CM Wrestlers Dismantle Ringgold and Connellsville

Do your job.

That workmanlike statement was both uttered and put on display by the Canon-McMillan wrestlers and coaches as they began their championship title defense in the WPIAL Class AAA team tournament on Wednesday night.

And if nothing else, through the tournament’s opening two rounds, the Big Macs have certainly handled their business.

Top-seeded Canon-McMillan began by dismantling Ringgold 64-3 in the first round of the tournament last night, picking up five pins in 14 matches. The Big Macs then went on to handle Connellsville Area High School in the ensuing quarterfinals match, 44-22, picking up five more pins and earning a place in Friday’s semifinal round against Kiski Area High School.

“As the defending WPIAL champions, we have a bull’s eye on our back,” Canon-McMillan coach Chris Mary said. “But our kids are hungry right now, and they’re wrestling with a lot of enthusiasm.”

That much was for certain, as the Big Macs (18-2) reeled off 13 wins in 14 matches against Ringgold to begin the evening. And Canon-McMillan seemed to be headed down the same path against

Connellsville—picking up wins in four straight matches to begin the quarterfinals—before a small seed of doubt was planted in the Big Macs’ minds.

Up 17-0 early against the Falcons, the tide suddenly turned against Canon-McMillan, as Connellsville dominated each of the three middle weight matches ranging from 152-171 pounds to close the scoring gap to just four. But then the Big Macs regained their footing.

“I was getting nervous there a little bit when it was 17-13,” said Canon-McMillan junior heavyweight Cody Klempay. “But I knew we’d still win.”

The Canon-McMillan turnaround began with junior Ian Binnoto’s 6-0 decision at 189 pounds, and continued through Klempay’s shoving match with Connellsville’s massive Brady Ritenour that ended in a second round pin for the Big Macs. It also ran Klempay’s undefeated record this season to 30-0.

“I’m only around 240, so it’s tough when I get those bigger 285 guys,” Klempay said. “I just have to keep pushing the action. Be the hunter, not the hunted. As soon as I got top, I knew that I was either going to ride him out or pin him. I wanted the pin.”

That run of wins put Canon-McMillan back in control at 32-13, at which point the team was able to once again count on lightweight standouts Colton Shorts and Conner Schram to do their jobs and seal up the victory.

“It was a team effort from our kids,” Mary said. “[The Falcons] have a nice lineup, but we got the matchups, and we got the big falls.”

The Big Macs now turn their attention to Friday’s 7:30 p.m. Class AAA semifinals match against Kiski Area at Chartiers. Kiski defeated Hempfield 43-23 in quarterfinal action last night to advance.

“We’re going to need big performances on Friday,” Mary said. “Kids have to know their jobs and roles.”

Added Klempay, when asked what it would take to derail his Big Macs’ title defense: “One hell of a lineup—I don’t know. We have a lot of really tough kids, great coaches and we work hard. We work harder and harder each day.”