Virgili awarded top seed at 189
Jefferson-Morgan’s Ethan Virgili was rewarded for last weekend’s Section 2-AA title with the top seed at 189 pounds in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships to be held at Charleroi High School beginning Friday night and continuing on through Saturday. Virgili (25-7) upset Nic Harr from Mount Pleasant for the section crown, slipping Harr (27-6) to No. 2 at the weight.
West Greene’s Kory Bissett, the defending WPIAL champion at 135 pounds, is the No. 1 seed at 140 pounds this time. Bissett sports a 9-0 record.
Mount Pleasant’s Paul Snyder (33-3) is the defending champion at heavyweight, and enters this year’s district tournament as the No. 2 seed behind Keystone Oaks’ Myles Caragein (28-0).
Teammate Garett Johnston (30-6) is the top seed at 125 pounds with Mount Pleasant’s Zack Sheridan seeded second with an overall record of 26-7.
The Rockets’ Brian Scritchfield (25-6) is second-seeded at 103 pounds, and will face the winner of the bout between Southmoreland’s Scott Wildey and Washington’s Deven Tyler. Teammate Ty Basinger (24-7) is also a second seed with Burrell’s Jordan Shields (29-4) the top seed at 130 pounds.
Beth-Center secured a couple of the top seeds with Chris Stay (23-5) the No. 2 seed at 152 pounds. He’ll face the winner of the bout between Southmoreland’s Jeff Beal and Highlands Nick Glesk. West Greene’s Tucker Conklin (31-8) is in his bracket at No. 3.
The Bulldogs’ Aaron Hrutkay (24-4) was placed third at 160 pounds, and will face the winner of the all-local first-round bout between West Greene’s Keith Watson and Southmoreland’s Erik Frund.
The Vikings’ Colin Sheridan (25-8) is seeded third at 119 pounds behind Derry’s Troy Dolan, the defending champion, and Avella’s Mitch Spencer.
Teammate Stefan Firmstone is the No. 2 seed at 215 pounds, sporting an overall record of 30-3.
Shady Side Academy’s Frank Martellotti (33-0, 103 pounds) and Dane Johnson (29-0, 112), Keystone Oaks’ Jesse Byerly (17-1, 145), South Allegheny’s Phil Sorrentino (32-1, 152), Washington’s Alex Evans (21-1, 160), Burrell’s Damian Majocha (34-3, 171), and Chartiers-Houston Luke Miller (29-2, 215) were also seeded No. 1.
The top six finishers in each weight class advance to the PIAA Southwest Regional with the top five regional finishers earning a berth in the PIAA Championships.
The Class AAA sectional tournaments will be held Saturday with the WPIAL event scheduled to begin Thursday, March 1.