Final Powerade thoughts
The aura of Powerade was enhanced when Blair Academy accepted an invite to participate. The Buccaneers' program, ranked No. 1 in the country by most publications, didn't disappoint. The Bucs sent seven wrestlers to the finals. What was impressive was not that they won the team title - who would bet against that? - but that they didn't roll over the competition in the finals. Blair went 4-3 and staying above .500 in that round wasn't assured until a one-point win at heavyweight.
Watching Jimmy Gulibon limp off the mat at the end of his finals match quieted the large crowd in Canon-McMillan's gymnasium. Gulibon, a three-time state champion from Derry, hopped off the mat after winning a fourth Powerade title and later had to be lifted onto the awards stand. An MRI is planned today.
As for a coming-out party, Central Catholic's Vincenzo Joseph established himself as a force at 106 in the state by beating another super freshman, Ricky Cavallo, of Hempfield. Expect to see them both on the medal stand in Hershey.
Another freshman, Michael Kemerer of Franklin Regional, also had an impressive tournament. He handled Canon-McMillan's Dalton Macri in the finals, 11-5, and appears to have the talents to medal at states.
Godwin Nyama's accomplishments in wrestling are even more impressive when you consider his wrestling background. Nyama, a senior at Brashear High School, became the first City League wrestler to place at states last year and became the first to win a medal at Powerade Friday night, first. Nyama has been wrestling for just four years.
Chance Marsteller is bigger and stronger and still reminds a lot of people of Cary Kolat in the way he carries himself and through some of his moves on the mat. The sophomore form Kennard-
Dale is 62-0 in his scholastic career and looks like a lock to become a four-time state champion in Hershey.
Watching Jimmy Gulibon limp off the mat at the end of his finals match quieted the large crowd in Canon-McMillan's gymnasium. Gulibon, a three-time state champion from Derry, hopped off the mat after winning a fourth Powerade title and later had to be lifted onto the awards stand. An MRI is planned today.
As for a coming-out party, Central Catholic's Vincenzo Joseph established himself as a force at 106 in the state by beating another super freshman, Ricky Cavallo, of Hempfield. Expect to see them both on the medal stand in Hershey.
Another freshman, Michael Kemerer of Franklin Regional, also had an impressive tournament. He handled Canon-McMillan's Dalton Macri in the finals, 11-5, and appears to have the talents to medal at states.
Godwin Nyama's accomplishments in wrestling are even more impressive when you consider his wrestling background. Nyama, a senior at Brashear High School, became the first City League wrestler to place at states last year and became the first to win a medal at Powerade Friday night, first. Nyama has been wrestling for just four years.
Chance Marsteller is bigger and stronger and still reminds a lot of people of Cary Kolat in the way he carries himself and through some of his moves on the mat. The sophomore form Kennard-
Dale is 62-0 in his scholastic career and looks like a lock to become a four-time state champion in Hershey.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
10:55 AM
40 Comments:
Just want to know why there is so many disrespectful people working for the observer reporter. How can your employees continue to put negative pictures of canon mac wrestlers in the paper caught in situations that look bad but actually they dominated there competition. This is a local newspaper covering our area that shows no respect to our local wrestlers (cm) and why they continue to talk to you reporters after winning or losing big matches is beyond me because you guys will continue to post negative pictures of these young men in the PAST,NOW,AND FUTURE we are used to it but just saying DISRESPECTFUL. Also just wandering how long your employer Katie Roupe sat with that camera to catch Cody out of position it had to be her goal for the night and by the way I'm a fan not a parent of any of those young men.
Are you serious, the only wrestlers who get any press in the reading area are Canon-Mac kids. Waynesburg had a freshman finish third in the tournament (which is a huge accomplishment) and all he got was a semtence in the paper. Be thankful that your Big Macs are the ones getting the press.
MR HOLLEY, you're so right . Iv'e been watching for years and I'm not even a Big Mac fan, but have noticed what the Observer prints and covers. I think they lean toward Trinity and Wash High. It's quite obvious I think but that is my opinion . I for one don't buy the paper any more just for that reason .
Sour grapes
Canon Mac had 5 in the finals. Two from CM, 1 from Penn Trafford, 1 from Charleroi, and 1 from WV. Canon Mac has had a great wrestling tradition through the years with their own kids and this trend is further eroding the already struggling sport. At a time when the vast majority of schools in the region are unable to fill all 14 weight classes, to have a school with the tradition of CM actively pursue the cream of the crop does nothing but tarnish that tradition. So to all you young CCNS wrestlers who are working hard to improve your skills, don't get your hopes up. There is someone out there who can beat you and if your high school can find a way to get them into a Big Mac singlet your career will be over after Jr high.
