Some of the top wrestlers in the state will be competing in the 73rd Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Friday and Saturday at Greensburg Salem High School.
The top WPIAL Class 3A and 2A squads will be battling for the team title, and some of the top individuals will be competing for championships.
The top wrestlers in the state at 215 pounds — returning PIAA, WPIAL and county champion Elijah Brown of Belle Vernon and PIAA, WPIAL and county runner-up Cooper Roscosky of Kiski Area — could square off.
Roscosky was the WCCA champion at 189 in 2024.
Another weight class that features top wrestlers is 189, where Kiski Area sophomore and returning county champion Mario Hutcherson could match up against 2024 171-pound champion Hunter Snyder of Latrobe. Snyder missed last season’s tournament with an injury.
Derry junior Mason Horwat and Burrell’s Cam Baker are the only wrestlers who could be three-time champions. They look to be the 49th and 50th wrestlers to join that elite club.
Horwat won the 145 title in 2024 and the 152 last season. He will be the No. 1 seed at 171 this year.
“It is a goal to become a three-time champion,” Horwat said. “My main goal is to be a PIAA champion. I was not pleased how I performed at Powerade, so I am looking to get back on track at counties.”
Horwat (20-2, 104-15) placed fourth at Powerade. He is a two-time WPIAL champion, two-time PIAA place-winner and Pitt commit.
Baker was the 107-pound champion in 2023 and 2024. An injury prevented Baker from becoming a three-time champion last season.
Other returning champions are Penn-Trafford senior Dylan Barrett (121 pounds), Burrell senior Julian Bertucci (139), Franklin Regional sophomore Max Firestine (145) and Derry senior Ewan Olson (160). Injuries, however, will sideline Franklin Regional sophomore Beau Fennick (107) and Derry junior Brady Brown (189).
Both are expected to return in a few weeks.
Snyder said he is looking forward to facing Hutcherson.
“Every match is a challenge, it does not matter who it is,” Snyder said. “I just want to go out and do my best. I must take every match like it is a state match. I just want to continue to work. Mario is very good.”
Roscosky said he was not pleased with how he finished at Powerade.
“I am better than I wrestled,” said Roscosky, a Buffalo commit. “I know I am the best; I must overcome some mental blocks I have.”
Roscosky was winless in five matches against the former Pitt, now Penn State, commit Elijah Brown.
Derry coach Troy Dolan and Latrobe coach Mark Mears were previous county champions.
They know what it takes and how to prepare for the tough battles ahead for their wrestlers.
“The team race is going to be a battle with us (2A-1), Burrell (2A-2), Franklin Regional (3A-1), Norwin (3A-2) and Kiski Area (3A-4),” Dolan said. “It is going to be exciting to see how we do against these teams.”
Mears said he wants to see how his young team matches up against some talented teams.
“This will show where we are now and where we need to get to,” Mears said. “The team battle should be close. A lot will be determined by seeding. That is going to be interesting.”
73rd Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association
Wrestling Tournament
• Where: Greensburg Salem High School
• When and times: Friday, 4 p.m., first round and quarterfinals; Saturday: 9 a.m., Girls first round; noon semifinals; 4 p.m. finals.
• Teams: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield , Kiski Area, Kiski School, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Valley and Yough.
• Returning champions:2024: 145: Mason Horwat, Derry; 171: Hunter Snyder, Latrobe; 189: Cooper Roscosky, Kiski Area. 2025: 107: Beau Fennick, Franklin Regional (injured); 114: Dylan Barrett, Penn-Trafford; 139: Julian Bertucci, Burrell; 145: Max Firestine, Franklin Regional; 152: Mason Horwat, Derry; 160: Ewan Olson, Derry; 71: Mario Hutcherson, Kiski Area; 189: Brady Brown, Derry (injured) ; 215: Elijah Brown, Belle Vernon.