Feb 24, 2018 4 min read

Canon-McMillan High School senior wrestler Tim Hritsko takes notice of the noise circulating around him.

“I have heard from everyone around here say that he’s the best in the WPIAL and just tortures people with his legs,” Hritsko said about Waynesburg’s Jackson Henson, who also wrestles in the 138-pound weight class.

Hritsko, who is winless this season in the matches he’s had against Henson, didn’t forget what Henson said in mid-December.

“I don’t think there is anyone who can go with me,” Henson, who won titles at 113 and 126 in West Virginia, over the last two years, said during an interview with the Observer-Reporter in December.

Hritsko not only took exception to what Henson said, but took a risk when the two met in the Class AAA Section 4 championship Saturday afternoon at Trinity High School.

It paid off.

Despite a Henson escape with 37 seconds remaining, Hritsko held on for a 2-1 decision to win an individual section title. It was just the tipping point of the success Canon-McMillan had against the Raiders in the section tournament as the Big Macs won all four of the head-to-head matchups in the finals.

“I’ve lost a lot to (Henson) a lot this year but haven’t gone bottom against him,” Hritsko said. “I decided to go bottom and take a risk. That is where I was able to get my points. I saw what he said earlier in the season and wanted to prove him wrong. This is my first section championship. I’ve been wanting this moment for four years.”

Jimmy Baxter (106), Logan Macri (120) and Giomar Ramos (heavyweight) had the Big Macs’ other wins over Waynesburg opponents in the finals, and Gerrit Nijenhuis took an 11-2 major decision at 160 over Central Catholic’s Vincenzo Rauso.

“Our guys have been chomping at the bit to get out here and wrestle someone else because we haven’t competed in two weeks,” said C-M coach Jeff Havelka. “They were excited to get out here and get it done.”

The excitement for Hritsko was matched by Havelka as he lifted him up in the air while teammates congratulated him on making it to “the wall” – a area in the Canon-McMillan wrestling room dedicated to its champions – in one of his final attempts as a senior.

“This is the last time to get things done, and being able to accomplish that, I’m on cloud nine,” Hritsko said.

Havelka isn’t limiting the 138-pounder to just a section title.

“There is a lot of history and tradition at Canon-Mac. It’s a big deal to get your name up on that wall,” he said. “The kids see it every day and know once your name is up there, it will be there forever. Tim has worked hard every day. He is motivated. He wants to win a WPIAL title. He made a goal of placing top three in the state.”

Baxter, a sophomore, began the successful run in the finals for the Big Macs with a pin in 1:48.

Maybe the most highly anticipated match in the finals was a battle of a pair of the top wrestlers in the state, Waynesburg’s Wyatt Henson against Macri at 120-pound weight class. Macri won a 5-1 decision.

“The plan was to open the gap and keep increasing it to get where I wanted to be,” Macri said. “My goal is to win states and I’m working toward that.”

The Raiders, who entered the section tournament with 12 wrestlers, advanced 11 to the WPIAL Championships at Canon-McMillan next weekend. The Raiders had three section champions.

Caleb Morris (126) improved to 37-6 on the season with a fall at 2:50 against Hopewell’s Jacob Ealy, who entered the bout with only one loss.

Freshman Luca Augustine (132) earned a 7-2 decision, and Kyle Homet (170) won by forfeit in the finals.

“Our No. 1 seeds lost at 138 and 152,” said Waynesburg coach Joe Throckmorton. “I’m sure they are not happy about it, so I’m not happy about it. We wrestled well. It will motivate them for sure. You just have to up your game, and that’s what they will have to be ready to do for regionals and states.”

Xane Stock was one of only two wrestlers in the finals for Trinity. Stock, in the 182-pound weight class, won by fall at 1:56.