Paul Schofield stories, Page 65
12 from WPIAL to wrestle for state titles in Class 3A finals
HERSHEY – The WPIAL is guaranteed at least two PIAA champions, but they’re hoping for more. The WPIAL advanced 12 wrestlers to the PIAA 3A championship finals Saturday night at the Giant Center after impressive wins in the semifinals. Finals begin at 7 p.m. The two weight classes with all-WPIAL...
WPIAL roller-coaster ride sends 4 Franklin Regional wrestlers to states
Franklin Regional wrestling coach Matt Lebe said the WPIAL Class 3A championships were like a roller-coaster ride of a two-day tournament. “We were good on Friday,” Lebe said. “Had a little letdown early Saturday, and then we finished strong.” As a result, the Panthers had four wrestlers qualify for the...
Mt. Pleasant’s Dayton Pitzer a win away from 3rd state title
HERSHEY – Mt. Pleasant senior Dayton Pitzer doesn’t have a nickname. If he did, it could be “The Fall Guy.” Pitzer used two pins Friday during Day 2 of the PIAA Class 2A championship at the Giant Center and is one win from becoming the 49th three-time champion in state...
Kiski Area’s Morlacci plays starring role at states, reaching Class 3A semifinals
HERSHEY – Kiski Area senior Enzo Morlacci is a filmmaker. That’s what he plans to pursue after high school instead of going to college and wrestling. So far, Morlacci’s final high school tournament has been a blockbuster. Morlacci won his third match of the PIAA Class 3A championships Friday at...
PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships: How WPIAL wrestlers fared, Day 2
HERSHEY — The PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships continued Friday afternoon at the Giant Center. Here’s a glance at how the WPIAL wrestlers fared on Day 2. The WPIAL advanced 20 wrestlers to the semifinals and 14 others won matches in the blood round to earn medals. 106 pounds Franklin...
PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships: How WPIAL wrestlers fared, Day 2
HERSHEY — The PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships continued Friday morning at the Giant Center. Here’s a glance at how the WPIAL wrestlers fared on Day 2. Three advanced to the finals and will wrestle for a state title at 2 p.m. Saturday. Semifinals 106 pounds Burgettstown sophomore Parker Sentipal...
PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships: How WPIAL wrestlers fared on Day 1
HERSHEY — The PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships began Thursday at the Giant Center. Here’s a glance at how the WPIAL wrestlers fared on Day 1. The WPIAL advanced 29 of 52 wrestlers to the quarterfinals. 106 pounds Three WPIAL wrestlers picked up wins in the first round. Latrobe freshman...
Franklin Regional’s Kapusta opens state tournament with big upset
HERSHEY – There were a few upsets and an almost stunner during the first day of the PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championship on Thursday at the Giant Center. At least five highly seeded wrestlers were upset and top-seeded Bellefonte senior Jude Swisher needed overtime to defeat Hempfield junior Lucas Kapusta...
Burrell’s Hornack following game plan at state tournament
HERSHEY – Burrell sophomore Cooper Hornack said he would like to follow the same game plan this weekend that he used in reaching the 106-pound finals in the 2021 PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships. He’s off to a good start. Hornack started the first day of the 2022 tournament at...
PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships: How WPIAL wrestlers fared on Day 1
HERSHEY — The PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships began Thursday at the Giant Center. Here’s a glance at how the WPIAL wrestlers fared on Day 1. 106 pounds Burgettstown sophomore Parker Sentipal (40-3) advanced to the quarterfinals Friday morning with a solid 6-0 victory against Trinity (District 3) junior Major...
Breaking down the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships
PIAA Class 2A Championship When: March 10-12 Where: Giant Center, Hershey Schedule • Thursday: Preliminaries and first round, 9 a.m.. First round of consolations, 1:15 p.m. • Friday: Quarterfinals and second round of consolations, 9 a.m. Third round of consolations, 11:45 a.m. Semifinals and fourth round of consolations, 7:30 p.m....
Breaking down the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships
PIAA Class 3A Championship When: March 10-12 Where: Giant Center, Hershey Time schedule • Thursday: Preliminaries and first round, 4 p.m. First round of consolations, 8:15 p.m. • Friday: Quarterfinals and second round of consolations, 2:15 p.m.; Third round of consolations, 5 p.m. • Saturday: Semifinals and fourth round of...
Wrestlers ready to lay it all on the line at PIAA individual tournament
Michael Buffer’s trademark catchphrase, “Let’s get ready to rumble.” would be a perfect way to kick off the PIAA individual wrestling championships Thursday. It’s time to tighten up the headgear and put it all on the line for 520 young men (260 in each classification) for three days of all-out...
