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CM’s Macri, Chishko dominate regional

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Solomon Chishko battles Josh Maruca from Franklin Regional in the 145-pound finals of the WPIAL/Southwest Regional Class AAA tournament. The Canon-McMillan senior became the 24th wrestler to win four WPIAL titles when he decisioned Maruca, 9-4.

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Solomon Chishko proudly displays the gold medal he captured for winning the WPIAL/Southwest AAA championship in the 145-pound weight class.

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Dalton Macri finds himself in a gripping match with Sam Krivus. The Canon-McMillan grappler scored a takedown as time ran out to upset the defending champion. In winning the 126-pound weight class with a 4-3 decision, Macri also claimed Most Valuable Wrestler honors during the WPIAL/Southwest Class AAA regional tournament.

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Mt. Lebanon’s Kellan Stout grapples with Zack Zavatsky of Latrobe during 182-pound action in the WPIAL/Southwest Class AAA tournament held at Canon-McMillan. Stout finished runner-up to Zavatsky, who was the defending champion.

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Zeynul Zaynullayev of Mt. Lebanon looks for a way out of a head lock placed by Shane Kuhn of Kiski Area. Kuhn defeated Zaynullayev, 5-2, to defend his heavyweight title during the WPIAL/Southwest Regional Class AAA tournament. Both wrestlers advanced to the PIAA championships set for March 6-8 in Hershey.

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Noah Wilps attempts to escape the grasp of Kyle Coniker. Despite the Chartiers Valley's wrestlers attempts, Coniker won the 170-pound final with a 3-2 decision.

Canon-McMillan wrestlers Dalton Macri and Solomon Chishko dominated the WPIAL/Southwest Regional wrestling tournament. Held on their home mats, Macri and Chishko each won their respective weight classes and advanced to the PIAA championships to be held March 6-8 at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Chishko is a defending state champion. Also, the senior is now a four-time WPIAL champion. Chishko joined 23 others in that exclusive club when he scored a 9-4 decision against Josh Maruca from Franklin Regional in the 145-pound championship bout.

“It’s pretty awesome,” said Chishko of his distinction. “It’s an awesome feeling to be up there with guys like that. I always looked up to guys like Nico Megaludis and Jimmy Gulibon, other four-timers, so it’s kind of cool to do something that they’ve done.”

What Macri did was equally impressive. The senior recovered from a 3-1 deficit heading into the final 71 seconds of the match and upended Sam Krivus, 4-3, in the 126-pound final. Krivus was a returning WPIAL as well as state champion. Macri was the runner-up last year.

“I just wanted to attack, attack, attack and keep wrestling,” said Macri. “That was on the only thing in my head, to keep attacking.”

After he narrowed the gap, 3-2, when Krivus was slapped with a stalling call with 10 seconds to go, Macri attacked. He shot and caught an ankle and both wrestlers tumbled to the mat. When Macri ended up on top as time expired, he was awarded a takedown and the victory.

“It was crazy,” said Macri, who jumped to his feet, pumped his fists into the air and played to the cheering crowd at Canon-McMillan High School upon recording the winning takedown. “It makes you think all this hard work is worth it.

And, Macri has worked hard says Chishko.

“I just feel really good for Dalton because he’s such a hard worker,” he said.

“I’m friends with [Krivus], but I had my bets on Dalton because he’s been training so hard. We’re always in the room. He kills himself every single day.”

Macri had to work hard because he competed in what was considered the toughest weight class. It featured four returning state placewinners but only three would gain a PIAA berth. Waynesburg’s A.C. Headlee earned that spot, beating Dom Forys of North Allegheny, 10-5, in the third-place consolation bout.

Macri’s hard work was not only rewarded with a title and a PIAA berth but he also was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Wrestler.

Mt. Lebanon, like the Big Macs, advanced two wrestlers to the finals but both finished as runners-up.

Kellan Stout, who recently set the school record for victories, dropped a 5-1 decision to Zack Zavatsky of Latrobe in the 182-pound final. Zavatsky is a three-time champion.

Zeynul Zaynullayev also lost to a defending champion. He lost to Shane Kuhn from Kiski, 5-2, in the heavyweight finals. Kuhn is a two-time champion.

Noah Wilps reached the finals at 170 pounds but the Chartiers Valley senior dropped a 3-2 decision to Kyle Coniker from Central Catholic.

Kevin Kinyua of Mt. Lebanon grabbed the bronze at 120 and Tyler Buckiso of Peters Township took third at 132. Both qualified for the PIAA tournament.

Canon-McMillan’s Brendan Price and Malachi Krenzelak finished fourth at 113 and 138 respectively. Bethel Park’s Nino Bonaccorsi also placed fourth at 132.

Mike Carr and Jared Walker of South Fayette captured Southwest Regional AA championships and advanced to the PIAA Class AA finals set for March 6-8 in Hershey.

Carr captured the 132-pound weight class in impressive fashion. He blanked John Andrejcik of Burrell, 5-0, in the finals. The senior won his bouts all by shutouts, too, 11-0, 3-0 and 5-0.

Walker won the 160-pound weight class with a 2-0 win against Levi Niebauer of Cambria Heights. He, also, did not surrender a point in the tournament, winning matches, 1-0, 3-0 and 1-0.

Grant Fetchet, also from South Fayette, joins Carr and Walker at states. He took third in the 152-pound weight class, scoring a 9-4 decision against Taylor Cahill from Berlin-Brothersvalley.

Chartiers-Houston grapplers Richie McGinnis and Derek Hull gained berths in the PIAA tournament. McGinnis finished fourth at 138 while Hull placed fifth at 170.

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