Nine area wrestlers place at Ironman Tournament, Wiercioch wins title
Nine WPIAL wrestlers earned place-winner status at the Ironman Tournament, held Dec. 7-8 at Ohio's Walsh Jesuit High School.
Canon-McMillan had four wrestlers place among the top eight in their weight class, including one champion, and finished fifth in the team standings with 96 points. Central Catholic finished 19th with 50 points and had two place-winners. Franklin Regional finished 24th in the team standings with 45.5 points and had three place-winners.
* Canon-McMillan's Cody Wiercioch won the 170-pound title with a 3-2 win against Zach Epperly of Christiansburg, Va. Wiercioch won five matches and outscored his opponents 44-12.
* Canon-McMillan's Alex Campbell finished second at 220. He recorded five victories before losing 26-11 in the title match to Kyle Snyder of Good Council.
* Central Catholic's Zach DeLuca placed fourth at 285 pounds. He lost 3-2 in the quarterfinals to Jake Pinkston of Robinson 3-2, then lost to him again, 7-5 in the consolation final.
* Canon-McMillan's Connor Schram placed fifth at 132. He lost 8-3 in the quarterfinals to Aaron Pico, a freshman from St. Joseph's. Pico went on to win the title.
* Franklin Regional's Michael Kemerer placed fifth at 126. He lost in the quarterfinals to Ivan McClay of Massillion, 3-2. McClay finished fourth.
* Canon-McMillan's Dalton Macri placed fifth at 120. He lost 6-4 in the quarterfinals to Blair Academy's Matthew Kolodzik, the eventual runner-up.
* Franklin Regional's Josh Shields finished sixth at 145 pounds. He advanced to the semifinals before losing 8-4 to Jacob Danishek of Dayton Christian.
* Central Catholic's Vincenzo Joseph finished seventh at 120. He lost 5-3 in overtime in the quarterfinals to Marmion's Johnny Jimenez, the eventual bronze medalist.
* Franklin Regional's Josh Maruca placed seventh at 138. He lost in the quarterfinals to Benton's Zain Retherford, 13-2. Retherford, a Penn State recruit, won the title.
Canon-McMillan had four wrestlers place among the top eight in their weight class, including one champion, and finished fifth in the team standings with 96 points. Central Catholic finished 19th with 50 points and had two place-winners. Franklin Regional finished 24th in the team standings with 45.5 points and had three place-winners.
* Canon-McMillan's Cody Wiercioch won the 170-pound title with a 3-2 win against Zach Epperly of Christiansburg, Va. Wiercioch won five matches and outscored his opponents 44-12.
* Canon-McMillan's Alex Campbell finished second at 220. He recorded five victories before losing 26-11 in the title match to Kyle Snyder of Good Council.
* Central Catholic's Zach DeLuca placed fourth at 285 pounds. He lost 3-2 in the quarterfinals to Jake Pinkston of Robinson 3-2, then lost to him again, 7-5 in the consolation final.
* Canon-McMillan's Connor Schram placed fifth at 132. He lost 8-3 in the quarterfinals to Aaron Pico, a freshman from St. Joseph's. Pico went on to win the title.
* Franklin Regional's Michael Kemerer placed fifth at 126. He lost in the quarterfinals to Ivan McClay of Massillion, 3-2. McClay finished fourth.
* Canon-McMillan's Dalton Macri placed fifth at 120. He lost 6-4 in the quarterfinals to Blair Academy's Matthew Kolodzik, the eventual runner-up.
* Franklin Regional's Josh Shields finished sixth at 145 pounds. He advanced to the semifinals before losing 8-4 to Jacob Danishek of Dayton Christian.
* Central Catholic's Vincenzo Joseph finished seventh at 120. He lost 5-3 in overtime in the quarterfinals to Marmion's Johnny Jimenez, the eventual bronze medalist.
* Franklin Regional's Josh Maruca placed seventh at 138. He lost in the quarterfinals to Benton's Zain Retherford, 13-2. Retherford, a Penn State recruit, won the title.
wrestling