WPIAL wrestling: Mars freshmen lead way; Seneca Valley’s Tommy Wuycheck punches regional ticket in dramatic fashion
CANONSBURG — Tommy Wuycheck clinched one of the most dramatic seventh-place medals possible, and in doing so he kept his senior season alive.
The Seneca Valley 285-pounder faced a must-win in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School, needing to beat Norwin’s Jonah Fierle in the medal round to clinch the final spot in his weight class in next week’s PIAA Class 3A West Regional.
Wuycheck stuck Fierle in a headlock in the first tiebreaker period after a 1-1 regulation draw. Knowing this was likely his last best chance, Wuycheck flipped Fierle hard onto the mat and pinned the exhausted Knight immediately.
The roar Wuycheck let out after the ref’s whistle said it all.
“As soon as I got up (on my feet from the down position), I was like, ‘I gotta end it now,” he said, still catching his breath after more than six minutes of difficult wrestling.
“Great way to finish,” Raiders head coach Kevin Wildrick said. “We always tell him not to hit headlock, but when it presents itself there it was a, ‘No, no, yes, yes’ (moment).”
Wuycheck is one of three Raiders wrestlers heading to regionals, along with 145-pounder Zach Hill and 107-pounder Riley Smith. Wuycheck’s path was the hardest of the bunch.
He lost his first match Friday by a 2-1 decision and had to crawl his way through wrestlebacks. He reached the consolation third round needing just a win to secure a regional berth, but Canon-McMillan’s Dakota Carmona dropped him in a 7-1 decision, setting up the eventual seventh-place heroics.
Wuycheck came in seeded eighth.
“This whole weekend he wrestled a great tournament,” Wildrick said. “He’s always been a kid on the edge who we knew had a chance every year, and he’s just had kinda tough postseason runs each year, so it’s nice to see him punch through this week.”
Smith, a junior, will head to his first regional tournament feeling good about his performance. Happier still he’s not going alone after Wuycheck and Hill dropped into the make-or-break seventh-place matches.
Smith narrowly beat Franklin Regional’s Salvatore Colangelo for fifth.
“I’m happy with that. Top five is what I was shooting for,” Smith said.
Hill was visibly disappointed with his performance in the consolation third round. A loss dropped him to the seventh-place bout, forcing him into a win-or-go-home situation.
But the news of a forfeit by Bethel Park’s Ian Bucheli in the semifinals because he failed to make weight Saturday made life a lot easier for Hill. Both he and his medal-round opponent, Thomas Jefferson’s Cameron Timko, were guaranteed spots in regionals regardless of the outcome.
Hill pinned Timko in a minute just for good measure.
“Both had to go through adversity,” Wildrick said of Smith and Hill.
Mars head coach Ben Rings was beaming as he waited to drape medals over his two remaining wrestlers.
Hard to blame him. A young team already, Mars is sending two of its youngest to regionals. Parker Joseph’s second-period pin in the 133-pound seventh-place bout and Olympic Serrao’s 11-4 decision victory in the 139-pound fifth-place bout capped a strong weekend by two freshmen.
“I think the performances were great,” Rings said.
“It feels great making it this far, and I feel like hopefully I can make it a bit farther next weekend,” Joseph said.
Serrao has looked like Butler County’s next up-and-coming wrestler all season. He said after his WPIAL sectional win last week his goal was to win districts. He made the quarterfinals before dropping into the blood rounds, but he was pleased with his weekend.
“I still feel I did good. I had two close matches that I lost,” Serrao said. “I didn’t wrestle bad at all.”
Joseph didn’t make it out of the Round of 16, taking the longer road through wrestlebacks to earn his way to regionals.
“Just grit, man,” Rings said when asked about the freshman’s performance with his back against the wall. “It’s all internal. That’s nothing that I can teach.”
The regional tournament is back at Canon-McMillan Friday and Saturday. The top five wrestlers advance to the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships the following week in Hershey.
North Catholic produced one medalist at Saturday’s WPIAL Class 2A championships at Chartiers Valley High School.
