WPIAL team wrestling championships preview: Derry seeking 1st title

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, January 31, 2025 | 9:14 PM

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Derry has been to the WPIAL wrestling team finals three times and is seeking its first title.

But before it can worry about the championship match, the No. 2-ranked Trojans (17-2) must get by talented No. 3 seed McGuffey (15-4) in the Class 2A semifinals at 10 a.m. Saturday at AHN Arena at Peters Township High School.

The winner will face the winner of the No. 1 Burrell (12-1)/No. 4 Quaker Valley (12-4) match at 11:30 a.m.

“We can’t worry about winning the title because our focus has to be on McGuffey,” Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said. “We’ll have to look at our opponent and create a game plan. McGuffey is a very good team.”

Derry’s game plan Wednesday against Avella and Burgettstown worked to perfection. The Trojans dominated both teams, beating Avella, 68-6, and Burgettstown, 49-18. McGuffey also dominated its opponents, whipping Avonworth, 62-11, and Laurel, 46-23.

Both are loaded with talent. Derry is led by freshman Rocco DeCario (20-6) at 107 pounds, senior Anthony Mucci (29-5) at 133, sophomore Mason Horwat (30-3) at 152, junior Ewan Olson (30-6) at 160 and sophomore Brady Brown (30-4) at 189.

McGuffey ls led by freshman Clayton Ealy (28-9) at 114, junior Emmett Wolfe (34-3) at 133 and junior Lucas Barr (34-2) at 139.

In the victories against Avella and Burgettstown, the Trojans dominated the lightweights and won several in a row.

“We’re capable of running off wins,” Dolan said. “I’m sure we’ll be in for a tough battle.”

Burrell will rely on junior Cam Baker (21-5) at 127, junior Jacob Stewart (23-5) at 133, junior Julian Bertucci (25-6) at 139 and senior Isaac Lacinski (28-7) at 172 to carry the load.

Quaker Valley is led by junior Bruce Anderchak (37-3) at 114, junior Matthew Danna (38-3) at 145, senior Jack Diemert (29-9) at 145 and senior Marcus Richey (35-10) at 172.

Class 3A showdowns

Norwin coach Kyle Martin is familiar with the Connellsville program.

The third-year coach graduated from Connellsville in 2004, compiled a 100-31 career record for the Falcons and is a teacher at the senior high school. He was a candidate for the coaching job before he was hired at Norwin.

Now Martin is faced with preparing his No. 5 Knights (14-1) against the No. 1 Falcons (10-1) in the Class 3A semifinals at 1:30 p.m.

No. 2 Franklin Regional (15-0) battles No. 3 Thomas Jefferson (12-0) in the other semifinal.

Norwin and Thomas Jefferson are making their debuts in the semifinals.

Connellsville, the returning champion, has won eight WPIAL titles. The Falcons are led by sophomore Tommy Gretz (24-4) at 107, sophomore Kai Vielma (27-4) at 139, senior Evan Petrovich (29-4) at 152 and senior Lonzy Vielma (25-6) at 160.

Norwin’s top gun is sophomore Landon Sidun, a returning PIAA champion who is 28-0 this season at 121.

Franklin Regional faces a tough test in Thomas Jefferson.

The Jaguars are led by senior Maddox Shaw (21-3) at 152, senior Brayden White (24-5) at 160, senior Bode Marlow (35-2) at 172 and senior heavyweight Shepherd Turk (30-6).

Franklin Regional is led by freshmen Beau Fennick (26-3) at 107 and Max Firestine (28-4) at 145, sophomore Chase Smith (8-1) at 133 and sophomore Titus Colangelo (25-6) at 114.

The finals are slated to begin at 3 p.m.

WPIAL team wrestling championship

When: Saturday

Where: AHN Arena, Peters Township High School, McMurray

Class 3A

Semifinals, 1:30 p.m., Finals and consolation, 3 p.m.

No. 1 Connellsville (10-1) vs. No. 5 Norwin (14-1)

The Falcons defeated Shaler (57-12) and Kiski Area (55-22) to reach the semifinals for the 26th time. … They have reached the finals 15 times and have won eight titles. Connellsville is the only team in the WPIAL to make the playoffs in all 47 years of the tournament. Its overall record in the WPIAL playoffs is 88-40. … Norwin coach Kyle Martin is a teacher at Connellsville and wrestled for the Falcons (2000-04). His career record was 100-31. … Norwin has qualified for the WPIAL playoffs 11 times, and its record is 8-10. This is its first appearance in the WPIAL semifinals. The Knights defeated Canon-McMillan (41-23) and No. 4 Bethel Park (32-28).

Wrestlers to watch: Connellsville: senior Evan Petrovich (152), sophomore Kai Vielma (133), sophomore Tommy Gretz (107) and senior Lonzy Vielma (160). Norwin: sophomore Landon Sidun (121), freshman Coleton Klipa (114) and senior Jack White (152).

No. 2 Franklin Regional (15-0) vs. No. 3 Thomas Jefferson (12-0)

The Panthers have won two WPIAL (2014, 2015) titles and have made the playoffs 18 consecutive seasons and 19 overall. Their overall record is 25-16. They have reached the semifinals seven times. Franklin Regional defeated Moon (54-11) and North Allegheny (37-23) … Thomas Jefferson is making its first trip to the semifinals. It has made the playoffs 15 times. Its overall playoff record is 6-14. The Jaguars defeated North Hills (55-14) and Trinity (39-33).

Wrestlers to watch: Franklin Regional: freshman Beau Fennick (107), sophomore Chase Smith (127) and freshman Max Firestine (145). Thomas Jefferson: senior Maddox Shaw (152), senior Bode Marlow (160) and senior heavyweight Shep Turk.

Class 2A

Semifinals, 10 a.m., Finals and consolation, 11:30 a.m.

No. 1 Burrell (12-1) vs. No. 4 Quaker Valley (12-4)

Burrell is going after its 19th WPIAL title and 17th in the past 10 years. The Bucs are 76-14 and have made the playoffs 26 consecutive years. Burrell defeated Greensburg Salem, 58-15, and Southmoreland, 55-15. … Quaker Valley advanced with wins against Elizabeth Forward, 54-18 and Freedom, 48-23. The Quakers have made the playoffs eight consecutive years and have a 17-6 playoff record. They have reached the semifinals seven consecutive years. They were WPIAL champions in 2022.

Wrestlers to watch: Burrell: senior Isaac Lacinski (172), senior Luke Boylan (215), and junior Cam Baker (127). Quaker Valley: junior Bruce Anderchak (114), senior Marcus Richey (189) and senior Jack Diemert (160).

No. 2 Derry (17-2) vs. No. 3 McGuffey (15-4)

Derry has reached the WPIAL semifinals 10 times and the WPIAL finals in Class 3A and 2A three times. The Trojans are looking for their first title. Their playoff record is 30-23. Derry crunched Avella, 68-6, and Burgettstown, 49-18. … The Highlanders won three team-tournament WPIAL titles. They won a fourth title in 1976, before the team tournament began in 1979. Their playoff record is 66-26. They have made the WPIAL semifinals 17 times. The Highlanders took care of Avonworth, 62-11, and Laurel, 45-24.

Wrestlers to watch: Derry: senior Anthony Mucci (133), sophomore Mason Horwat (152), junior Ewan Olson (160) and Brady Brown (189). McGuffey: sophomore Tucker Main (121), junior Emmett Wolfe (133) and junior Lucas Barr (139).

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: Burrell, Connellsville, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, McGuffey, Norwin, Quaker Valley, Thomas Jefferson