WPIAL Class 3A wrestling preview: Franklin Regional aims to defend title

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 5:20 PM

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A look at the 2025-26 WPIAL Class 3A wrestling season:

The Favorite

Franklin Regional wrestling coach Matt Lebe does not mind that his team is the WPIAL Class 3A preseason favorite, but he said there are six or seven other teams that could wind up being the top team in early February.

“We are going to be in the hunt,” Lebe said. “There are a lot of good teams.”

Connellsville coach Bill Swink agrees with Lebe’s assessment.

“Matchups will be the key,” Swink said. “I like our chances; like most teams, we have holes to fill.”

The Panthers surprised many last year by defeating preseason favorite Connellsville in last year’s WPIAL team finals. The Falcons will be in the mix again after finishing third in the state. Norwin is another team to keep an eye on, as is Canon-McMillan, which will try to rebound from a disappointing season.

Others to look out for include Trinity, North Allegheny and Kiski Area.

Preseason Top 10

1. Franklin Regional (19-2 last season): The Panthers upset Connellsville to claim their third WPIAL title. They ended up fifth in the state. They return nine starters, including two PIAA qualifiers — junior Titus Colangelo (114 pounds) and sophomore Max Firestine (145).

2. Connellsville (15-3): The Falcons placed third in the state and second in the WPIAL. They return nine starters, including three PIAA place winners — juniors Tommy Gretz (107, sixth), Nolan Rice (121, eighth) and Kai Vielma (139, third). Senior Zach Franks (114) was a PIAA qualifier.

3. Norwin (16-3): The Knights qualified for PIAA team tournament after placing third in the WPIAL. They return 13 starters, including 2024 PIAA champion Landon Sidun (121). Sidun missed last year’s state tournament with an injury.

4. Canon-McMillan (8-10): The Big Macs are building around eight returning starters. Among the returnees are senior Collier Hartman, who placed fourth in the state at 133, and junior Brayden Collins at 215.

5. North Allegheny (15-3): The Tigers return 11 starters, including senior PIAA qualifier Bradyn McConneha (285).

6. Trinity (7-3): The Hillers return 12 starters and will be led by PIAA place winner Dom Canali, who took fifth at 127 pounds.

7. Kiski Area (14-5): The Cavaliers return 10 starters and are strong in the upper weights. A pair of PIAA place winners — sophomore Mario Hutcherson (172, sixth) and senior Cooper Roscosky (215, second) — lead the way.

8. Bethel Park (12-2): The Black Hawks return four starters from last year’s squad.

9. Butler (14-6): The Golden Tornado have nine starters back, led by senior Santino Sloboda, who placed third in the state at 127.

10. Penn-Trafford (7-9): The Warriors return 11 starters, including PIAA qualifiers in senior Dylan Barrett (114, seventh) and Luke DeSantis (121).

Wrestlers to watch

Elijah Brown

Belle Vernon, senior, 215 pounds

Brown, a senior Penn State commit, is a two-time WPIAL champion. He finished 48-1 last season and captured a PIAA title. He has a 127-19 career record.

Nico Kapusta

Hempfield, senior, 114 pounds

The senior is a returning WPIAL and PIAA West Region champion. An injury prevented him from competing in the regular season. He went 1-2 in the PIAA tournament. His career record is 70-23.

Nicholas McGarrity

Peters Township, junior, 107 pounds

The two-time WPIAL champion is a Stanford commit and a two-time PIAA place winner. He finished third in 2025 and sixth in 2024. His career record is 87-9.

Santino Sloboda

Butler, senior, 133 pounds

The senior Pitt commit is a two-time WPIAL champion and three-time finalist. He is a three-time PIAA place winner. He placed third in 2025, fourth in 2023 and sixth in 2024. His career record is 128-7.

Hunter Snyder

Latrobe, junior, 189 pounds

The Pitt commit is a two-time PIAA place finisher. He was sixth in 2024 at 172 pounds and third in 2025. He has 41 career pins. His career record is 83-14.

Cooper Roscosky

Kiski Area, senior, 215 pounds

The Buffalo commit was a WPIAL champion in 2024 and runner-up in 2025. He placed sixth in the PIAA in 2024 and second in 2025. He has 57 career pins and a career record of 113-23.

