Canon-McMillan High School has dominated in the sport of wrestling for over 90 years. A brief history of the program reveals that the team is one of the most historic in the nation. CM holds the record dual meet wins in the state with 1,075, among other records. State champs and NCAA champs alike have wrestled in the practice room at the Canonsburg, PA high school since the days that R.J. O'Connell started the intramural program. Canon Mac's 90th season is officially over, and we're looking back on our history.
PIAA State Tournament Recap
The Big Macs put on one final performance of the season at the PIAA State Tournament. The team brought three wrestlers and placed two of them. After four years in pursuit of a State title, Logan Macri accomplished his goal by plowing through the 120 lb. weight class. With the finals win, Logan became CM's 44th State Champion. Gerrit Nijenhuis also made his way onto the podium with a bronze medal. Though he lost in the semifinals on a controversial call, Gerrit wrestled back for 3rd at 160 lbs. CM’s final wrestler, Tim Hritsko wrestled for his first time in the Individual State tournament and earned two wins before falling in the bloodround to go to placing. While Tim did not place, his points accumulated with his teammates earned the team a respectable 5th place team finish with 53.5 points behind Kiski (60 pts), Bethlehem Catholic (68.5 pts), Cathedral Prep (72 pts), and Nazareth (87 pts). Below are the match-by-match scores, as found on FloArena:
Mat Madness 2018: And Your Winner. . .
The Boards: Present Victory, Eternal Glory
Roaring crowds, shining gold medals, thrilling emotions, and a flood of congratulations make a victory in the present a feeling unlike any other. But what happens after the fact? Does a win stay forever rooted in a particular gym only to be remembered by those who witnessed the act? Maybe not in today’s society with live streaming, photographs, and videos that can be saved and rewatched for years to come. However, the moments from the 1930’s may be hard to come by.
Mat Madness 2018: Division Finals
Mat Madness continues to stun fans with more upsets. It was apparently clear-cut for the Blue Age to host the #1 and #2 wrestlers in the finals, but the other three divisions were not so straightforward. #3 Manuel Pihakis edged out NCAA All-American Elias George to advance to the Gunners Division Finals. On the opposite side of the bracket, #6 Bruce Cridge advanced with a second upset against NCAA Champion; however, he now faces the wrestler with the most votes in the tournament thus far, Mark Angle. And in the final division, #4 Johnston pulled out a close victory over the only #1 seed not to advance, Solomon Chishko.
Mat Madness 2018: Round 2
Section 4 AAA Recap
The Big Macs didn’t disappoint in the Section 4 AAA Championships this weekend, qualifying 10 wrestlers for the WPIAL tournament next weekend at Canon-McMillan High School starting Friday (3/2). The team ended with the most 1st place finishes in the tournament (5) over Waynesburg (3). Logan Macri earned his 3rd straight section title, while Nijenhuis earned his 2nd championship. Below are the results from the championship and consolation matches
CM Dual Meet Season Recap
Big Macs Take 4th at PIAA Team State Tournament
Canon-McMillan started the 2017-2018 season ranked 4th in the WPIAL, but ended it by placing 4th at the PIAA team state tournament. The squad racked up 6 regular season wins, including a big upset against Kiski Area. The Big Macs earned 2 more wins by smashing through the Section tournament to win the program’s 17th straight title. The boys made it all the way to the WPIAL finals before they dropped their first loss to rival Kiski Area in another tight match.
So You Think You Know CM Wrestling Quiz
CM Claims Silver in WPIAL Team Tournament
Alumni Spotlight: Angelo Broglia
CM Wins 17th Straight Section Title
Wrestler of the Week: Giomar Ramos
CM wrestling fans have been treated to bios of the 106, 113, 120, 126, 138, 145, and 160 lb. weight classes in our Wrestler of the Week series. But, where are the heavier weights? Well, this week we move up to the biggest weight class that there is with this week’s Wrestler of the Week, Giomar Ramos.
Alumni Spotlight: Mike Hull
Wrestler of the Week: Michael Binni
Wrestler of the Week: Tanner Rohaley
This past weekend the Big Macs wrestled in the Tri-County Wrestling Tournament (TRICADA). With ten boys wrestling, the Big Macs took second place behind Waynesburg, and they came away with three champions: Jimmy Baxter (106), Gerrit Nijenhuis (160), and Tanner Rohaley (145). For his first high school tournament win, we’re crowning Tanner as our Wrestler of the Week.
Mid-Season Canon-McMillan Wrestling Updates (CCNS, JH, HS, College)
Wrestler of the Week: Tim Hritsko
The Wrestler of the Week series has been on holiday hiatus, but we’re back with another edition. This past weekend the Big Macs took 8th place at the Powerade tournament, and three wrestlers placed, including Logan Macri (1st), Gerrit Nijenhuis (3rd), and this week’s WotW, Tim Hritsko (6th). When Tim battled back through the consolation bracket by beating two state champs from MD and VA, Tim stood smiling on the podium with his first Powerade medal.