PIAA regional wrestling: Butler’s Santino Sloboda, Knoch’s Braylee Ireland win gold to head to Hershey

March 01, 2025 Last Updated: March 01, 2025 08:18 PM Sports

Butler’s Kase Chopp is congratulated by coach Fred Powell after defeating Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Kase Chopp defeated Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Mars’ Liam Hein fell to Meadville’s Jacoby Thompson by a 4-1 decision in a 145-pound, second consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Mars’ Liam Hein hugs head coach Ben Rings after his last high school match ended in a fall to Meadville’s Jacoby Thompson by a 4-1 decision in a 145-pound, second consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Bellefonte’s Wyatt Long by a 18-2 technical fall in a 127-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Central Mountain’s Dalton Perry by a 7-0 decision in a 145-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Bethel Park’s Ethan Higgins by a 4-0 decision in a 145-pound, fourth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler Brin Zehmisch pins Warren Area Bryndalyn Lidell in the 118lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer wrestles Connellsville Emma Petrovich in the consolation match in the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer wrestles Greenville Kelley Enterline in the consolation in the the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Kaeleigh Tuell wrestles Laurel Contessa Cotelesse in the consolation in the the 155lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Knoch Braylee Ireland celebrates after defeating Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match win in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Knoch Braylee Ireland wrestles Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match wins Ireland won in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Hannah Hornick celebrates after defeating Connellsville Olivia Shultz in the the 170lbs third place match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Hannah Hornick grabs a single leg takedown on Connellsville Olivia Shultz in the the 170lbs third place match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler Kaitlynn Plopi puts a seatbelt on Avella Abigail Dolanch in the the 142lbs quarterfinals match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer wrestles McDowell Chloe Zachary in the the 130lbs quarterfinals match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Everly Harrell tries to pin Fort LaBoeuf in the 100lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Adele Shih-Calabro pins Allderdice Elysian Rosario in the the 106lbs quarterfinals match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler Monica Osborne wrestles Canon-Mcmillian London Ellis in the 235lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler coaching staff go crazy after Kaitlynn Plopi defeats Burrell Katie Koehler in the 142lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler Brin Zehmisch takes down Warren Area Bryndalyn Lidell in the 118lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Everly Harrell gets picked up by Sharpsville Lily Young in the consolation in the the 100lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Kaeleigh Tuell comforts Laurel Contessa Cotelesse after she defeated her in the consolation in the the 155lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley coach routs on Seneca Valley Kaeleigh Tuell as she wrestles Laurel Contessa Cotelesse in the consolation in the the 155lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer shows her frustration after losing to Greenville Kelley Enterline in the consolation in the the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Knoch Braylee Ireland pins Fort LaBoeuf Ella McGuire in the semi-finals of the 118lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Butler’s Kase Chopp is congratulated by coach Fred Powell after defeating Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp defeated Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Mars’ Liam Hein fell to Meadville’s Jacoby Thompson by a 4-1 decision in a 145-pound, second consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Mars’ Liam Hein fell to Meadville’s Jacoby Thompson by a 4-1 decision in a 145-pound, second consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Mars’ Liam Hein fell to Meadville’s Jacoby Thompson by a 4-1 decision in a 145-pound, second consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Mars’ Liam Hein fell to Meadville’s Jacoby Thompson by a 4-1 decision in a 145-pound, second consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Mars’ Liam Hein hugs head coach Ben Rings after his last high school match ended in a fall to Meadville’s Jacoby Thompson by a 4-1 decision in a 145-pound, second consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Bellefonte’s Wyatt Long by a 18-2 technical fall in a 127-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Bellefonte’s Wyatt Long by a 18-2 technical fall in a 127-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Bellefonte’s Wyatt Long by a 18-2 technical fall in a 127-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Bellefonte’s Wyatt Long by a 18-2 technical fall in a 127-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Bellefonte’s Wyatt Long by a 18-2 technical fall in a 127-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Central Mountain’s Dalton Perry by a 7-0 decision in a 145-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Central Mountain’s Dalton Perry by a 7-0 decision in a 145-pound, semi-finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Bethel Park’s Ethan Higgins by a 4-0 decision in a 145-pound, fourth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Bethel Park’s Ethan Higgins by a 4-0 decision in a 145-pound, fourth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Bethel