New schedules pin down high school teams
-
Coach Chris Mary and Canon-McMillan will be competing in the Virginia Duals instead of the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association tournament.
Share with others:
The Belle Vernon wrestling team had the best of both worlds until this season.
"We are one of the few school districts in the state of Pennsylvania that is located in two different counties," Belle Vernon coach Jack Jolley said. "Part of Belle Vernon is in Westmoreland County and the other part is in Fayette County."
With that in mind, Belle Vernon has participated in two county tournaments the past three years. The Leopards would participate in the Westmoreland County Coaches Association tournament one weekend, then compete in the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association tournament the following weekend.
"We enjoyed participating in both tournaments," Jolley said. "It gave us a chance to see some of the best teams in the WPIAL."
Unfortunately, that option is not available to the Leopards this season. The WCCA tournament has moved from the first weekend in January to this coming weekend. The Tri-County tournament is also Friday and Saturday.
"I was really disappointed to see the schedule," Jolley said. "We can't be at both tournaments, so we chose the WCCA tournament."
Belle Vernon is one of 18 teams entered in the 58th WCCA tournament, which has also changed sites. The two-day event will be held at Franklin Regional High School. Latrobe is the defending team champion.
Jolley's squad is one of two teams that have pulled out of the Tri-County tournament. Canon-McMillan, which is entered in the Virginia Duals this weekend, is the other.
"The Virginia Duals were the first weekend of January last year," Canon-McMillan coach Chris Mary said. "They were moved to the second weekend. We had already made a non-refundable deposit on hotel rooms in Virginia when we found out both tournaments were the same weekend."
With Canon-McMillan and Belle Vernon out of the picture, the Tri-County tournament will have 20 teams. It will be at Charleroi High School and Waynesburg is the defending champion.
The Allegheny County tournament will also be held this weekend with more than 40 teams from the WPIAL and the City League participating. The event is at Fox Chapel High School. Central Catholic is the defending champion.
First Published January 9, 2012 12:00 am
