Wrestling notebook: Belle Vernon’s Brown sends message with dominant win

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | 6:53 PM

As Belle Vernon wrestling coach Bob Bove walked over to his staff moments after senior Elijah Brown won the 215-pound title at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament, he announced, “He is back.”

Brown crushed his WPIAL rival, Kiski Area senior Cooper Roscosky, 10-0, in the final.

“That was the best he has looked all season,” Bove said. “His conditioning after offseason knee surgery was not where it needed. He has worked on his cardio, and it showed.”

Brown, a Penn State commit, lost to DuBois’ Kendahl Hoare, 10-8, on Dec. 6 at Trinity. Bove said he built an 8-0 lead but tired.

Brown is ranked No. 1 by Trib HSSN but was No. 3 in the state by Pa-Wrestling. He handed Owen J. Roberts sophomore Decker Bechtold his first loss of the season, 17-13, on Dec. 28 at My House in Championships.

Roscosky is ranked No. 2 by the Trib and No. 1 by Pa-Wrestling.

“He built a lead on Bechtold and held on,” Bove said. “I can not wait to see how he continues to improve.”

Brown (17-1 this season, 144-20 career) said he was sending a message to Roscosky and everyone else in the state.

“I used a double leg takedown to get the lead,” Brown said. “Getting the lead allows you to control the match.”

Brown also uses his height and length to his advantage.

This was the first meeting between Brown and Roscosky this season. Brown was 5-0 last year against Roscosky, capped by a 4-3 win in the state final.

It was the first of possibly numerous meetings between the two, unless one moves to another weight class.

Banged up

No. 1-ranked Derry was short-handed at the WCCA tournament.

Despite missing three starters — senior Jeremiah Gess (152 pounds), senior Ewan Olson (160) and junior Brady Brown (189) — the Trojans still finished third behind Norwin (231) and Franklin Regional (209).

They finished with 186.5 points and had three champions: freshmen Mason Keesecker (107) and Patrick Bulger (114) and junior Mason Horwat (172).

Horwat became the 50th three-time county champion.

Freshman Cam Olson placed third (133), and freshmen William McNeal (139) and Michael McNeal (145) and sophomore Dylan Bateman (127) placed fourth and freshman Ty Blasko (189) placed fifth.

“I am not disappointed,” Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said. “We need to get healthy. We should get the three back soon.”

Going for three

Three wrestlers — Moon senior Cael Yanek, Quaker Valley senior Bruce Anderchak and Central Catholic junior Nezumiiro Green — will be looking to become three-time champions at the Allegheny County Wrestling Tournament.

The 24th annual tournament featuring 33 teams from the county and Pittsburgh City League is Friday and Saturday at Fox Chapel High School.

Action begins both days at 10 a.m. The finals are slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Other returning champions are Plum senior Owen Campbell (107, 2023), Shaler junior Anthony Jones (107, 2025) and Mount Lebanon junior Evan Sala (127, 2025).

Thomas Jefferson is the returning team champion.

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: Belle Vernon