It was a close call for No. 1 Franklin Regional on Saturday at the Trinity Duals.
The host Hilliers and the Trib HSSN Live top-seeded team were tied 33-33 in the finals, but Franklin Regional was awarded the victory by holding a 7-6 edge in matches for a 34-33 win.
Franklin Regional also defeated Wheeling Park (60-10) and Thomas Jefferson (43-25).
The Panthers were missing sophomore lightweight Beau Fennick.
Franklin Regional (3-0) hosts Moon, which had five champions in winning the Chartiers-Houston Invitational, on Wednesday.
The Tigers edged North Allegheny, 231-226, and their winners were Bryce Thomas (107 pounds), Hayden Seymour (114), Cael Yanek (139), Liam Costa (172) and Micheal Olszewski (189). Khalil Razipour (215) finished third.
“Moon is very good,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said.
The Panthers will head to West Virginia on Saturday to compete in the James Eades Memorial Duals.
Falcons bounce back
No. 2 Connellsville ran into a buzzsaw in its opener Dec. 4.
No. 4 Canon-McMillan (1-1) ruined Connellsville’s alumni night with a 39-16 victory. The Big Macs lost to No. 3 Norwin, 31-24, on Dec. 2.
Connellsville wrestled a lot better at the annual Tom Best Memorial Top Hat tournament at Williamsport.
The Falcons were nipped by Emmaus, 206-204, in the team standings. Class 2A No. 1 Derry placed fifth, and Hempfield was 17th.
Connellsville had 12 place-winners, including winners Tommy Gretz (121), Kaie Vielma (145) and Luke Lilley (152). Nolan Rice (127) and Jake Lilley (160) placed third, and Daniel Smith finished fourth at 139.
Derry junior Mason Horwat won the 172-pound title, Mason Keesecker (107), Patrick Bulber (114) and Camden Olson (139) placed third, and William McNeal (152) placed fourth.
The Trojans were missing three starters: junior Brady Brown at 189 and wrestlers at 132 and 145.
“We will have a stronger lineup at the Moon Duals,” Derry coach Troy Dolan Jr. said.
Latrobe 2nd, P-T 3rd
General McLane held off Latrobe and Penn-Trafford to win the Hickory Invitational on Dec. 6.
General McLane finished with 196 points, Latrobe had 182.5 points and Penn-Trafford 180.5.
Latrobe junior Hunter Snyder won the 189-pound title, and junior Brody Bronson placed second at 127.
Others placing were sophomore Dom Angelicchio (third at 152, third), Logan Peagler (fourth at 139), freshman Maddox Mehalic (fourth at 107) and sophomore Kai Maxwell (sixth at 121).
Penn-Trafford had three finalists and two champions. Winning titles were senior Dylan Barrett at 121 and junior Luke DeSantis at 127. Freshman Jax Brentzel was second at 107.
Others placing were junior Sidney Hand (third at 172), senior Logan Matrisch (third at 160) and senior Jake Lang (fifth at 133).
Plum senior Frank Grazulis was the 285 winner, and senior Owen Campbell placed second at 152.
Others earning medals were senior Douglas Harchick (sixth at 145), junior Joel Kline (fifth at 139), and freshman Colt Knapp (sixth at 107).
Knoch had two place-winners: senior Owen Layhew (third at 145) and senior Brayden McGowan (sixth at 152).
Sidun stays perfect
Norwin junior Landon Sidun stayed perfect as he was the lone winner for the Knights against Malvern Prep
Sidun (6-0) won by technical fall against Rocco Lombardo, 19-4.
With their win against Canon-McMillan and the Big Macs’ win against Connellsville, the Knights moved to No. 2 in the rankings.
Weekend tournaments and duals
Norwin is headed East again as it win compete in the Penn Manor Tournament near Millersville. The Knights competed at the Spartan Duals at Springfield Township near Philadelphia on Dec. 6.
The duals involving WPIAL teams are at Barnesville (Ohio), Doug Conroy Memorial at Ringgold, Hampton Dawg Duals, Kiski Area Duals, Mack McGuire at Upper St. Clair, Moon, North Hills and Rande Stottlemyer at Hickory.