While Canon-McMillan Wrestling is no stranger to success, we have some great milestones to celebrate following the 2022/2023 season. Starting from team achievements to coaching and onto boys and girls individual accomplishments.
The teams that we grow through this district are amazing! After a 3rd in state finish last year in their inaugural season, the Lady Macs rose to FIRST place in just two short years. On the heels of their first girls wrestling state championship in school history, they appeared in the national rankings at number 21. Speaking of firsts for the ladies, Valarie Solorio was able to notch the first win by a female for the boys varsity team. Not to be outdone, the boys rode the school’s 42nd section and 22nd WPIAL titles to a 4th place finish at the state team tournament. While the high school wrestlers grappled with those accolades, the middle school wrestlers cruised to their own section title. With their section title, they were able to add a 2nd place at the TRICADA Tournament and they were a top 10 team at the Bellefonte Invitation (Considered the toughest Jr High Tournament in the PA). The little guys at CCNS were champions at the Seneca Valley Super Novice Duals and the South Fayette Open division tournament.
It was a banner year for head coach Brian “Slack” Krenzelak in his second season. To go along with all of the accomplishments that the teams made through the year, he was also named the WPIAL AAA High School Coach of the Year. His dedication to the sport and his wrestlers is only made apparent by this award. However, he wasn’t the only coach from Canon-McMillan to be honored this year. Jurdon Maier was awarded the WPIAL AAA Section 6 Assistant Coach of the Year. We’d also be remiss to not say that the tradition starts from the beginning. Before these amazing wrestlers that Jurdon and Brian get to coach make it to the High School, many pass through our Middle School wrestling program. Where we can proudly say that AJ Williams was recognized as the Section 6 Junior High Coach of the Year. It’s not without the hard work and dedication of not only these men, but all of the coaches from CCNS to Middle School and onto High School, that this program continues to grow and strive as one of the top in the state.
Not overshadowed by their coaching, the boys did great things themselves. Matthew Furman and Gabriel Stafford were both able to join the 100 win club with this season’s efforts. The list of tournament placings is just too long to go on about. There were 11 wrestlers that placed in the Southern Sectional Tournament with 3 champions to add to the list. Champions: Tanner Mizenko, Andrew Binni, and Gabriel Stafford, Runner-Up: Matthew Furman, and Geno Calgaro, 3rd: Collier Hartman, and Ryder Joseph, 5th: Luke Shaffer and Mason Williams, 6th: Brandon Dami and Blake Ward. All of these wrestlers moved onto the WPIAL tournament where Tanner Mizenko was crowned Canon-McMillan’s 157th WPIAL Champion. To accompany Tanner onto the PIAA State Tournament were Matthew Furman and Andrew Binni with their second place showings. Others to place at the WPIAL Tournament were Gabriel Stafford at 5th and Geno Calgaro at 8th. At the PIAA State Tournament, Matthew Furman and Andrew Binni were able to fight to 2nd place. Both falling just short to returning state champions and nationally ranked opponents. Andrew Binni was selected to wrestle at the Westmorland Stand Your Ground III event. Matthew Furman was further selected to represent the WPIAL at the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. He has signed on with Cornell to continue his academic and wrestling career. Joining Matthew in collegiate wrestling will be Brandon Dami who signed with W&J, Gabriel Stafford who signed with Edinboro and Luke Shaffer who signed with Davis & Elkins.
The Jr High boys had some notable accolades themselves. At the District 7 Southwest Regionals, Brayden Collins took 4th, Aiden Finnigan took 6th and Mason Calgaro took 7th. They also placed some wrestlers in the two end of year youth state tournaments. Bryce Collins took 6th at the Keystone State Championships. Cole Tourney took 4th and Gionno Gardner took 6th at the PJW State Championships. CCNS sent 7 boys out to post season tournaments. Liam Harding, Jase Houpt, Carter Brett, CJ Dreshman, Owen Smith, Lee Dreshman, and Meerick Sarles. Owen Smith became the highest boys finisher at second place at PJW. Lee Dreshman was able to grab 7th place at both PJW and Keystone.
The women of Canon-McMillan wrestling are blazing their own paths. Adding onto their state championship season, the girls need to start their own boards to track their post-season accomplishments. To start off, there were 11 that qualified for the state tournament by placing at the Western Regional Girls Tournament. Among them were four champions, Valarie Solorio, Madi Mansmann, Paige Ward, and Natalie Rush. Other placers include Grace O’Korn in second, Leilani Ramos (who scored her 50th career win this season), Dynisty Williams and Audrey Calgaro all in third, Elizabeth “Gracie” Elliot in fourth, and Capri Chambers and Sienna Van Balen in fifth. At the state tournament, 6 of those ladies were able to take medals home. Including, another first for Canon-McMillan, our first ever girls state champion, Valarie Solorio! Joining Val on the podium were Gracie Elliot and Natalie Rush at second, Dynisty Williams at fourth, and Madi Mansmann and Audrey Calgaro at fifth. Gracie and Val spring boarded these medals into competing at the World Team Trials in Spokane, Washington. While Gracie came one win short of the podium, Val was able to secure enough wins before an injury made her default out to 8th place. While those two competed in the trials, Natalie Rush, who also tabbed her 50th career win this season, was selected to the Pennsylvania Junior National Team which will compete at the Junior Women’s National Duals Championship in mid June. Gracie Elliott will take her academics and wrestling onto the University of the Cumberlands. Madison Mansmann will also continue onto East Stroudsburg University.
Those strong girls at the top have inspired younger girls to compete in the sport as well. In the Jr High ranks, there were four qualifiers for the the Keystone State Championship by Alaya Henderson, Malia Ramos, Milly Williams and Yunuen Ayala. Alaya was able to get to fourth place. Even the CCNS girls got into all of the fun. They were able to send 5 girls to the post-season championships. First, with Bri’ella Collins winning both the Keystone and the PJW State Championships. Also placing were Aleeya Dreshman at third at both tournaments, and Cora Studd at seventh at Keystone. Ella Saussol and Addie Saussol were able to qualify for the tournaments but were not able to place.
While all of these athletic accomplishments are great, collectively, our high school team was able do all of this while maintaining great grades. Boys selected to the Pennsylvania All-Academic Team included Matthew Furman, Brandon Dami, Luke Shaffer, Gabriel Stafford, Geno Calgaro, Andrew Binni, Tanner Mizenko, Josiah Gardner, and Ryder Joseph. Girls selected to the Pennsylvania All-Academic Team included Hope Carmona, Madison Mansmann, Chloe Ault, Ezzie Schaub, Capri Chambers, Grace O’Korn, Dynisty Williams, Leilani Ramos and Natalie Rush.
Being the alumni group, we should also catch-up on the alumnus that have continued past the high school ranks with wrestling. This year marked Brendan Furman’s last year of eligibility. He was able earn his spot back onto the Cornell line-up after double knee surgery. He was able to gather 65 wins and was an NCAA qualifier once through his career. Garrit Nijenhuis transfered to Oklahoma this year where he qualified for his third NCAA tournament. Gerrit was ranked 21st in his weight, got 7th in the Big 12 tournament and has amassed 45 wins so far on his career. Jacob Houpt is competing as a true freshman for Kent State University. He had 3 wins on the season and looks to continue to wrestle next season. Jimmy Baxter worked into a starting spot for Seton Hill University. He has 7 career wins so far. Jacob Gardner is also wrestling with Seton Hill University. He has 2 career wins so far.