Wrestlers return from scary scene; Central Valley’s Boni only WPIAL 2A wrestler to reach finals

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, March 7, 2025 | 10:02 PM

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HERSHEY — It is never a good sight to see an athlete taken from an event on a stretcher.

That’s what happened Friday during the early sessions of the PIAA Class 2A boys and PIAA girls wrestling tournaments when two athletes, Derry sophomore Brady Brown and Northeast Bradford junior Anaiah Kolesar, were injured.

Both suffered injuries during their matches and were taken to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to be evaluated.

PIAA executive director Dr. Robert Lombardi said they were cleared and returned and competed in the tournament.

Kolesar was questioned by the medical staff, and there was a concern about some of her answers.

Brown was slammed by Bishop McCort sophomore C.J. Pensiero. Brown was awarded the win, and Pensiero was disqualified from the tournament.

“I did not want to go to the hospital,” Brown said. “But they wanted to check my neck. I have a stinger. I am OK.”

As for the Class 2A semifinals, only Central Valley junior Antonio Boni advanced to the finals among the WPIAL contingent.

Boni defeated Mifflinburg’s Bradley Wagner, 5-4, at 127 pounds. He will face Faith Christian Academy’s Joey Bachmann in the finals.

Derry sophomore Mason Horwat dropped a 13-3 decision to Bishop McDevitt’s Ryan Lawler at 152.

“I need to open up more,” Horwat said. “I wanted to win it, but now I want to get higher on the podium than last year when I finished sixth.”

Horwat reached the semifinals by blanking Schuylkill Valley senior Ian Vitalo, 10-0.

Fort Cherry senior Braedon Welsh saw his dreams of being a state champion disappear when he lost to Bishop McDevitt’s Lucas Lawler, 11-2.

And West Greene junior Colin Whyte was no match for Faith Christian Academy junior Mark Effendian, falling 13-2.

The WPIAL wrestlers will bring home 10 total medals.

The others will be earned by Highlands junior Javeon Chambers (107), Bentworth sophomore Drake McClure (133), Elizabeth Forward sophomore Lucas Boyer (145), Frazier junior Jackson Angelo (172), Derry sophomore Brady Brown and Laurel junior Casey Wilson (285).

The finals are slated to begin at 4 p.m. The consolation finals are at 11:30 a.m.

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, Derry Area