Penn-Trafford senior wrestler Dylan Barrett’s main goal is to win a PIAA title.

But he knew wrestling at 121 pounds was probably not the path to his goal with Norwin junior Landon Sidun, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country at that weight class.

“His decision was to either stay at 121 and not worry about winning a title or his weight, or dropping and going for it at 114,” Penn-Trafford coach Travis McKillop said. “He decided to go for it, and he began his descent plan. We did it the right way, and now he’s ready to go.”

Barrett looked good in his first two matches at 114 at the Class 3A Eastern Section tournament Saturday. He pinned Gateway’s Everett Kuehn at 1:16 then earned a major decision over Connellsville senior Zach Franks, 13-2.

He faced Thomas Jefferson junior Zach Rehak in the final and posted a solid 4-0 victory.

Despite an impressive resume, it was Barrett’s first section title. He finished second in 2023 and 2025 and fourth in 2024.

He finished seventh at 114 in the state in 2025.

“I did not know that he never won a section title,” McKillop said. “He wrestled well.”

Barrett decided after the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament that he should drop down.

“Landon is a stud, and my goal was to win a state title,” Barrett said. “I know 114 pounds will not be easy. There are a lot of good wrestlers in the weight class.

“But I feel good. My weight is good, and I am ready. Winning the section title is a start.”

Barrett said he watched what he ate, consumed smaller portions and drank more fluids.

“Section title was one of my goals, but I have bigger ones,” Barrett said. “I felt pretty good at 125 pounds and getting down to 116 was a lot easier.”

McKillop said he directed Barrett to get numerous takedowns in his first match before allowing him to pin his opponent.

“I wanted him to get into his first match at 114,” McKillop said. “Now he can focus on next week at Canon-McMillan.”

Norwin has big day

The Knights, who finished second to Franklin Regional in the WPIAL and PIAA team tournaments, crowned five section champions.

Winning were Luca Butera (107), Sidun (121), Coleton Klipa (127), Dom Butera (133) and Brooks Blasko (139). It was Sidun’s second title.

They had three runners-up: Nathan Klingensmith (145), Jack White (160) and Tanner Shaffer (189).

Three-time champions

There were three wrestlers who earned their third section titles: Connellsville junior Kai Vielma (145), Latrobe junior Hunter Snyder and Belle Vernon senior Elijah Brown (215).

Winning his second section title was Franklin Regional’s Mike Ruane (152).

Other winners were Ringgold’s Cristian Lowther (160), who won his 100th match, Thomas Jefferson’s Zach Labryer (172) and Franklin Regional sophomore heavyweight John Montgomery.

Milestone

Hempfield senior Nico Kapusta (121) won his 100th match in the semifinals.

Firestine, Bateman out

An injury kept Franklin Regional sophomore Max Firestine from competing Saturday.

Firestine, a PIAA qualifier in 2025, sustained a facial injury at practice Wednesday and was pulled from the tournament. He was seeded No. 2 and was replaced by Cohen Buccicone at 145 pounds. Firestine was 29-5 this season and 71-17 in his career.

Derry sophomore Dylan Bateman was seeded second in the Class 2A Eastern Section tournament at Greensburg Salem but was unable to compete because he did not make weight.