Wrestling notebook: Southmoreland tournament getting bigger, better

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 | 6:15 PM

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While the Powerade Wrestling Tournament continues to bring in nationally ranked teams and receives top attention, the Southmoreland Holiday Classic continues to grow and get stronger.

This year’s tournament at Southmoreland features its largest and most competitive field (38 teams) in the 24-year history of the event. The tournament will be Dec. 27 and 28, two days before the Powerade Tournament.

It will feature Indian Lands, S.C.; Rockbridge, Va.; Fort LeBoeuf; Corry; Plum; United; Fox Chapel; Butler; McGuffey; Mt. Pleasant; Derry; Forest Hills; and Bedford.

“This is our biggest and strongest field by far,” Southmoreland coach Dan Boring said. “We’re getting stronger because teams are finding good competition here.”

Butler is the returning champion, Plum finished second and Corry was third.

Returning champions include Butler’s Santino Sloboda (107 pounds), Plum’s Ryan Campbell (114) and Sam Snyder (121), McGuffey’s Lucas Barr (127), Butler’s Gavin Rush (133), Bedford’s Kross Cassidy (139) and Fort Cherry’s Braedon Welsh (172).

Pennridge captures Kiski Duals title

Pennridge came west from District 1 and returned home with the title from the Kiski Area Duals on Dec. 16.

Pennridge defeated Fort LeBoeuf, 31-23, in the finals. It also defeated Hempfield (49-21), North Allegheny (48-27), Yough (78-0) and Peters Township (49-16).

Fort LeBoeuf reached the finals by defeating Penn-Trafford (60-8), Waynesburg (42-21), Kiski Area (50-13) and Butler (49-24).

North Allegheny defeated Kiski Area (35-30) to take third place, Peters Township toppled Waynesburg (45-24) for fifth place, Butler downed Hempfield (42-28) for seventh place and Penn-Trafford beat Yough (45-12) for ninth place.

FR stays perfect

Franklin Regional wrestling coach Matt Lebe said he didn’t know what to expect from his team at the Jason Eades Point Pleasant Duals at Point Pleasant, W.Va.

He did know that Point Pleasant and Fairmont East had talented teams.

For the second consecutive week, the Panthers went 5-0. They improved to 10-0 on the season.

The Panthers defeated Fairmont East (43-20), Gallia Academy, Ohio (60-12), Herbert Hoover (61-6), Point Pleasant (54-15) and Williamstown (66-12).

Senior Ty Kapusta defeated a returning West Virginia state champion.

Willochell wins title

Latrobe junior Luke Willochell won his second title at the King of the Mountain tournament Dec. 16 at Central Mountain High School in Lock Haven.

He pinned Line Mountain freshman Brock Rothermel in the first period of the 121-pound final.

Latrobe finished seventh with 101.5 points. Central Mountain won the title with 196.

Latrobe heads east

Latrobe wrestling coach Mark Mears is trying something new this season.

Instead of competing in the Powerade Tournament at Canon-McMillan, he is taking his Wildcats to the Bethlehem Holiday Classic on Dec. 28 and 29 at Bethlehem Liberty High School.

Top teams from District 11 in the tournament include Easton, Nazareth, Northampton, Parkland, Quakertown and Whitehall.

MyHouse Trojan Wars

Four of the top Class 2A teams in the WPIAL will be heading to Chambersburg for the MyHouse Trojans on Dec. 29 and 30. No. 1 Burgettstown, No. 3 Quaker Valley, Belle Vernon and Jefferson-Morgan will be competing against teams mainly from District 3.

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.