Frank The Tank...you opinion Stanks.
To 8;22, We don't listen to the propaganda you and your's print on this blog . To any kid out there, work hard become the best you can be and you will achieve. When your program is successful it's always natural for people that want to be a part of it. That goes for any walk of life, Business, sports, anything. So 8;22 instead of bad mouthing C.M with all the envy and jealously get your program up to snuff and quit whining and crying. Get your kids interested and off the couch!!!! And that goes for you too!!
8:22 well said. I know people who have moved to other winter sports because of this fact. It will take a few years but the program will go one of two directions: 1) quest recruits will get even better numbers on CM team (risk - dojo really only caters to lower weight classes. CW is an exception or unique to the size of wrestler at quest) 2) local athletes will move to other sports early and not wrestle beyond 3rd or 4th grade. Bottom line is for different reasons you will see cm look like most "hole in lineup" teams in about five years. It is funny to see coach bmk try to rewrite history recently on traditional wrestling family names of cm in a blog on here and even more hilarious is to know historically how cm principal does not like the sport and see him literally at CW's ringside during a match at powerade. I am talking bent down behind a coach ringside. He helped win the transfer so now he drank the recruit Koolade. I agree the tradition is tarnished. What you are seeing is a new era of recruitment in public school sports. Don't blame the kids, cm has found a way to make transfers legitament. They managed to get all the t's crossed and i's dotted. I like tradition and have not drank the Koolade on this subject.
CM parent
House available for rent July of 2012.......any recruits????
As a cm parent I do not know if anyone is actively recruiting. All I can say is we have plenty of great wrestlers that have grown up here and a great ccns program with plenty more. We will be ok! The current level of the varsity team only adds to the drive to excel for the youth.
As a parent of a CM youth wrestler, I hear all the time about parents from other schools considering coming to CM because they want their son to be a part of a successful program like CM. There is no recruiting going on, they are doing this by there own free choice. You people act like Chris Mary is in these wrestler's living rooms begging for them to move to CM. He doesnt need to do that, CM sells itself because of its success.
You all can say this or that but the bottom line is this . You wish your wrestling program was as good as it was in prior years. Kids go to other sports for different reasons, not because of jealously like their parents. If you want something bad enough you'll go get it , not quit . The kids that quit probably like another sport better. Wrestling is the toughest . The kid that wants it stays and works harder to get it . Unfortunately for the parents everyone doesn't get a trophy like mommy and daddy want.
Shorts wasn't CM bred either, as I recall he transferred from Bethel Park in middle school. Klempay and Schram are your home grown studs, and the 220lber I never even heard of, obviously showed how weak that class was.
to the person commenting on the waynesburg boy last i recalled that's not washington county do you guys have your own paper or does observer reporter cover you guys too and if so you will get back seat coverage because you aren't from trinity,wash high or mcguffey your just a little south
hey Frank the Tank! How the hell you been?
Blair Academy has some quality wrestlers but i honestly don't think they are all that when you got the country to pick your wrestlers compared to a community OK you get my point
"CM sells itself because of success"...Hilarious, yet, sadly delusional. We witnessed a powerhouse in Blair Academy at PowerAid annihilate Canon-Mac. Hell, the only CM wrestler that looked like he belonged in the finals was Wiercioch and we all know he isn't a "home grown" product. Rather, he was grown in Charleroi. Mr. Vulcano, do invite Blair Academy back year-after-year to quiet the trumpets of the delusional CM fan base who said this may be "history" in the making. Historical, yes, an historical and humbling 100 point spanking at the hands of Blair Academy. Blair Academy is officially Canon-Mac's Daddy. From now on all CM parents should address all Blair wrestlers as "Sir" and bow their heads as they pass by.
