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WRASLIN’ ROUND-UP
By: Jerry Seaman for the Recorder
January 4, 2008
Canonsburg, PA——The 41st Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament took place on December 28-29 at the Canon McMillan High School, Canonsburg, PA. The tournament director, Frank Vulcano, Jr., and his staff once more ran one of the top six wrestling tournaments in the entire nation. After this years go, I would go so far as to rank it in the top three behind the Iron Man and the Beast Of The East. This tournament gets better every year with new teams added from far and near. Harrison High School made the trip up from Georgia and found out just how tough it is The Medved twins, Ryan –135- and Alex –140- both won fourth place while their teammate, Josh Cordon –160- made the finals. He lost a decision to Steve Bosak, State College, 3-0.
Johnston wins a third title
Colin Johnston, senior from Canon-McMillan, made it three gold’s when he defeated Burrell’s Shane Welsh in the finals, 5-2. The West Virginia bound Johnston became the thirteenth Powerade wrestler to win three titles. He was also voted the Outstanding Wrestler award
With forty-two teams from six states in this year’s tournament it made a rough go for the local wrestlers. Only eight came out of the tournament with a medal.
Canonsburg got the most with five. Joining Johnston were teammates: Sam Brownlee, third at 285; Mitch Hull, third at 215; Chris Pihiou, sixth at 140; and Nick Catalano, took seventh at 125.
Canon-McMillan head coach Chris Mary summed it up very well when he said; “This tournament is brutal.”
Trinity, Waynesburg, and Burgettstown each got one place finisher. Todd Martinek took Sixth at 160 for Trinity. Dan Conley took a sixth at 215 for Burgettstown, and Waynesburg’s Vince Camps earned an eighth place finish at 135.
McGuffey, Trinity, and Waynesburg are all in the rebuild mode. Two, McGuffey and Waynesburg have new head coaches.
Joe Throckmorton for Waynesburg and Jeff Breese for McGuffey. “It will take us a little while to get the program back on track. We have good numbers in the youth program feeding into the junior high.” Said Jeff Breese. “You can’t help but get better working out for two hours a day.”
McGuffey made its first appearance back in the tournament after four years. They got two wrestlers seeded. Alex Dunaway third at 103 and Nick Whipkey eighth at 125.
Neither made the cut to the medal round.
Central Dauphin won the tournament with 214.5 points. Connellsville was fifth with 144 points, and Canon-McMillan was ninth with 132 points.
Go for the pin! Happy New Year!!!
