Wrestling notes
The WPIAL Class AA Championships are going to take place over the next two days, but I can't really get too excited. The district is sending seven - that's right, seven - wrestlers from each weight class to the Southwest Region Tournament.
It takes the suspense out of the tournament when nearly half the bracket in most cases advance to the next level.
The WPIAL, and the PIAA, do not understand this situation as being a drag on their tournaments. If there is nothing at stake, why spend money on a ticket to watch?
There is one match that will keep my attention at this tournament. The battle expected at 160 pounds, where Charleroi's defending state champion Cody Wiercioch and Travis McKillop of Burrell are expected to meet in the finals.
These two wrestlers have been in some great matches over the past two years, including a 4-3 win by McKillop in the finals of the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament. That is one match I would buy a ticket to watch.
The Southwest Region Tournament in Johnstown has changed its schedule from last year. Because the arena will be in use Saturday night, the wrestling tournament times have changed. Three sessions will be held on Friday and the finals will be held 10:15 a.m. Saturday. If you're going, make a note of the changes or you might walk into an empty arena.
There is a move afoot at Mapletown High School to resurrect the wrestling program. The school board gave the OK at this week's meeting to gauge interest and report back. If there is enough interest, then the program would be fazed in over the next couple of years.
I always have doubts about the success a tiny school such as Mapletown can have in any sport, especially when rumors keep swirling that the district might have to merge with another school for financial reasons.
Then, I remember South Fayette being in the same situation with its dormant program, bringing it back after co-opting with Chartiers Valley. The Lions have a good chance of seeing Nick Carr win a state title for the second season in a row in March.
It takes the suspense out of the tournament when nearly half the bracket in most cases advance to the next level.
The WPIAL, and the PIAA, do not understand this situation as being a drag on their tournaments. If there is nothing at stake, why spend money on a ticket to watch?
There is one match that will keep my attention at this tournament. The battle expected at 160 pounds, where Charleroi's defending state champion Cody Wiercioch and Travis McKillop of Burrell are expected to meet in the finals.
These two wrestlers have been in some great matches over the past two years, including a 4-3 win by McKillop in the finals of the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament. That is one match I would buy a ticket to watch.
The Southwest Region Tournament in Johnstown has changed its schedule from last year. Because the arena will be in use Saturday night, the wrestling tournament times have changed. Three sessions will be held on Friday and the finals will be held 10:15 a.m. Saturday. If you're going, make a note of the changes or you might walk into an empty arena.
There is a move afoot at Mapletown High School to resurrect the wrestling program. The school board gave the OK at this week's meeting to gauge interest and report back. If there is enough interest, then the program would be fazed in over the next couple of years.
I always have doubts about the success a tiny school such as Mapletown can have in any sport, especially when rumors keep swirling that the district might have to merge with another school for financial reasons.
Then, I remember South Fayette being in the same situation with its dormant program, bringing it back after co-opting with Chartiers Valley. The Lions have a good chance of seeing Nick Carr win a state title for the second season in a row in March.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
11:37 AM
2 Comments:
Mapletown's graduating class could fit on a short bus. I think it's 31 students and 142 in grades 9-12. It's the smallest school in PA and should have consolidated 30 years ago. Get with the times. They should merge with Carmikales and start a wrestling program their.
Or they could merge with Carmichaels. Never heard of Carmikales....you must be from Jefferson.
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