PIAA makes more wrestling changes

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, May 30, 2019 | 8:08 PM

When the PIAA Board of Control voted last week to petition the National Federation of State High School Associations to reduce the weight classes in wrestling from 14 to 12, they passed another item.

The PIAA allow teams to weigh in two wrestlers at the same weight class at tournaments with nine or more teams during the regular season, beginning in the 2019-2020 season.

Tournament directors will have an option to do so.

Canon-McMillan athletic director Frank Vulcano Jr., who runs the Powerade Tournament, said he will not allow the option at that tournament, but he said can see other tournaments allowing it.

Norwin coach Vince DeAugustine said he likes the idea, but he would also like to see the PIAA increase the competition points which would allow teams to compete in more tournaments.

“If they did that, you could enter your good wrestlers in one tournament and your other wrestlers in another where they would be able to compete,” DeAugustine said. “I like change, but they need to explore other options.”

Another change is coming from officials.

There is a plan to separate stalling points and penalty points such as unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, illegal holds and flagrant fouls.

Kiski Area to host WCCA tournament

The Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association board voted to move the county wrestling tournament to Kiski Area in 2020. A date for the tournament will be announced.

The tournament usually is held the first weekend of January.

The board considered bids from Kiski Area, Valley and Norwin.

The tournament was held at Norwin the past two years. The next WCCA event is the basketball shootout in early July at Hempfield.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Kiski School, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Valley, Yough