Jan 6, 2018 3 min read

It would have been so easy for Tanner Rohaley to just walk away, give up and try to come up with an excuse.

Rohaley had tried and not been able to crack the Canon-McMillan High School wrestling lineup. Four times he was turned away through the elimination process that gives wrestlers a chance to earn a starting position.

Still, the sophomore from Canon-McMillan was not deterred.

On Saturday in the Trinity High School gym, Rohaley went from not making the lineup last season to 145-pound champion in the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association Wrestling Tournament.

And what an effort it was as Rohaley knocked off third-seeded Hunter Milligan of Albert Gallatin and second-seed Mike Cusick of South Fayette to reach the finals.

Rohaley capped his run by pinning top-seeded Colby Morris of Waynesburg in 3:36, rallying from an early 2-0 deficit.

“It’s an experience like no other,” said Rohaley of winning the title. “I just went out there and wrestled my match and just hoped for the best. What happens in the practice room shows up in the long run.”

Rohaley was one of three champions for the Big Macs, who finished second to Waynesburg in the team standings. Jimmy Baxter won at 106 and Gerrit Nijenhuis took gold at 160 for the other two.

Rohaley said he didn’t look at the brackets, preferring to depend on his talent.

“I don’t look at the seeds,” said Rohaley said. “I just go out and wrestle the way I want to wrestling. You have to go out there and do your own thing.”

Morris not only was a top seed but also a defending champion. He got to the finals by pinning Jake Hurley of Peters Township in 1:54.

“Considering last year I didn’t make the team, it’s an honor just to be wrestling in this tournament,” Rohaley said. “I just want to go out there and wrestle my best, win WPIALs and place top four at states.”

Last season, Tony Mastrangelo blocked Rohaley from a starting spot.

“I lost pretty tight bouts, 4-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3 or something like that,” said Rohaley. “They were all fairly close. I decided to stay at the high school (instead of competing on the junior high team) because there are better workout partners there.”

Canon-McMillan head coach Jeff Havelka said Rohaley has consistently improved.

“I thought he wrestled really well,” said Havelka. “His takedown defense is good and getting better. On top, he has a pretty good cross-face cradle. He was able to get it locked up and put some kids away with it.”