8/21/2011

About Wiercioch's transfer

When it comes to the transfer issue in high school, I am old fashioned. I always believed that under ideal circumstances, a student begins and ends his school days with the people who lives on the same street, and in the same neighborhood and district. That's how I did it and how many other people go through it.
I am not naive enough to believe that is the way it happens all the time and I know that things have drastically changed since I walked five miles to school both ways, uphill, and used ink wells so I could write on parchment.
You can speculate, but I don't think anyone can know the reasons why someone transfers unless you can look inside their heart and mind. Good luck with that one.
A part of me understands wanting what's best for a child. I am a father and I want my daughter to have the best opportunities available. I weigh that against the type of disruption it would have to her life if I made drastic changes.
Cody Wiercioch's situation at Charleroi was not a good one as per the wrestling program. The school is struggling to field a team, a new coach still hasn't been hired, and the program is teetering again. This is not the first time it's struggled with numbers or the first time it's been suggested that the program be ended. But his goal to another state title would be more attainable in Class AA.
Wiercioch's success on the mat did not spark renewed interest at Charleroi. But leaving draws criticism to him for not being loyal.
Is he a traitor or simply chasing a better way? Remember when Cary Kolat skipped the final two Californa Christmas Tournaments to compete in the Midlands? Great athletes crave competition and I imagine Wiercioch is no different.
I've been told Canon-McMillan was actually the second choice on the list, that the family bid on a house in the Chartiers-Houston district but did not get it.
Canon-McMillan seemed the most logical choice because Wiercioch worked out at Quest and has ties to that area. That the wrestling program is successful certainly helps.
Wiercioch doesn't need exposure to earn a college scholarship. He's a known and wanted athlete. There are schools right now - Penn State among them - that has great interest in his talents. Winning a state title as a freshman and a silver medal last season gets him into just about any school in the country if his grades are good.
If Wiercioch went to Canon-McMillan for personal glory, then I'm not sure it's such a great place. If he wants to part of a winner and contribute to a team effort, it's perfect.
Wrestling in a talent-laden lineup at Canon-McMillan assures the spotlight won't constantly be on him. Wiercioch now blends in with Connor Schram, Solomon Chishko, Cody Klempay, et al., rather than stands out in the Charleroi program as the great shining star.
I would also suggest that Wiercioch's chances of winning a state title this year will be lower in Class AAA simply because he could be in the same weight class of Kennard-Dale's Chance Marsteller, a Kolat protege who won the 152-pound title last season as a freshman. The undefeated Marsteller, who was at last year's Powerade, could be at 160 this year, the same weight most expect Wiercioch to wrestle.
In this area, we like to believe that we have a massive transfer problem. That just isn't true. The Eastern and Central part of the state has dibs on that. But it does happen here and a high-profile athlete such as Wiercioch is sure to draw a response. His transfer is rare because it happened during his high school days. Most occur before that.
Canon-McMillan wrestling is gaining a reputation as school that seeks out transfers. I'm not sure that is a valid criticism. If Wiercioch had gone to Chartiers-Houston, would that change that program's reputation? If Wiercioch had chosen any other school in this area, do you believe the administration would have tried to dissuade him because they didn't want the criticism? Or would the fans would be super critical of getting a talented athlete? I doubt it.
Does Wiercioch make Canon-McMillan a stronger team? Absolutely, probably the best in the state.
Does it give Wiercioch a better chance at individual success? That's debatable, and it's what will make this season interesting to watch.

32 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well said Joe.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 2:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whomever outbid the Wiercioch family for the home in Chartiers Twp. needs to be tarred and feathered!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 5:07:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The words about Charleroi's program are completely wrong. The wiericochs spread the word of doom to the charleroi program, when in reality, charleroi is fine and even better now without wiericochs. They tried crashing the program and they did everything in their power to end it so that a transfer was justified (No program at charleroi means no problems with the WPIAL when trasferring). The wiericochs parents are craving attention and completely insane. What they wanted from charleroi was for charleroi to be no more. Good riddance.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 5:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ed Wiericoch has to stop with the negative Charleroi posts. Please stop living through your son ed. Your pathetic.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 5:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love the honest comments ... Thank you for the heads up. Sounds like there is some baggage coming with that move.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 6:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really hope Cody does not read this board. Remember this is a 16 year old kid and his family we are talking about. What ever you people think of his father should be said to him or keep it to yourself. Just imagine your son reading these things about you on here. Cody has been in the spotlight since his freshman year after powerade. The pressure that kid must be under right now might actually break him. I am a true fan of wrestling and a kid like Cody only comes around so often. I really hope he keeps his head straight and continues his success. It is a pleasure to watch him compete, and I hope all works out. Remember people this is just a 16 year old child.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 6:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Appreciate you thoughts above but you obviously have not had any dealings with EW.

Think about this: You don't see other negative comments anywhere on Joe's blogs of parents of current great local wrestlers do you? Why is that? He is not the only state champ from the area or runner up. He is not the only Powerade Champion from the area. Why are people not commenting on their parents? They don't act like EW.

I think people are reacting/commenting to his actions. He seems to the common denominator.

