2011-2012 WPIAL Wrestling Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, December 11, 2011 | 10:18 AM

The last two high school wrestling seasons have been written the same way, with Canon-McMillan and Burrell ending the year as WPIAL Champions. But can this year be any different? Lets preview the high school wrestling season in both AAA and AA. 

You can also listen in to the premiere of Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle Monday night at 7PM to get prepared for the start of section matches on Wednesday.

WPIAL CLASS AAA:

Last season Canon-McMillan breezed through the team tournament on their way to a second straight WPIAL Championship. Individually they claimed 5 WPIAL titles and 6 PIAA medals. Although they did lose one of their best wrestlers in Nick Catalano, a WPIAL Champion and PIAA runner-up, they added a replacement who is just as accomplished as Cody Wiercioch, a WPIAL Champion and PIAA runner-up as well, transferred from Charleroi. Everyone else is back for the Big Macs, including Colt Shorts, Conner Schram, Solomon Chisko, Cody Klempay, and Dario Dobbin, who will look to bring their school a third straight championship and individually another PIAA medal.

The stiffest competition for Canon-McMillan will likely come from Section 1, where last years WPIAL runner-up Latrobe will be among those looking to challenge the Big Macs. Latrobe lost four total starters from last season, but their core still remains. Returning will be Ty Lydic, Dominic Scalise, Derrick Zavatsky, Zack Zavatsky, Richie Hall, and Scott Mohring.

Latrobe’s trip to the team tournament will not be easy though, as Section 1 offers the stiffest competition. The teams will look different as Kiski Area lost five starters, Franklin Regional six, Central Catholic four, Norwin five, and Penn Trafford six. But much of the core remains for each of these squads while some of the young talent will be counted on to step in and play a major role to knock off Latrobe in Section 1.

Other top teams looking to challenge Canon-McMillan will be North Allegheny, Butler, Hampton, Greensburg Salem, Connellsville, and Chartiers Valley. North Allegheny will be without many of its wrestlers like they were a year ago as the Tigers try to win a PIAA football title. Butler has many starters returning but lost key contributors from last years run, including Cole Baxter, a three time WPIAL finalist. Hampton, Greensburg Salem, and Chartiers Valley are three teams to watch coming into 2011-2012, as each team brings back many of their starters who helped them get back on the right track last season.
 

WPIAL CLASS AA:

The Burrell Buccaneers have been on quite a run, winning the last five WPIAL team championships. But this could be the year when there may be a changing of the guard in AA. Burrell lost seven starters, with Travis McKillop, Dave Makara, Jeremy Landowski, Brian Beattie, and Cole Harkins all graduating, Zach Kelly transferring to Kiski Prep, and JR Andrejcik already out for the season with a shoulder injury. In addition there is a coaching change, as Ryan Yates is out and Bud Sines is in to try and keep the championship streak alive.

With Burrell being at its most vulnerable, teams will have their best chance to win a championship in 2011-2012. WPIAL runner-up Chartiers Houston will be the first team to try and take the title away from Burrell, as they try to replace six starters themselves. The core of their team will return though, including Tanner Sutton, Garrett Vulcano, Richie McGinnis, Andrew Vernau, and Nate Grandelis. In Section 1 Chartiers-Houston will face its toughest opponent in their Sub-Section, as Burgettstown looks to rebound after losing a year ago to the Buccaneers.

Another team who will be tough to beat is Jefferson-Morgan. They lost three starters, with Jason Miller, Ryan Zalar, Dustin Conti, Joe Phillips, and Brian Rush all coming back. One of their toughest challenges in Section 2 will once again be Bentworth, who split their season series last year.

With Burrell being vulnerable for the WPIAL crown, which also means that Section 3 is up for grabs for the first time in years. Kittanning and Keystone Oaks figure to be the toughest competition for Burrell to repeat in the Section.

News and Notes:

For the first time in 23 years, high school wrestling saw a major shift in weight classes. Last season the weight classes were 103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215, and 285.

This season the weight classes will be 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, and 285.