Landon Sidun

Norwin, junior, 121 pounds

The Penn State-bound junior won a PIAA title in 2024. He missed the PIAA postseason last year with a hand injury. He started the season 30-0 but was hurt in the WPIAL team consolation match. He has a 70-2 career record.

Kai Vielma

Connellsville, junior, 145 pounds

The junior is a Stanford commit. He is a two-time WPIAL finalist and was a WPIAL champion in 2025. He placed third in the PIAA in 2025. He has 41 career pins and a 89-12 career record.

Recapping 2024-25 season

WPIAL team champion: Franklin Regional defeated Connellsville, 32-25. For third place, Norwin defeated Thomas Jefferson, 36-30.

PIAA team tournament: Connellsville finished third by going 4-1. The Falcons defeated DuBois, 57-18, and Council Rock South, 38-26, lost to Bethlehem Catholic, 29-23, then defeated Franklin Regional, 28-22, and Boyertown, 37-21. Franklin Regional finished fifth. The Panthers defeated Norwin, 38-13, lost to Nazareth, 32-29, defeated Central Mountain, 39-11, and then lost to Connellsville.

Individuals: Thomas Jefferson senior Maddox Shaw (152 pounds) and Belle Vernon junior Elijah Brown (215) claimed PIAA titles. They defeated WPIAL wrestlers in the finals. Shaw beat Connellsville’s Evan Petrovich and Brown topped Kiski Area junior Cooper Roscosky. Latrobe’s Luke Willochell (133) and Thomas Jefferson’s Bode Marlow (172) also fell in the finals. It was Shaw’s second PIAA title and Brown’s first.

In the WPIAL finals, the highlight was Indiana’s Nico Fanella, who defeated Willochell and denied the Wildcat a fourth WPIAL title.

Returning 2025 WPIAL champions: 107: Nicholas McGarrity, Peters Township; 114: Nico Kapusta, Hempfield; 127: Santino Sloboda, Butler; 139: Kai Vielma, Connellsville; 215: Elijah Brown, Belle Vernon.

Returning 2024 champions: 107: McGarrity; 114: Sloboda.

Other returning WPIAL place winners

107: Tommy Gretz, Connellsville (second); Beau Fennick, Franklin Regional (third); Zach Rehak, Thomas Jefferson (fourth); Michael Johnson, West Allegheny (fifth); Bryce Thomas, Moon (sixth); Bennett Ferraro, Pine-Richland (seventh); Nick Savannah, Butler (eighth).

114: Dylan Barrett, Penn-Trafford (second); Zachary Franks, Connellsville (third); Titus Colangelo, Franklin Regional (fourth); Coleton Klipa, Norwin (fifth); Parker Jennings, Trinity (sixth); Brady Rohaly, North Hills (seventh); Leif Syrko, Ringgold (eighth).

121: Nolan Rice, Connellsville (second); Nate Caracciolo, Hempfield (third); Thomas Bencho, West Allegheny (fourth); Luke DeSantis, Penn-Trafford (fifth); Gionno Gardner, Canon-McMillan (sixth); Pierce Reinhart, Bethel Park (seventh).

127: Dom Canali, Trinity (second); Evan Tolliver, Ringgold (fourth); Mikey Ruane, Franklin Regional (fifth); Evan Sala, Mt Lebanon (sixth); Daniel Smith, Connellsville (seventh); Joh Deluca, Kiski Area (eighth).

133: Collier Hartman, Canon-McMillan (third); Cael Yanek, Moon (fourth); Chase Smith, Franklin Regional (fifth); A.J. Snatchko, West Allegheny (sixth); Gus Stedeford, North Allegheny (seventh); Jake Lilley, Connellsville (eighth).

139: Owen Campbell, Plum (fourth); Nathan Klingensmith, Norwin (seventh).

145: Max Firestine, Franklin Regional (fourth); Mason Calgaro, Canon-McMillan (fifth); Devin Junko, Trinity (seventh).

152: Griffen Reid, North Allegheny (fifth); Cole Gibbins, Mt. Lebanon (sixth); Jack White, Norwin (eighth).

