A-K Valley wrestling notebook: 2-pound weight allowance set to take effect

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 | 3:15 PM

Wrestlers and their coaches alike will get an additional present on Christmas, as the PIAA’s two-pound weight allowance will go into effect that day.

The rule allows wrestlers to compete at up to two pounds heavier than the listed weight class. For example, a wrestler weighing 115 pounds still can wrestle in the 113-pound weight class.

Because of the flexibility of the rule, coaches can use wrestlers in different weight classes depending on potential matchups, which especially can come in handy in postseason duals.

“It gives you an opportunity to get some other kids in the lineup at times,” Kiski Area coach Chris Heater said. “It does provide you with some different possibilities.”

Heater said the weight allowance affects some wrestlers more than others; the middleweights likely will see the biggest impact for Kiski Area, he said, compared to upper weights where the distance between classes are more wide.

Wrestlers who will use the weight allowance, meanwhile, can test themselves in different weight classes to find the right spot for the remainder of the season.

Burrell’s Noah Linderman finished in sixth place at last weekend’s King of the Mountain tournament while competing at 152 pounds, but he plans to drop to a low enough weight to compete at 145 next week at the Powerade Christmas Tournament.

“It kind of sets me up — for going down to 145, I’ll have maybe a little bit of muscle advantage over some of my opponents, which will help me out,” Linderman said. “And if it comes down to it, if it looks like I have a better chance of succeeding at 152 than I do at 145 or vice-versa, then I can just switch. I’m not limited.”

Austin powers

Burrell senior Austin Mele took confidence out of competing at the PIAA individual championships last season, and so far it’s paying dividends for the Bucs’ 170-pounder.

Mele placed third at the King of the Mountain tournament Saturday, his first medal at the prestigious competition. He was one of four Burrell wrestlers to place.

“It was really cool for me knowing that I can do it,” Mele said. “It brings up my confidence a little more, not in an arrogant attitude but just knowing I can wrestle with one of the best people in the state.”

Strong at Armstrong

It was a different tournament, but a very similar result for the Cavaliers in the second weekend of the season.

The Cavaliers rolled to their second tournament championship in as many weeks, dominating the field at the inaugural Armstrong Winter Classic on Saturday.

Eight different Kiski Area wrestlers went undefeated in their weight classes at the tournament, which had a round-robin format: Dom Giordano (120 pounds), Darren Miller (132), Enzo Morlacci (145), Cam Connor (152), Jack Blumer (160), Nick Delp (170), Brayden Roscosky (195) and Jack Dilts (285). The Cavaliers finished the tournament with 36 pins, led by Miller, Morlacci, Blumer and Sammy Starr with four apiece.

Kiski Area finished with 462 points, ahead of second-place Armstrong (421.5); the Cavaliers also won the season-opening Eastern Area Invitational Wrestling Tournament.

Knoch and Plum also competed at Armstrong; Knoch finished in seventh place with 227 team points, while Plum took ninth with 177.5. Plum’s Vinny Centrano won all three of his matches, including two by fall.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Burrell, Kiski School