Top teams on display in showcase
Let’s call it the Dec. 21 Showcase.
The WPIAL’s top four Class 3A wrestling teams will face off in a showcase that will obviously play a big part in seeding of the WPIAL team tournament.
“My athletic director, Frank Vulcano, came up with the idea during last year’s Powerade Tournament,” Canon-McMillan coach Jeff Havelka said. “It’s a great way to feature four of the top teams. We didn’t know at the time that we would be the top four teams in the [Post-Gazette’s] preseason rankings.”
Kiski Area, Canon-McMillan, Seneca Valley and Hempfield are the participants for the Dec. 21 showcase at Canon-McMillan High School. It’s not a complete quadrangular, because each team will only face two opponents.
“Kiski Area and Hempfield didn’t want to wrestle since they are in the same section,” Havelka said. “And Canon-McMillan and Seneca Valley will not wrestle each other. Each team will face two very good opponents.”
At 6 p.m., Canon-McMillan will face Hempfield, while Kiski Area is matched up with Seneca Valley. At 8 p.m., Kiski Area and Canon-McMillan will wrestle, while Hempfield and Seneca Valley face off.
Kiski Area has won two consecutive WPIAL Class 3A team tournament titles. Canon-McMillan has placed second the past three years. Seneca Valley placed third last year. Hempfield should have been in the semifinals, but a mistake by its athletic department on the eligibility of a Spartan wrestler allowed Seneca Valley to advance.
The following is the PostGazette’s WPIAL Class 3A preseason top 10.
1. Kiski Area (21-2) — The Cavaliers have nine starters returning, including seven who had 20 or more wins last year. Add to that three freshmen expected to make an impact and coach Chris Heater has a squad that is the favorite once again. Kiski’s lineup includes three PIAA qualifiers: Cam Connor (40-7 at 145), Jack Blumer (39-9 at 152) and Nick Delp (38-10 at 160).
2. Canon-McMillan (153) — The Big Macs have been a WPIAL final-four finisher 10 of the past 11 years, including runner-up finishes the past three years. Six starters are back who recorded 20 or more wins last season. The Big Macs top returnees are juniors Gerrit Nijenhuis (44-6 at 160) and Jimmy Baxter (39-13 at 106), and senior Ken Hayman (34-11 at 126).
3. Seneca Valley (17-4) — The Raiders placed third in the WPIAL last season and earned their first trip to the PIAA team tournament. Coach Kevin Wildrick has 10 starters returning, including seven who had 27 or more wins last year. The top returnees are Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (46-8 at 106), Dylan Chappell (37-13 at 113) and Nick Montalabano (3513 at 145).
4. Hempfield (19-2) — Former Connellsville coach Tom Dolde Jr. takes over a Spartans squad that advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals last season. Eight starters return who had 19 or more wins, including three PIAA qualifiers: senior Kyle Burkholder (40-5 at 113) and sophomores Ty Linsenbigler (33-7 at 138) and Isaiah Vance (34-9 at 285). Burkholder placed third in the WPIAL.
5. Waynesburg (14-4) — The Raiders have qualified for the WPIAL team tournament 14 of the past 15 years. The Raiders, who placed fourth in the WPIAL last year, must replace four PIAA qualifiers. Seven starters return who had 16 or more wins last year. The top returnees are seniors Caleb Morris (31-12 at 145) and Trey Howard (35-10 at 152).
6. Greensburg Salem (97) — The Golden Lions enter the season with a seven-year streak of WPIAL team tournament appearances. Coach Randy Parsley has eight starters returning, including seven who had 15 or more wins last season. The top returnees are juniors Ian Ewing (27-14 at 145), John Meyers (25-13 at 195) and Trent Patrick (27-14 at 285).
7. Connellsville (14-4) — The WPIAL began its team tournament format in 1979. The Falcons are the only team in WPIAL history to qualify all 40 years. The Falcons have eight starters returning, including five who had 20 or more wins last season. The top returnees are sophomore Mason Prinkey (24-9 at 106), and seniors Dylan Ross (27-10 at 132) and Colin Franks (27-12 at 138).
8. Hampton (20-3) — The Talbots have all but three starters back from a squad that made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals last year. Ten starters are back who had 15 or more wins last year, including a pair of PIAA qualifiers: junior Kyler Kocak (368 at 120) and sophomore Justin Hart (38-6 at 182).
9. Peters Township (143) — The Indians have qualified for the WPIAL team tournament the past nine years. Seven starters return who had 19 or more wins last season. The Indians top returnees are sophomore Donovan McMillon (30-8 at 132), and seniors Brandon Matthews (27-9 at 152) and Jeff Markert (28-4 at 182).
10. Thomas Jefferson (9-5) — The Jaguars lost one starter to graduation. Eight starters return who recorded 14 or more wins last season, including two who had 30 or more wins: junior Brendan Finnerty (30-8 at 132) and senior Alex Weber (33-6 at 138). Senior Max Shaw (27-4 at 182) placed third in the PIAA.