He has 58 career pins, and his career record is 111-24.

Mason Horwat

Derry, junior, 160 pounds

The Pitt commit is a two-time WPIAL champion and a two-time PIAA place-finisher. He finished fourth in 2025 and sixth in 2024. His career record is 84-13.

Drake McClure

Bentworth, junior, 139 pounds

The WPIAL runner-up placed eighth in the PIAA in 2025. He has 39 career pins, and his career record is 82-23.

Recapping the 2024-25 season

WPIAL team champion: Burrell defeated Derry, 33-27. For third place, McGuffey defeated Quaker Valley, 44-21.

PIAA team tournament: Burrell began the tournament by defeating Penns Valley, 39-27. The Bucs fell to Faith Christian Academy, 65-4, and Erie Prep, 42-18. Derry lost to Chestnut Ridge, 42-22; McGuffey fell to Corry, 41-34; Quaker Valley stumbled against Penns Valley, 47-27.

Individuals: It was not a great showing for the WPIAL wrestlers at the PIAA championships. Class 2A sent 42 wrestlers to Hershey, and only 10 earned medals. Central Valley’s Antonio Boni was the lone finalist. There were 11 underclassmen who won WPIAL titles.

Returning 2025 WPIAL champions: 107: Javeon Chambers, Highlands; 114: Preston Bubash, Elizabeth Forward; 121: Auston Kosanovic, Avonworth; 127: Antonio Boni, Central Valley; 139: Lucas Barr, McGuffey; 145: Lucas Boyer, Elizabeth Forward; 152: Mason Horwat, Derry; 160: Owen Ivcic, Bentworth; 172: Jackson Angelo, Frazier; 189: Brady Brown, Derry; 285: Colin Whyte, West Greene.

Other returning WPIAL place-winners

107: Angelo Boni, Central Valley (third); Brayden Hanning, Jefferson-Morgan (fourth); Warren Woleslagle, Elizabeth Forward (fifth); Rocco DeCario, Derry (sixth); Michael Perro, North Catholic (seventh), Jake Guzek, South Park (eighth).

114: Bruce Anderchak, Quaker Valley (second); Clayton Ealy, McGuffey (third); Alex Medlen (fourth); Victor Wagner (fifth); Raydn Thomas, Valley (sixth); Caleb Dulaney, Jefferson-Morgan (seventh); Kamden Stamms, Chartiers-Houston (eighth).

121: Carter Thomas, Burrell (second); Dylan Bateman, Derry (third); Tucker Main, McGuffey (fourth); Noah Collins, West Greene (fifth), Noah Patton, Washington (sixth); Brake Buzzard, Avella (seventh); Dejamire Suber, Highlands (eighth).

127: Danny Smith, Burgettstown (second); Rocco Zugai, Summit Academy (fourth); Jeremy Wagner, Keystone Oaks (fifth); James Dulaney, Jefferson-Morgan (sixth); Lucas Guzek, South Park (seventh); Acher Brua, Laurel (eighth).

133: Drake McClure, Bentworth (second); Jacob Stewart, Burrell (third); Mason Wright, Beth-Center (fourth); Emmett Wolfe, McGuffey (fifth); Carter Katus, Burgettstown (sixth); Garen McDoanld, Central Valley (seventh); Juzef Betts, Valley (eighth).

139: Julian Bertucci, Burrell (second); Matthew Danna, Quaker Valley (third); Angelo Ameilio, North Catholic (fifth); Jahvon Woods, Washington (seventh); Josue Martinez, Valley (eighth).

145: Owen Layhew, Knoch (second); Tristan Wtorkiewicz, Mt. Pleasant (third); Caleb Patton, Washington (fourth); Antonio Perkins, Valley (fifth); Cadyn Crawford, Burrell (sixth); Victor Bonus, McGuffey (seventh); Jeremiah Gess, Derry (eighth).

152: Jonah Erdely, Frazier (second); Logan Noyes, Burgettstown (fifth); Garrett Newman, McGuffey (sixth); Braxton Carr, Laurel (seventh); Joshua Kuczma, South Park (eighth).

160: Alek Palko, Jefferson-Morgan (fourth); Chaney Lewis, Neighborhood Academy (fifth); Ben Catullo, Burrell (sixth); Ewan Olson, Derry (seventh); Stephen Predajna, Mt. Pleasant (eighth).

172: Noah Layhue, Beth-Center (third).

189: Malachi Peak, Beth-Center (third); Zeshawn Williams, Freedom (fifth); Jake Mundorff, Ligonier Valley (sixth).

215: Kolton Carlson, Laurel (third); Kaden Shannon, Southmoreland (fifth); Brennan Brsisinger, Quaker Valley (sixth).

285: Casen Wilson, Laurel (fifth); Peyton Schaum, Mt. Pleasant (seventh); Ayden Kun, Burrell (eight).

Returning PIAA place-winners: 107: Javeon Chambers, Highlands (seventh); 133: Drake McClure Bentworth (eighth); 127: Antonio Boni, Central Valley (second); 145: Lucas Boyer, Elizabeth Forward (sixth); 152: Mason Horwat, Derry (fourth); 172: Jackson Angelo, Frazier (eighth); 189: Brady Brown, Derry (fifth); 285: Colin Whyte, West Greene (fourth); Casey Wilson, Laurel (sixth).

