West Mifflin senior James Fleming could have taken the easy way out. Instead, he wanted the stiffest competition possible for his attempt to become the 19th wrestler in WPIAL history to win four individual titles.

"I could have moved to the 152-pound weight class, but I wanted to face the best," said Fleming, after losing, 2-1, in the 160-pound final to Hempfield's Jake Kemerer last night at Canon-McMillan High School.

"I'd rather lose to the best, than beat a lesser opponent in another weight class."

Kemerer is a defending WPIAL and PIAA champion. It was only the third time in WPIAL history that a three-time champion faced another champion in his attempt to win a fourth title.

"My second title certainly has more meaning since I beat a three-time champion," Kemerer said. "I expect to see him again next week in the PIAA finals."

Kemerer broke a scoreless tie with a takedown with 51 seconds remaining. Fleming scored his only point on an escape with 24 seconds left.

With Fleming falling short of a fourth title, fans were talking about Franklin Regional sophomore Nico Megaludis and Derry Area freshman Jimmy Gulibon, who are hoping to be four-time WPIAL champions.

Megaludis (42-0), the 103-pound champion last year, claimed his second title with a 1:17 pin of Bethel Park's Dylan Mogan (40-5) in the 112-pound final.

"I never expected a pin," Megaludis said. "Winning four WPIAL titles is one of my goals, but I can't be worried about that until after the [PIAA] tournament."

Gulibon (36-1) claimed the 103-pound title in his varsity debut with a convincing 19-7 decision against McGuffey's Alex Dunaway (29-7).

"One of my biggest dreams was to come here and win as a freshman," Gulibon said. "It's an incredible feeling to reach that goal. Now, I get my first chance to wrestle in the [PIAA] tournament."

Kemerer, Fleming and Megaludis were among seven returning champions at the WPIAL Class AAA finals. The others were Penn-Trafford's Shane Young, West Mifflin's Sam Sherlock, North Allegheny's Dave Cawley and West Allegheny's Troy Reaghard. Three of the four won titles.

Young (38-1), a two-time WPIAL and PIAA champion, captured his third crown with a pin of Elizabeth Forward's Jake Diana (29-8) at 119 pounds.

Sherlock (34-3) defended the 125-pound title with a 4-3 victory against Latrobe's Nathan Pennesi (30-2).

Cawley (17-1), a 2007 champion, made his second title appearance, but dropped a heartbreaking, 5-4, decision to Hempfield's Jack Bachman (43-1) at 140. Bachman was a runner-up at 135 last year.

Reaghard (39-5) won his second consecutive title and claimed his 100th career victory with a 2-1 overtime decision against Chartiers Valley's Tyler Wilps (32-6) at 171.

North Allegheny's Joe Waltko (37-1) made his fourth appearance in the finals and claimed his first title with a 5-4 win against Central Catholic's Lorenzo Thomas (36-2) at 130.

Also winning titles were Derry Area's Travis Shaffer, Butler's Cole Baxter, Hopewell's Matt Hundenski, West Allegheny's Jake Leninsky, Connellsville's Nate Gaffney and Canon-McMillan's Sam Brownlee.

Shaffer (33-3), a Class AA runner-up last year, won a goal medal with a 2-1 decision against Latrobe's Joey Walters (28-6). Baxter (41-0) became the first Butler High wrestler to win a WPIAL title with a 3-1 victory against Penn-Trafford's Devon Jones (34-6) at 145.

Shady Side Academy captured five individual championships at the PIAA Southwest AA Regional at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown. Geoff Alexander (112), Dane Johnson (140) and Matthew Cunningham (160) won their second regional championships for the PIAA team tournament runner-up Indians.

Tyrone's A.J. Schopp also collected his second title, stopping Keystone Oak's Anthony Zanetta from winning a third crown. In the second tiebreaker period, Schopp grabbed Zanetta's left leg. After a flurry to try to give up just an escape, Zanetta was dumped to his side, allowing Schopp to win, 3-2 The loss was the first for Zanetta since the 2007 PIAA tournament. Zanetta beat Schopp in the region final last year.

Shady Side's Roman SanDoval scored a double-leg takedown, putting Westmont-Hilltop's Zac Bennett on his back on the way to a 13-4 major decision in the most-anticipated match. SanDoval is a returning PIAA champion. Bennett, who missed the 2008 postseason with an injury, won a PIAA crown the previous year.

Carlynton's Jordan Roussos (275) won the WPIAL's only other individual title, beating Bedford's Josh Krupa, 3-1.

Nine schools had wrestlers win regional titles. Only Shady Side Academy (five) and Tyrone (two) had more than one.