PIAA Wrestling Tournament Begins Tonight

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, Canon-McMillan’s Colton Shorts was a scrawny 90-pound sophomore trying to hold his own against bigger, stronger competition in the 103-pound weight class.

Sure, he scrapped his way to a 25-10 record. But battling that weight discrepancy as well as his opponent made him feel as though he were a kid wrestling grown men every time he stepped on the mat — which was often in what turned out to be a
WPIAL Class AAA championship and state semifinal season for Shorts’ Big Macs.

This year, the Canon-McMillan wrestlers repeated as WPIAL team champions, and they made the state tournament again as well—earning a first round bye and opening in the second round tonight against Nazareth at the Giant Center in Hershey.

But oh, how things have changed.

Like so many of his teammates, Shorts has grown into his role on the Big Macs’ roster. With harder, longer training sessions, and the addition of a weight lifting regimen, the Canon-McMillan wrestlers have developed into a stronger, more experienced version of the team they were last year.

And now, instead of struggling to get by, Shorts (35-1) and the Big Macs feel they are ready to make a run at a state title.

“It’s totally different this year,” Shorts said. “Instead of feeling like I’m wrestling a grown man, I feel like I’m the one wrestling a 90-pound kid.”

Shorts hasn’t been the only one to bridge the developmental gap either. In fact, nearly half of the Canon-McMillan (20-2) lineup has come into its own this season.

And in no case has this been more apparent than in the undefeated Cody Klempay.
Klempay (32-0) bumped up to heavyweight this season after a 39-5 run in the 215-pound weight class as a sophomore. And while his record is impressive, even more so is the poise with which Klempay has been wrestling lately.

“I got a lot more confident,” said Klempay, who has relied a great deal on strength and patience to find weaknesses in his opponents this season. “Last year I was unsure, because I was wrestling a lot of seniors at 215. As a junior, I’d say I’m in a lot better shape too.”

“Everyone is wrestling more confident this year,” Klempay continued. “Another year and another 30 matches helps with that.”

It’s that confidence that the Big Macs often parlay into momentum when Klempay takes to the mat, as he often serves as either the turning point of a match for Canon-McMillan or as the first in a line of big wins and pins that puts victory out of reach for opponents.

As the weight classes turn over at the top of the order, Shorts follows Klempay, and is in turn followed by Connor Schram—a state champion at 103 pounds last year who has since matured into a well-built
112.

“It’s good to have those two right after each other,” Canon-McMillan junior Cody Renzelli said.

Yet, when Mary needs a little flexibility for the sake of a matchup, he is always able to slide freshman Dalton Macri into the 112 slot and bump Schram up to 119.

That shift, when followed by a surprise in sophomore Sammy Minor at 125 pounds, Solomon Chisko (130), Dario Dobbin (135), Will Pihiou (140) and Nick Catalano (145) gives the Big Macs a solid run of wrestlers either at or near the top of the WPIAL in their divisions. Plus, Mary is more than willing to move others within that stretch to maximize Canon- McMillan’s chance at a win.

It’s an ability that may prove critical when the Big Macs take to the mat tonight at 8 p.m. against Nazareth.

“I think, compared to Nazareth, we have a lot more flexibility to move guys around,” Shorts said. “Most teams have [that flexibility], but we have it in a lot of different areas—from 112 to 152. It’s just something special we have.”

Canon-McMillan lost to Nazareth 32-26 earlier this season. But because of their experience, their flexibility, and the confidence they have coming off of their WPIAL championship, the Big Macs believe that tonight will be different—if they stick to the plan.

“Everyone is going to have to believe that we can win every match,” Klempay said. “We can’t allow any big points against us, and if we’re up 7-0—go for the major decision.”

Added Renzelli, "I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re state champs. I think we can do it.”