On Wiercioch
It would be easy to say that the WPIAL struck a blow against transferring because of athletic intent when it denied the eligibility of former state wrestling champion Cody Wiercioch, who was attempting to transfer to Canon-McMillan from Charleroi.
Unfortunately, we don't know that is true, and it's not because the meeting was held in private and no one commented on the reasons why because of legal issues.
For the past, oh, decade or so, the WPIAL and PIAA have been in a spitting contest over the transfer issue. The WPIAL is not happy with the PIAA because of that organization's tendency to overrule the WPIAL's action. The PIAA apparently has a more sympathetic ear.
From what we know, Wiercioch's transfer seemed to cause at least some debate at the WPIAL Board of Control. The 8-6 vote indicates that.
It's also hard to understand how a transfer can be considered for athletic intent when the family reportedly purchases a house in another district.
Wiercioch's move arguably makes it harder for him to repeat his state title run of his freshman year because of the talent in Class AAA. Remember, the weights have changed and there could be a number of hurdles for Wiercioch to clear to repeat winning a gold, or even a silver medal such as the one he captured last year.
I'm not a fan of transferring because I think it tends to disrupt a child's school life. But this doesn't seem like the right case for the WPIAL to try and make a point. Wiercioch will no doubt receive a scholarship offer no matter where he wrestles because of his past accomplishments. If the family is settled into a new home, and they made the financial commitment, then it's hard to see what the eight WPIAL board members saw in voting against this move.
They're not talking so we don't know if it was to take a stand or stick their collective tongues out at the PIAA.
Let's hope it's the former.
Unfortunately, we don't know that is true, and it's not because the meeting was held in private and no one commented on the reasons why because of legal issues.
For the past, oh, decade or so, the WPIAL and PIAA have been in a spitting contest over the transfer issue. The WPIAL is not happy with the PIAA because of that organization's tendency to overrule the WPIAL's action. The PIAA apparently has a more sympathetic ear.
From what we know, Wiercioch's transfer seemed to cause at least some debate at the WPIAL Board of Control. The 8-6 vote indicates that.
It's also hard to understand how a transfer can be considered for athletic intent when the family reportedly purchases a house in another district.
Wiercioch's move arguably makes it harder for him to repeat his state title run of his freshman year because of the talent in Class AAA. Remember, the weights have changed and there could be a number of hurdles for Wiercioch to clear to repeat winning a gold, or even a silver medal such as the one he captured last year.
I'm not a fan of transferring because I think it tends to disrupt a child's school life. But this doesn't seem like the right case for the WPIAL to try and make a point. Wiercioch will no doubt receive a scholarship offer no matter where he wrestles because of his past accomplishments. If the family is settled into a new home, and they made the financial commitment, then it's hard to see what the eight WPIAL board members saw in voting against this move.
They're not talking so we don't know if it was to take a stand or stick their collective tongues out at the PIAA.
Let's hope it's the former.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
8:42 PM
75 Comments:
The majority of a story is always left out.
-An email was written to coaches applying to the head coach spot for charleroi by EW, this email slandered not only the team, but also the young men on the team.
-EW pushed for the merge of BVA and charleroi, just to end the program at which they would inevitably leave.
-EW was the main source of the "Charleroi wrestling is no more" claims, when in reality, charleroi wrestling was still strong.
There is much much more with this man and it was all part of his major plan. This plan was that if he could end Charleroi wrestling, the transfer would have been simple due to no program and it would of been fine then. He tried ruining a program for himself, by slandering and bashing the coaches, parents, faculty, and his son's teammates. It's just sad because if he left it would of been fine, but he had to attempt destruction with his exit.
The poor kid's folks ruined it for him, it just isn't fair for this talented young man.
Let's assume that's all true. Then six WPIAL board members still voted for the transfer to go through. That does not make sense.
He still lost, maybe it was a few board members feeling bad for the kid.
