Schram, Wiercioch win at Classic

Connor Schram and Cody Wiercioch, both seniors at Canon-McMillan High School, each won their bouts in the USA Dream Team Classic at Elmhurst College in Chicago Saturday night.
The two wins helped Team USA defeat Team Illinois, 27-16.
Schram took a 7-4 decision from Gordon Northrup, a state champion and four-time state placewinner from Harlem High School.
Wiercioch took a 7-2 decision from Dan Rowland, a state runner-up from Willowbrook High School.
Schram and Wiercioch each won PIAA gold medals in the Class AAA championships in Hershey in March.

Rhodes, Lesko resign at Jefferson-Morgan

Jefferson-Morgan wrestling coach Scott Rhodes has resigned, along with assistant coach Mike Lesko at Monday night's school board meeting. Rhodes' assistant, Mike Lesko, also submitted his letter of resignation.
Rhodes, 45, was hired in 2007 to replace Todd Sibert. Rhodes was an assistant coach when Cary Kolat won four PIAA titles at J-M.
Rhodes was a coach on the J-M team that won five team titles in seven years under Ron Headlee from 1989-1995.

Stottlemyers retires

Pitt head wrestling coach Rande Stottlemyer, one of the most accomplished and longest tenured coaches in the history of intercollegiate athletics at Pitt, has announced his retirement.

Stottlemyer’s name is synonymous with Pitt wrestling as his involvement with the program spans nearly four decades. He was a three-time All-American for the Panthers from 1974-78. Following his graduation from the university in 1978, Stottlemyer served Pitt as an assistant coach for one year before taking over as head coach in 1979. Leading the program the past 34 seasons, he compiled a 304-230-12 record and is the winningest coach in Pitt wrestling history.

The past four seasons were among the Panthers’ most impressive under Stottlemyer’s watch. Since 2010, Pitt has won three Eastern Wrestling League regular-season championships and three EWL Tournament titles. Pitt finished 15^th nationally in 2012 and 2013. 

Succeeding Stottlemyer as head coach will be Jason Peters, an assistant at Pitt the past 10 seasons who was designated the program’s head coach-in-waiting last fall. Peters played a vital role in the Panthers’impressive run of success as a lead recruiter and trainer. A 1998 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, Peters will become the 10^th head coach in Pitt wrestling history. Matt Kocher, a former Pitt All-America wrestler who has served as an assistant coach the past four seasons, will also continue on the staff.

“Our program will continue to move forward under the guidance of Jason Peters and Matt Kocher,” Stottlemyer said. “They have both been exemplary in their work ethic and commitment during their time at Pitt.”

For his career, Stottlemyer produced 56 EWL individual champions, 33 All-Americans and three national champions. He also was selected the EWL Coach of the Year five times.

“I would like to thank the University of Pittsburgh for the great opportunity they gave me as a young man, fresh out of college,” Stottlemyer said. “I have been blessed to have lived my passion for thirty-five years. I hope in that time I have been able to make a positive impact on a lot of young men’s lives. It has been an honor to be their coach and to promote the great sport of wrestling.

“I am deeply indebted to Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Athletic Director Steve Pederson and Executive Associate Athletic Director Donna Sanft for their leadership and support. Thank you to all my co-workers, assistant coaches and wrestlers who over the years have given so much of themselves to make our success possible. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, daughters, family, and friends for always being there for me.”

Though he is retiring from coaching, Stottlemyer will remain with the Pitt Athletic Department, serving in the position of Senior Advisor for Olympic Sports. In this capacity, he will provide consultation and advice for each of the Panthers’ 16 Olympic sports programs as they transition to competition in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013.

“Very few coaches retire at the top of their game and yet Rande Stottlemyer is doing just that,” Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said. “Not only has Rande led our wrestling program to the top of the Eastern Wrestling League but he is also held in the highest regard by everyone in our athletic department. It would be hard to sufficiently put into words what Rande has meant to Pitt and to each of us individually. I am pleased that he has agreed to assist me in our transition to the ACC as his experience and guidance will be invaluable. Rande also built a coaching staff that is ready to take this program into a new conference and continue its legacy of success.”


“Rande and I had many conversations over the past few years about the future of this program,” Pederson said. “In Rande’s opinion, as well as mine, we could not make a better choice than to elevate Jason Peters to the role of head wrestling coach at Pitt. The added bonus of Matt Kocher staying as the top assistant makes this a special time. We are all committed to helping Jason succeed and we are excited to watch his tenure as the leader of this program. As always, our staff will rally behind Jason, Matt and our student-athletes to make this a great transition.”

Vulcano to West Liberty

Garrett Vulcano, a senior football and wrestling athlete at Chartiers-Houston High School, has accepted a football scholarship with West Liberty University and will be a member of the Hilltoppers in the fall.  Vulcano (6-1, 200) has recorded over 100 tackles in each of the past three seasons as a linebacker.  

As a team captain during his senior season, Vulcano, the Black Hills Conference Defensive MVP, led the team with 130 tackles, averaging over 14 per game at CH.  He also had three and a half sacks, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and safety as a member of the Buccaneers defense.  Vulcano was named to the Pennsylvania Associated Press Class A football team and was named to play in the PFSCA East/West and Tri-County All-Star games.  A spot in the Observer-Reporter Elite Eleven, Almanac Premier Pigskin team, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette South Fab 22 were other honors for the senior.  He was named second team PFN all-state linebacker and was ranked 3rd in the state through nine weeks on the MaxPreps list of tackle leaders.  

On the offensive side of the ball, Vulcano recorded 18 receptions for 296 yards and four touchdowns as a slot receiver.  In his junior season, he led the Bucs defense with 149 tackles, including ten for a loss, and a berth in the WPIAL Class A playoffs. 

As a member of the wrestling team, Vulcano set the school record with 154 victories.  As a 195 pound wrestler, he was named to the MSA Sports Network Fabulous 14, Observer-Reporter and Tribune Review 1st team all-district, and a member of the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic WPIAL team.  He completed his senior season with a record of 45-3 as Vulcano won his third consecutive championship in the section tournament, a district title at the WPIAL Championships and a 2nd place finish at the Pennsylvania state tournament in Hershey, PA.

Vulcano holds a GPA of 3.46 and would like to study Physical Education at West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia.  Garrett is the son of Frank, Jr. and Susan Vulcano of Houston, PA.

Pan Am teams

2013 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Panama City, Panama, April 5-7

Men’s Freestyle, and Greco-Roman Rosters

Men’s Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. – Mark McKnight, State College, Pa. 
60 kg/132 lbs. – Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla.
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Drew Headlee, Morgantown, W.Va.
74 kg/163 lbs. – Nick Marable, Columbia, Mo.
84 kg/185 lbs. – Phil Keddy, Iowa City, Iowa
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – David Zabriskie, Bethlehem, Pa.
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J.
Coaches – Chris Bono, Brookings, S.D.; Mike Duroe, Marion, Iowa

Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs. – Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill.
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jamel Johnson, Greensboro, N.C.
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Kendrick Sanders, Homestead, Fla.
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jake Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn.
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn.
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Caylor Williams, Melbourne, Fla. 
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coaches – Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.