Westmont wrestling

[Topper1986]

Ok - so I need to address a couple things. I saw over the weekend that the yet another school is forming a coop with Shade joining forces with NorthStar. I must say, from all indications this is the direction of the sport. The only coop to break up in PA was the McCort/WH. Now some will sell you the story that this is good for the sport - another program in the area. PLEASE!!!  I would agree if it were another school DISTRICT picking up the sport. McCort is, for lack of a better word, a parasite. It is not a self sustaining school district - cultivating its own wrestlers. McCort picks at the carcasses of local programs - in all sports - attempting to get the best meat. So go sell the argument that this is growing the sport to someone else. This is administrative egos run amok. There are only so many kids in the area to pick from. Secondly - why would a school embroiled in so much turmoil from all fronts attempt such a risky financial and selfish move. Simply put -  EGO. Those kids were in a room with some of the best coaches in D6, possibly the state. Everyone of them has a state medal or medals. Numerous collegiant wrestlers have come out of that mat room - Pitt, UNC, Duke, Maryland, WVU and the Naval Academy to name a few. If the end game of EDUCATORS is to cultivate students in the best possible environment, you could not want your young men around a better program. Coaches who are committed to bringing out the best of all the kids that they coach, on and off the mat. And lets face it - This coop was cruising along just fine until a few amazing wrestlers went to McCort and were winning wearing WH singlets. Mccort needed its due!! So for the sake of pride, ego and selfishness - this new venture is started. Now don't get me wrong - those kids are AMAZING!!! I was blessed to have counted myself among their fans and they are going to achieve great things - no doubt - but once they are done and moved on - what are you left with? An incoming class this year of between 45-65 kids from what I hear - That's boys AND GIRLS - and how many of those wrestle? Again - you will need to parasite onto other local programs to sustain yourself. So please - sell this promotion of the sport somewhere else ... Lastly, as far as WH is concerned - the program will like and thrive on. They have a top notch feeder program, a great booster system, committed parents, coaches, community and the support of the school. We are and have been a storied program full of pride and tradition and we will remain so. I love out nights under the light. I love that so many alumni come to matches and talk to the present wrestlers. It gives what we do and and have done meaning. When you come in our gym - you feel it - you are part of something, something special. Something that is often copied but never duplicated. I cant wait for this season! GO HILLTOPPERS!!

[everett]

I agree with Topper1986, but there are alot of good names being mentioned as enrolling there, which in turn brings more kids in the future.  No different than BG in football, or Bishop McDevitt out east with their recruited wrestling roster.  This is how the sport is moving, with parents getting together and sending groups of the top wrestlers to a 'bishop' school.  I don't like it, but this is way its headed.  I think wrestling clubs play a huge part in this new attitude, as everyone sees what it is like to work with better kids from neighboring schools, and then get the idea to put them all together on a high school roster. 

[odoyelrules]

An additional coop is Windber to Conemaugh Township.

SW AA Regional D V 10, D VI 27, D VII 36...I'd anticipate same allocation of 3, 5, and 7 slots to the districts.

Somerset to AAA / thru D6 for the next 2 years.

afaik regional location still undetermined, CanonMac is hosting AAA this year.

Topper I agree with a lot of what you wrote, but paragraphs next time please.

Any truth to the rumor that Beaujon applied for the McCort job?

I'd like for incoming school administrators to verify on each transfer their belief that the transfer was not done for athletic purposes. Applicable for both public and private schools. With some punishment available to schools/administrators that just sign off on things - ie if the PIAA sees 6 Johnstown area wrestlers transfer to McCort. It shouldn't be that difficult to track % of students that transfer and are involved in athletics vs. % of transfers not involved in athletics.

[Digger]

To answer your question odoyelrules, No Beaujon DID NOT apply!! However MC did approach his assistant coaches with an offer. Which is BS to say the least. Second you mentioned raising PIAA eyes well let's see, 2 years ago a Westy student and 2 Jtown students transfered solely for wrestling. Last year 1 Jtown student transfered solely for wrestling and now this off season 3 Jtown students/wrestlers are confirmed transfers and possibly a Bedford wrestler. If that doesn't scream recruiting I don't know what does. Not to mention I've heard from several Westy parents and Jtown parents that they either got phone calls or approached personally by benefactors. But trust me nothing is going to happen to MC it's business as usual 

[everett]

Who is the Bedford wrestler???

[SPORTSGURU814]

it is true there are certain parents or grandparents of Current McCort wrestlers that are "persuading " kids to go to McCort because of the exposure they will receive and to get the program going in the right direction hey to each their own if that's what they need to do to get kids over there so be it I think it's funny after the so called Fab 3 are done there next year lets see how much they care about the program then it how much the program advances it's going to be an interesting 2-3 yrs 

[odoyelrules]

The NCAA bans boosters from contacting prospective student athletes and their families. These rules threaten of athletic ineligibility for both the student athlete and the educational institution. The PIAA should adopt similar rules.

[everett]

Who are the 'Fab 3' in McCort? I get confused on who was Westmont, and who was McCort, so that is why I ask. ALso, any update on the kids that will be there for this season? Wondering how much D5 and D6 will change with the kids going from other schools to McCort

[Crimson's Ghost]

Walters, Jones, and Andrews attend McCort and are good wrestlers from what I understand. 

[El-Moldo]

Unlike football, which demands you participate on a team, wrestling is different. Sure it's a team sport so to speak, but MORE of an individual sport. You can have a great wrestling career at FH, PC, CC, etc without transferring to BM. Unless you want to wrestle for a certain coach, why would you change?