(Pictured: Matt Furman is one of several returning wrestlers for Canon-McMillan. Photo Credit: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac.) This article was written and released by Joe Tuscano of the Observer-Reporter. The original article can be found by clicking here.
In his second year as head coach at Canon-McMillan, Brian Krenzelak suffered a loss before the first whistle blew.
Krenzelak’s uncle, Manuel “Buns” Pihakis, died in November and wrestling just won’t be the same at Canon-McMillan.
While the familiar face of Pihakis won’t be there, there are a lot of wrestlers returning for the first dual meet of the season, which is Dec. 14 against Waynesburg.
Four major wrestlers – Jacob Houpt, Tyler Soule, Gianmarco Ramos and Landon Simms – were lost to graduation. But adding punch with their return are Tanner Mizenko, Brandon Dami, Andrew Binni, Matthew Furman and Gabe Stafford.
“We should be decent. I don’t think we’ll be any worse than last year, top-four team in the WPIAL,” said Krenzelak. “Tanner was a state qualifier, Brandon was a state qualifier and Andrew Binni’s back. He was fifth in the WPIAL but I had that whole weight loss thing. If he was down at 120, he would have placed.”
Furman was fourth in the state and Staffford was a state qualifier.
“We’re pretty excited about Geno Calgaro, who went 6-3 as a sophomore,” said Krenzelak. “He ‘had a broken wrist in football and we didn’t get him back until January last year. He’ll start at 215 and he’s really tough. I expect him to make it to states this year.
“The key for everyone is health. I don’t think a lot of teams, outside of Latrobe, has a lot of depth.”
C-H tournament
One of the better first-weekend tournaments gets underway Friday. The two-day Chartiers-Houson tournament will have 32 teams including Burgettstown, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A.
Semifinals will be held 11 a.m. Saturday with the finals at 2:30 p.m.
Changes
The WPIAL has scrapped its subsection system. Instead, Class 3A will have six sections.
Class 2A packed on seven teams that dropped from 3A: Albert Gallatin, Beaver, Belle Vernon, Greensburg Salem, Hampton, Highlands and Indiana.
Penn Hills and New Castle in Class 3A and Chartiers-Houston in Class 2A have pulled out of the WPIAL team scheduling.
For the individual tournament, the WPIAL will combine Sections 1 and 2, Sections 3 and 4, and Sections 5 and 6 to create three sectional qualifiers, named Northern, Southern and Eastern. The top six wrestlers from each sectional will advance to the WPIAL individual tournament.
The top three teams from each section will advance to the WPIAL Team Tournament.
Class 3A
Preseason rankings: 1. Waynesburg; 2. Trinity; 3. Hempfield; 4. Latrobe; 5. Canon-McMillan; 6. Connellsville; 7. Bethel Park; 8. North Allegheny; 9. Kiski; 10. Butler.
Team breakdowns:
Canon-McMillan
Key losses: Jacob Houpt (130, 36-8, 6th in PIAA), Gianmarco Ramos (160, 14-10)
Key returns: Tanner Mizenko (11, 106, 31-14), Brandon Dami (12, 113, 27-11), Andrew Binney (11, 126, 29-14); Matthew Furman (12, 172, 35-10, 4th in PIAA), Gabe Stafford (12, 189, 31-11)
Comment: Middleweights a concern.
Peters Township
Key losses: Richard Meyers (120, 19-16); Phillip Nave (215, 29-11)
Key returns: Darius McMillon (10, 113, 30-5); Chris Cibrone (11, 138, 30-12); Noah Schratz (12, 145, 21-14)
Comment: McMillon is fun to watch.
Ringgold
Key losses: Dante Compagni (Hvy, 29-13)
Key returns: Jack Duncan (11, 126, 25-9); Jake Conway (10, 189, 32-6); Brayden Wilcher (12, 215, 27-15)
Comment: Conway pleasant surprise for Rams.
South Fayette
Key losses: James Anderson, (113, 31-14);
Key returns: Luke Dunlap (11, 113, 21-3), Jonathan Baiano (11, 126, 26-11); Jacob Potts (12, 132, 24-15), Talan Mizenko (10, 138, 20-13)
Comment: Middle and upper weights a problem for the Lions.
Trinity
Key losses: Drew Cain (189, 17-8)
Key returns: T.J. Allison (10, 106, 28-13), Blake Reihner (11, 132, 35-12); Bodie Morgan (11, 160, 8-6 injured), Ty Banco (12, 285, 34-7)
Comment: It will be interesting to see what a healthy Miller can do.
