Chris Mary posted 10 signs around Canon-McMillan High School on Nov. 15 that read "2010 WPIAL Champions."

"I put the signs in our wrestling room, the locker room and my office," said Mary, coach of the Big Macs wrestling squad. "We've had them up since the first day of practice. We've focused on that all year. It's been our goal to win the WPIAL title."

Mary and his squad can now make up T-shirts and hats with the same claim.

Canon-McMillan won its sixth WPIAL team title, and first since 1995, with a 32-27 win against Kiski Area in the Class AAA title match Tuesday afternoon at Fox Chapel High School.

"The kids worked toward that goal every single day," Mary said. "The running, the drilling, the weight room work -- it all paid off. We prepared them for this day and they never lost focus."

Connellsville (7) and Washington (7) are the only teams with more WPIAL titles since the switch to a team tournament format in 1979.

"We've been knocking on the door," Mary said. "We've been in the semifinals seven of my 10 years as head coach. We've been right there. We've always been one or two kids away for 10 years. This year, we finally put it together."

Canon-McMillan (17-3) was seeded No. 2 in the 20-team bracket and earned its title berth with a 28-27 win against No. 3 seed Penn-Trafford (13-3). Kiski Area (17-2), the No. 4 seed, advanced with a 33-27 upset of top seed Connellsville (18-1).

"I love these kids and my coaching staff," Mary said. "We are passionate about our kids and our program. I've been on WPIAL championship teams before and won state titles. You always remember a WPIAL title."

Canon-McMillan received a huge break with the match starting at 103 pounds. That allowed Mary to keep the status of senior Michael Hull a mystery. Hull, a Penn State football recruit, sustained a separated shoulder two weeks earlier while playing in a football all-star game.

"The last thing we wanted was for the match to start at 103," Kiski Area coach Chuck Tursky said. "If the match would have started somewhere in the middle weight classes, Canon-McMillan may not have used Hull."

Canon-McMillan took advantage by building an 18-0 lead with wins in the first four bouts. Colton Shorts began the onslaught with a third-period pin of Steve Stramaski at 103. Connor Schram followed with a hard fought 2-1 victory in triple overtime against Colin Landowski at 112.

"We needed to get off to a good start because Kiski is so strong in the middle weights," Schram said.

After Canon-McMillian built a 25-3 lead, Kiski Area began its comeback, winning five consecutive bouts for a 27-25 advantage.

Canon-McMillan regained the lead with a major decision by Cody Klempay at 215. That set the stage for Hull to make his eighth appearance of the season, despite a shoulder injury that had most of his upper torso wrapped in an ace bandage. Hull faced the Cavaliers Steve Calderone, a senior who had a 60-pound weight advantage.

"My dad talked with coach Mary and our trainer and decided to allow me to wrestle," Hull said. "I couldn't do much with my left arm, but I didn't want to let my teammates down. I just had to get one takedown, hand fight and make sure I didn't do anything stupid and get caught on my back."

Hull's strategy worked to perfection, as he walked away with a 3-2 victory. And most important, the Big Macs returned to Canonsburg with another championship trophy to display.

"It means so much to win a WPIAL title," Hull said. "When you come into high school and are a part of sports teams, you dream of winning a WPIAL championship. It's my first and it's a great feeling."

Canon-McMillan's next goal is to win a PIAA title. The Big Macs earned an automatic berth in the quarterfinals of the PIAA team tournament this weekend in Hershey. They will have to do it without Hull, though.

"I wanted to help my teammates win a WPIAL title," he said, "but I don't want to take a chance on hurting my shoulder any more."

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