Notebook: North Allegheny, Carlynton face tough decision
By Paul Schofield
TRIBUNE-REVIEWThe North Allegheny and Carlynton wrestling teams face an interesting dilemma, do they wrestle their final matches Wednesday or do they forfeit because they would have participated in too many competitions under PIAA rules.
North Allegheny is scheduled to visit Shaler, while Carlynton is supposed to travel to Laurel.
Teams are permitted to participate in 24 competitions under PIAA rules. North Allegheny and Carlynton, which have reached their maximum, each have one section matche remaining. "They have a decision to make," said WPIAL Executive Director Larry Hanley. "They technically haven't broken any rules, yet. The wrestling committee won't act until the school's make a decision."
For Carlynton, which hasn't won a match this season, its problem doesn't seem as big as unbeaten North Allegheny. The Tigers (12-0 overall and 10-0 in the section) are scheduled to battle rival Shaler (16-0, 10-0) for first-place in Section 3-AAA. "We're double checking our schedule and the tournaments to see if we did violate the rule," said North Allegheny Athletic Director Tim O'Malley. "We've informed the WPIAL that we're looking into the situation. We want to make sure we don't penalize our wrestlers or any Shaler wrestlers."
According the Hanley, no wrestlers will be penalized. "Historically, the committee will look at two things," Hanley said. "Did the school turn itself in and was the mistake by design or done purposely. We want to be fair and sometimes you won't make people happy." Hanley said he suspects a lot of schools violated the rule in the past because of a misinterpretation.
"The PIAA told us before to make sure schools understood how to clarify competitions at a tournament," Hanley said. "A tournament that runs in a normal process and had five or more teams participating, would constitute three competitions. A three- or four-team tournament would be two competitions and a duel meet would be one. For example, if a team participated in an eight-team tournament and the team met every team, it would be counted as seven competitions."
Trinity, Elderton and West Mifflin were some of the district teams that were forced to alter their schedules this year.
FALCONS' SOAR, LIONS' ROAR: Connellsville captured the team title at the Seneca Valley tournament Saturday with 199.5 points. Host Seneca Valley was second, followed by Kiski Area and Greensburg Salem. The Falcons had 10 placewinners, including champions Ron Doppelheuer (119), Nathan Shearer (135) and Matt King (152).
Greensburg Salem had the most champions - four. Billy Smith, who became the Golden Lions' all-time pin leader, captured the 135 title. Smith has 60 pins, breaking the mark held by heavyweight Eugene Zulisky (57).
George Carter, who captured the 140 title, won his 100th career match when he pinned Hempfield's Tony DeNezza in the semifinals. Bill Selembo (130) and Greg Jones (125) were the Golden Lions other winners. It was the second time this the four had won titles. They were Westmoreland County Coaches Association Invitational winners.
TAKEDOWNS: Mt. Pleasant coach Rob Waller will reach the 300-win plateau Wednesday if his Vikings defeat Albert Gallatin. ... Even though is team hasn't won a match, Carlynton's Dan Butera (112) was unbeaten with a 23-0 mark. ...Chartiers Valley's Brian Hutton (103) and Mike Minella (171) won titles at Seneca Valley.
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