Section tournament notes
Because of the quantity of qualifiers, there were no great surprises in any of the three section tournaments. So here are a few thoughts on each section outcome.
Section 1
The biggest happening in this event was the injury to Colin Checkan of South Side Beaver, who sprained an ankle in his match against Michael Innes of Chartiers-Houston. Checkan was down 5-1 in the first when Innes hit another five-point move and Checkan injured his ankle there. He was walking on it but had a noticeable limp after the loss. Innes, meanwhile, hit his first five-point move with the same headlock move that injured his ribcage in last year's postseason. ... Fort Cherry heavyweight Cory Garry did not compete because his broken hand was not healed enough to go. ... The only upset of the day was Vic LiPari of Chartiers-Houston getting pinned by South Side Beaver freshman Connor Payne in the 119-pound semifinals. LiPari finished third.
Section 2
Josh Kwasny of Charleroi was apparently a victim of the long layoff from practice. The talented 119-pounder failed to make weight and is out of the tournament. ... Colton Blumer (135) of West Greene and Dylan Demain (160) of Bentworth each had a forfeit in their finals because of injuries.
Section 3
Burrell's Nolan Greenwald won his fourth section title when he pinned Ron Dakan of Mars in the 160-pound finals. Greenwald's temmates Travis McKillop (152) and Brian Beattie (215) each won the third. Greenwald made school history by becoming the first wrestler at Burrell to be a part of four WPIAL team championships and win four section titles. ... Greenwald's brother, Hayden, scratched because of a leg injury.
Section 1
The biggest happening in this event was the injury to Colin Checkan of South Side Beaver, who sprained an ankle in his match against Michael Innes of Chartiers-Houston. Checkan was down 5-1 in the first when Innes hit another five-point move and Checkan injured his ankle there. He was walking on it but had a noticeable limp after the loss. Innes, meanwhile, hit his first five-point move with the same headlock move that injured his ribcage in last year's postseason. ... Fort Cherry heavyweight Cory Garry did not compete because his broken hand was not healed enough to go. ... The only upset of the day was Vic LiPari of Chartiers-Houston getting pinned by South Side Beaver freshman Connor Payne in the 119-pound semifinals. LiPari finished third.
Section 2
Josh Kwasny of Charleroi was apparently a victim of the long layoff from practice. The talented 119-pounder failed to make weight and is out of the tournament. ... Colton Blumer (135) of West Greene and Dylan Demain (160) of Bentworth each had a forfeit in their finals because of injuries.
Section 3
Burrell's Nolan Greenwald won his fourth section title when he pinned Ron Dakan of Mars in the 160-pound finals. Greenwald's temmates Travis McKillop (152) and Brian Beattie (215) each won the third. Greenwald made school history by becoming the first wrestler at Burrell to be a part of four WPIAL team championships and win four section titles. ... Greenwald's brother, Hayden, scratched because of a leg injury.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
8:15 AM
17 Comments:
He's not a victim for not making weight, it's his fault he didn't make weight. All of the other wrestlers were in the same situation the last two weeks, what makes Kwasney so different? Here's an old school idea, workout on your own and this would not have happened.
Wrestlers get weighed daily.
He knew what he weighed and just didn't want to wrestle.
Josh Kwasny was actually a victim of himself. Nobody made him overweight but himself. Nobody kept him from working out on his own but himself.
Josh Kwasny is not only the victim. He's the perpetrator. Do not begin to pass the responsibility off of his shoulders.
It is a shame to witness a waste of a of a season and talent.
I guess he could have went out and shovled snow to loose the weight? Remember people that these are kids that still have growth spurts still in them. At least I hope so. Don't belittle the boy for not making weight. It was a waste of talent but that's life. Maybe he got burned out having to deal with fans like yourself.
I would be more critical if the team had not missed so many practices. It's difficult enough to keep weight under normal circumstances. Getting out of a routine can derail some kids. And it's not just practices. Kids missing school is the big worry of every coach. The frig is not that far away at home.
It's well known that Josh is a member of the Quest School Of Wrestling, so he still would have had ample opportunity to practice as Quest was open various days specifically for high schoolers when the school districts were closed. So what is the real reason?
What makes him different than hundreds of other wrestlers who were in the same situation (with the snow) and no practices and they all made weight? The wpial AA was not the only post season wrestling tourny over the weekend, District 6 AA, District 1 AAA.I think that there is another reason that he didn't wrestle.
