Connellsville clinches section wrestling title

Connellsville recorded four pins, two technical falls and a major decision in earning a 41-21 victory over visiting Latrobe on Wednesday night to win the Class 3A Section 8 team championship.
The Falcons, who won all three dual meets in section action, improved to 5-1 this season. Their lone setback this year was to nationally-ranked St. Edward, Ohio.
Connellsville is the defending champion and will host action in the first round and quarterfinals on Wednesday.
In the Falcons’ triumph over the Wildcats, Tommy Gretz (107), Evan Petrovich (152), Lonzy Vielma (160) and Christopher Cook (215) won their bouts by fall. Kai Vielma (139) and Julian Ruggieri (145) recorded technical falls and Luke Lilley earned a 15-3 major decision at 127.
Connellsville’s Zachary Franks won by decision, 5-1, at 114.
The Wildcats’ Leo Joseph, who is the son of former Falcon wrestler, Drew, earned a 7-0 decision over Nolan Rice at 121.
Latrobe finished the section season at 2-1. The Wildcats, who are 5-4 overall, return to Connellsville for the team tournament. Latrobe wrestles Kiski Area in the first round, while the Falcons face the winner of a preliminary-round match between Shaler and Ringgold. Chances are the section rivals could meet again in the quarterfinals.
Albert Gallatin 41, Hempfield 33 — The Colonials finished section play off strong with a victory over the Spartans.
Albert Gallatin (1-3, 6-5) had wrestled in Class 2A the last two seasons before coming back to Class 3A.
The Colonials’ Noah Hillyard (172) and Austin Coddington (285) won by fall, and teammate Kage Churby earned a technical fall at 152 after building up a 16-1 lead in 1:40.
Albert Gallatin’s Gavin Morris (107), Alex Kinsley (114), Roman Smith (189) and Jason Myers (215) won by forfeit.
Jefferson-Morgan 58, Frazier 17 — The Rockets won 10 out of 13 bouts and assured themselves a tie in the Class 2A Section 3 standings after defeating the Commodores.
Jefferson-Morgan, Bentworth and Beth-Center handed each other a defeat in section play to finish at 3-1.
The Rockets rang up seven pins, as Caleb Dulaney (114), E.J. Lingenfield (121), Connor Pinchok (127), Dominic Sowden (145), Alex Palko (189), Tristan Miller (215) and Landon Heath (285) planked their opponents.
J-M’s James Dulaney (133) and Johnny Gilbert (139) won by technical fall. The Rockets’ Brayden Hanning received a forfeit at 107.
Frazier’s Ryan Celaschi won by fall in 46 seconds at 160. Teammate Jackson Angelo recorded a technical fall, 17-2, at 172. The Commodores’ Jonah Erdely received a forfeit at 152.
Beth-Center 43, Bentworth 29 — The Bulldogs benefited from five pins in earning a Class 2A Section 3 victory over the Bearcats.
Beth-Center’s Geoffrey Douglas (107), Noah McCollum (121), Xander Day (127), Mason Wright (145) and Malachi Peak (215) won by fall to ensure 25 team points.
The Bulldogs’ Noah Layhue won by major decision, 8-0, at 189, and teammate Aidan Whisner edged Racer Litster, 6-3, in sudden victory at 160 to clinch the dual meet for Beth-Center, who tied Bentworth in the section race at 3-1.
Jefferson-Morgan also finished the regular season at 3-1 in the section, and all three teams have qualified for the WPIAL Class 2A team tournament.
West Greene 41, Washington 21 — Hunter Gorby and Colin Whyte won the fall to help lead the Pioneers to a Class 2A Section 1 victory over the Prexies.
West Greene’s Caleb Orndoff won by technical fall, 17-2, in 4:30, at 145. The Pioneers improved to 1-2 in section action and 2-8 overall.
Derry 48, Mount Pleasant 17 — The Trojans were too much for the Vikings in a Class 2A Section 8 dual meet.
Mount Pleasant’s Payton Schaum won by fall in 5:59 at 285, and teammate Tristan Wtorkiewicz won by technical fall, 19-4, at 145.