PIAA Wrestling Notebook (Feb. 8, 2013)

Franklin Regional wins PIAA wrestling championships debut

Franklin Regional made its PIAA team tournament debut Thursday without one of its top young wrestlers, but it didn't matter.

Franklin Regional (20-3) recorded four pins, two technical falls, and three major decisions en route to a 54-15 pounding of District 4 champion Jersey Shore (10-5), in a PIAA Class AAA first round match at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa.

"Michael was out with the flu," said Franklin Regional coach Eric Mausser, referring to 126-pound sophomore Michael Kemerer. "We've had a flu bug making its way through our team. We're hoping to have him back for the quarterfinals."

Franklin Regional will face District 1 champion Owen J. Roberts (18-0) in the quarterfinals.

Other Class AAA

• Defending PIAA champion Canon-McMillan (15-0) recorded pins in the four upper weight classes in its 42-22 victory against District 3's Spring Grove (22-2). Cody Wiercioch (182), Steve LaFrance (195), Alex Campbell (220), and Angelo Broglia (285) recorded pins for the Big Macs. Canon-McMillan, a four-time WPIAL champion, will face District 10 champion Erie McDowell (13-1) in this afternoon's quarterfinals.

• North Allegheny (16-4) was dominated by District 3 champion Central Dauphin, 40-14. The Tigers won only four of the 14 bouts.

Class AA

• WPIAL champion Burrell (15-6) dropped a 34-29 decision to District 3 runner-up Bermudian Springs (24-5). The Buccaneers lost the first four bouts to fall behind 15-0 and never recovered.

• South Fayette (10-2), the WPIAL runner-up, lost, 33-26, to District 6 champion West Branch (25-2).