119 goes contrary to all rankings, Kwasny & LiPari having trouble. Even section 3 didn't go quite the way you'd expect. Otherwise no huge surprises, maybe Greenwald getting his win so easy, but I'm ready for the whips, and remember, Burrell faced CH without Grandelis. They would have lost if he was there. They won by 10, and that's with a jv getting a forfeit.
"The frig is not that far away at home."
Joe, if the heart is strong enough, it doesn't matter how far away the frig is.
DO NOT pass this off to the snow storm, or school closings, or no practice or any of the other lame excuses that enable kids today.
Any other "name" kids not make weight, at any section tournament? NO. Didn't they have snow storms too? Didn't their schools close for extended periods of time? Didn't their practices also get cancelled?
For whatever reason, this kid chose not to make it. Don't make it out to be more than what it is. Don't allow excuses that aren't applicable.
Like Tiger Woods, this kid doesn't owe me any kind of explanation for his choices. But he also doesn't deserve a newspaper writer defending his decisions with lame "the weather made me do it" excuses...
Come on man...What did you want him to put. It is a kid after all.
Everyone of you bloggers except Joe and myself are complete morons. As for the quest remark. The whole area was in a state of emergency and you want this kid from Charleroi to travel all the way to Washington to practice wrestling. Secondly, It is very hard to maintain weight in the lower divisions when having growth spurts. Not all kids grow the same you know. I despise all fans who want these kids to loose weight so the can have their champion. I don't know the kid personally but, I truely feel sorry for him. Instead of reliving your youth through the eyes of these children maybe you all need to go get a hobby of your own. And, while doing your favorite hobby I want you all to starve yourselves for a couple of days to see what it is really like. This was his failure not yours. All of you need to get over yourselves.
I have read everyone's comments and find some very interesting and some very entertaining. I saw Josh's effort to make weight firsthand, right up to his 6:00am - 9:00am workout the morning of still pedaling, running, and sweating just like every other day the week prior. The plain simple fact is, he did everything he could and had nothing left in the tank and nothing else to lose risking possible health issues. Josh made no excuses to anyone and opted not to wrestle-off and bump a senior 125 so late in his final season. This was selfless and I thought it was a classly decision. He just said "I did my best". It's funny how so many jump into a discussion with very little first-hand knowledge of the facts. I didn't see any of you eating salads with us at my dinner table those month s prior or look over while at you while we were both on the bike or treadmill everyday after practices until he had no more to give. Even more ironic is - I see no names here. I will post my name. I am Josh's Dad - Stan and I am extremely proud of my son and his effort and I applaud him... I openly welcome comments but I prefer them to me, personally. I guess if some of you would like an apology, he would probably consider it. Joe, I love your blog and I know Josh will be back. sfjkwaz@yahoo.com.
Very classily put Stan. I don't think I could have been as forgiving as you if it were my son. I think that is the problem, there are many people on this blog that do not have sons (or daughters). When some of you have kids, you will notice the way it makes you look at things differently.
Stan,
Well put. Sometimes, out of routine, things do not work the same. Growth spurts hit, school's closed, practice cancelled, roads impassible. Bad, bad timing for your son.
However, if this is the worst thing that happens in your son's life, he'll be just fine.
After re-reading my post, I want to make sure nobody misreads it. I meant I would not be as forgiving to the people on this blog, not towards my son. He is not the only one this has ever happened to. Rumor is Kolat didn't make weight his senior year at sections and they let him slide. Probably only a rumor though.
Stan,
I was the blogger defending your son before you so elequantly (?spell check) put these guys in their place. It's a shame to this day wrestling is still about loosing weight. When I wrestled back in the 80's loosing 10lbs to make the team was the in thing to do. Unfortunately I got burned out and never realized my potential. Next year have him wrestle what he weighs before the season starts. In fact have him build muscle not waste it away. I swear to this day that I stunted my growth from all of the stupid things I did to loose weight. I looked so skinny back in those days that I don't even know how I truely won a match. Do not have him loose weight anymore. Cut back on the cardio a little and start pumping iron. I swear it will make all the difference in the world to have energy and strength and happiness in the sport he so loves. Don't let your son get burned out like I did. Again I am truely sorry that he didn't make weight. Better luck next year.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home