Unbelievable Big Macs
There are two things that will be hard to find today: a happy Kiski wrestling fan and critics of Michael Hull.
In one of the most selfless, team-oriented efforts in some time, Hull stepped onto the mat with a mildly separated shoulder and beat heavyweight Steve Calderone, 3-2, in the final bout of the night to give Canon-McMillan a 32-27 victory over Kiski in the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament finals at Fox Chapel.
The win is the first WPIAL team wrestling title for the Big Macs since 1995 and sends them right into Friday's second round at the Giant Center in Hershey.
It would not have happened had it not been for Hull, a senior who has a football scholarship to Penn State, putting his health on the line. He also put his football career at risk. Hull could have easily suffered a more severe injury to the shoulder and that could cost him a possible pro career.
Hull had not wrestled since injuring the shoulder in an All-Star football game 11 days ago and was only participating in the team portion of the wrestling season because he loves the sport. Hull drew some criticism on this blog, but it seems his dedication to the sport was genuine. Had he not wrestled, C-M would have lost, simple as that.
Canon-McMillan has now wrestled two incredible bouts in a row, a semifinal win over Penn Trafford in which Zach Thomas stunned the Warriors with a pin and the finals in which Hull was the hero. C-M was the underdog in both dual meets and won in spectacular fashion.
This was the first WPIAL team title for Hull in any sport during his scholastic career, and it might be the most satisfying. It's unlikely he'll wrestle in Hershey. You could tell he was in some pain, but the Big Macs are champions today, in part, because what he did.
There were other big wins for the Big Macs, a double-overtime decision by Connor Schram at 112 and an unexpected pin by William Pihiou at 125.
"I told (Mike) that he'll remember this day for the rest of his life," C-M head coach Chris Mary said after the match.
Big Mac fans will make sure it lives on longer than that.
In one of the most selfless, team-oriented efforts in some time, Hull stepped onto the mat with a mildly separated shoulder and beat heavyweight Steve Calderone, 3-2, in the final bout of the night to give Canon-McMillan a 32-27 victory over Kiski in the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament finals at Fox Chapel.
The win is the first WPIAL team wrestling title for the Big Macs since 1995 and sends them right into Friday's second round at the Giant Center in Hershey.
It would not have happened had it not been for Hull, a senior who has a football scholarship to Penn State, putting his health on the line. He also put his football career at risk. Hull could have easily suffered a more severe injury to the shoulder and that could cost him a possible pro career.
Hull had not wrestled since injuring the shoulder in an All-Star football game 11 days ago and was only participating in the team portion of the wrestling season because he loves the sport. Hull drew some criticism on this blog, but it seems his dedication to the sport was genuine. Had he not wrestled, C-M would have lost, simple as that.
Canon-McMillan has now wrestled two incredible bouts in a row, a semifinal win over Penn Trafford in which Zach Thomas stunned the Warriors with a pin and the finals in which Hull was the hero. C-M was the underdog in both dual meets and won in spectacular fashion.
This was the first WPIAL team title for Hull in any sport during his scholastic career, and it might be the most satisfying. It's unlikely he'll wrestle in Hershey. You could tell he was in some pain, but the Big Macs are champions today, in part, because what he did.
There were other big wins for the Big Macs, a double-overtime decision by Connor Schram at 112 and an unexpected pin by William Pihiou at 125.
"I told (Mike) that he'll remember this day for the rest of his life," C-M head coach Chris Mary said after the match.
Big Mac fans will make sure it lives on longer than that.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
8:57 PM
34 Comments:
What a match! Canonsburg won as a team! Great job! On to Hershey.
Congrats to the Big Macs. Obviously, the kids are the ones who won the match. But also congrats to Chris Mary. Although there have been some difficult defeats along the way, this is a special win. Enjoy it!
YES! Great Job! Mary is right. Hull will remember this day for the rest of his life! What a great day for the team. Congrats!
YES! Congrats to CM. 9 out 14 are in the 10th & 9th grade! Young team ... look out! Great Job to the WHOLE team! Great Leadership with the coaches and seniors!
Is there anybody out there now that has anything negative to say about Hull. Anybody! Because the performance he gave last night was epic. This kid gave his ass off and wrestled with a shoulder tear and won against a kid who was 50lbs heavier. He put his ass on the line for his team against a much bigger guy and found a way to win. As far as kiski they wrestled tough and deserve a lot of credit for getting to the finals. Some problems in the stands but it was no big deal. This CM team will be better next year and the following two or three or four more years. Time for CM to get on a roll!!!!
Congratulations to Chris Mary and the boys on the team! Way to go Mike!
A side to Joe T: two years ago when you were sent to cover the Big Mac Track team's wpial win you commented that track was all about the individual and implied that the team thing was no big deal. The wpial track team playoff is set up just like wrestling where the entire team from the stars to the third place kid are involved in the team points and later on the stars can go on to advance individually when the team contests are done.
Those kind of team victories in which everyone has a part are truly exciting and memorable.
Enjoy the moment coaches, wrestlers, and Big Mac fans!
Safe trip to Hershey.
good one on the wpial track. interested to hear what joe t has to say about that.
It just seems wrong to be able to say "This kid gave his ass off". I could tolerate "This kid worked his ass off", or "This kid gave his all", I would even agree. But I've never seen anyone give their ass off, and hope I never do. Would they need a prosthetic one afterwards? Or just sit in a special seat from then forward?
Hey CM fans I found one. One kiski fan who found something wrong with how hull "gave" his ass off. looks like the intolerant kiski cry baby will have to find a prosthetic for his badly broken heart. come on back next year and we'll thump ya again.
