Jan 22, 2026 By Eleanor Bailey 5 min read

Mt. Lebanon crowned two champions and placed another on the podium during the Allegheny County Wrestling Championships held Jan. 16-17 at Fox Chapel.

Originally entered at 133 pounds, Evan Sala dropped down a weight class and claimed the 127-pound title. He decisioned West Mifflin’s Lashawn Haley, 9-3, in the championship match.

“Evan had a great tournament,” said Lebo head coach Tyler Daffinee. “The fact he was drawn into the bracket, didn’t phase him at all. He knew he would have to wrestle tough guys no matter if he was seeded or not.”

Approaching each match in the same manner, Sala scored back-to-back falls in his opening bouts against Mason Fink from Elizabeth-Forward (1:01) and Luke Krushinksi from Fox Chapel (1:18). After dispatching the Foxes Daniel Noel, 6-0, he edged Brady Rohaly from North Hills by sudden victory, 4-1, to reach the finals.

“(Sala’s) secret is his calm and presence,” Daffinee said. “He has a calm energy before every match. You don’t notice a difference in him from one round to the next. The finals are just another match, just keep doing what you are doing.”

Injuries during his freshman campaign set Sala back regarding individual goals such as becoming a member of the Century Club. The junior owns a 53-23 overall record. He was 20-7 as a sophomore last year and finished second in the section and sixth in the district. After the county championships, Sala sported a 24-5 record.

“We hope to see Evan in Hershey this postseason,” Daffinee said. “He is certainly capable of it and is doing the work to earn it.”

Cole Gibbons continues to earn accolades this season. Having gained a spot in the Century Club in mid-December, he dominated the 160-pound weight class at the county championships.

He scored tech falls against Mathis Miller and Shaler’s Weston Emmons as well as pinned McKeesport’s Tory Anderson-Pearson to reach the semifinals where he decisioned Cooper Dietz from West Mifflin, 7-1.

In the finals, Gibbons scored a major decision against Matthew Danna from Quaker Valley, 10-2.

“Cole has stepped up his game,” Daffinee said. “He wants that WPIAL title and is making the adjustments needed to win it.”

Gibbons ran his season record to 25-4 overall. He is 117-40 in his career. Though he currently is ranked No. 4 at 152, Gibbons has never topped the podium during the postseason.

As a sophomore, he did not place at states after finishing third in the sectional and regional tournaments at 145. Last winter as a junior, he was a section runner-up and sixth-place finisher in the WPIAL at 152.

“There are a lot of good wrestlers who don’t win a WPIAL title,” Daffinee said.

“Cole is focused on making that jump from good to great. I think he is absolutely in the running for that WPIAL title at 160 pounds.”

During the Allegheny County Tournament, Gibbons also captured the Brotherhood of Wrestling Award. The distinction recognizes exceptional sportsmanship and embodies the spirit of wrestling.

“I am very proud to win this award due to my strong belief in good sportsmanship,” Gibbons said. “I want to be an aggressive and high paced wrestler in the match but respectful and kind as much as possible. After all it is just a sport and meant to be fun.”

In addition to Sala and Gibbons, Ben Mares earned a spot on the awards stand. The senior placed fourth in the 152-pound weight class.

After dropping his first match to Logan Krul, Mares negotiated his way through the losers bracket, picking up five victories, including a major, tech fall and pin, to reach the third-place consolation bout. In the rematch with Krul, Mares again succumbed to the Avonworth freshman who is 22-5 this season.

“Ben had a great tournament,” Daffinee said. “He works every day to make himself and his teammates better.

“I was glad to see him capitalize on the opportunity to score when they presented themselves. It is great to see him having the success he is having this year. I’m excited to see what is in store for him.”

TWO WIN TOO

Two additional area wrestlers captured championships at the county tournament.

Peter Levintis from South Fayette won the 139-pound weight class. The senior scored a major decision, 8-0, against Gateway’s Braden Washington to claim the championship.

Levintis pinned his way into the semifinals, posting three falls in his opening rounds before defeating Bethel Park’s Caleb Crawford, 5-1.

While Levintis improved to 98-43 overall with his tournament showing, Crawford finished third, rebounding to beat Harper Sipes from Quaker Valley, 10-3, in the 139-pound consolation match.

Crawford’s teammate, Ian Bucheli claimed the 145-pound weight class. He scored a major decision against Adam Haines from Fox Chapel, 9-0, in the championship match.

A junior, Bucheli scored a pair of tech falls and a pin to advance to the semifinals, where he dispatched Montour’s Jacob Chacon, 13-9.

Other top wrestlers from South Fayette and Bethel Park to earn a spot on the podium included: Brock Dennison, seventh at 145 and Colton Fisher, eighth at 160.

Chartiers Valley had a solid showing in the tournament.

Musabek Sadyrbekov secured second place at 189.

Michael Lawrence finished fourth at 172. The senior picked up his 100th career victory when he decisioned West Mifflin’s Caden Willis, 7-2, after recording opening round pins against Hampton’s Will Felton (1:22) and North Allegheny’s Jonathan McDowell (0:32).

At 139, Tilek Sadyrbekov finished fifth while Chase Glover ended up eighth at 189.

Upper St. Clair put four grapplers on the podium. Among them were: Alex Zevallos (third at 285); Derek Worstell (fifth, 152); Luca Coury (sixth, 172) and Will Stohl (sixth, 285).

North Allegheny won the team title with a 262.5 score. Moon was the runner-up (260.5) and Thomas Jefferson took third (201.0).