Wrestler of the Year
Landon Sidun
Norwin, jr., 121 pounds
2025-26 record: 51-1. Career record: 124-3.
When Norwin junior Landon Sidun lost in the finals of the PIAA Class 3A West Regional, he did not pout.
He addressed the media and talked about what he needed to do the next time he met his opponent.
The Penn State commit did not get a shot at avenging that loss to DuBois sophomore Mateo Gallegos.
But Sidun did win his second PIAA 121-pound title.
Because of the loss, Sidun landed on the stronger side of the bracket and had to defeat ranked wrestlers.
He beat Lower Dauphin’s Tommy Oswald, 17-2; Bethlehem Catholic’s Nico Emili, 12-3; Hatboro-Horsham’s Dom Morrison, 7-6; and Connellsville’s Tommy Gretz, 17-0.
Gretz spoiled the rematch between Sidun and Gallegos with a shocking win in the semifinals.
Because of the strong wrestlers Sidun defeated during the season, in the state tournament, at Powerade and Beast of the East, he was named TribLive Westmoreland County’s Wrestler of the Year for the second time.
He edged out 2025 winner and two-time PIAA champion Elijah Brown of Belle Vernon.
Brown also is a Penn State commit.
Sidun said losing to Gallegos fueled him.
“It did not discourage me,” Sidun said. “It made me work harder and fine-tune some things. Every title is awesome. It was awesome to get back.”
Sidun said he loves to work on his skills, so he was back in the wrestling room the Monday after the championship.
“I had to respect Tommy because he’s been taking out guys this entire tournament. It felt good to score points. (At states) I felt primed, and I had to get back my attack.”
Sidun’s toughest match in the state tournament was in the semifinals when he defeated Morrison, a past PIAA champion, in overtime.
After allowing a tying takedown at the buzzer in regulation, Sidun was able to get a two-point reversal in overtime and then held for the win.
“It was not the rematch I was hoping for, but Tommy wrestled a great tournament,” he said.
Sidun and Kurtis Phipps are the only Knights to win PIAA titles.
“It is pretty cool to win again,” Sidun said. “It is the first time someone (from Norwin) has won two.”
First team all-stars
Dylan Barrett
Penn-Trafford, sr., 114 pounds
2025-26 record: 34-11. Career record: 140-43.
The Clarion recruit placed fourth in the PIAA Class 3A tournament. He placed seventh as a junior. He opened the season by winning tournament titles at Hickory and the NursePro Plus.
Brady Brown
Derry, jr., 189 pounds
2025-26 record: 32-6. Career record: 119-20.
The Purdue commit placed third in the PIAA Class 2A tournament. He is a three-time WPIAL champion. He helped Derry win its first WPIAL team title and finish fourth in the state. An injury prevented him from participating in a couple of tournaments.
Elijah Brown
Belle Vernon, sr., 215 pounds
2025-26 record: 46-1. Career record: 173-20.
The Penn State commit won his third WPIAL title and his second PIAA title. He was the only WPIAL wrestler named to the Pennsylvania team for the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. He also won tournament titles at MyHouse Trojan Wars, Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association, Fred Bell and Escape the Rock. He has the most wins in school history.
Patrick Bulger
Derry, fr., 114 pounds
2025-26 record: 47-11.
The freshman finished fifth in the PIAA Class 2A tournament. He was a WPIAL champion and helped the Trojans to their first team title. Derry finished fourth in the state. Bugler won WCCA and Ultimate Warrior titles.
Beau Fennick
Franklin Regional, so., 114 pounds
2025-26 record: 23-8. Career record: 61-17.
The sophomore earned an eighth-place medal at the PIAA Class 3A tournament. He missed the first two months of the season with an injury. He helped the Panthers win their fourth WPIAL and third PIAA team titles.
Max Firestine
Franklin Regional, so., 145 pounds
2025-26 record: 29-5. Career record: 71-17.
The sophomore had his season shortened by an injury to his nose at practice before the individual tournaments began. He was a PIAA qualifier in 2025. He won the NursePro Plus and WCCA titles.
