Wrestling sections

WPIAL
Class AAA
Section 1-A:
Franklin Regional Panthers
Gateway Gators
Kiski Area Cavaliers
Penn Hills Indians
Woodland Hills Wolverines

Section 1-B
Derry Trojans
Latrobe Wildcats
Indiana Little Indians
Plum Mustangs
Penn-Trafford Warriors

Section 2-A
Albert Gallatin Colonials
Connellsville Falcons
Belle Vernon Leopards
Laurel Highlands Mustangs
Uniontown Red Raiders

Section 2-B
Elizabeth Forward Warriors
Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions
Hempfield Spartans
McKeesport Tigers
Norwin Knights

Section 3-A
Butler Golden Tornado
Fox Chapel Foxes
Hampton Talbots
Knoch Knights
Seneca Valley Raiders

Section 3-B
Avonworth Antelopes
North Allegheny Tigers
North Hills Indians
Pine-Richland Rams
Shaler Titans

Section 4-A
Baldwin Highlanders
Bethel Park Black Hawks
Central Catholic Vikings
South Allegheny Gladiators
Thomas Jefferson Jaguars
West Mifflin Titans

Section 4-B
McGuffey Highlanders
Peters Township Indians
Ringgold Rams
Waynesburg Raiders
Upper St. Clair Panthers

Section 5-A
Ambridge Bridgers
Blackhawk Cougars
Hopewell Vikings
Moon Tigers
West Allegheny Indians

Section 5-B
Canon-McMillan Big Macs
Chartiers Valley Colts
Montour Spartans
Mount Lebanon Blue Devils
Trinity Hillers

CLASS AA
Section 1-A
Avella Eagles
Beaver Bobcats
Burgettstown Blue Devils
Center Trojans
Freedom Bulldogs
South Side Beaver Rams

Section 1-B
Carlynton Cougars
Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers
Fort Cherry Rangers
Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles
South Fayette Lions
South Park Eagles

Section 2-A
Bentworth Bearcats
Beth-Center Bulldogs
Jefferson-Morgan Rockets
Washington Little Prexies
West Greene Pioneers

Section 2-B
Charleroi Cougars
Jeannette Jayhawks
Mount Pleasant Vikings
Southmoreland Scotties
Yough Cougars

Section 3-A
Kittanning Wildcats
Laurel Spartans
Mars Planets
Shady Side Academy Indians
Summit Academy Knights
West Shamokin

Section 3-B
Burrell Buccaneers
Highlands Rams
Riverview Raiders
Steel Valley Ironmen
Valley Vikings

And so it begins

The blogging season starts now for high school wrestling. Why? Because I finally have some time and information to share with you. I tried to keep this blog going through the offseason and I have to admit it was difficult. Not much happens and very little of what does is not all that interesting.

So let's start with a bang, an announcement by Michael Hull that he will wrestle this season with one caveat. He isn't planning on competing in the individual postseason. OK, let's give the 215-pounder from Canon-McMillan some credit. With a football scholarship in his back pocket from Penn State, he could have told the Big Macs, "Thanks but no thanks."

The problem is, he likes to wrestle. He enjoys - OK enjoys might be the wrong word here - the workouts and knows he will be in shape when spring hits. With Hull in the lineup, C-M is a favorite to win the WPIAL team title and qualify for the state team tournament. Without him, there is a big hole in the heavyweights.

Hull is a throwback to the days when athletes competed for the sake of competing. He doesn't need wrestling but he wants wrestling. And not even Joe Paterno is going to sway him from that decision. So remember kids, you want to improve your athletic skills? Don't specialize. Spread herself out, try different things. Each sport will make you a better athlete.

OK, enough said. Keep checking back here for a season preview on each of our local teams. I will try to keep the blog fresh. Comment on what you like and don't like. Just don't suck at it or use profanity. My mom might be reading.

New address

Because "Mat Matters" was changed from Blogger's server to the Observer-Reporter's server recently, you might have to create a new bookmark for the blog. Make sure you bookmark:

http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/matmatters/

The good stuff is coming soon.

Charges dropped against Angle

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH – A suburban Pittsburgh district judge has dropped assault and harassment charges against professional wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle.
The 40-year-old wrestler had been accused of attacking his former girlfriend Trenesha Biggers at his suburban Pittsburgh home on Aug. 6. The charges were dropped at Angle’s preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Angle maintains that he never hit Biggers.
On Monday, Angle and Biggers agreed to have no contact with one another. Biggers, also a wrestler, withdrew a protection from abuse complaint against Angle.