You are absolutely correct, finally someone else who understands what EW and his wife have done over the past year; don't forget EW undermining a meeting with a potential coach demanding a 180 lb assistant coach be hired to wrestle his son or else, prior to writing the letter. Maybe the 6 were like a lot of people who put a potential WPIAL state champion ahead of what is obvious to those who know the facts. Cody is a good kid, but his parents have done wrong to the kids, admin, and fans by attempted to derail a program that is just trying to the best they have by hiring a qualified coach to lead some great kids who have a lot of heart and have made some great accomplishments with a lot of work on their own though the turmoil. We all have to look in the mirror every morning and you can't hide from the person looking back at you; forget the PIAA, try to concvince that person in the mirror you moved for academic intent, that the person you really have live with.
If you let him transfer and wrestle, then you have to let everyone transfer and compete in sports. The rule is their for a reason and it was properly enforced.
Well said - then we start the draft right of middle school with the J.O. State Champs transferring to a handful of all-star teams. This problem clearly degrades the status of PIAA Team Championship Title in my eyes. The solution could be to eliminate the Team Championship, personlly I won't waste my time, I can go to a Dual Meet with high school club teams and see the same thing.
This will be over turned, no matter what happened the parents still pay taxes in the district . Bought a home and moved the family to cecil. He is now a a tax paying resident . Seems to me the Wiercioch's have a good law suit here. I don't care what the WPIAL said there decision will be overturned .
To Quote entry marked Thursday, October 20, 2011 1:24:00 AM
"You are absolutely correct, finally someone else who understands what EW and his wife have done over the past year"
So this whole thing is Charleori getting even for the injustices it had to suffer from the family?
Or is it more like the mentality of "If we can't have him, then NO ONE will"?
Either way, real mature.
I guess two wrongs actually do make a right....
First off, I am watching from a distance and have no "dogs in this fight." so to speak. I am interested in because I am originally from the area and from the wrestling community there.
With that being said, I have a question for the obvious Charleroi insiders who have been posting here:
Would the transfer have been contested if:
- the family bought a house in Chartiers Houston?(as been stated)
-What if it was in Peters Twp?
Just asking..
Looking forward to honest and open answers.
There have been others who have bought a house in another school district only have the athlete ruled ineligible to compete for the new school for athletic intent.
http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/09D0071P.pddingf
correction for link above http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/09D0071P.pdf
No, it is Charleori following the rules. They think it is for athletic intent, so they contest it.
It is up to the WPIAL Board to decide if it was or was not.
There are roughly 40-50 cases per year across the state in all sports that a district committee has to review. 30+ get appealed to the PIAA. 12 have made it to court. PIAA has won all 12.
My numbers may be low.
Don't act like Charleroi is the only district ever to contest a transfer.
C'mon Joe! Honestly! This has been a topic of conversations for the past, oh, 3 or 4 years throughout the local wrestling community. Probably throughout the state for that matter. It's absurd to think this move was for any reason other than athletic intent. If this isn't "the right case for the WPIAL to try and make a point" there will NEVER be one. The rules are in place and in the eyes of the WPIAL they were flouted. You are a journalist covering the local wrestling scene. You should know this. Everyone else does.
Would it have been contested if the house in Chartiers Houston SD had closed?
Would it have been contested if they moved to Mc Murray and been in the Peters Twp School Dist?, what about South Fayette?
Just asking.
I'd say Charleroi would have had to contest it no matter where they moved. But they probably would have had a better shot at being approved at one of those schools. But let's face it they were never going to move anywhere other than C-M as everyone in the area involved in wrestling knows.
To: No dog in the fight - the parents chose to make a series of bad choices and did things wrong in this case and threw some low blows at kids, parents, and school admin who seem to be just pressing on after losing a good wrestler and coach. I still think the disconnect is the lack of knowing the story as it has occurred. The PIAA will hear the case and rule; no matter which way it goes, it will be a done deal.
