Jan 21, 2024 2 min read

South Fayette’s Jonny Baiano took down all comers in winning an Allegheny County wrestling championship in the 127-pound weight class on Sunday at Fox Chapel High School.

The tournament was pushed back a day due to the threat of inclement weather.

Baiano scored a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the third for a 4-0 decision over Plum’s Sam Snyder in the finals. Baiano had pins in his first three matches of the tournament before edging Central Catholic’s Brooks Blasko, 7-6, in the semifinals.

Baiano, a senior, is 23-1 this season and 96-27 for his career. Baiano’s lone setback this season was to Bentworth senior Chris Vargo, who placed second in the state a year ago.

The Lions’ Brock Dennison (114) and Luke Dunlap (152) placed third in the county tournament. Talan Mizenko was fourth at 145 and Peter Leventis was seventh at 139 as South Fayette had five wrestlers reach the podium.

Berkshire Battle for the Belt

Trinity finished first in the team standings on Saturday at the Berkshire Battle for the Belt at Berkshire High School in Ohio.

The Hillers finished with 334 team points. Mason, Ohio, was second with 282 points and Thomas Worthington, Ohio, was third in 171.5

Trinity captured six individual titles, as Dominick Canali (120), Zane Garner (126), Blake Reihner (138), Thomas Allison (144), Cael Nicolella (165) and Bodie Morgan (175) topped all comers.

Mercer VFW Tournament

Fort Cherry had eight wrestlers place, including three champions, in finishing second at the Mercer VFW Tournament on Saturday.

The Rangers’ Braedon Welsh (172), Anthony Salvini (189) and Louis Ryan (285) won titles in their respective weight classes.

Welsh and Ryan pinned their opponents in the finals, while Salvini won by injury default.

Fort Cherry’s Shawn Robertson was second at 121, and teammate Drake Buzzard finished third at 107. The Rangers’ Chas Rush was fifth at 145.

Fort Cherry’s Nate Heirendt was seventh at 215. Nate Harrison placed eighth at 127.