Preseason Preview (Part 1)

Class AAA

Canon-McMillan

Key losses - Colton Shorts (126, 39-9, 8th in PIAA); Dario Dobbin (145, 39-11, 7th PIAA), Zach Thomas (182, 22-12); Ian Binotto (195, 24-7); Cody Klempay (Hvy, 40-4, 6th PIAA)
Key returns- Dalton Macri (11, 113, 42-5, 4th PIAA); Connor Schram (12, 120, 25-1, 2nd PIAA); Solomon Chishko (11, 138, 44-2, 3rd PIAA); Cody Wiercioch (12, 170, 46-0, 1st PIAA); Alex Campbell (12, 220, 43-5, 5th PIAA)
Comment - Chishko out until early January with fractured elbow; Big Macs not as strong as last year's team but still best in WPIAL and one of the best in PIAA.

McGuffey

Key losses - Colt Klein (113, 18-12)
Key returns - Tyler Harris (11, 126, 19-11); Christian Whipkey (12, 132, 17-7); Brent Blaharczyk (12, 160, 27-10); Erik Capra (12, 195, 30-7)
Comment - Mark Caffrey returns to coach the Highlanders. Lots of work to be done.

Peters Township

Key losses - Derrick Evanovich (126, 35-7, PIAA Q); Luke Palamides (132, 24-8); Tyler Wilkes (145, 22-13); Zan Kail (160, 19-9);  Andrew Irwin (182, 24-11);
Key returns - Phil Mary (10, 106, 25-12); Tyler Buckiso (11, 120, 28-8); Italo Merante (11, 138, 18-8); Jake Caputo (12, 152, 21-16); Mack Mitchell (12, 160, 19-9);
Comment - Graduation hit hard. Upper weights look bare but a good core of lighter weights.

Ringgold

Key losses - Josh Gudenburr (132, 30-14); Alex Powell (145, 38-6); Jake Wisener (160, 42-6, 5th PIAA); Dean Lusk (Hvy, 21-5)
Key returns - Jake Gerard (10, 106, 31-12); Kenny Tarpley (11, 120, 34-10); Devin Fallenstein (11, 152, 34-10);
Comment - Rams lost a combined 152 bout wins to graduation. Ouch. Time for Tarpley to break out.

 

Trinity

Key losses - Blake Iddings (106, 27-12)
Key returns - Jeff Miller (12, 138, 23-15); Evan Sherrieb (12, 145, 16-12); Robert West (10, 170, 23-6); Don McWreath (12, 195, 26-12); Evan Seaman (12, 220, 22-10); Connor Fritz (12, Hvy, 17-11)
Comment - A new coach in Mark Powell will provide energy and fresh start. There is talent here. How much? Depends on what Powell can get out of them.

Waynesburg

Key losses - Tommy Henderson (138, 23-17); Eric Jones (145, 25-7);
Key returns - A.C. Headlee (10, 106, 42-3); Shane Piper (10, 132, 22-17); Bo Hampson (11, 152, 24-15)
Comment - Headlee one of the real bright spots not only on this team but in WPIAL. It's going to be tough going for Raiders in team portion of season.


Editor's note: The weights and records were taken from the end of last year. Because rosters have not been set at most schools, I did not include incoming freshmen. Class AA preview will be broken into two parts. The first one will be published Monday.

Preseason Team Rankings

Class AAA

1. Canon-McMillan
Big Macs have lost 141 bouts wins and three stars - Colt Shorts, Dario Dobbin and Cody Klempay - to graduation but are still the team to beat in WPIAL, again.

2. Franklin Regional
Four state placewinners are back, including Michael Kemerer.

3. Connellsville
Ethan Kenney leads a young team that is competitive at every weight.

4. Kiski
Defending state champion Matt McCutcheon anchors an impressive heavyweight lineup.

5. North Allegheny
Alex DeCiantis and Dom Forys provide high-low punch in the lineup but middle is a question.

6. Central Catholic
Perry Hills and Tyler Manion will be hard to replace.

7. Hampton
State runnerup Jake Hart is back but lower part of lineup only so-so.

8. Greensburg Salem
Either very good or very suspect at a weight, a matchup nightmare.

9. North Hills
Taking a chance here with a young team. But I see potential.

10. Hempfield
Graduation left upperweights in disarray. Ricky Cavallo and Sam Krivus combined for 78 wins last season.


Class AA

1. Yough
Most like Kittanning in this spot, but I like Yough's balance through the lineup

2. Kittanning
Jason Noff and Nate Robb great 1-2 punch down low. Upperweights are  a concern.

3. South Fayette
Everyone is back. Fetchett-Walker-Fetchett-Previte hard to counter.

4. Burrell
Yes, Dakota DesLauriers is back. But there is no John Davidson to pull out of the hall and none of the lightweights had a winning record last year.

5. Jefferson-Morgan
I went back and forth between JM and Chartiers-Houston here. Two really similar teams. I might change my mind again tomorrow.

Editor's note: Rankings are based on rosters at the end of last season. I don't have enough rosters  or background to factor in first-year wrestlers.

C-H Tournament

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012

4:30 pm OPENING ROUNDS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2012       

10:00 am 2NDCONSOLATION ROUND

11:30 am SEMI-FINAL ROUND

3RD CONSOLATION ROUND

1:30 pm 4TH CONSOLATION ROUND

4:00 pm CONSOLATION FINALS &

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

ALBERT GALLATIN, CHARTIERS-HOUSTON, NORTH HILLS,

AVELLA, CHARITERS VALLEY, PETERS TOWNSHIP,

AVONWORTH , ELIZABETH FORWARD, SHADY SIDE ACADEMY,

BEAVER, FORT CHERRY, SOUTH FAYETTE,

BETH CENTER, FREEDOM, SOUTH PARK,

 

BRASHEAR, JEANNETTE, SOUTHMORELAND,

BUTLER, MARS, SOUTH SIDE BEAVER,

CHARLEROI, MOON, UPPER ST. CLAIR

Returning Champions:

Austin Griffiths Southmorelan

Blake Caudill

Tyler Walker North Hills

Nick Gavazzi Charleroi

Boe Bonzo Freedom

Garrett Vulcano Chartiers-Houston (Pictured above)

Alen Turcinhodzic North Hills

Returning Runner-ups:  

Philip Mary Peters Township

Richie McGinnis Chartiers-Houston

Nathan Reckner South Side

Grant Fetchet South Fayette

JJ Walker South Fayette

Mike Fetchet South Fayette

Top 2 returning teams from 2011:  

Peters Township

Butler

Three in preseason rankings

Three Canon-McMillan wrestlers are ranked in the preseason wrestling rankings by Intermatwrestling.com. Cody Wiercioch is No. 2 at 170 behind Chance Marsteller of Kennard-Dale. Solomon Chishko is third at 145 and Connor Schram is fourth at 126.
Canon-McMillan is ranked sixth in the top 50 teams.
Complete rankings can be found on the website www.intermatwrestle.com.
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Also, near the end of the month, I will have a breakdown of each of the Washington-Greene County wrestling teams, followed by a look at the top WPIAL teams and wrestlers. So stay tuned.

An interview with Chance Marsteller

Omar Feliciano of Amateur Wrestling News sat down with Chance Marsteller of Kennard-Dale High School and talked a little wrestling.

Here is the link:

http://awn.theopenmat.com/2012/09/awn-qa-chance-marsteller/