To: No dog in the fight - the parents chose to make a series of bad choices and did things wrong in this case and threw some low blows at kids, parents, and school admin who seem to be just pressing on after losing a good wrestler and coach. I still think the disconnect is the lack of knowing the story as it has occurred. The PIAA will hear the case and rule; no matter which way it goes, it will be a done deal.
Is this seriously the only wrestling news this close to the season? How about canon mcmillan looking to win third straight wpial title, never accomplished in modern era(1979+)? How about canon mcmillan looking to repeat PIAA championship? How about schram going for second title, third straight finals appearance? How about canon mcmillan looking to defend powerade title with blair academy attending this year? How about canon mcmillan returning five state placewinners? How about canon mcmillan closing in on 1000 wins the most in Pennsylvania? I could think of much more...please leave the talented young man alone for awhile. We should all be eager to see his return to PIAA mats if we are truly fans!
How about who gives a crap about Canon Mac. Isn't this what it is really all about. What if he would have moved to CH. Why would he? I mean really how far is Canon Mac from Charleroi. 15-20 miles at best. Did daddy get a new job that he had to move 20 miles down the road? Or did he win the lottery and decide that the family was movin on up like the Jeffersons. I wonder what kind of house they moved into. The problem with this kid and his parents is that they feel the community needs to be there for them when he could have done so much more for his community insted. Carey Kolat won 4 state championships despite wrestling for a small school in Greene county. He made the wrestlers around him better and that team dominated for years. What did the Weircioch's give back to there community? Truth is there is no comparison and in the end you will see he isn't all that. What is unfortunate is that this kid will have nothing to look back on. Canon Mac is a meat market. They only care about you till the next big thing arrives. In Charleroi he would have been a god whether he succeeded or not. Now, noone really gives a crap. My question is why would you put your son through this in the first place? He never practiced with the team. He lives at quest which is by the way in Canonsburg for those of you who don't know. So he still wrestles the elite kids in practice every day. So why the move then. A team championship? Why? A better scholarship? How? Better academics? Really? What is the real reason behind this move? You know if the PIAA does allow this to go through this boy is going to get even more pressure than this. So why? That's all I really want to know. And now I'm going to throw the boy is only 16 right back in your face. We should let him do what ever he wants because he is 16. We shouldn't destroy his career and life because he is 16. Don't you think that was already done by this move? So all hale to the mighty big macs. Hope you can get er done this year with all those home grown champions. Who are they now again?
I have been hearing this kid is transferring to Cannon Mac catholic for five years. This didn't surprise me at all, reap what you sow.
To 407 .am up there , you my friend need some serious consoling . A lot of hate or jealously I see . I'm glad you can spew your hate on this blog or you may commit a crime . Feel-in sorry for ya!!
Maybe wiercioch's did not want their twin daughters growing up in charleroi high school...freshmen this year...hmmmmm
At 4:07 am writing a paragraph long blog about a family you do not know and a program you can't come close to tells us all alot about you.
At 8:39...but, the first 8 years was just fine for the daughters? I can just hear it now "This district stinks, let's wait 11 years then move"...Are you a struggling, part-time comedian or just a full-time clown?
You people from Canon-McMillan astound me! In your Quest to prove that you are the mightiest wrestling school in the land you will kick your own kids to the curb. Throw away their possibilities to earn a scholarship and wrestle at the next level. Kids who came up through CCNS and wrestled in your own junior high program don't matter to you so long as you have a better shot to win a team championship by bringing in elite outsiders. It's disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourselves for supporting this transfer at the expense of your own kids.
YOU ALL KNOW WHO ought to check his facts before he writes them. WASH HIGH won WPIAL titles in 1981, 1982, and 1983. That looks like three in a row to me!
Bla, Bla, Bla. get a life all of you and stay out of the kids . It;s ashamed and pathetic what so called grown ups will say. All of you must lead dismal lives to worry about such trivial matters. If you worry about your kid like you do this one we all would be better off.
Actually I was thinking triple a but I was wrong anyway north Allegheny 1986-1988. Guess canon mcmillan will have to win 4 in a row to set the record.
