jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
CANONSBURG - In four years, Colin Johnston has accomplished what other athletes can only dream about in scholastic wrestling.
A gold and silver medal at the PIAA Championships, top-ranking in his weight class in just about every poll, and maybe most impressive, star status when he enters a gymnasium to compete.
Now, the senior from Canon-McMillan made sure his name would be placed among some of the greatest wrestlers in the country Saturday night when he captured his third title in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament in front of a packed crowd at Canon-McMillan High School.
Johnston won the 135-pound weight class with a 5-2 victory over Shane Welsh of Burrell. His third title helped propel him to the Outstanding Wrestler award.
Only 12 other wrestlers have won three Powerade titles in the 41-year history of this tournament. Johnston joined Bill DePaoli of Chartiers-Houston; Joe Yancosky and Robbie Waller of Mt. Pleasant; Jim Brasco and Brian Burrows of Hempfield; T.J. Williams of Mt. Carmel, Ill.; Ray Brinzer, Teague Moore and Ty Moore of North Allegheny; Andy Migyanko of Trinity; and Pat O'Donnell and Coleman Scott of Waynesburg.
Ty Moore is the only four-time champion in the tournament's illustrious history.
"It made me feel good (knowing that)," said Johnston of his inclusion with some of the sport's prestigious names. "It means you're one of the elite. I just went out there trying to think it was just another dual meet."
Canon-McMillan head coach Chris Mary said the coaching staff tried not to overplay it.
"He knew it and the other kids on the team knew it and the coaches knew it," Mary said. "We tried to downplay it because he didn't need the added pressure."
Johnston became the seventh Powerade champion from Canon-McMillan, moving the school into a tie with West Greene, Solon and Mt. Carmel for 19th place.
And he did so with a nearly flawless performance against Welsh. Johnston spun around for a takedown with 44 seconds left in the first period and led 2-1 after two minutes.
He stretched the lead to 3-1 with an escape 33 seconds into the second. In the third, Welsh cut the lead to 3-2 with an escape but Johnston dashed any hopes of a comeback when he hit a fireman's carry for a two-point takedown with 41 seconds to go.
"We want him to attack more," Mary said. "We don't want him to let anyone stay close. If you let someone hang on, then there is an opportunity to lose the match. We want him to score points. We want him to push the off button on the people he wrestles."
Johnston had the large crowd in his home gym backing him and it also added to the pressure. He committed to West Virginia before the season and head coach Craig Turnbull and assistant Greg Jones were on hand to watch.
"Wrestling at home is a big advantage," Johnston said. "The disadvantage to that would be to lose in your home gym."
Johnston was one of eight area wrestlers to leave the tournament with a medal. Four of them were his teammates: Michael Hull, who was third at 215; Sam Brownlee, who was third at heavyweight; Chris Pihiou, who was sixth at 140; and Nick Catalano, who took seventh at 125.
Trinity's Todd Martinek was sixth at 160, Burgettstown's Dan Conley took sixth at 215 and Waynesburg's Vince Camps finished eighth at 135.
Hull earned third place with a 3-1 decision over Felton Banks of Colonial Forge, Va. Brownlee took third with a 3-0 shutout of Justin Haines of Connnellsville. Interestingly, Hull and Brownlee each sat out last season. Hull had a broken thumb and Brownlee had to satisfy transfer requirements.
"I knew I could place but I also knew it would be tough," said Hull. "I still have a long way to go. I need to be in better shape. It's brutal to go through wrestling practice for two hours a day. But it gives you a lot of mental toughness."
Shane Young (112) of Penn Trafford, Nico Cortese (119) of Hempfield, Marhsall and Walter Peppelman of Central Dauphin (140) and Sam Rakes (152) of Christiansburg each won their second titles
Notes
The tournament will be televised on a tape-delay basis by Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 11. ... Marshall Peppelman allowed only three bout points in the tournament and they came in the finals. ... The WPIAL claimed 53 of the tournament's 112 medals.