Monday, February 9, 1998

Macs win big, set up rematch

BY JOE TUSCANO
THE OBSERVER-REPORTER

CANONSBURG -- The rematch is Tuesday.

Canon-McMillan High School's wrestling team will get another shot at McGuffey, thanks to Saturday's 48-16 victory over Woodland Hills in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament here.

The victory, coupled with McGuffey's win over Keystone Oaks last night, sets up Tuesday's quarterfinal showdown in Claysville. The Highlanders captured the Section 3 title, thanks in part to a 28-26 victory over the Big Macs.

"We'll be there Tuesday,'' C-M head coach Ken Smith promised.

That the Big Macs are even competing in the tournament is quite an achievement. They needed a victory over Trinity on the final day of the regular season to create a three-way tie for second place in the section. And for most of the season, they have competed with just 13 wrestlers.

Now that they're in the team tournament, the Big Macs would like an extended stay. They broke away from Woodland Hills, which trailed 19-16 after the 145-pound bout, in the final five weight classes.

Glenn Haynes began the run of three pins, a technical fall and a forfeit when he turned Woodland Hills' Chris Johnson over in 37 seconds to give C-M a 25-16 lead. Brandon Neuman's pin of Nick Laurito at 160 came one second faster than Haynes'.

Brian Neuman followed with a 17-1 technical fall over Rich McMillan at 171, Matt Woodhouse received a forfeit at 189 and Lee Tornabene beat the time of Neuman and Haynes when he pinned Brian Johnson in 23 seconds to end the dual meet.

"Our first eight kids have been the kids who have won for us,'' said head coach Bob Ladic, who led the Wolverines to an 8-5 record and a second-place tie in Section 4. "We knew we were going to give up 30 points at the end because we are so inexperienced. But our first eight kids gave them a good match.''

It also gave Smith a headache.

"We just didn't score enough points,'' he said. "We didn't know that much about (Woodland Hills) but I don't think our kids wrestled well.''

Neil Maggi staked C-M to a 4-0 lead with an 11-3 decision over Chad Petrina to start the bout and Josh Pivac pinned Jamal Loman in 2:43 to make it 10-0. But Woodland Hills clawed back with a pin by Adam Curry at 119, Kevin Doyle's decision at 130 and Rudy Hudale's decision at 135. Suddenly Canon-McMillan's lead was just 16-12.

R.J. Quaresima took a 2-1 decision over Rob Adams at 140. Adams took Quaresima down at the end of the bout but it came just after the buzzer. Tony Prodoscimo's 16-7 major decision over the Big Macs' Aaron Gibbs brought Woodland Hills to within three, 19-16.

But that's where Canon-McMillan took over and earned another chance at McGuffey.

"This is a tough sport,'' said Smith, shaking his head. "Pretty soon the sections and regionals will be here and then it will be all over.''

But before that happens, Canon-McMillan will have another shot at McGuffey

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Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co. Last updated 2-9-98