Who cares that he can't wrestle. He moved for academics and now he has all winter to focus on getting straight A's.
bla bla bla - EW surfaces
JOE, how about starting a new post titled: Preview 2011-12; to give a preview of the upcoming season and the eligible wrestlers to keep an eye out for this year. This wiercioch thing is up to the PIAA and really a mute point.
Hey Joe, why don't you start writing articles on the 100's wrestlers and families who played by the rules and didn't get ruled ineligible. Stop crying about the results of this case and move on. "six WPIAL board members still voted for the transfer to go through". Stop pandering, Joe. 39,000,000 people voted for Bob Dole in 1996, while 47,000,000 voted for Clinton. By your logic, clearly Dole should have won, because it was close. From what I have read, i'm ecstatic for the family and kid. Better academics, less crime, a robust community, and a WHOLE year to adjust to the rigors of Canon Mac Catholic...I have a suggestion for you, rename your blog The Weichioch Report and give us quarterly updates on Cody's grades, etc...Enough is enough Joe!
Joe keep up the good work and don't forget to give us all the details on the PIAA decision to over rule the WPIAL. Can't please everyone you know . Thanks for the great articles, very informing.
Give the shirt back Ed
To OCT 21, 8:30 AM - Consoling? This individual has most of the facts presented in their own flavor, with the exception of the details of parents' repeated attempts to undermine a school's program; only moved because the failed attempts to convince parents and admin to move the team to another school(interesting concept); suggested dropped the program completely (odd with 3-4 state qualifiers); repeatedly impeded the hiring of a coach(sneaky); wrote a letter insulting kids by name, parents, fans and again showing interest in railroading the hiring(hmmmm) only then decided to make an "academically motivated" move. Doesn't take a rocket scientist.
Have you ever seen so much bitterness. They really think they own him. That school is boiling over with anger.
To 9:09 PM: I have to disagree. I think this transfer has brought with it a great deal of controversy to our strong program. We were looking at potential individual titles and now a team title will be surrounded by the same stigma of playing unfair. I don't like the label, sorry.
Oct 20 1:24 AM - This was voted on by WPIAL and will be determined by PIAA. That "school/town" as a whole doesn't contest a transfer. The kids still wrestle at practice and wrestled in a team dual match together a week ago.
I agree with new post -
Upcoming Season Preview 2011-12: Who to look out for...
To 11:19 we agree completely. I didn't like the idea of the transfer. Was wanting to see our boys do it on their own. We have plenty of good talent that have come up through ccns. They will get overlooked because of this but he's here know. Wether he wrestles is up to the state. I can't change anything and nether can anyone else, but the hatred, anger, and pure contempt is sure glaring.
Absolutely, I think we would have made a run at the team title with the returning kids and the ones moving up without dealling with the stigma that has come with the transfer...
I have to admit, I didn't realize the additional information which could explain the rationale behind the WPIAL decision. Maybe just privy to the whole story. WHo knows?
Next subject pleeease.
Can we now just get to the season please.I am looking forward to some good old Raas a lin
A quick question. Who wouldn't want to be on a full team? Will Charleroi fill all the weight classes? I had heard they will only fill a half of the weights. Was that just a rumor?
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Man you guys are bitter. Going after my wife after I asked a fair question. I'm just trying to see if what I here is true. I know you have some great wrestlers don't want to downplay that but can you fill a team? Also don't knock the quest thing because all your great wrestlers go there.
To 11:47, this is why I said I back the kid and the parents on my comments . With all the hate and jealously and animosity I can see why the guy moved . And 3:22 just proved my point again.
I hate to tell you half of the aa teams can not fill a team. This is not a Charleroi problem. It is a problem for alot of schools. Washington, West Greene and Beth center can not fill a lineup. And these Schools have some tradition.
To the deleted poster, that type of comment will get you deleted every time. I'm watching.
