Canon-McMillan senior Colin Johnston made his final scholastic appearance in front of a home crowd last night at the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House.

But neither Johnston nor his teammates on the Pennsylvania All-Star Team could do much against the powerful United States All-Stars, who claimed their seventh consecutive victory, and 10th in 12 years, with a convincing 28-12 decision.

"I've been to The Classic many times before as a fan," said Johnston, a four-time WPIAL Class AAA champion and three-time PIAA placewinner. "I was so excited when I heard that I had been chosen to wrestle for the Pennsylvania All-Stars."

Johnston (163-10) faced a familiar opponent in the 135-pound bout. Hewas matched against Mark Weber (224-7), a four-time Michigan champion from Goodrich High.

"I wrestled him over the summer in the [USA Wrestling] Junior National Freestyle Tournament," Johnston said. "I beat him in the 130-pound championship match. That was freestyle and this is folkstyle, so it's quite different."

The result was also different, as Weber posted a 5-3 victory.

"There's a lot less pressure in a match like this," Johnston said. "I was just trying to give the fans my best performance. It's a little disappointing to lose but an experience I will not forget."

Johnston won a PIAA title as a 112-pound sophomore, placed second at 125 last year and finished third at 135 this year.

"The pressure of being ranked No. 1 in the state all year caught up with me," said Johnston, referring to the PIAA tournament. "I was wrestling not to lose. I wasn't opening up like I normally do. You can't do that and expect to win a state title."

Johnston still has one match remaining in his scholastic career. He has been invited to wrestle for the United States Dream Team in an April 12 match against a team of Iowa All-Stars.

Weber was one of five wrestlers on the United States All-Star Team who were four-time state champions. Only three recorded a victory. Romero Cotton and Jason Chamberlain won for the U.S. stars, while Tony Jameson and Tyler Graff were defeated.

Romero Cotton (137-11), a four-time Kansas champion from Hutchinson High, recorded a 6-3 win against Joe Kennedy (152-24), a PIAA Class AAA champion from Delaware Valley, at 189 pounds.

Chamberlain (191-2), a four-time Utah champion from Springville, posted an 11-4 win against Central Dauphin's Walter Peppelman (172-13) at 140.

Jameson (168-5), a four-time Ohio champion from Austintown Fitch, was defeated, 3-2, in the 145-pound bout by Canton's Brock Parker (146-14), a PIAA Class AA champion.

Graff (167-1), a four-time Colorado champion from Loveland, was beaten, 3-1, in overtime by Easton's Jordan Oliver, a three-time PIAA Class AAA champion. Oliver was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Pennsylvania All-Star Team.

Oliver and Parker were two of only four Pennsylvania All-Star winners. The others were Bald Eagle Area's Quentin Wright and Manheim Central's Jordan Enck.

Wright, a two-time PIAA Class AAA champion, posted a 9-4 win against Chris Spangler, an Illinois champion from Neuqua Valley High School, in the 171-pound bout.