There is a new look to the Bethel Park wrestling program in 2025-26.
Rick Pattinato has been hired as head coach, taking over for Tyler Nauman, who had been in charge since 2022-23.
“Our team has been working extremely hard, and I’m excited to see that effort translate once the season begins,” Pattinato said. “Right now, I really like the energy and commitment this group brings every day. They have been stacking positive practices together each day, staying focused and setting the tone for what we want our program to be.
“If they continue to work with this level of consistency and effort, the team can accomplish a lot of success this season.”
Pattinato coached at Keystone Oaks last season and was a former assistant at Montour. He is recognized for his contributions to youth wrestling. In fact, he was recently named WPIAL Junior High Coach of the Year.
The Black Hawks won the Section 1-3A championship last season with a 4-0 record, ahead of Peters Township (3-1), Mt. Lebanon (2-2), Upper St. Clair (1-3) and Baldwin (0-4). BP finished 12-2 overall.
Pattinato is eager to continue building on the foundation that has been set and guide the Bethel Park matmen through the 2025-26 season. His coaching philosophy emphasizes fostering a positive environment for young wrestlers to grow and excel.
The cupboard definitely is not bare at Bethel Park with four high-grade grapplers back in 2025-26.
“Our main leaders this season are juniors Ian Bucheli, Pierce Reinhart, Colton Fisher and Caleb Crawford,” Pattinato said. “They bring experience, accountability and the work ethic you want in a leadership group.”
Reinhart and Bucheli won 30 matches apiece last season while Fisher wasn’t far behind with 23 victories.
Reinhart posted a 30-11 record competing at 121 pounds. He placed third in the section and seventh in the district.
The 152-pound Bucheli was a section medalist as both a freshman and sophomore and ended up 30-17 last year. He also was a regional medalist in his freshman season.
“My expectation is to work hard and get better every day,” Bucheli said. “We want to win the section again. And yes, I feel the team has adjusted to the switch in the coaching staff.”
Fisher was 23-13 last season after winning 20 matches two years ago. The two-time section medalist will wrestle at 152 or 160 this season.
“My expectations are to try to get to that 30-win plateau and place at WPIALs,” Fisher said. ”Our goal as a team is to try to win another section title and to make a run for a spot at team states.”
Fisher is a fan of Bethel Park’s new head coach.
“Yes, I think we have adjusted well to him,” Fisher said. “Coach P has brought a positive energy to the program, and the wrestlers have responded really well to it.”
The 145-pound Crawford logged 19 wins a year ago and was a section medalist.
“I expect to compete with the top guys in the WPIAL and achieve more than last season,” Crawford said. “I expect the team to continue our success in the section and continue to improve as a team throughout the season. I think the team has adapted extremely well to Coach P. He is a great and fun coach.”
Crawford said the Black Hawks are striving to win another section title and “give the top teams in the WPIAL a challenge.”
He added, “Although much of the team is different and a lot has changed, we are excited for the season and expect great things to happen.”
The junior class dominates the Bethel Park roster with eight wrestlers. Along with Reinhart, Bucheli, Fisher and Crawford, Aws Al Saadi (121), Maxx Meussner (139), Alex Crowe and Jack Johnson are juniors. Crowe and Johnson are first-year competitors.
Johnson, one of the leading tacklers as a starting linebacker on football team, is competing at 189 pounds. He never wrestled prior to this year and has a unique reason for enlisting with the Bethel Park matmen.
“I decided to join the wrestling team because I’d like to pursue an MMA career in the future,” Johnson said. “I’ve been wanting to start MMA for a while, and wrestling is the next step in that journey. After this season, I’m going to explore some gyms and get into it.
“I also have a lot of friends on the team. Although I’m a first-year wrestler, I hope to surprise people with some wins. As a team, our goal is to win the section again.”
Johnson said the Black Hawks’ new coach has made a positive impact in the school’s wrestling program.
“I really like Coach Pattinato, and I think the rest of the guys do too,” Johnson said. “He’s experienced, and he’s a great guy.”
One other athlete with varsity experience on the mat heading into the season was sophomore Mathis Miller at 189 pounds.
“Our expectations are to win a section title and put ourselves in position to make a deep run in the WPIAL team playoffs,” Pattinato said. “These guys have been consistent, focused and motivated, which gives us a great foundation heading into the year.”
There are five sophomores in their first season of wrestling on the team: Lane Crowe, Riley Donaldson, Bobir Ergashev, Ogabek Islomov and Hunter Stevens.
Leading freshmen include Worthy Baird, Carson Elder, Brody Kunkle, Lucas Skerbetz, Henry Tetlow and Tyson Yingling.
Ali Altekreeti was the only senior listed on the roster at the start of the season.
A trio of wrestlers on last year’s squad — Ethan Higgins (44-11), Aden Stout (31-13) and Michael Gibson (30-15) — currently are teammates at Seton Hill.
Higgins was 44-11 in 2024-25 and ended his high school career with a 127-52 record. Stout compiled a 31-13 mark a year ago and was 95-62 for his career. Gibson finished 30-15 last season.
Seth Miller also is a freshman grappler at Ohio Northern. Miller generated a 27-13 record last year and was 88-48 career-wise.
Mason Kernan and A.J. Tomaino, both 2024 graduates, are competing at West Virginia and Waynesburg, respectively.
A handful of Bethel Park graduates over the years have wrestled collegiately at Pitt, including Luke Montgomery, Nino Bonaccorsi, Hunter Kernan, Nick Bonaccorsi and Phil Kail.
Other Bethel Park matmen who have wrestled at the next level include Bryson Bench (Belmont Abbey), Riley Omara (Seton Hill), Jason Montgomery (Pennsylvania), Michael Smith (Washington & Jefferson), Paul Dunn (Lehigh), Rico Borz (Waynesburg), Andrew Armstrong (Coast Guard Academy), Greg Sill (Edinboro) and Marc Allemang (Duquesne).
Four have competed at Gannon: Cordon McDonnell, Parker Loera, Chris Santucci and Ted Hoag.