Park’s Ethan Higgins by a 4-0 decision in a 145-pound, fourth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp fell to Bethel Park’s Ethan Higgins by a 4-0 decision in a 145-pound, fourth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner by a 10-0 decision to take first place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 127-pound, finals bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp defeated Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp defeated Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp defeated Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler’s Kase Chopp defeated Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall by a 22-3 tech fall to take fifth place and make it to the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Hershey in a 145-pound, fifth consolation bout during the PIAA Class 3A Boys Wrestling Individual Southwest Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Canon-McMillan High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw
Butler Brin Zehmisch pins Warren Area Bryndalyn Lidell in the 118lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer wrestles Connellsville Emma Petrovich in the consolation match in the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer wrestles Greenville Kelley Enterline in the consolation in the the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Kaeleigh Tuell wrestles Laurel Contessa Cotelesse in the consolation in the the 155lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland celebrates after defeating Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match win in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland wrestles Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match wins Ireland won in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland wrestles Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match wins Ireland won in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland wrestles Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match wins Ireland won in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Hannah Hornick celebrates after defeating Connellsville Olivia Shultz in the the 170lbs third place match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Hannah Hornick grabs a single leg takedown on Connellsville Olivia Shultz in the the 170lbs third place match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Butler Kaitlynn Plopi puts a seatbelt on Avella Abigail Dolanch in the the 142lbs quarterfinals match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer wrestles McDowell Chloe Zachary in the the 130lbs quarterfinals match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Everly Harrell tries to pin Fort LaBoeuf in the 100lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Adele Shih-Calabro pins Allderdice Elysian Rosario in the the 106lbs quarterfinals match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Butler Monica Osborne wrestles Canon-Mcmillian London Ellis in the 235lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Butler coaching staff go crazy after Kaitlynn Plopi defeats Burrell Katie Koehler in the 142lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Butler Kaitlynn Plopi puts a seatbelt on Avella Abigail Dolanch in the the 142lbs quarterfinals match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Butler Brin Zehmisch takes down Warren Area Bryndalyn Lidell in the 118lbs consolation match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Kaeleigh Tuell wrestles Laurel Contessa Cotelesse in the consolation in the the 155lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Everly Harrell gets picked up by Sharpsville Lily Young in the consolation in the the 100lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Kaeleigh Tuell comforts Laurel Contessa Cotelesse after she defeated her in the consolation in the the 155lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley coach routs on Seneca Valley Kaeleigh Tuell as she wrestles Laurel Contessa Cotelesse in the consolation in the the 155lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer shows her frustration after losing to Greenville Kelley Enterline in the consolation in the the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer shows her frustration after losing to Greenville Kelley Enterline in the consolation in the the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland pins Fort LaBoeuf Ella McGuire in the semi-finals of the 118lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland pins Fort LaBoeuf Ella McGuire in the semi-finals of the 118lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland celebrates after defeating Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match win in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Maddee Fischer shows her frustration after losing to Greenville Kelley Enterline in the consolation in the the 130lbs match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland wrestles Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match wins Ireland won in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland celebrates after defeating Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match win in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland wrestles Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match wins Ireland won in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland wrestles Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match wins Ireland won in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Knoch Braylee Ireland celebrates after defeating Mt.Lebanon Paige Jox in the the 118lbs finals match win in overtime in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
Seneca Valley Hannah Hornick grabs a single leg takedown on Connellsville Olivia Shultz in the the 170lbs third place match in the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)

