Trifecta for Derry at WPIAL 2A wrestling championships

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 7:42 PM

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It was a day of perfection for the Derry wrestling team at the WPIAL Class 2A championship Saturday at Chartiers Valley.

The Trojans went 3 for 3 in the finals, and it was their most champions in the same season.

Junior Anthony Mucci and his dad, Blaise, have something in common: Both have won WPIAL titles.

Freshmen Mason Horwat (145) and Brady Brown (189) then stole the show.

Mucci, a junior, used two escapes and a penalty point to fend off Chartiers-Houston senior Jorden Williams, 3-2, to win the 114-pound weight class. His father won a title in 1997.

Horwat followed by dominating Montour sophomore Rook Smith, 5-1, at 145, and Brown ended the day with a shocking pin of Bentworth senior Vitali Daniels at 189.

“We were optimistic, but the guys have been working hard so we expected pretty good results,” Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said. “There are a lot of tough guys here, so you know you have a chance at it but we didn’t quite expect it. They worked hard and put themselves in a good position to get first, and it was fun to see.”

Mucci (31-3) led 2-0 after two periods but gave up a two-point reversal early in the third period. Williams (23-7) then gambled and let Mucci loose for an escape with 1 minute, 33 seconds left. Mucci never let Williams get close enough for a takedown and fought him off for the win.

“Hey, I’m the best in the WPIAL,” Mucci said. “I finished third here last year. I didn’t wrestle Jorden last year. He was a weight above me.”

Mucci said his goal now is becoming a PIAA Southwest Regional champion and moving on to the state tournament. The regional tournament is March 1 and 2 at Altoona.

“I trained more over the summer, and it really helped,” Mucci said. “I just put in the work. I’m looking forward to next week.”

The two freshmen beamed with confidence, which showed on the mat.

Horwat got a quick takedown for an early lead. In the second period, he got an escape and takedown and controlled Smith the rest of the way.

“I’m not surprised,” Horwat said. “I try to do everything I can to be successful. It’s nice to be a WPIAL champion, but my main goal is to be a state champion. I stayed consistent with my offense and scored when I could.”

Brown (33-2) was trailing Daniels, 3-0, in the second period when he countered Daniels’ deep shot, used a funk move and turned it into a cradle.

“I had it locked good,” Brown said. “I wasn’t looking for the cradle. It just presented itself. I rolled through, and I caught him on his back. I work on a lot of different situations.

“I knew I could get out of it. It’s pretty exciting to have all your guys in the finals win.”

Dolan said Brown is experienced at different positions.

Also advancing for the Trojans were Giovanni Beatrice, fifth at 121 pounds, and Brett Klim, seventh at 127.

In a battle of unbeaten heavyweights, Central Valley senior Brenan Morgan (35-0) won 8-4 against Mt. Pleasant sophomore Dylan Pitzer (37-1). Morgan was able to secure four takedowns on the lanky Pitzer.

It was Morgan’s second WPIAL title after winning the title at 215 last year.

Other Vikings to advance to regionals were: senior Greg Shaulis, who was third at 152; freshman Stephen Predajna, fifth at 160; senior Jamison Poklembo, sixth at 145; and senior Joe Longhi, seventh at 139. Poklembo became ill in the semifinals and had to be helped from the mat by his teammates.

Belle Vernon sophomore Elijah Brown (39-3) won the 172-pound title. He defeated Fort Cherry junior Braedon Welsh, 1-0. It was the fourth time he has beaten Welsh this season.

Three other Leopards advanced to regionals: Junior Kyle Doppelheuer placed third at 145 pounds, senior Giovanni Weightman was fourth at 139 and senior Austin Hoffman took sixth at 189.

Southmoreland had three wrestlers advance: Kaden Shannon placed sixth at 215, sophomore Jake Govern was eighth at 285 and junior Landon Delara was eighth at 160.

Ligonier Valley freshman Jake Mundorff advanced with an eighth-place finish at 172.

Frazier senior Rune Lawrence (28-1) became the 32nd wrestler to win four titles when he pinned West Greene sophomore Colin Whyte. Lawrence had four pins in the tournament.

He and his older brother, Thayne, are the only brothers to become four-time WPIAL champions.

Bentworth senior Chris Vargo (127) and Burrell senior Cooper Hornack (139) became three-time champions. Vargo defeated Indiana junior Nico Fanella, 7-2, and Hornack needed overtime to defeat Burgettstown senior Gaven Suica, 3-1.

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.