Burrell came up short in its pursuit of a 16th WPIAL team wrestling title in the past 17 years on Saturday, as the Buccaneers fell to Burgettstown in the title match. The top-seeded Blue Devils edged the Bucs 31-24 in the WPIAL Class 2A final at Chartiers-Houston High School.

The victory represents the third team championship in Burgettstown history, and first since 1974, while Burrell was denied its 18th district crown. The Bucs won 15 consecutive championships from 2007-2021 before Quaker Valley edged Burrell to end the run last campaign.

The Blue Devils took the lead to open the match, as Jacob Noyes scored an overtime decision against Burrell’s Cameron Martin at 189 pounds.

Luke Boylan responded with a sudden victory decision for the Bucs to deadlock the match, though, and the teams exchanged falls, with Joseph Baronick winning for Burgettstown at heavyweight and Cameron Baker prevailing at 107 for the Buccaneers.

The matchup remained tightly contested, as Parker Sentipal earned a major decision and Dylan Slovick garnered a decision at 114 and 127, respectively, for Burgettstown, while Jake Stewart and Cooper Hornack matched those outcomes for Burrell at 121 and 133.

Burgettstown pulled ahead by winning three of the next four bouts, though, courtesy of falls by Joseph Sentipal and Eric Kovach and a decision by Rudy Brown.

Burrell, which was docked a point for unsportsmanlike conduct, received a decision from Niko Ferra and a forfeit win by Isaac Lacinski to cap the scoring.

The Buccaneers, who defeated Quaker Valley 41-30 in the semifinals earlier on Saturday, move on to the PIAA team tournament this week, and will face the District 9 champion on Thursday.

In Class 3A, Hempfield Area fell to eventual champion Canon-McMillan in the semifinals to dash the Spartans’ title hopes. However, Hempfield Area rebounded in the consolation match, edging Connellsville Area 32-31 to take third place at Peters Township High School.

Against the Falcons, Hempfield Area received falls via Nico Kapusta, Lucas Kapusta, and Eli Binakonsky, a tech fall by Eli Carr, and decisions courtesy of Ty King, Ethan Lebin, and Ryan Steffey.

As a result, the Spartans qualify for the PIAA Class 3A tournament, and will battle Pittsburgh City League champion Allderdice on Monday.