No use in saying anything negative about kiski, most are still chiseling on granite. Go blue and gold. Guts n Nuts.
You have to understand people from kiski are used to getting their way because its generally an affluent town and the people who live and go to school there are wealthy. spoiled brats act just the way the kiski fans did.
The issue over the importance of the team portion of the season comes down to this. Wrestling, like track, is an individual sport. The ultimate goal for track athletes is to be an individual state champion, just as it is for wrestling.
I don't begrudge the team portion of the season but any coach will tell you that winning a state individual title is the ultimate accomplishment in the sport.
That said, I thought the last two dual meets Canon-McMillan wrestled were the best I've seen in some time.
Congrats to Chris Mary and the CM Macs on the WPIAL title. Chris is an extremely dedicated coach that gives his heart to every CM wrestler, he has finally reached the level that he has aspired for so long to reach. What a great way for Hull to wrap up his career, a herculian effort and incredible heart.
Congrats on a great season and good luck at the PIAA's.
Congrats to the Big Macs! Way to go! A huge over all effort from all the wrestlers! What a sacrafice Hull made for his teammates and friends! I pray his shoulder isn't any worse because of it. Great job to Colt and Will! You guys certainly deserve it!
This thing with Hull's shoulder is funny. What do you think caused greater risk for injury? A season of wrestling or playing ih 5 meaningless 'All Star' football games?
Well, Febuary 11, 2010. 10:21.AM, What will be funny is when your kid is nagging you to buy his Pro rookie card. 'Don't hate the player hate the game'.
Being selected to play in these 'All Star' games is a great honor. Not only was he selected to play in them, but he exceled in them.
I am surprised that you find an injury to an 18 year old young man, "funny".
Why didn't everyone say who really won this match? William Pihiou at 125 is ThE ONLY REASON THE BIG MACS MOVE ON. Hall did nothing great!
Rookie cards? NFL? Tell that to Aaron Gatten.
Hull couldn't hold Gatten's jock.
You guys are delusional. He is no Paul Pozluzny.
jimmy you moron. don't try to hide your post by typing hull as "hall" and saying william pihiou won the match. we know will did good. lets face it though jim. mike hull saved the day.
First of all hull at this point in his career is already ahead of Pozluzny and Gatten ten fold. He's even more advanced than Sean Lee was also. None of the players lee,gatten.poz,played in all american bowls won as many all state awards excelled in class room hull scored over 1250 on sat and is national honor society student with 3.8 GPA. the only thing meaningless are your posts about hull.
You are crazy dude.
Seriously.
Those games are popularity contests.
Hull is a poser who likes the spotlight. That isn't up for debate.
Hull is better than Pozluzny and Sean Lee ten fold.
ok. You are irrartional.
Aaron Gatten was a 4x state champ. 2 for wrestling and 2 for track (100) meter dash. He also was a 2x all state football player. Full ride to Penn State for football. The similarities are weird. Except Gatten was a better wrestler and he was faster. I wish Mike Hull the best, this weekend and beyond.
If you think Hull is better than Gatten then you didn't see Gatten.
Gatten would pin Tarley and Hull and run over them both and around them too.
-Dirty Grillo
Whoever wrote Hull is a poser evidently does not know Mike. Mike is somewhat shy and loves to compete. The Army All-American game is the most prestigious in the Nation. He represented the USA in the World games. Rodger Goodell was there because he is a huge supporter.
Dion Sanders had many good things to say about Mike. He competed against the best in the nation and did well--hardly meaningless. When being interviewed in the paper he stated he wrestled for his team to win. This will be remembered in C. M. wrestling history for the courage that Mike showed to wrestle injured so his team could would have a chance to win a wpial title. It was not the best wrestling match but you try wrestling a guy 60 lbs. heavier with one bad shoulder. He did what he needed to do to win for his team not to mention the fact that he could of injured his shoulder again. A poser--- I think not!
Signed,
Mrs. Hull
Signed,
Everyone who knows Mike.
Team wrestling, team track. What's next, team checkers? They're not team sports, which means they have the same significance as the Battle of the Network Stars. In other words, none.
If you set up a match consisting of 10 checker boards and 12 players from the same school.
Strategize which players play which opponent and the final outcome is determined by the total results on all 12 boards, you have a team sport.
Or perhaps not; true team sports are the ones in which two or three outstanding scorers, pitchers, rushers can carry their teammates to victory? right anon 6:51.
Dirty Grillo,
Gatten was awesome and he was a freak of nature no doubt. What seperates Hull from Gatten is speed to the ball and overall football smarts. I am not saying Hull is faster than Gatten so don't flip out on me. What I am saying is Hull gets to the ball really fast and is in the right spot most of the time as Dieon Sanders pointed out on TV. Plus Hull has those old Penn State roots with his dad who played with Tom Brady and uncles who went there also. Its a combination of a lot of things.
Touche. No argument here.
If you put Mike Hull and Colt Shorts in the same room with Joepoop will he be able to tell which guy was his player?
Will Mike Hull stand for his head coach soiling his drawers on the sidelines?
-Dirty Grillo
Dirty Grillo,
You absolute stupid ass idiot moron fool. You are a loser washed up nothing nobody who had talent but pissed it away now your stupid ass is stuck in charleroi sucking eggs. You are a jealous fool whose time has come and gone. washed up cheap ass broke fool. you ain't nothin and you know it.
Stop using the word, ass, or I'll start deleting posts.
I am not from Charleroi. So do you think Joe could tell the difference between Colt and Hull? I don't think he could.
-Dirty Grillo
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home