Definitely need a new post Joe... No team or fans want low numbers; fact is wrestling takes tremendous dedication. Not many kids choose this sport; if it was easy, every team would be 2-deep every weight class. Nothing against the kids who don't because wrestling sometimes becomes your whole life; ask anyone kid or parent who has been on the mat. I truley wish mine would have picked a less demanding sport. I hear about heart on here, I wrestled I know how it feels to win, but also how it feels to count the lights. The kid who is 0-19 has as much heart maybe even more than the kid 19-0. I see many programs doing the best they can with what the have and the fans support them through the wins and losses. My point? Lots of teams and lots of hard working wrestlers to post about. This is old. Parents moved-PIAA will determine eligibility-end of story-next. No envy or pity from me here honestly, I won't be on here again until I see a new subject that doesn't pertain to this subject. All you have the parents bickering with someone they ticked off and neither are grown up enough to discuss it face-to-face.
Still think my question was logit. How many wrestlers does charleroi have? If my boys school could not fill a team or at least come close I hope our school would co-op to at least make the season more fun. Not knocking your school or any others but it would be hard to continue with six or so kids.
I believe you could contact the former McGuffy coach for the latest numbers on the teams.
Wrestling is a dying sport with the exception of a few pockets of stagnation in northeast Pennsylvania and Canon-Macmillan through its successful recruiting channels. Well, usually successful, see the Wiercioch case. Thus, debating the merits of a "full squad" is moot. Half-empty gymnasiums and half-filled squads are the norm, not the exception. Wrestling is unique in the demands it places on the individual, in that, success is determined by individual effort, not team success. As such, the sport will face a similar fate to professional boxing, horseracing, or curling. Fact is the majority of parents never wrestled and don't understand the unique abilities of these athletes. It is sad, but true. Football and basket are the big dogs, unless you can recruit like a Big Mac.
Oct 25, 9:10 AM: Just wanted to verify the sender, thank you for poking your head out. I'm outta here as well but for the record, whats so ironic is you're still at directing comments at the wrong source. I don't like all the bad ink up here either. We were number way before all this mess but you seem to enjoy it.
Hey Canon-Mac, good luck with the poster boy for "How NOT to Act as a Wrestling Parent."
Basketball is a big dog? The state tournament has lost money every year for 6 straight years. PA wrestling states has around 60,000 fans for the 3 day total. Basketball around 5,000. Sorry Basketball sucks, Most of the games I have seen have around 20 people in the stands.
To Nostradamus , he's been wrong so many times and so are you. Your jealousy is shining thru . What ever School your kid goes too must be awful dismal. Sorry about all the so called facts you laid down but your wrong . The last time I checked Horse racing and Boxing are both on T.V. And doing quite well . And may I add if they were dying like you said the EXES would not want their business. As far as recruiting no one twisted anyone's arm . When you see a good thing , well enough said .
PA States has 60K fans not because the sport is "better"; look how many different schools are participating in one tournament; if you had 32 team football or basketball brackets over a 3-day state event you'd probably have 100K fans (maybe double) attend the event. Please, this is still high school sports; most fans are parents, friends, family members of wrestlers, and kids hanging out with their friends. I love watching my son and the team but if my son wasn't wrestling I wouldn't drive for hours; stay in a hotel; and sit through an 8 hour/day tournamnet. Other sports are just as important to the kids participating in them. If my child were a golfer, you bet I'd be at every match I could and the sport would suddenly be the "best" sport around, to me. How many parents of high school wrestlers drove up to J.O. States last year just watch kids, other than theirs, wrestle?
This is why we probably have concerning parents dragging this very boring issue on so long. Everyone else is probably just continuing to use it as entertainment.
Everyone that is involved in athletics has heard someone talk about moving to another district to play for a better team. When these cases come up, I think it is important to educate ourselves so that we might be able to give some good advice on the subject. Please read this document at this link; http://statecasefiles.justia.com/documents/pennsylvania/commonwealth-court/2999cd01_5-21-02.pdf
It is a little old but very similar to the CW case. You will find out that any negative interaction with a coach can have a huge impact on the ruling. In this case, there was documented proof of the negative interactions that ultimately decided the case.
