jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

PITTSBURGH - In the seven days since the PIAA Wrestling Championships, Colin Johnston seemed to rediscover an important part of his wrestling.

His offense.

The senior from Canon-McMillan, who appeared tight and stiff in placing third in last week's state tournament, was loose, active and aggressive in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic Saturday in Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House.

The result wasn't what Johnston wanted, a 5-3 loss to Mark Weber of Goodrich, Mich., but it was a better effort and Johnston can live with that. Besides, Weber was no slouch, coming into this event with a 224-7 career record and four state titles.

Johnston was competing on the Pennsylvania Team that dropped a 28-12 decision to the United States Team. It was the seventh-straight loss for Pennsylvania and 10th in 12 years.

In the preliminary match, Burgettstown's Dan Conley helped the WPIAL to a 36-15 victory over Wisconsin by taking a 5-1 decision from Jake Little of Neenah, Wisc., at 215 pounds.

Johnston made several single-leg shots that Weber fought off in the first two periods. But Johnston received a penalty point for Weber's second stalling call and escaped to hold a 2-0 lead after two.

Weber scored all five points in the final two minutes on an escape and two takedowns.

"I opened up here," said Johnston. "I was more relaxed. I wrestled better here than I did (at the state tournament)."

Johnston took third in Hershey, finishing a scholastic career that saw him take first, second and third in his last three seasons.

"I just wrestled bad (in Hershey)," Johnston said. "I wrestled not to lose. It didn't matter if I won or lost here, so this was for everyone here. I tried to open up and shoot more than I usually do."

Conley didn't get invited to the Classic until Thursday but he made the most of the opportunity.

The senior displayed his patented double-leg lift and nearly pinned Jake Little of Neenah about a minute into the first period.

Little wiggled free then escaped. Conley got into Little's legs just once more but couldn't score.

"I thought I had him pinned two times," said Conley. "But the ref had a better view of it, I guess. That (lift) was just the way I like it. I kind of backed away after that. I didn't want to make a mistake."

Not only was this Conley's first appearance in the Classic, but it was his first time in Fitzgerald Field House. He said being named late to the WPIAL Team was not a big deal.

"I won a state championship, so I wasn't worried about anything else," Conley said. "I was not upset."

Conley came away impressed with the experience of competing in this event and, as usual, thoroughly enjoyed himself.

"It's insane," he said. "It shows how much respect people have for this sport and it shows how many fans wrestling has. People see the hard work out there and you want to put on a good show."

The Classic honored Homer Marshall, a product of Burgettstown High School, with the Dr. Kurt J. Nellis Memorial Award. Marshal was co-founder of the Burgettstown Cadets Youth Wrestling Program in 1961 and it helped produced numerous champions for the school.

Marshall held a number of positions in the program before retiring in 2001, including president and head coach. The Nellis award is presented each year to an individual who serves their community through the sport of wrestling.

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