WPIAL Class 3A coaches working on proposal to save qualifiers
With the PIAA individual wrestling tournament set to begin Thursday at Giant Center in Hershey, a group of WPIAL Class 3A coaches is pushing to figure out a proposal to save the district from losing a state individual and team qualifier beginning in the next two-year cycle. The WPIAL currently...
After taking WPIBL girls team title, Penn-Trafford bowlers head to regionals
The Penn-Trafford bowling team’s special season continues after the girls won the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League title by defeating Burrell, 2-0. Now the team and four individuals advance to the regionals March 12 at North Versailles. Penn-Trafford coach Brett Lago said he expects the girls to do well and...
With young, eager roster, Franklin Regional girls basketball team excited about future
Bernie Pucka’s first year as Franklin Regional girls basketball coach didn’t go as expected. The young Panthers struggled, going 2-10 in Section 4-5A and 6-15 overall. But what encouraged Pucka about the team is the players didn’t want the season to end. “We missed the playoffs by 12 points,” Pucka...
First-timers among 6 Westmoreland County WPIAL wrestling champions
It was a day of firsts for several Westmoreland County wrestlers at the Class 3A WPIAL/PIAA Southwest Regional on Saturday. Latrobe freshman Luke Willochell, Hempfield junior Ethan Lebin, Hempfield senior Briar Priest, Franklin Regional senior Finn Solomon and Greensburg Salem senior Billy McChesney all claimed their first WPIAL and PIAA...
Kiski Area’s Joseph and Morlacci, Highlands’ Burford qualify for states
For Highlands senior Jrake Burford and Kiski Area senior Stone Joseph, getting a chance to wrestle in Hershey is a dream come true. Both qualified for the PIAA championships, which begin Thursday at the Giant Center, along with Kiski Area senior Enzo Morlacci on Saturday at the Class 3A WPIAL/PIAA...
Kiski Area’s Morlacci reaches WPIAL semifinals, 100-win milestone
Enzo Morlacci is giving up wrestling after the season. The Kiski Area senior recently de-committed from Lehigh to pursue a film career. Morlacci has formed his own business, a venture in which he believes he will excel. Friday at his final Class 3A WPIAL and PIAA Southwest Regional Championship at...
Latrobe freshman Willochell rolls into semifinals of WPIAL/PIAA Class 3A Southwest Regional
Sometimes freshmen have trouble competing in big tournaments. Latrobe freshman Luke Willochell didn’t have any problems at his first WPIAL/PIAA Class 3A Southwest Regional Championship on Friday at Canon-McMillan. Willochell had an impressive debut, recording two first-period pins. He quickly defeated Bethel Park freshman Seth Miller in 33 seconds at...
215-pound weight class full of heavy hitters at WPIAL Class 3A championships
If you’re looking for a weight class to watch at the WPIAL Class 3A championship, focus on 215 pounds. There are at least six wrestlers who not only can win a title Friday and Saturday at Canon-McMillan but also qualify for the state tournament. Thomas Jefferson senior Brian Finnerty, Belle...
Derry Area’s Hirak comes out of nowhere to become PIAA wrestling contender
Christian Hirak hadn’t wrestled since sixth grade before this season. But he sure made up for lost time the past three months when he finished third in the WPIAL Class 2A championships at 160 pounds. Now he heads to Peters Township on Friday and Saturday for the PIAA Class 2A...
Greensburg Salem mourning death of longtime coach Steve Snider
The Greensburg Salem community and Westmoreland County are mourning the loss of a legendary coach, Steve Snider. His son, Nathan Snider said his dad would often say, “It’s a beautiful day.” “That was one of his favorite sayings, and it truly is for him,” Nathan Snider said. “He touched a...
Trib HSSN WPIAL individual wrestling rankings for March 2, 2022
Here’s a look at the Trib HSSN WPIAL wrestling rankings for March 2, 2022: Class 3A 106: 1. Luke Willochell (Latrobe) 36-4; 2. Nico Fanella (Indiana) 28-0; 3. Ty Kapusta (Franklin Regional) 25-6; 4. Connor Smith (Seneca Valley) 26-5; 5. Tanner Mizenko (Canon-McMillan), 29-9. 113: 1. Ty Chappell (Seneca Valley)...
2022 PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional Wrestling Championships info
PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional Where: Peters Township High School When: Friday and Saturday Times: Friday: Preliminary round, 4:30 p.m.; Quarterfinals, 8:30 p.m. Saturday: Consolation Round 1, 9 a.m.; Semifinals, 12:30 p.m.; Parade of Champions and finals, 5 p.m. Tickets: PIAA General admission tickets will be sold online via Hometown...
