Big Macs breeze to semifinals
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis pins Hampton’s Chad Scherer.
Canon-McMillan’s Tanner Rohaley gets the win by fall over Hampton’s Liam Helon in the 145 final bout
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Peters Township’s Luke Mary trips Hampton’s Chad Scherer during the 170-pound bout in the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament.
CANONSBURG – Stretching their muscles on a chilly Wednesday evening, the Canon-McMillan Big Macs put on an overwhelming display in the first two rounds of the WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Team Tournament.
Canon-McMillan scored a combined 113 points in racking up two victories, a 51-21 rout of Upper St. Clair in the first round and a 62-3 pasting of Hampton in the quarterfinals.
The two wins advance the top-seeded Big Macs to Saturday’s semifinals, which will be held at Trinity at noon. The finals will follow at 2 p.m. The Big Macs will take on Hempfield in the semifinals. The Spartans defeated No. 4 Seneca Valley on tiebreaking criteria after the bout ended, 31-31. No. 2 Kiski and No. 3 Waynesburg will be paired in the other semifinal bout, which will be wrestled side-by-side with C-M.
The top three times advance to next week’s PIAA Team Tournament in Hershey.
“We wrestled really well and this will be a good momentum builder going into Saturday,” said C-M head coach Jeff Havelka. “Our guys are wrestling hard throughout the match and throughout the entire positions. They are doing what we ask them to do, whether it’s bump up a weight or wrestle hard through the match.”
The Big Macs had six pins against Hampton and 11 combined for the two wins. Against the Talbots, Jimmy Baxter (106), Tim Hritsko (138), Tanner Rohaley (145), Gerrit Nijenhuis (170), Alec Hendal (195) and Zach Rohaley (220) won by fall.
“I have full confidence that this team can win a state team title this year,” said Nijenhuis. “Coach said don’t overlook anyone. That’s how teams get knocked off. We treat every team the same. If we do that, I don’t think any team can beat us.”
Hampton head coach Chris Hart said this was a learning experience.
“We see what we have to work on to get better,” said Hart. “And that means doing more than the two hours we put in at practice. All these guys on Canon-Mac’s team go to clubs. We have very few guys who do that. I was proud of our effort in the first match and disappointed with it in the second.”
There were a few extra fans in the Big Macs gymnasium because the Class AA pod at McGuffey had to be moved after a waterline broke at the school. Four extra Double-A teams were on hand and McGuffey persevered, 38-31, over South Fayette in the quarterfinals.
Hampton 42, Peters Township 33: Hampton won three of the final five bouts by fall to take a 42-33 victory in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament.
Registering pins for the Talbots were Cam Rakar (106), Zac Wright (132), Justin Hart (182), and Dawson Dietz (220).
Winning by fall for Peters Township were Bryce Wilkes (113), Donovan McMillon (138), Jeff Markert (195) and Grant Nelson (Hvy).
Canon-McMillan 51, Upper St. Clair 21: Canon-McMillan won the first six bouts and never looked back in a 51-21 victory in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament.
Kenny Hayman (120), Tanner Rohaley (145), Gerrit Nijenhuis (160) and Evan Miller (170) each won by fall for Canon-McMillan.
Sean Martin (152) and Quinn Murray (182) had pins for USC.