A look at the Bubblers

Jeremy Elliott of the Harrisburg Patriot-News takes a look at one of the stronger Class AA teams in the state: Boiling Springs.

http://highschoolsports.pennlive.com/news/article/-7747617656859684780/loaded-boiling-springs-wrestling-team-has-ammunition-for-a-state-title-run/

Griffiths ruled ineligible

Austin Griffiths of Southmoreland will not be eligible to wrestle this season. Here is a link to Jason Black's story in the Tribune.

http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/wrestling/7175371-74/griffiths-southmoreland-class#axzz3KTeCUO00

Class AA Preview - Part 1

The following is a brief look at the local Class AA wrestling teams:

Avella

Key Losses - Shawn Carl (170, 33-14), Derek Allen (195, 26-15), Jake Temple (220, 43-0, PIAA champion), Andrew Haskakis (Hvy, 21-17)

Key Returns -  Luke Lloyd (120, 24-18, Jr.), Sean Meredith (132, 17-11, Jr.), Nick Kusich (145, 27-16, Sr.), Dakota Umphrey (152, 15-15, Sr.)
Comment - The Eagles need to find some heavier weights. Loss of Temple hurts.

 

Bentworth

Key Losses - Jake Rothka (120, 30-12), Matt Vickless (126, 31-11), Paul Mizia (170, 18-13), Dillon Jolly (182, 13-8), Mason Shumaker (Hvy, 29-12)

Key Returns - Hunter Neely (106, 34-8, Jr.), Ty Mitchell (132, 26-15, Jr.), Ethan Tush (160, 17-14, Jr.)
Comment - Graduation wiped out heavyweights. Neely poised for strong season.

 

Beth-Center

Key Losses - None

Key Returns - Anthony Welsh (145, 37-8, Jr.), Jason Stay (152, 26-12, Sr.), Nico Brown (160, 34-16, Sr.)
Comment - Welsh, Stay and Brown strong through middle. B-C needs young kids to develop around them.

 

Burgettstown

Key Losses - John Dennis (120, 21-19), Stephen Kotouch (132, 33-20), Ryan Pendeville (195, 24-13)

Key Returns - Austin McDermitt (113, 41-6, Sr., 6th in PIAA), Jake McKee, 160, 29-12, Sr.), Tristan Nicholson (160, 22-17, Sr.), Brad Hucik (182, 19-16, Jr.)
Comment - Blue Devils a Top 5 team this year. Good season awaits McDermitt.

 

California 

Key Losses - None

Key Returns - James Campbell (132, 7-11, Jr.)
Comment - Campbell the one and only wrestler at California last year. You gotta root for him.

 

 Charleroi

Key Losses - None

Key Returns - None
Comment - Program is on shaky ground, starting from scratch after four seniors graduated.

Chartiers-Houston

Key Losses - Rich McGinnis (132, 36-14), Pete Provenzano (160, 26-14), Derek Hull (170, 35-11)

Key Returns - Josh Kuslock (10, 23-6, So.), Ben Hritsko (126, 26-13, Sr.), Garrett Grimm (182, 19-16, Sr.), Trey Lober (Hvy, 19-13, So.)
Comment - New coach in Garrett Johnston but solid core to build on this season.

Fort Cherry

Key Losses - Caelin Celani (145, 15-11), Logan Ellek (152, 16-10),

Key Returns - Hunter Frye (106, 12-9, So.), Trevor McIntyre (Hvy, 28-11, Jr.)
Comment - Rangers lost eight seniors who produced a combined 64 wins from last year.

 

Editor's note: The second part of Class AA will follow in a couple days. Class AAA also will be posted next week.

 

Preseason Rankings

Class AAA

1. Franklin Regional
2. Latrobe
3. Belle Vernon
4. North Allegheny
5. Canon-McMillan
6. Connellsville
7. Kiski
8. Hempfield
9. Waynesburg
10. Penn Trafford

Class AA
1. Burrell
2. South Fayette
3. Burgettstown
4. Jefferson-Morgan
5. Kittanning

Char-Houston Tournament

20th Annual
Chartiers-Houston Invitational Wrestling Tournament

Tournament Schedule
Friday, Dec. 5
Opening Round 4:30 p.m.


Saturday, Dec. 6
Consolation Round  10 a.m.
Semifinals  11:30 a.m.
Consolation Round  1:30 p.m.
Consolation Finals  4 p.m.
Finals  4 p.m.



PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

ALBERT GALLATIN
AVELLA
CHARTIERS-HOUSTON
CHARITERS VALLEY
BEAVER
BENTWORTH
BETH CENTER
BRASHEAR
BUTLER
CENTRAL VALLEY
ELIZABETH FORWARD
FREEDOM
JEANNETTE
NORTH CATHOLIC
NORTH HILLS
OAKGLENN, WV
PETERS TOWNSHIP
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY
SOUTH FAYETTE
SOUTH PARK
SOUTH SIDE BEAVER
UPPER ST. CLAIR
WEST ALLEGHENY

Returning Champions: Gage Curry North Hills
Josh Kuslock Chartiers-Houston
Philip Mary Peters Township
Jake Wentzel South Park
Grag Bulsak South Park
Luke Fournier Elizabeth Forward
Returning Runner-ups: Hunter Neely Bentworth
AJ Buckiso Peters Township
Mark Tharp Chartiers Valley
Connor Foust Butler
Nico Brown Beth Center
Zack Jablonski Montour
Top 2 returning teams from 2013: Peters Township
Butler

Top recruits of 2016

PA Power Wrestling released its list of 2016 top recruits. Here is the link:


http://papowerwrestling.com/top-100-recruits-of-2016-released-2/

Top 20 college programs

Gregg Henry's/WrestlingReport D-I Rankings

NCAA National Rankings – Nov 18^th, 2014

TEAM RANKINGS (NCAA SCORING)

1) Minnesota Golden Gophers – 107 pts

2) Iowa Hawkeyes – 103 pts
3) Ohio State Buckeyes – 102 pts
4) Cornell Big Red – 86 pts
5) Edinboro Fighting Scots – 64 pts
6) Northwestern Wildcats – 63 pts
7) Penn State Nittany Lions – 62 pts
8) Oklahoma State Cowboys – 61 pts
9) Iowa State Cyclones – 60 pts
10) Missouri Tigers – 59 pts
11) Michigan Wolverines – 58 pts
12) Virginia Tech Hokies – 57 pts
13) Illinois Fighting Illini – 55 pts
14) Nebraska Cornhuskers – 51 pts
15) Old Dominion Monarchs – 43 pts
16) Wisconsin Badgers – 34 pts
17) Lehigh Mountain Hawks – 33 pts
18) Virginia Cavaliers – 32 pts
19) Pittsburgh Panthers – 30 pts
20) Rutgers Scarlet Knight – 29 pts

2014-15 alignment

Class AAA (45 teams)  Section 1A - Franklin Regional, Gateway, Kiski Area, McKeesport, Penn Hills, Woodland Hills. Section 1B - Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Latrobe, Norwin, Penn-Trafford. Section 2A - Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, Thomas Jefferson. Section 2B - Baldwin, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin. Section 3A - Butler, Knoch, Mars, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley.  Section 3B - Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Hampton, North Hills, Plum, Shaler  Section 4A - Canon-McMillan, Chartiers Valley, Moon, Trinity, Waynesburg. Section 4B - Ambridge, Blackhawk, Hopewell, Montour, West Allegheny. Class AA (38 teams) Section 1A - Avella, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, South Fayette, South Park, Washington. Section 1B - Beaver, Burgettstown, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Freedom, Laurel, South Side Beaver. Section 2A - Bentworth, Beth-Center, Charleroi, Jefferson-Morgan, McGuffey, Mapletown, West Greene. Section 2B - Derry, Elizabeth Forward, Jeannette, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Yough. Section 3A - Avonworth, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks, North Catholic, Riverview, South Allegheny. Section 3B - Burrell, Indiana, Kittanning, Summit Academy, Valley, West Shamokin.

Waynesburg picked second in PAC

The Waynesburg University wrestling team was selected to finish second in the Presidents' Athletic Conference preseason poll, according to the league's coaches, sports information directors and the conference office Friday.

The Yellow Jackets went 15-6 overall last season and won its second straight PAC title last season. Thiel, which finished second last year, was chosen as this year's top team after getting 16 points and four first-place votes in the poll as compared to Waynesburg's 16 points and two first-place votes. The Washington & Jefferson Presidents were selected to finish third in the poll garnering nine points and one first place vote.

Several Jackets were listed as "Wrestlers to Watch" for the 2014 campaign. Senior returning national qualifier Luke Lohr tops the list that includes returning PAC champions, junior Greg Kumer and sophomore Filippo Crivelli, as well as senior 2012-2013 DIII national qualifier, Sam Guidi.

Super 32 Results

http://papowerwrestling.com/pennslyvania-wins-5-super-32-challenge-belts/

Interesting story on wrestling official Gene Waas

Gene Waas spent 20 years officiating wrestling. Brad Wilson writes about him in this interesting piece.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/10/gene_waas_the_secretariat_of_s.html