WPIAL Class 3A wrestlers have tougher road to Hershey

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | 9:08 PM

If wrestlers from the WPIAL in Class 3A want to compete in the PIAA championships in Hershey this year, they have an extra tournament to compete in.

The PIAA consolidated the Southwest and Northwest Regions to form the West Region for the next two years.

The WPIAL wrestlers must compete against wrestlers from District 6, 8, 9 and 10 on Friday and Saturday at Canon-McMillan. The top five in each weight class earn a trip to the state finals.

In previous seasons, other than 2021 (covid) and a couple years when District 8 competed against the WPIAL wrestlers, the WPIAL was a self-contained Southwest Region, and four wrestlers qualified for states. The Northwest Region (Districts 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10) competed and had three qualifiers.

“Winning a WPIAL meant something,” Latrobe coach Mark Mears said. “Now the focus will be on the West Region and not the WPIAL championship.”

This is nothing new for Class 2A, which has competed in the Southwest Region against District 5 and 6 since 1982.

Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe, who wrestled at Jeannette in Class 2A, was part of those tournaments. He said it is different. He is not sure this change is good.

“Last week, the blood round was not as intense,” Lebe said. “Winning a WPIAL is important, but it doesn’t guarantee you a trip to Hershey like it did before. You have a bad day, you may not make it. Before the WPIAL finalists were automatically headed to the state tournament.

“Hopefully things will change with seeding. Our section was so tough, and some of our wrestlers will meet back-to-back-to-back weeks. It’s going to different.”

The PIAA now has four regions in Class 3A: West Region, Northeast Region, South Central and Southeast Region. Each gets five qualifiers.

One complaint from coaches is putting their wrestlers through another grueling tournament while other districts just have a league tournament.

“If you win a WPIAL title, like Nico (Kapusta) did, he’s proud,” Hempfield coach Brian Kapusta said. “You cannot take that away from him. There is a good chance that Nico and Dylan (Penn-Trafford’s Barrett) may meet for the third consecutive week.

“I know 2A has been doing it for years. I just hope the PIAA makes some changes and actually start seeding the brackets. There is a good chance some of the best wrestlers in the region do not qualify for states. Maybe they should use prestige points to determine the seeding.”

Rematches

After Indiana senior Nico Fanella defeated Latrobe senior Luke Willochell in the WPIAL finals, he told reporters this won’t be the last time they do battle in the 133-final.

“We’ll probably do it all again,” Fanella said. “I expect it to be another great battle.”

Another anticipated battle will be at 114 when Kapusta tangles with Barrett and at 215 when Belle Vernon junior Elijah Brown faces Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky for a fourth title.

“Cooper is getting close,” Kiski Area coach Chris Heater said. “I’m eager to see another battle.”

Teams to watch

The teams to watch from District 6 include Altoona, Bellefonte, Central Mountain, Hollidaysburg, Mifflin County and State College.

District 9 teams include Cranberry, DuBois and Punxsutawney. District 10 teams include Erie, Harbor Creek, McDowell and Meadville.

Franklin Regional coaches sweep

Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe and assistant coach Greg Sill were awarded “Coach of the Year” trophies before the finals of the WPIAL 3A wrestling championships Saturday.

Lebe directed the Panthers to their third WPIAL title.

Norwin coach Donnie Dolde Jr. was named “Junior High Coach of the Year.”

These honors were voted on by the coaches.

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: Hempfield, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford