WPIAL trio headed to Altoona for PIAA team wrestling quarters

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | 6:32 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

It is off to Altoona for Franklin Regional, Burrell and Connellsville on Friday.

The WPIAL trio advanced to the PIAA team wrestling quarterfinals following wins in the first round Tuesday.

Franklin Regional, the WPIAL Class 3A champion, will face the second-ranked team in the state, District 11 runner-up Nazareth, at 7 p.m. at Altoona. The Panthers (18-0) moved forward with a 38-13 victory against Section 9 rival Norwin.

Nazareth (18-1) defeated Boiling Springs, 50-16, and Wallenpaupack, 44-18, on Tuesday.

“It is going to be a tough challenge, but we will be prepared,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “We can compete against anyone.”

Lebe’s Panthers are competing at a high level. The team is doing whatever it takes to win.

Lebe has gotten his wrestlers to compete on a team level: preventing bonus points and fighting to earn bonus points.

“These are working hard for the team,” Lebe said. “They are confident they can compete against anyone.”

Connellsville, the WPIAL 3A runner-up, advanced by defeating District 9/10 champion DuBois, 57-18. The Falcons (12-2) will face Council Rock South (18-2). The Golden Hawks defeated St. Joseph Prep, 45-23, and Gettysburg, 38-24, to advance.

Burrell (15-1) faces a difficult test. The WPIAL Class 2A champion battle the No. 1 team in the state, Faith Christian Academy, at 5.

The Bucs advanced by defeating District 6 runner-up Penns Valley, 48-27.

Faith Christian (11-1) blanked Northwestern Lehigh, 75-0. The Bucs are one of three public schools to reach the quarterfinals.

Faith Christian defeated Bishop McCort, 46-18, last season for the Class 2A title, and Bethlehem Catholic downed Easton, 33-24, for the 3A title.

The tournament resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday. The finals are slated for 3 p.m. for 2A and 5 p.m. for 3A.

Bright futures

Though Tuesday night’s performance in the PIAA team wrestling championships did not go as planned for the Derry and Norwin wrestling programs, the future still looks bright.

If things go as planned, Derry and Norwin should be making noise in the WPIAL and the PIAA. Both have numerous wrestlers returning and have some talented wrestlers in middle school.

“We have four or five freshmen that could be vying for starting positions,” Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said. “We graduate three seniors, but there is going to be battles at different weights.

“We came out flat against Chestnut Ridge, and it came out aggressive. They got the momentum early and did not let up. They got a win in the first match, and then they won the 50/50 matches. The kids must learn there are different levels in this sport. To compete against the Chestnut Ridge’s, the McCort’s, Burrell’s and The Faith Christian’s, you must elevate your game.”

Heavyweight Dylan Pitzer, who placed fourth in the WPIAL last season while at Mt. Pleasant, will be eligible to compete. The PIAA and WPIAL ruled him ineligible this season because of the transfer rule.

Derry lost to District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge, 42-22, in a Class 2A first-round match, and Norwin, after blanking Obama Academy, 75-0, dropped a 38-13 decision to WPIAL Class 3A champion Franklin Regional.

Dolan and Norwin coach Kyle Martin said they did not think their teams wrestled well.

Norwin was missing team leader Landon Sidun from the lineup. The sensational sophomore broke his right hand in the WPIAL third-place match Saturday and will miss the rest of the season.

“It was not our best effort,” Martin said. “Not having Landon hurt, but we have performed better.

“But we are putting this behind us, and starting Wednesday we are focusing on individuals and preparing for next year. We have some young kids coming that should help us.”

He ended his conversation with the team after the match by saying the goal is to be WPIAL champions.

“These guys have put Norwin on the map to where we can compete against anyone,” Martin said.

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.