It is back to work for the seven WPIAL wrestling teams that qualified for the PIAA team tournament.
The “Journey to Johnstown” begins Tuesday across the state with preliminary- and first-round action.
If teams survive those rounds, they qualify for the quarterfinals Friday at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown.
This is the PIAA’s first venture to Johnstown. The state team tournaments, other than 2021 (Cumberland Valley) and 2025 (Altoona), had been held in Hershey starting in 1999.
WPIAL champion Franklin Regional (Class 3A) and Derry (Class 2A) will have home matches.
Franklin Regional (18-0) will face the winner of the Palmyra (19-4) and Obama Academy (6-5) match at 6 p.m. The Pittsburgh City League, where Obama competes, is 0-22 all-time in states.
So it is likely the Panthers will face Palmyra, the District 3 fourth-place team.
“They are going to be a tough test,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “They are good. We must get refocused.”
This is the Panthers’ sixth appearance in the state tournament. They won state titles in 2014 and 2015.
They went 2-2 in 2025 and are 17-5 overall.
The Panthers won their fourth WPIAL title by rallying to defeat rival Norwin, 31-27, on Saturday.
Norwin coach Kyle Martin said he would give his team 20 hours off before he brought them together to start their second journey in the state tournament.
The Knights (12-3) will travel to Dubois (8-8) on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. start. DuBois is the District 9 champion.
Norwin blanked Obama Academy, 74-0, but fell to Franklin Regional, 38-13, last year. Landon Sidun did not wrestle because of an injury.
“These types of matches should help us as we compete in the state tournament,” Martin said. “I am excited to see how we compete against some great teams.”
Connellsville (17-3) is making its 11th trip to the state tournament. The Falcons were state champions in 2005. Their all-time record is 21-14 at the PIAAs.
They finished third last year.
They begin their journey in Gettysburg, where they face District 12 runner-up La Salle College at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A victory puts the Falcons against District 3 champion Gettysburg, which they defeated 41-20, on Jan. 10 during the Gettysburg Duals.
Class 2A
Derry is 0-5 in four appearances in the state tournament. Coach Troy Dolan Jr. would like to change that record against the District runner-up Penns Valley (14-1).
“They are a solid team,” Dolan said. “It is going to be a good battle.”
Penns Valley edged Derry, 201.5-198, at the Panther Holiday Classic on Dec. 19.
Burrell is making its 23rd appearance in the tournament. The Bucs are 41-36 overall in the state tournament and were PIAA champions in 2008.
The Bucs (19-3) head to District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge (11-3) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Burrell defeated Chestnut Ridge, 34-29, on Jan. 19 at the Ultimate Duals at Brookville.
Third-place WPIAL finisher McGuffey and fourth-place Laurel also open on the road.
McGuffey (17-2) heads to Johnstown to face District 10 runner-up General McLane (12-3). The winner faces District 6 champion Bishop McCort (13-0).
Laurel (17-5) travels to Harrisburg to face District 4 runner-up Mifflinburg (19-1), with the winner facing Bishop McDevitt (16-0).