With 8 starters back, Canon-McMillan wrestling has high expectations

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 | 8:51 PM

Life after Logan Macri is underway for the Canon-McMillan wrestling program as the Big Macs look to replace the 120-pound WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA champion.

With Macri now at West Virginia, Canon-McMillan is leaning on junior Gerrit Nijenhuis, who was a WPIAL runner-up and PIAA third-place finisher in the 160-pound weight class a year ago.

“(Macri) got a lot of team points, and off the mat he was one of our team captains and leaders. It’s a big loss but I think our guys followed him and saw how he worked,” coach Jeff Havelka said.

“They know what they need to do and step up and lead. We have some of the younger guys stepping up and taking more of a leadership role and filling that void.”

Nijenhuis lost to Belle Vernon’s Zachary Hartman, 3-1, in the WPIAL championship bout. At states, Nijenhuis defeated Mt. Lebanon’s Luke Stout, 3-0, in the third-place match.

“I think if he keeps working hard in the room and keeps working to get better on a few things here and there, I think he has a good shot at it,” Havelka said.

No. 2-ranked Canon-McMillan (1-0, 1-0 Section 4A-AAA) returns eight starters from a team that finished second to Kiski Area in the WPIAL Class AAA team championships last season.

The Big Macs lost to the Cavaliers, 33-24, in the WPIAL final. Canon-McMillan lost to Cathedral Prep, 42-22, in the third-place match at the PIAA tournament.

Junior Jimmy Baxter (120 pounds), junior Jacob Gardner (126), senior Kenny Hayman (132), junior Remington Ross (138), junior Tanner Rohaley (145), junior Evan Miller (195) and junior Giomar Ramos (285) all return to the Big Macs’ starting lineup this season.

“I think we had a few guys from last year that ended the year maybe not the way they wanted to, and they look like they are working hard in the room to reach their goals,” Havelka said.

“They are all pushing each other and working to get better. I think at the end of the year, they will be ready to go to accomplish what they set out to do.”

Canon-McMillan welcomed freshman Jacob Houpt (106) and sophomore Costa Moore (113) to the lineup.

“With all the guys coming back, we got good experience last year. We had some really good battles with Waynesburg, Seneca Valley and Kiski Area. All those guys got to see that, wrestle through that and experience it,” Havelka said.

In the early going this season, Nijenhuis captured titles at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic on Dec. 8 and North Canton tournament Dec. 15.

“We expect them to work hard every day and put in their best effort and work to get better every single day,” Havelka said.

“If they give 100 percent effort every day, they will continue to get better. We think if you do that good things happen on the mat.”

The Big Macs will travel to West Allegheny to face the Indians in a dual meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Canon-McMillan will tune-up for next week’s Powerade tournament by hosting a tri-meet with No. 3 Hempfield, no. 1 Kiski Area and No. 4 Seneca Valley, starting at 6 p.m. Friday.

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Canon-McMillan