Also, (from page 9)
“The general rule and guiding legal principle with respect to high school athletic associations is one of judicial noninterference.”
This means that the courts rarely get involved with these cases because high school sports are not considered a right.
The PIAA state wrestling tournament draws because you have a couple of hundred schools, whereas basketball has only two teams per class. The district games in basketball draw very well. I know for a FACT that basketball pulls in lot more than wrestling for the PIAA. It's not even close. I was told by a PIAA board member that, at the district level, the only sports that finish in the black for the PIAA post-season are basketball, football, swimming and soccer. All the rest lose money.
There are a lot more expenses with wrestling. Officials, timers, scorers and all the other help are paid by the PIAA at sections, districts and regions. It takes a lot less paid help to run a 2-hour b-ball game.
Basketall does suck, but wrestling is dying. Why? Very few people in our great sport are only concerned with thier own kids or team. Go check out a few college matches. For the most part the stands are empty. Our own people dont support the sport. All but two or three colleges draw over 2,000 a match. Most draw less than 300 for a match. Watch some matches on the Big Ten Network. The attendance is depressing. How can wrestling expect others to support the sport when those directly involed in the sport dont support it.
Speaking of exciting high school athletics, the best part of AA wrestling last year often occurred just off of the mat (see T-Shirt snatching) immediately after a close match or loss.
"One year...No Snatching" -WPIAL Soup Nazi
The shirt snatching is an inside joke. Many of us don't know the story behind it. Hope you can share.
WPIAL Soup Nazi - that could become a signature title for you...
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wow, for 2nd place?
I could see that ..
i'M a C.M fan and personally recruiting In the states of Iowa , Oklahoma , Arizona and Minnesota . So far we have at least 6 new kids coming in next year. All currently in Junior High . And may I add State Champs . 5 more have made promises to come and see the great C.M wrestling facilities . State of the art I might add. Dan Cable's grandson is seriously looking too and may bring Dan himself. Since you all accuse us of recruiting why not do it , and do up the right way. Can't wait !! Go Big Macs !!!
Cody would have a slim chance of winning AAA states this year.
So if that's his intent its very stupid.
Now lets discuss the total lack of rules for Central and several other PIAA programs.
To pretend the WPIAL and PIAA aren't being hypocrites in this area is ridiculous.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THE PIAA IS GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON CODY'S FUTURE AT CANON MCMILLAN
HOW ABOUT YOU JOE DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR
To my knowledge, the hearing is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16 in Harrisburg. I expect him to be declared eligible.
as a parent of a teen daughter, and of all the good press the town of charleroi recieves, drugs murder, mayhem, nonsense, etc. would not care to raise a family any where near there, as for cody wrestling on a 1/2 team with no one to practice with at a competetive level, on a team that doesent care to exist or excell could you blame him for wanting out, it probably cost him a repeat chance at a title, while he was home playin x box while the competition was honing their skills at numerous post season team events! seriously a no brainer small school, no academics, no athletics, no band lets face itsmall schools are on verge of becoming extinct, no one wants a class a or double aa academic student for scholarship offers when a class aaa or aaaa student seeks the same opportunity.
The post above me is ED W!!!
Charleroi has more than 1/2. I believe they have 12/14th of a team. I havent heard much of murder in the area recently either. Academically Charleroi is not bad at all, actually quite good. The team has 5 wrestlers from 160-190 for cody, if the team didnt care to excell they wouldnt of brought in an entirely new coaching staff for middle school and high school. You can't blame lack of practice partner when Cody jacked around and practice and showed no interest in excelling. You had a college wrestler at practice everyday for cody to wrestle with and also you went to quest. Ed we know your still upset about the state lose but it happens and it is not charlerois fault.
PIAA ruled in favor of Cody! YES CM!!!
twitter.com/mitch_rupert (for details)
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