Dec 27, 2016 4 min read

Colin McCracken is making his final stop at a tournament that put him on the map in the high school wrestling world.

Two years ago, McCracken was a relatively unknown 182-pound sophomore from Waynesburg High School.

When the tournament was finished, McCracken was on the dais, receiving a bronze medal for his third-place finish in a weight class considered one of the more difficult at the event.

“It definitely put me on the map,” said McCracken. “I’m training hard, getting ready. Being on top of the (awards stand) is my goal. This is one of my favorite tournaments. It’s around Christmas time and it’s a tough tournament. I enjoy it a lot.”

The first round gets underway 8:30 a.m. Thursday, followed by quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Semifinals are 11 a.m. Friday, consolation finals are 4:30 p.m. and the Parade of champions begins 7 p.m.

McCracken was the fifth seed two years ago but made it to the semifinals, where eventual state champion Kellen Stout won an 8-0 decision. McCracken would take third, defeating Milton Kobaly of Belle Vernon in the consolation finals.

McCracken worked hard in the offseason to improve his power, a positive he believes will push him ahead.

“Over the summer, our assistant coach Jimmy Howard had a weight program. I think that helped me with my strength.”

McCracken was seeded third last year in a 182-pound weight class that had the eventual Class AAA state champion Jake Woodley of North Allegheny, the Class AA state champion in Greg Bulsak of South Park, and the PIAA runners-up in those classifications, Kobaly (Class AAA) and Garrett Hoffman of Montoursville (Class AA). McCracken finished sixth.

This year, McCracken is the fourth seed at 195 pounds, with three state champions seeded ahead of him: Woodley, Gavin Hoffman of Montoursville and Cole Nye of Bishop McDevitt, the Class AA state champion at 220 pounds.

“Seeds don’t really matter,” said McCracken. “If you’re not the No. 1 seed, you can beat the No. 1 seed and that makes you No. 1. I just go out and wrestle. That’s all I have to do.”

Waynesburg head coach Joe Throckmorton said McCracken’s performance in the Powerade tournament two years ago helped propel his career.

“When you step into your own in high school, you still have to prove it at the next level,” Throckmorton said. “He’s always trying to prove himself. I think he knocked off (some top seeds) and made the semifinals at the time in that tournament. So yeah, that gives you confidence. It proves it’s all worth it because wrestling is not easy.”

The tournament is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Originally called the California State Christmas Wrestling Tournament, the event has grown and changed over the decades. It has been held at California University, Trinity High School and now Canon-McMillan. This year, the tournament will have 50 teams.

The tournament is one of the most respected in the country, providing wrestling fans a glimpse of competitors who would go on to win 20 NCAA Division I titles, seven Division II titles and one NAIA gold medal. Three wrestlers – Kyle Snyder of Good Counsel, Md., Coleman Scott of Waynesburg and Nate Carr of Erie Tech – went on to win Olympic medals.

And only six wrestlers – North Allegheny’s Ty Moore (1986-89), Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman (2006-09), Franklin Regional’s Nico Megaludis (2007-10), Derry’s Jimmy Gulibon (2008-11), Kennard Dale’s Chance Marsteller (2010-13) and Latrobe’s Luke Pletcher (2012-2015) – are four-time champions.

Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan and Spencer Lee of Franklin Regional, both undefeated state champions, are top seeded and in different weight classes. There will be no classic matchup such as the one between Cody Wiercioch of Canon-McMillan and Chance Marsteller of Kennard-Dale in the 170-pound final in 2012.

Teasdale, a two-time state champ, is top seed at 120 pounds and Lee, a three-time state champion, is top seed at 126.

Other area top seeds are Louis Newell of Seneca Valley at 113, Cam Coy of Penn Trafford at 152, Nino Bonnacorsi of Bethel Park at 182, and Jake Woodley of North Allegheny at 195.

Wyoming Seminary returns to defend its team title from last year, edging Belle Vernon by 5.5 points. Kiski was third and Penn Ridge fourth.