I think people should tone it down some but they have a right to be upset. Somebody's son is not going to wrestle this year at CM. This move obviously was for athletics and there are rules against it. They need to be enforced.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you [people from Charleroi hate Ed so much why all the fuss . you should be glad to see him go. If he disrupted the program like you say Charleroi should be better off now. From all the hate on this blog it sure seems strange. You should all be dancing for joy, Ed's gone. Be happy people celebrate it don't hate it.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If thats the case they will be addressed. Your crying on a public forum isnt going to do squat. Every transfer CM ever had went in front of the wpial and some where ruled inelgible and some were not. The process will take care of its self. Untill then try to keep derogatory remarks about a kids parents to yourself or tell them to their face. Instead of hiding behind a computer.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cody has earned the right to wrestle. Sure he will take someones spot but I doubt that kid put the time into wrestling that cody has. Its not like your just born to wrestle it takes tremendous dedication.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Reveal yourself Ed!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now I see why Ed moved out of Charleroi.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 9:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What weight is cody going to wrestle? I heard from quest parents he weighs in 180's. Whose spot would that have been?

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 9:42:00 PM  
Anonymous No free entry said...

....keep the side doors locked during all C-M home matches boys, else you will lose four full price admissions. ;-)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 9:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The sport really isn't as big as all this. If you're talented and work hard wrestling is a ticket to college and an opportunity at an education. If you study hard you'll hard get a degree and hopefully a better life for yourself. You may make a run at the Olympics if that is your goal. You can go fight MMA or coach if you love the sport. A family moved from one school for another; simple. If it was legit, then good luck. If not within the rules - the governing body review it and move on; rules are rules we all follow them. Time will tell. Everyone has wake up and look at themselves in the mirror every morning and you know if did what was right and if you did the right way. Letters written with ill intent sometimes surface to show a person's integrity.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 11:38:00 AM  
Blogger Joe Tuscano said...

Those are good points
Anonymous 11:38. I think wrestling is an unusual sport because it exists in pockets of the high school world but still has an intense following.

For many wrestlers, high school success is the best it will get. Getting scholarship money for an EDUCATION should always be the goal.

Take a look at the Terrelle Pryor situation and you see someone who doesn't really depend on an education to earn a living. Got thrown out of college? So what. Now he's in the pros, making a six-figure salary. That doesn't happen in wrestling because the options after college are so limited.

Wiercioch's transfer, in the grand scheme, means very little to the sports world simply because not enough people pay attention to the sport. But if he takes advantage of a scholarship offer to gain an education, he is so ahead of the game.

I sometimes think that message is lost.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 12:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"He who burns bridges had better be a damn good swimmer".

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 12:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He who play with matches may get burned

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 2:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

...cooler heads have finally prevailed. Thank you Joe for balanced commentary.

Building on the momentum of Joe's positive prose, I would like all parents to heed a simple pledge. Can we all pledge here and now that, win or lose, no T-Shirt snatching will occur if any of these young warriors finishes as a runner-up?

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 5:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is the second time we read something hinting about T-Shirts. Some of us missed it - could you elaborate on the topic? Thanks

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 6:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

06:26 PM Anonymous...I'd much rather forget than recall the revolting episode for decorum prohibits listing the details here.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How many local wrestlers are going to the Super 32? are the local clubs taking kids down after the qualifier?

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 7:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wrestling is viewed as an individual sport and that is why the transfers to Canon Mac are not viewed as a big deal. If this were football I think it would be judged differently. Regardless I don't blame them for the move. Any chance I had to give my children a better opportunity in life- I am taking it and so are most good parents. It does make the dual matches lopsided when a team is obviously recruiting, but realistically how do you prove that?

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 2:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Duals are a waste of taxpayer money. So is most high school wrestling organizations. As a system it costs more than it brings in. Even at CM. They may have a team but whoever they are wrestling doesn't.

It needs to move on to a club sport like Judo or Karate and field a team where the true wrestling is learned like at Quest, Pitt bull, iron Horse, etc. They should have teams and compete with other clubs at a local, regional, and nation level. Nobody would care where anybody lived.

As a taxpayer, I am tired of going to duals and seeing about four total matches - the rest are forfeits. I see it as a waste of money: heat, electric, labor (ticket booth, bus driver, coaches, janitor, etc.).

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 5:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow know we are getting political. You know what I'm tiered of paying for two unfunded wars too. Keep the B.S. politics out please.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 8:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As far as a waste of money, football costs around 250,000 per year when you factor in equipment, insurance, paying 10 coaches, transportation, lights, turf, ect... so let's put the football programs down to a club level too. PS their are more Division 1 wrestlers than their are Division 1 football players in the WPIAL.

Thursday, September 01, 2011 3:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

wrestler's dad buys him a tourney t-shirt; kid takes second in a very close hard fought match. Dad returns shirt for a refund...

Monday, September 05, 2011 12:27:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

confucious say, baseball wrong. man with 4 balls cannot walk.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011 10:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hats off to the kids who are gifted, train, and make great accomplishments; however I equally admire the kids who train hard; have the courage to get on the mat night after night knowing they will probably get beat; this takes just as much desire and heart. Some kids simply do not have the talent to be state champions no matter how hard they train. I respect every kid who gets out there and tries because I know how it feels to win and how it feels to lose. I congratulate my son no matter what the outcome is on the mat. Some parents get sso used to winnig they lose touch or maybe never had it.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011 6:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

cody better watch out. because hes got a frieght train comin his way. 1st period pin

Monday, September 26, 2011 9:22:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

YEAH RIGHT, cody will work you all day

Monday, September 26, 2011 9:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous 9:26 AM.. someone who doesn't have a job; ok I know who this is....

Monday, October 10, 2011 11:59:00 PM  

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