Century Club

Lucas Barr, Sr., McGuffey, 129-28

Owen Ivcic, Sr., Bentworth, 122-34

Bruce Anderchak, Sr., Quaker Valley, 119-28

Antoni Boni, Sr., Central Valley, 118-15

Colin Whyte, Sr., West Greene, 116-30

Emmett Wolfe, Sr., McGuffey, 111-41

Cam Baker, Sr., Burrell, 110-24

Julian Bertucci, Sr., Burrell, 110-46

Mason Wright, Sr., Beth-Center, 103-42

Auston Kosanovic, Sr., Avonworth, 101-32

Approaching 100 wins

Jonah Erdely. Sr., Frazier, 92-22

Ewan Olsen, Sr., Derry, 90-34

Matthew Danna, Quaker Valley, 89-21

Brady Brown, Jr., Derry, 87-14

Mason Horwat, Jr., Derry, 84-13

Javeon Chambers, Sr., Highlands, 84-14

Victor Bonus, Sr., McGuffey, 84-50

Logan Noyes, Sr., Burgettstown, 84-54

Drake McClure, Jr. Bentworth, 82-23

Daniel Smith, Sr., Burgettstown, 81-49

Lucas Boyer, Jr., Elizabeth Forward, 80-20

Alignment

Southern Sectional

Section 1: Chartiers-Houston, McGuffey, Washington, West Greene

Section 2: Avella, Burgettstown, Hopewell, Lincoln Park, South Side

Section 3: Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brownsville, Frazier, Jefferson-Morgan

Northern Sectional

Section 4: Ellwood City, Knoch, Laurel, North Catholic, Summit Academy

Section 5: Ambridge, Beaver, Central Valley, Freedom

Section 6: Avonworth, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks, Quaker Valley

Eastern Sectional

Section 7: Elizabeth Forward, South Allegheny, South Park, Southmoreland, Yough

Section 8: Derry, Greensburg Salem, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant

Section 9: Burrell, Highlands, Neighborhood Academy, Riverview, Valley

• Top two teams in each section and two wild cards selected by wrestling committee advance to team tournament.

• Top six from sectional advance to WPIAL individual championships.

Important dates

Nov. 28: Season begins

Dec. 10: First section play date

Dec. 25: 2-pound growth allowance

Jan. 22: Playoff pairings released

Jan. 31: WPIAL Class 2A/3A team championship at Peters Township

Feb. 6-7: PIAA Class 2A/3A team championship at First Summit Arena, Johnstown

Feb. 14: WPIAL Class 2A/3A individual section championships (3A Southern at South Fayette; 3A Northern at Butler; 3A Eastern at Norwin; 2A Southern at Burgettstown; 2A Northern at Keystone Oaks; 2A Eastern at Greensburg Salem)

Feb. 20-21: WPIAL Class 2A individual championship at Chartiers Valley

Feb. 20-21: WPIAL Class 3A individual championship at Canon-McMillan

Feb. 21: WPIAL girls individual championship at Mt. Lebanon

Feb. 27-28: PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional at Altoona

Feb. 27-28: PIAA Class 3A Southwest Regional at Canon-McMillan

Feb. 28: PIAA Girls West Regional at Mt. Lebanon

March 5-7: PIAA Class 2A/3A individual championship at Hershey’s Giant Center

Tournament schedule

Dec. 5-6: Chartiers-Houston tournament

Dec. 5-6: Hickory Invitational, Hermitage

Dec. 5-6: Tom Best Memorial Top Hat, Williamsport

Dec. 6: Sheetz Kickoff Classic, Greenville

Dec. 6: Babbit Duals, River Valley, Blairsville

Dec. 6: Carrick Duals

Dec. 6: Trinity Duals

Dec. 12-13: Ironman, Walsh Jesuit, Ohio

Dec. 13: Doug Conroy Memorial Duals, Ringgold

Dec. 13: Hampton Dawg Duals, Hampton

Dec. 13: Kiski Area Duals

Dec. 13: Moon Duals

Dec. 13: North Hills Duals

Dec. 19-20: King of the Mountain, Central Mountain

Dec. 19-20: Panther Holiday Classic, Mount Aloysius

Dec. 20: NursePro Plus Tournament, University, Morgantown, W.Va.

Dec. 20-21: Beast of the East, University of Delaware

Dec. 29-30: Powerade, Canon-McMillan

Dec. 29-20: Southmoreland Holiday Classic, Southmoreland

Jan. 2-3: Tri-County Athletic Director tournament, West Greene

Jan. 3: Bo Wood tournament, Indiana

Jan. 3: Ed Driscoll MAC tournament, Laurel

Jan. 9-10: Burgettstown Invitational, Burgettstown

Jan. 9-10: Mid-Winter Mayhem, IUP

Jan. 9-10: Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament, Greensburg Salem

Jan. 10: Gettysburg Duals

Jan. 16-17: Allegheny County Championship, Fox Chapel

Jan. 16-17: Ultimate Duals, Brookville

Jan. 17-18: Escape the Rock, Council Rock South

Jan. 23: University, W.Va. tri-meet

Jan. 23-24: Fred Bell tournament, Grove City

Jan. 23-24: Thomas Automotive tournament, Bedford

Jan. 23-24: Ultimate Warrior tournament, West Branch

Jan. 24: Sharon Duals

Jan. 24: Valley Duals

Jan. 31: Upper St. Clair Duals

Feb. 7: Montour Duals

Feb. 7: Plum Duals

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.