Mason Horwat
Derry, jr., 172 pounds
2025-26 record: 53-5. Career record: 137-18.
The Pitt commit finished second in the PIAA Class 2A tournament. He also won tournament titles at Tom Best Memorial Top Hat, Panther Holiday Classic, WCCA and Ultimate Warrior. He is a three-time WPIAL champion. He helped Derry win its first WPIAL team title and finish fourth in the state.
Nico Kapusta
Hempfield, sr., 121 pounds
2025-26 record: 38-7. Career record: 119-20.
The senior was a three-time PIAA qualifier. He placed second in the WPIAL and third in the PIAA West Regional. He was a WPIAL champion in 2025. He placed second in the WCCA tournament.
Nathan Klingensmith
Norwin, jr., 145 pounds
2025-26 record: 38-20. Career record: 73-48.
The Norwin junior earned his first PIAA Class 3A medal by placing sixth. He finished fifth in the PIAA West Regional and was second in the WPIAL. He helped Norwin to a second-place finish in the WPIAL and PIAA team tournaments.
Ewan Olson
Derry, sr., 160 pounds
2025-26 record: 42-13. Career record: 132-47.
The Derry senior was a WPIAL champion and placed second at the PIAA Southwest Regional. He earned his first state medal by placing seventh. He played a key role in helping Derry win its first WPIAL team title.
Michael Ruane
Franklin Regional, jr., 152 pounds
2025-26 record: 32-6. Career record: 119-20.
The junior finished second in the Class 3A state tournament, second in the PIAA West Regional and was a WPIAL champion. He finished first at the NursePro Plus and WCCA tournaments.
Hunter Snyder
Latrobe, jr., 189 pounds
2025-26 record: 44-9. Career record: 127-23.
The Pitt commit earned his third PIAA medal. It was his second sixth-place medal after suffering a knee injury in the semifinals. He placed third in 2025 and sixth in 2024. He was a WPIAL runner-up and won the WCCA title.
Jack White
Norwin, sr., 172 pounds
2025-26 record: 49-12. Career record: 105-39.
The Norwin senior earned his first PIAA Class 3A medal by placing eighth. He was a WPIAL runner-up and placed third at the PIAA West Regional. He helped Norwin to a second-place finish in the WPIAL and PIAA team tournaments.
Second team
Brooks Blasko, Norwin, jr., 139 pounds. 2025-26 record: 26-11. He was the WPIAL runner-up.
Nate Caracciolo, Hempfield, sr., 127 pounds. 2025-26 record: 32-14. He was a WPIAL sixth-place finisher.
Ethan Carwright, Franklin Regional, jr., 172 pounds. 2025-26 record: 41-12. He was a PIAA qualifier.
Titus Colangelo, Franklin Regional, jr., 127 pounds. 2025-26 record: 36-17. He was a PIAA qualifier.
Michael Keesecker, Derry, fr., 107 pounds. 2025-26 record: 45-9. He won the WPIAL Class 2A title.
Michael McNeal, Derry, fr., 139 pounds. 2025-26 record: 31-19. He was a WPIAL champion and PIAA qualifier.
William McNeal, Derry, fr., 145 pounds. 2025-26 record: 42-19. He was a PIAA qualifier.
John Montgomery, Franklin Regional, so., 215 pounds. 2025-26 record: 43-10. He was a PIAA qualifier.
Cam Olson, Derry, fr., 133 pounds. 2025-26 record: 47-19. He was a WPIAL champion.
Cael Ott, Penn-Trafford, sr., 215 pounds. 2025-26 record: 22-9. He was a PIAA qualifier.
David Peters, Greensburg Salem, jr., 285 pounds. 2025-26 record: 39-12. He was a PIAA qualifier.
Kaden Shannon, Southmoreland, sr. 285 pounds. 2025-26 record: 32-11. He was a PIAA qualifier.
Chase Smith, Franklin Regional, jr., 139 pounds. 2025-26 record: 43-11. He was a PIAA qualifier.