Santino Sloboda has checked off every box this year: verbal commitment to Pitt, undefeated record, 100th win, WPIAL championship and now PIAA regional championship.

The only box left is state champion.

He’ll get his next chance at Hershey’s GIANT Center beginning Thursday in the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships after one of the top seeds after cruising through Saturday’s PIAA West Regional Tournament.

The 127-pound junior beat Cranberry’s Dalton Wenner 10-0 in the regional final to book his ticket to states, where he has a legitimate chance to improve on his sixth-place performance a year ago when he wrestled at 114.

Sloboda is the third-ranked wrestler at 127, according to FloWrestling’s Thursday rankings, behind Bethlehem Catholic’s Keanu Dillard and Northampton’s Gabe Ballard. Wenner is ranked fourth.

Sloboda had slight difficulty in regionals. For the first time this postseason he won a match, in the quarterfinals, by just a decision. But his other three matches went to script, with Sloboda scoring early and often to build an insurmountable lead.

Rob McGraw

“I just wanna go out there and score as much as I can,” he said. “Some kids, you kind of have to be smarter wrestling. I got up 10-0 against (Wenner) and he’s good on his feet, so I kind of just wrestled smart from then on. I like to get up early, and the kids will break if you get up early.”

He is now 123-6 in his career and 45-0 this season.

Sloboda will not make the three-hour trip alone, too.

Senior 145-pounder Kase Chopp punched his ticket to Chocolatetown, but by much different means.

Chopp went 2-0 Friday to advance to the semifinals, but a loss to Central Mountain’s Dalton Perry and familiar foe Ethan Higgins (Bethel Park) in the consolation fourth round forced Chopp into a winner-take-all fifth-place match to make states.

He secured the medal and his spot with a 22-3 technical fall win over Bellefonte’s Andrew Gall.

It was an uncharacteristic performance for Chopp, the 10th-ranked wrestler by FloWrestling at 145 pounds, who said he believed he pushed himself too hard during practice this week.

“That kind of got me this tournament — I’m glad how I finished, I’m still going — but I beat every guy on that podium (this season), four out of six guys, other than Ramil (Islamov).”

Islamov (Baldwin) lost for the first time this season in the final to Perry 7-6.

Rob McGraw

Knoch’s Ireland makes more history

Knoch’s Braylee Ireland continued to put her mark on the first-year program with her latest postseason title.

The junior 118-pounder won the PIAA West Regional Tournament final in dramatic fashion, getting an escape on a knee pick in the first tiebreaker period to beat Mt. Lebanon’s Paige Jox 3-1.

“I was very proud of myself that I dug deep,” Ireland said over the phone.

Ireland wasn’t able to wrestling in the girls postseason due to an injury, and now she has the program’s first WPIAL and regional gold medals. She can add to that haul in Hershey, where PA-Wrestling.com has her ranked as an honorable mention in the weight class as of Thursday.

“It feels great to be on the top of the podium again,” she said. “I think it’s honestly more exciting because it leads to the biggest tournament of the year.

“I’m a little nervous, but I think overall I’m just excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to wrestle there.”

Ireland advanced to the finals with ease, winning her quarterfinal Friday by second-period pin and tech-falling Fort LeBoeuf’s Ella McGuire in the semis Saturday.

Seneca Valley’s Hannah Hornick (170) is the only other Butler County girls wrestler to advance to states after pinning Connellsville’s Olivia Shultz in the second period to take third at regionals.

Butler’s Monica Osborne (235) lost in the second round of consolations to Canon-McMillan’s Lodon Ellis, falling one win shy of making states.

Knoch’s Braylee Ireland celebrates after defeating Mt. Lebanon’s Paige Jox in overtime in the 118-pound final at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Individual West Regional Tournament held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the North Allegheny High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle

Rough day in Class 2A

Butler County’s 2A boys wrestlers did not make it out of regionals and into the state tournament.

Knoch’s Owen Layhew (145) was knocked out in the consolation round of eight at the southwest regionals. North Catholic’s trio of Michael Pierro (107), Victor Wagner (114) and Angelo Amelio (139) were also knocked out in those rounds, as was Summit Academy’s Rocco Zugal (127).

Slippery Rock’s Zac Turberville (160) also did not make it out of the northwest regional consolation fourth round.

Eagle lead photographer Rob McGraw contributed to this story