Picking the winners

On their way to winning the PIAA Team Tournament title last season, the Canon-McMillan Big Macs had one advantage besides a strong team: they were all healthy. Canon-McMillan had all the big guns ready for a historic semifinal dual meet against a Central Dauphin team that had won 95 matches in a row. The Big Macs needed every point to win 28-25, then take the title with a victory over Erie McDowell.

This year, the Big Macs are a hurting team. Solomon Chishko probably will not wrestle and it appears Malachi Krenzelak is too hurt to participate. William Pihiou is back after missing time with a shoulder injury but is still getting into mat shape. Head coach Chris Mary is not sure when or if Chishko and Krenzelak will return.

The tough part of this tournament is that every step up brings a stronger team. Easton and Erie McDowell are in the bottom bracket with Canon-McMillan. Central Dauphin is on the other side. To make it to the finals, the Big Macs need pins from their big guns: Cody Wiercioch, Alex Campbell, Brendon Price, Dalton Macri, Connor Schram and bonus points from the other winners. That's a tough order against elite teams.

Canon-McMillan has enough talent to get to the finals, but if Chishko and Krenzelak don't wrestle, Central Dauphin can exploit some weak spots in the lineup that it could not last year.

Central Dauphin 30, Canon-McMillan 24

With Chishko and Krenzelak back:

Canon-McMillan 31, Central Dauphin 27.


Class AA is more like a coronation of Bethlehem Catholic. No team has as much talent at Bethlehem Catholic. So this pick is easy.

Bethlehem Catholic 44, Reynolds 18.

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If you can't get to Hershey and want to attend a wrestling match over the weekend, McGuffey is holding duals tournament with Hempfield, Bethel Park, Elizabeth Foreward and Connellsville.