Michael Pierro, after two wins to reach the quarterfinals but three straight losses after that, finished sixth at 121 pounds. He forfeited the medal round against Fort Cherry’s Cameron Eiler. It qualifies him for next week’s PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional at Altoona High School.
North’s four other district qualifiers did not advance. All four of Knoch’s district qualifiers were eliminated in two rounds. The same happened to the pair from Summit Academy.
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Connellsville Daniel Smith in a 139-pound 5th place bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner defeats Belle Vernon’s Colby Hibner in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Trinity’s Dom Canali 4-0 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Parker Joseph defeats Kiski Area’s Gavin Murphy in a 133-pound seventh-place bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Trinity’s Dom Canali 4-0 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda receives his first-place medal from assistant Butler wrestling coach Blake Caudill after defeating Trinity’s Dom Canali 4-0 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill defeats Fox Chapel Area’s Andrew Kratsa in a 145-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Thomas Wuycheck defeats Kiski Area’s Alex Akerley in a 283-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith defeats Franklin Regional’s Salvatore Colangelo 1-0 in a 107-pound fifth place finals bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith defeats Hampton’s Cayden Barry 6-0 in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith defeats Hampton’s Cayden Barry 6-0 in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Nick Savannah wrestles Thomas Jefferson’s Robert Cordova in a 121-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Nick Savannah wrestles Thomas Jefferson’s Robert Cordova in a 121-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Nick Savannah wrestles Thomas Jefferson’s Robert Cordova in a 121-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Baldwin’s Mike Griffiths in a 139-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Baldwin’s Mike Griffiths in a 139-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Baldwin’s Mike Griffiths in a 139-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Baldwin’s Mike Griffiths in a 139-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill defeats Fox Chapel Area’s Andrew Kratsa in a 145-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill defeats Fox Chapel Area’s Andrew Kratsa in a 145-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill defeats Fox Chapel Area’s Andrew Kratsa in a 145-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill defeats Fox Chapel Area’s Andrew Kratsa in a 145-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill defeats Fox Chapel Area’s Andrew Kratsa in a 145-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner defeats Belle Vernon’s Colby Hibner in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner defeats Belle Vernon’s Colby Hibner in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner defeats Belle Vernon’s Colby Hibner in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner defeats Belle Vernon’s Colby Hibner in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Thomas Wuycheck defeats Kiski Area’s Alex Akerley in a 283-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Thomas Wuycheck defeats Kiski Area’s Alex Akerley in a 283-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Thomas Wuycheck defeats Kiski Area’s Alex Akerley in a 283-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith defeats North Allegheny’s Joey Synan 7-0 in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith defeats North Allegheny’s Joey Synan 7-0 in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith defeats North Allegheny’s Joey Synan 7-0 in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith defeats North Allegheny’s Joey Synan 7-0 in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Connellsville’s Nolan Rice 4-2 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Connellsville’s Nolan Rice 4-2 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Connellsville’s Nolan Rice 4-2 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Connellsville’s Nolan Rice 4-2 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Parker Joseph wrestles West Allegheny’s A.J. Snatchko in a 133-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Chartiers Valley’s Tilek Sadyrbekov in a 139-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Chartiers Valley’s Tilek Sadyrbekov in a 139-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Zach Hill wrestles Canon-McMillan’s Aidan Finnigan in a 145-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner wrestles Penn-Trafford’s Logan Matrisch in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Thomas Wuycheck wrestles Canon-McMillan’s Dakota Carmona in a 283-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s Riley Smith wrestles Moon Area’s Bryce Thomas in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao Franklin Regional’s Chase Smith in a 139-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley’s wrestling coach Drew Smith guides Riley Smith in a 107-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Trinity’s Dom Canali 4-0 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Trinity’s Dom Canali 4-0 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeats Trinity’s Dom Canali 4-0 in a 127-pound final at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Parker Joseph defeats Kiski Area’s Gavin Murphy in a 133-pound 7th place bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Mars’ Olympic Serrao defeats Connellsville Daniel Smith in a 139-pound 5th place bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner wrestles Canon-McMillan Mason Calgaro in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Sutton Stoner wrestles Canon-McMillan Mason Calgaro in a 160-pound bout in the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
