By Joe Tuscano, Staff writer

jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

The Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament is not a place for the timid. Championships are yanked away, not handed out, and the battles can get pretty intense.

That's as much a credit to the talent of the tournament, which some feel equals the field for the PIAA Championships, as it is to the status gained by having one of the those trophies on your shelf.

That Colin Johnston has three first-place trophies is a testament to the talent that is unleashed when the senior from Canon-McMillan High School takes the mat.

Johnston became only the 13th wrestler in the 41-year history of this tournament to win three titles. Only one, Ty Moore of North Allegheny, captured four.

Only last year's 2-0 loss to Troy Dolan, a three-time state champion from Derry, stopped Johnston from matching Moore's accomplishment.

When Johnston defeated Burrell's Shane Welsh 5-2 in the 135-pound finals, his place in the history of this tournament was cemented and it made him the Observer-Reporter's Athlete of the Week.

So how did he celebrate such a momentous victory?

"I went to (eat) and then I went home," he said.

Johnston's path to the title started at the No. 1 seed in the weight class. He opened with a pin of Kevin Ortenzio of Cedar Cliff and followed it with a 12-3 major decision over West Greene's Garrett Johnston and a 23-8 technical fall over Waynesburg's Vince Camps in the quarterfinals.

Another technical fall, 17-1 over Ryan Medved of Harrison, Ga., put Johnston in the finals against Welsh.

A fireman's carry for a two-point takedown in the third period secured the victory over Welsh, moved Johnston's record to 14-1 and pushed his career mark to 136-9.

Johnston had the added pressure of being watched by his future college coaches - West Virginia's Craig Turnbull and assistant Greg Jones - in the finals and competing in his home gymnasium.

"The West Virginia coaches came in and wished me good luck before the match," he said. "I didn't want to lose in front of them. I didn't want to lose in front of the fans."

The 12 other wrestlers who won three Powerade titles are 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.

Those are some of the sport's most distinguished names but don't expect Johnston to develop an ego. His teammates keep him grounded.

"They keep it all low-keyed for me," he said. "They kid me about stuff, like 'He's gotta talk to the newspaper again,' Things like that."

When it comes to his wrestling, Johnston is not only serious but extremely critical. That latest victory might have been lopsided, but Johnston doesn't judge success that way.

"It's just about the way I feel about my wrestling when it's over," he said. "It's how I feel before and after. In (Powerade), some parts were the best and some weren't."

Johnston entered the season with some typical personal goals: Have an undefeated season, win another section, WPIAL and state title. One goal, the undefeated season, was dashed when he lost to Brett Skonieczny of Walsh Jesuit in the semifinals of the Ironman Tournament.

And Skonieczny might not have done the wrestlers in Johnston's weight class any favors.

"That loss just made me work 10 times harder in everything, everything" he said.

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