Waynesburg
Key losses: Zander Phaturos (126, 37-11 6th in PIAA), Colton Stoneking (138, 42-127, 5th in PIAA); Cole Homet (145, 2-1 injured), Noah Tustin (285, 43-15, 7th in PIAA)
Key returns: Ky Szewczyk (11, 113, 19-11); Joe Simon (11, 120, 18-2); Mac Church (12, 132, 38-2, State champion); Nate Jones (12, 145, 15-9); Rocco Welsh (12, 172, 46-1, State champion); Brody Evans (12, 189, 37-12), Eli Makel (12, 215, 36-11)
Comment: Can Waynesburg make it four WPIAL titles in a row?
Class 2A
Top 10: 1. Burgettstown; 2. Burrell; 3. Laurel; 4. Quaker Valley; 5. Jefferson-Morgan; 6. Mt. Pleasant; 7. Highlands; 8. Derry; 9. Keystone Oaks; 10. Elizabeth Forward.
Team breakdowns:
Belle Vernon
Key losses: Logan Hoffman (189, 39-3); Cole Weightman (215, 13-3, 2nd in PIAA)
Key returns: Kole Doppelheuer (10, 138, 32-8)
Comment: Loss of Weightman, Hoffman hurts.
Bentworth
Key losses: None
Key returns: Chris Vargo (11, 120, 30-4 5th in PIAA); Vitali Daniels (11, Hvy, 30-8)
Comment: Vargo looking to better last year’s showing.
Beth-Center
Key losses: Davis Stepp (126, 29-18), Kyle McCollom (132, 39-8, 8th in PIAA), Tyler Fischer (126, 18-8); Trevor Pettit (160, 36-6); Alston Csuttoros (189, 27-17)
Key returns: Tyler Debnar (12, 145, 28-15); Tyler Berish (12, 152, 39-6, 8th in PIAA);
Comment: Bulldogs have lost 185 wins to graduation.
Burgettstown
Key losses: Anthony Lancos (145, 34-13); D.J. Slovick (160, 36-15);
Key returns: Parker Sentipal (11, 106, 42-5, 8th in PIAA); Dylan Slovick (11, 120, 30-16); Gavin Suica (11, 126, 32-10, 8th in PIAA) Joey Sentipal (12, 132, 39-7), Rudy Brown (11, 138, 34-14), Eric Kovach (11, 152, 28-18); Joey Baronick (11, Hvy, 29-17)
Comment: Blue Devils top preseason team in Class 2A.
Chartiers-Houston
Key losses: None
Key returns: Jesse Orbin (12, 160, 14-8)
Comment: Bucs have pulled out of WPIAL team event.
Fort Cherry: Key losses: Mitchell Cook (215, 30-10)
Key returns: Shawn Roberson (10, 106, 31-10), Braeden Welsh (10, 160, 31-10), Anthony Salvini (11, 189, 25-18)
Comment: Cook is a big loss for Rangers.
Jefferson-Morgan
Key losses: None
Key returns: Chase Framelli (11, 145, 33-7); Grant Hathaway (11, 138, 23-12), Johnny Gilbert (10, 152, 24-9) Mason Sisler (11, 285, 22-9)
Comment: Rockets have interesting lineup.
McGuffey
Key losses: None
Key returns: Kyle Brookman (12, 160, 24-12)
Comment: Highlanders have a long way to go.
Washington
Key losses: Mike Ewing (172, 25-7), Cameron Carter-Greene (Hvy, 29-6)
Key returns: Nick Blanchette (12, 152, 12-8)
Comment: Searching for the next best thing.
West Greene
Key losses: None
Key returns: Seth Burns (11, 113, 19-12), Parker Smith (12, 132, 21-13)
Comment: Burns, Smith good 1-2 punch.
Alignments
Class 3A
Section 1:
- Armstrong, Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Kiski Area, Plum, Shaler
Section 2:
- Butler, Mars, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley
Section 3:
- Franklin Regional, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Ringgold, Thomas Jefferson, West Mifflin
Section 4:
- Connellsville, Gateway, Hempfield, Latrobe, McKeesport
Section 5:
- Chartiers Valley, Moon, South Fayette, Trinity, Waynesburg Central, West Allegheny
Section 6:
- Baldwin, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair
Class 2A
Section 1:
- Bentworth, Beth-Center, Burgettstown, Fort Cherry, Jefferson-Morgan, McGuffey, Washington, West Greene
Section 2:
- Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, Frazier, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Yough
Section 3:
- Avonworth, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks, Montour, Quaker Valley, South Allegheny, South Park
Section 4:
- Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Freedom, Hopewell, South Side
Section 5:
- Ellwood City, Hampton, Highlands, Knoch, Laurel, North Catholic, Summit Academy
Section 6: Burrell, Derry, Greensburg Salem, Indiana, Ligonier Valley, Riverview, Valley