Predicting the WPIAL team tournament champions
One infected finger, an unusual injury in scholastic wrestling, changed the course of events and the Class AAA brackets for the WPIAL Team Tournament.
The finger was on the hand of Michael Kemerer, the outstanding 145-pound wrestler for Franklin Regional. Worse, the injury kept Kemerer out of the most important dual meet of the season at that point, a Dec. 20 rumble against talented Belle Vernon in the Franklin Regional Duals. Belle Vernon and Franklin were considered two of the best teams in Class AAA.
With Kemerer out of the lineup, Belle Vernon emerged with a 35-28 victory. Kemerer, who finished second in the state the past three seasons, could only watch as his replacement in the lineup was pinned by Jerod Verkleeren in 1:24.
It was obvious that with Kemerer in the lineup, Franklin Regional wins the dual meet. Kemerer decisioned Verkleeren in the finals of the Westmoreland County Tournament two weeks ago so a nine-point swing in the Franklin Regional Duals would have made the Panthers a winner.
That ended up being bad news for teams that were seeded on the Franklin Regional side of the bracket when the pairings were released for the WPIAL Team Tournament, which gets under way today with four Class AAA preliminary dual meets, if the weather permits.
Belle Vernon, thanks to that win over Franklin Regional, was given the top seed in the tournament and Franklin Regional the second. It would have been the other way around had Franklin Regional won the earlier meeting.
Only those inside the Belle Vernon city limits would argue the No. 1 seed in the tournament should have been the Leopards’. That’s not to disparage the Belle Vernon program, but only to point out how unusual circumstances can shuffle the seeding process. Belle Vernon deserved the No. 1 seed because the Leopards defeated Franklin Regional, without Kemerer. It’s just not the best team.
Franklin Regional had six placewinners, including two champions, in last year’s state tournament. The Panthers lost only a couple pieces of from their team that won the PIAA Class AAA Team Tournament.
One of the great parts about wrestling is rematches are common occurrences and the sport demands a team be at its best in all events.
Which is exactly what’s going to happen in Class AAA.
Franklin Regional, if healthy, will tear through the bottom part of the bracket, probably spurred by the revenge factor.
North Allegheny will make it to the semifinals, using its balanced lineup to do what Waynesburg twice failed to do, slip past Canon-McMillan. The Tigers might stay within 14 points of Franklin Regional in the semifinals.
Latrobe, seeded fourth, should make it to the semifinals in the upper bracket, and could surprise Belle Vernon. But I don’t think that will happen.
In the finals, Franklin Regional will win its second straight WPIAL team title.
In Class AA, Burrell is going for an unprecedented ninth consecutive team championship.
There is something about this tournament that brings out the best in the Bucs. This streak should have ended twice in the past fives years. The first was in the 2010 semifinals, when Shady Side Academy lost the heavyweight bout by a point, only to take a a 31-28 team loss; and 2012, when Jefferson-Morgan lost the 220-pound bout – in which it was heavily favored – and the dual meet, 34-31.
This year’s Burrell team does not have the firepower of those in the past, but it didn’t stop the Bucs from getting the top seed and a first-round bye in Wednesday’s Class AA openers.
South Fayette, the No. 2 seed and coming off an impressive performance in the Section 1 Team Tournament, has a deep and talented lineup. The Lions had a chance to beat Burrell in last year’s finals but saw a one-point lead evaporate with losses in the final two bouts.
If healthy, South Fayette will end Burrell’s run with a 31-29 win.
Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com