Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Colin McCracken
School: Waynesburg
Sport: Wrestling
Year: Sophomore
McCracken’s week: McCracken won five of the six bouts to finish in third place in the 182-pound weight class at the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament. McCracken entered the tournament as the eighth seed but beat three higher-seeded wrestlers in winning the bronze medal. McCracken was one of three wrestlers from Waynesburg to finish in third place. The other two were A.C. Headlee at 132 pounds and Shaun Wilson at 138 pounds.
McCracken opened the tournament by pinning Justin Gonzalez of Parkland in 1:20 and followed that win by shutting out Tommy James of Canon-McMillan, 8-0. McCracken then knocked off fourth-seeded Milton Kobaly of Belle Vernon, 6-4, in overtime to move into the semifinals. In that bout, top-seeded and eventual champion Kellan Stout won an 8-0 major decision, sending McCracken to the wrestlebacks.
McCracken rallied with an impressive pin of second-seeded Josh Colello of Cedar Cliff, then polished off sixth-seeded Tommy Provance of Connellsville with a pin in 2:23 to raise his record to 21-3.
“I didn’t have the confidence to do this last season,” said McCracken, who was 3-2 and did not medal at 160 pounds in last year’s Powerade. “This year, I beat kids who I thought I could beat. I think I’ve improved all around. I’ve been working hard.”
Confidence-boosting bout: While McCracken’s performance at Powerade was impressive, the seeds for that success came earlier in the season. In a non-section bout against rival Jefferson-Morgan, McCracken stopped Bill Bowlen, 7-2, dominating the bout.
It was the signature win of the season, head coach Joe Throckmorton said.
“Bill Bowlen had beaten him six or seven times in a row since they began wrestling,” he said. “Colin was getting closer and closer. I gave him the option (to wrestle Bowlen) and he went out and won. He wanted to wrestle him. He’s getting confident and that’s half the battle.”
McCracken had a nice start to the WPIAL Class AAA Championships last year, knocking off second-seeded Brendan Burnham of Pine-Richland. But he lost the next two bouts and did not earn a trip to Hershey for the state tournament.
So Throckmorton asked McCracken to do more in the offseason.
“I asked him to go to Fargo (N.D., for the Cadet Freestyle Championships) and he did,” he said. “He didn’t place but he was around good wrestlers. He was a little timid as a freshman and it’s a controlled war out there on the mat. So you have to give it your all.”
High praise: McCracken’s performance did not go unnoticed by some famous wrestlers who were watching Powerade. Kenny Monday, an Olympic champion, and Coleman Scott, a Waynesburg alum and Olympic medalist, each praised McCracken’s potential.
“He’s one of the youngest ones in the (Powerade) weight class,” Throckmorton said. “He beat a really good kid (in Colello) and he’s learning just how good he can be.”
McCracken wants bigger achievements this season, including a spot in the state tournament.
“My expectations are higher,” he said. “My coaches have influenced me. They give me confidence.”
And that is translating into wins.
Compiled by Joe Tuscano