My final Powerade thoughts are this...Great tournament put on by Frank Vulcano as always! Awesome that Blair came, hope they come back every year. Glad that Canon McMillan upheld their reputation as being the dominant program in the area and very possibly the best in the state this year. Cenzo Joseph is doing a good job at 106 this year. Kemmerer is a stud. I am glad to see how Nyama is blossoming coming from the city schools and being discovered by Terry Hanna a Canon McMillan grad. Missed Schram at this weight, I think he would have won without a doubt. Hope Gulibons injury is not bad, he is a tremendous wrestler. Thought Dippery looked tough against Grey. The "Chishko Kid" is an absolute stud! I hope to watch Marstellar in the olympics someday. Wiercioch is just simply a great wrestler with movement uncanny at his weight. DesLauriers is a walking specimen. Haines is a monster. Klempay showed he belongs among elite heavyweights in the country. As for my Canon McMillan guys, I think Price will learn from this experience and make it to states this year. Macri can be a WPIAL and PIAA contender every year. Hritsko is gaining invaluable experience as a sophmore and looking very solid. Shorts is one of the most technical wrestlers in the state. Malachi needs to battle from whistle to whistle and show he can beat some of the better guys in the WPIAL and state. Hutchin finally is getting some matches and with a few more will show just how talented he really is. Dobbin is opening up and when he does he is one of the best in the state. Pihiou will settle in soon and be winning these close matches. Thomas needs to get in shape and finish matches he is looking very strong this year. Glad Binotto was able to get a medal at Powerade no small task. Campbell is a very talented wrestler who will not be able to hide under the limelight much longer. Congratulations to Mr. Vulcano, Blair Academy, all the winners and placers, and to Canon McMillan Staff, Wrestlers, Workers, Parents and Fans who helped make this tournament a huge success, again!
To Mr Krenzelak , My what class you have . I wish some of the people on this blog would show a little . I'm ashamed of some of the people from my School and how they act toward C.M . Especially the parents. It's no wonder their kids are the way they are . They get it Honestly. The jealously is eating them alive. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny. Congrats ! to C.M and their showing and it shows how far some teams around here have fallen. Especially mine . To much Parent interference and even jealous of their son's teammate if he wins. Like I said , you Mr Krenzelak are a bit of fresh air.
Where would CM ended up in the team standings with just the home grown talent?
As a parent of a home grown CM wrestler I am proud of all the kids from all the schools who put it all out there every match. Not so proud of the comments on this blog. It's about the kids not the ugly jealousy displayed here. Brian G gets it, wish the rest could learn what he already knows.
Why can't everyone just enjoy and contribute to the genuine commentary on Western PA wrestling, for better or for worse, and leave the other nonsense out. We are one of last last strongholds of a fantastic, yet dying, sport.
-Canon-Mac represented well in the face of a national powerhouse.
-Despite all of the doubting Thomases, CW is holding up to first rate competition. (He was after all, a mere 104 weeks ago, the next Cary Kolat)
-Peters has one of their best teams since the '90s.
-Speaking of which, the progeny of the early '80s Bucs are starting to make their mark with a Sutton due back soon.
-McGuffey is on the cusp of coming back.
-Waynesburg showed well.
-We saw history made (Gullibon and Nyama).
Let's enjoy and encourage the talent that we have in our area instead of pissing and bitching about nonsense.
To the unfortunate one that keeps missing the boat about homegrown talent . That is hilarious . Go around to every School district and count how many kids moved in from 1st grade on. I think you will find there are a ton of families that have moved into different districts for one reason or another . I know a few families that moved into different districts and no one ever mentioned it . Kugler from N.A his dad is a Steeler coach I guess that makes N.A illegitimate . Gronkowski to Woodlawn hills from Buffalo N.Y. The list is endless and you3;29 are ridiculous . Or may I add insanely jealous.
The lone dominant victor just arrived this summer...from Charleroi...lol. So much for "home grown" talent. This fall, we heard how Canon-Mac was a new national power...high-brow humor indeed. "You will witness history"...Oh, we witnessed history akin to The Little Big Horn...Well done General Chis "Custard" Mary. A least the women and children were spared...
Sitting Bull you're an idiot. Let's see CM had 5 in the finals, 2 champs & placed 8 wrestlers in the #3 ranked toughest tourney in the country & #1 ranked in PA, but no national power huh?. Blair is awesome, just check out how they destroyed everyone at the Beast of the East. They won by 142.5 points against the best in the country. You cowards bashing HS kids is pathetic, but then again I'm sure you never did anything of real value in your life so let's tear down the young kids-morons.
I`m just gonna say I really enjoyed Powerade. Great wrestling. Whether you like Us(C-M) or hate us, if you wanta chime in on wrestling fine. Just remember you are talking about kids. I`ll let it end there, cause wrestling `s my topic of choice. NOT ANONYMOUS BABBLE. Happy New Year
These so- called people that yap about home grown talent make me laugh. Why?, there home grown morons.
Hey Sitting Bull. His name was General "Custer",you dope.
