Latrobe’s Luke Willochell survives scare, stays on track for 3rd WPIAL title

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, March 2, 2024 | 4:54 PM

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It wasn’t easy, but Latrobe junior Luke Willochell survived a scare in the WPIAL Class 3A wrestling semifinals Saturday at Canon-McMillan.

Willochell gave up an early takedown and rallied in the third period to defeat Canon-McMillan sophomore Cooper Hartman, 8-4, to advance to the 121-pound finals for the third consecutive season.

He is seeking to become the next three-time champion. Willochell (37-1) will face a familiar foe, Franklin Regional senior Tyler Kapusta. Willochell needed overtime to top Kapusta in the Eastern Sectional final a week ago.

Willochell could become the 88th wrestler to be a three-time champion. He is looking to join Bentworth senior Chris Vargo and Burrell senior Cooper Hornack from Class 2A, who each achieved that accomplishment last weekend.

Other returning champions back in the finals are Thomas Jefferson junior Maddox Shaw, Hempfield senior Eli Carr and Pine-Richland junior Vaughn Spencer.

One of the most exciting semifinals was a rematch between Trinity senior Bode Morgan and Latrobe freshman Hunter Snyder.

Morgan took a 12-6 lead in the second period only to see the relentless Snyder rally and tie the score 13-13 with a takedown with 10 seconds left in regulation. Snyder then got a takedown in overtime for a 15-13 win.

Connellsville, Latrobe and Thomas Jefferson each have three wrestlers in the finals while Penn-Trafford, Norwin and Pine-Richland have two each.

All the finalists punched their ticket to the PIAA championships March 7-9 in Hershey.

Semifinal results

107: Dylan Barrett, Penn-Trafford dec. Nolan Rice, Connellsville, 8-4 (TB-2); Nicholas McGarrity, Peters Township technical fall Nico Kapusta, Hempfield, 16-0 (4:23).

114: Santino Sloboda, Butler major Caiden Herbert, West Allegheny, 13-3; Landon Sidun, Norwin major Leo Joseph, Latrobe, 14-3.

121: Luke Willochell, Latrobe dec. Collier Hartman, 8-4; Tyler Kapusta, Franklin Regional, Tyler Kapusta dec. Connor Smith, Seneca Valley, 7-0.

127: Andrew Binni, Canon-McMillan pinned Owen Klodowski, Baldwin, 3:07; Jake Braun, Latrobe dec. Ky Szewczyk, Waynesburg, 1-0.

133: Mason Kernan, Bethel Park dec. Kase Chopp, Butler, 5-0; Kai Vielma, Connellsville dec. Ramil Islamov, Baldwin, 4-2.

139: Maddox Shaw, Thomas Jefferson pinned Ryder Joseph, Canon-McMillan, :58; Dominic Ferraro, Pine-Richland pinned Blake Reihner, Trinity, 5:05.

145: Evan Petrovich, Connellsville majored Cole Gibbons, Mt. Lebanon, 13-5; Hayden Coy, Penn-Trafford dec. Ethan Higgins, Bethel Park, 7-5 (SV).

152: Eli Carr, Hempfield tech fall Luke Dunlap, South Fayette, 16-0 (3:57); Nick Jones, West Allegheny dec. Antonio Walker, Plum, 2-1.

160: Bode Marlow, Thomas Jefferson tech fall Maclane Miller, Pine-Richland, 20-4 (2:49); Lonzy Vielma, Connellsville pinned Keith Mincin, Baldwin, 4:42.

172: Vaughn Spencer, Pine-Richland majored Nezumiiro Green, Central Catholic, 13-0; Hunter Snyder, Latrobe dec. Bode Morgan, Trinity, 15-13 (SV).

189: Cooper Roscosky, Kiski Area won by default over Robbie Allison, Trinity; Nathan Campbell, Norwin majored Roman Thompson, Central Catholic, 9-0.

215: Aiden Buggey, North Allegheny dec. Geno Calgaro, Canon-McMillan, 2-1 (UTB); Jake Conroy, Ringgold dec. Juliano Marion, Franklin Regional, 3-1.

285: Shepherd Turk, Thomas Jefferson pinned Braydn McConneha, North Allegheny, :58; Roan Tustin, Waynesburg dec. Michael Albert, Upper St. Clair, 3-1 (SV).

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.