160: Rook Smith, Montour (fourth); Cristian Lowther, Ringgold (fifth); Logan Matrisch, Penn-Trafford (sixth); Liam Costa, Moon (seventh); Ethan Cartwright, Franklin Regional (eighth).

172: Mario Hutcherson, Kiski Area (second); Carter Morvay, North Hills (third); Maclane Miller, Pine-Richland (fourth); Kaleb Kinzey, Armstrong (fifth), Michael Olszewski, Moon Area (sixth).

189: Nezumiiro Green, Central Catholic(second); Hunter Snyder, Latrobe (third); Zach LaBryer, Thomas Jefferson (fourth); Bryce Collins, Canon-McMillan (eighth).

215: Cooper Roscosky, Kiski Area (second); Roman Thompson, Central Catholic (third); Roan Tustin, Waynesburg (fifth); Brayden Collins, Canon-McMillan (sixth).

285: Philup Rearick, Armstrong (second); Cam Danna, West Allegheny (third); Bradyn McConneha, North Allegheny (fourth); Owen Rush, Canon-McMillan (fifth).

Returning 2025 PIAA placewinners

107: Nicholas McGarrity, Peters Township (third); Tommy Gretz, Connellsville (sixth).

114: Dylan Barrett, Penn-Trafford (seventh).

121: Nolan Rice, Connellsville (eighth).

127: Santino Sloboda, Butler (third); Dom Canali, Trinity (fifth).

133: Collier Hartman, Canon-McMillan (fourth).

139: Kai Vielma, Connellsville (third).

160: Rook Smith, Montour (eighth).

172: Mario Hutcherson, Kiski Area (sixth).

189: Hunter Snyder, Latrobe (third).

215: Elijah Brown, Belle Vernon (first); Cooper Roscosky, Kiski Area (second), Roman Thompson (third).

285: Philup Rearick, Armstrong (seventh).

Century Club

Santoni Sloboda, Sr., Butler, 128-7

Elijah Brown, Sr., Belle Vernon, 127-19

Dominick Canali, Sr., Trinity, 115-26

Maclane Miller, Sr., Pine-Richland, 114-30

Cooper Roscosky, Sr., Kiski Area, 113-23

Dylan Barrett, Sr. Penn-Trafford, 106-32

Collier Hartman, Sr., Canon-McMillan, 101-33

Approaching 100 wins

Owen Campbell, Sr., Plum, 94-31

Gus Stedeford, Sr., North Allegheny, 94-37

Cooper Dietz, Sr., West Mifflin, 92-24

Cole Gibbons, Sr., Mt. Lebanon, 92-36

Griffen Reid, Sr., North Allegheny, 90-38

Carter Morvey, Sr., North Hills, 89-38

Kai Vielma, Jr., Connellsville, 88-12

Cael Yanek, Sr., Moon, 88-25

Nicholas McGarrity, Jr., Peters Township, 87-9

Nazmiiro Green, Sr. Central Catholic, 87-20

Brock Dennison, Sr., South Fayette, 87-31

Hunter Snyder, Jr., Latrobe, 83-14

Rook Smith, Sr., Montour, 83-28

Philup Rearick, Sr., Armstrong, 82-30

Vito Barraveccchio, Sr., Shaler, 81-33

Cameron Danna, Sr., West Allegheny, 81-57

Alignment

Class 3A

Southern Sectional

Section 1: Blackhawk, Montour, Moon, West Allegheny

Section 2: Canon-McMillan, Chartiers Valley, South Fayette, Trinity, Waynesburg Central

Section 3: Baldwin, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair

Northern Sectional

Section 4: Butler, Mars, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley

Section 5: Armstrong, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Indiana, Kiski Area

Section 6: Central Catholic, North Hills, Penn Hills, Shaler

Eastern Sectional

Section 7: Belle Vernon, McKeesport, Ringgold, Thomas Jefferson, West Mifflin

Section 8: Albert Gallatin, Connellsville, Hempfield, Latrobe

Section 9: Franklin Regional, Gateway, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Plum

• 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.

Tags: Bethel Park, Butler, Canon-McMillan, Connellsville, Franklin Regional, Kiski Area, North Allegheny, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Trinity