Not in CM area but have seen this before at my school district a few years back. My advice is be careful and manage through these transfers. Sounds like many people who gave 8 - 12 years of supporting the program feel used and disappointed. Question: have the parents of these wrestlers who transferred also taken over the booster program? Most likely I would guess no and have little to no involvement. This is where it will hurt the program the most. Parents just will stop helping. In today's world where school sports are becoming pay to play and relying on total booster support, I would say good luck with your program. Our program completely tumbled because of this. Money and support died. Then the program died. I hope the best for CM but sounds like groundhog's day to me. Good luck.
Dear 11;04 pm . You sound like the wolf that swallowed the canary. I know how sad you will be if C.M falls and the program goes to hell in a hand basest. And you were the first one defending your School District with these transfers.Now your bad mouthing ours. If C/M does fall, you my friend will have a parade thru your town . I know your type, talk nice to the face and knife in the back. Like I always say don't worry about the other guy's new car worry about paying your;s off.
To Vern:
Just wanted to let you know that we use the best action pictures available. Did it occur to you that both those wrestlers won their match?
How do you explain Friday's newspaper that showed a Page 1 picture of Wiercioch having his opponent in pain?
To Frank The Tank:
I guess you missed the editions of the newspaper that had stories of the 1992 Canon-McMillan team being honored, the coverage of the Upper St. Clair-CM match, the story about Connor Schram being out of Powerade, the Powerade feature about Canon-McMillan winning two titles and the feature on Dalton Macri on Day 1 of Powerade.
I agree 11:04 . I have some friends involved in the cm program and can see that you are right. some of the parents that have been around and dedicated to the program for years are feeling discouraged . they may stop helping and contributing.you would think the " transfers " parents would be the first to offer to help and be involved. after all it should be considered a team effort all the way around.Although it is highly unlikely that the cm program would fall apart because of this as your program did ..it is something to be aware of . Thanks for the advice.
To Joe:
Best action pictures available of this tournament(give me a break)
Just saying why the negative pics of these wrestlers when they have match in hand. I don't recall seeing other wrestlers from all other local schools in bad situations being published in our local paper unless it's CM.
Yes i saw pic friday of cody (congratulations)the observer got a plus but still in the hole.
To 10;05 am. Your kidding right? One time out of how many.? Like I said and I'll say it again. In my opinion the Observer Reporter favors Trinity , Wash high not necessary in that order . That goes for every sport not just Wrestling. I've watched this trend for 25 years. Vernon Holley is right and I'm glad he said it!!!
To all you wrestling fans out there. Canon-Mcmillan youth wrestling will be hosting the 2012 GUNTOWN elementary duals on january 29th wrestling begins approx. 9am.This years feild of teams consist:1)Belle Vernon ( 2011 champions) ,2) Canon-Mcmillan ( 2011 runner ups),3)North Allegheny (2011 3rd place),4)Waynesburg (2011 4th place)5) Trinity 6) Mcguffey 7)Latrobe 8)Burrell 9)Norwin 10) Bad Karma (wrestling out of D10).So if your free that day come out and support area youth wrestling.Last years tournament was very fun and a huge success.Joe i dont have a wrestler in this event , I organize it for fun and to help support our program and local wrestling.it would be really cool to get some pub. at this event. Thanks Matt Oblock
Hey matt this forum is for ripping cm only. Please don't publish you silly dual on her. Everyone know nobody attends those but parents and grandparent.
CM has one of the strongest Booster programs for wrestling in PA.....as one of the parents who is there for all the concession work, setting up and cleaning up and whatever else is asked of me......WE AT CM BELIEVE IN OUR WRESTLERS.....NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE GROWN......ALL YOU UN-INTELLIGENT INBREDS SHOULD GROW UP AND GET WITH YOUR OWN PROGRAM!
TO 5;06 pm couldn't have said it better myself. I am a parent also and believe me I know exactly what the outsiders are trying to pull . Everyone in our wrestling program is great. Parents, kids including the little one's. All the coaches are doing a great job too. H.S Middle School and little Mac's. Can Mac pride!!
SHSHSHSH, the outsiders may here you!
Come break bread with us.
The only thing they are up to is creating a better enviroment for there family. God bless you.
To Vernon Holley:
This is how we choose which local wrestling photos that run in the Observer-Reporter: I tell the photographer, whether it be Jim McNutt, Katie Roupe of some photo stringer, the following: "Give me your best action photos. After all, it's YOUR name that goes under the photo, so give me the best of YOUR work." Photographers don't care who won or lost the bout, won or lost the match or who is control or not in the photo, nor should they. They want and should expect nothing less than their best pictures being used in the newspaper. After all, it's their name that is under the photo.
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