Jan 25, 2018 2 min read

So far, so good for Canon-McMillan’s wrestling team.

The Big Macs, under first-year head coach Jeff Havelka, finished first in Sub-Section 4A, and won their 17th consecutive section team title and 40th overall by defeating rival Waynesburg, 36-18, Wednesday at the West Allegheny High School pod.

On Thursday, the Big Macs received the top seed in the Class AAA portion of the WPIAL Team Tournament, which gets underway Monday with preliminary-round bouts.

“I would think we’d be the No. 1 seed, but you never know,'” said Havelka after the win over Waynesburg Wednesday. “We’re section champs and we have a win over Kiski. We have to stay consistent and the message is the same. We’ll see some unfamiliar teams. We’ll keep preparing the same way.”

Kiski is the second seed, Waynesburg is the No. 3 team and Seneca Valley the No. 4.

In Class AA, which begins Wednesday, Burrell is top seed, Freedom is No. 2, Derry No. 3 and McGuffey is No. 4.

The Big Macs appear headed for another showdown against Kiski. C-M won a 36-27 decision when the two teams met Dec. 22 in a regular-season, non-section dual meet in the Big Macs’ gymnasium.

Kiski was wrestling without heavyweight Isaac Reid, a state runner-up to Brendan Furman of Canon-McMillan last season, in the first meeting. Reid recently returned to the lineup after missing the season with a medical condition.

Canon-McMillan, like the top four seeds in both classes, will host the pod where three other teams will compete. The Big Macs wrestle the winner of Monday’s preliminary-round bout between Shaler and Upper St. Clair. Peters Township takes on Hampton in the other 6 p.m. match. The winners wrestle immediately after in the quarterfinals.

Semifinals and finals in Class AAA will be held at noon and 2 p.m. at Trinity High School Saturday, Feb. 3.

Semifinals and finals in Class AA will be held at the same times and day at Chartiers-Houston.

Waynesburg will wrestle either Belle Vernon or Armstrong in the first round. Trinity takes on Connellsville in the other first-round match.

In Class AA, three local teams are at the McGuffey pod, including the Highlanders. who get South Side Beaver in the first round. South Fayette wrestles Fort Cherry.

Burgettstown goes against Mt. Pleasant in the Burrell pod. Beth-Center wrestles Beaver at the Freedom pod.