Gunning for Gold: 90 Years of Canon-McMillan Wrestling
Canon-McMillan High School has dominated in the sport of wrestling for over 90 years. A brief history of the program reveals that the team is one of the most historic in the nation. CM holds the record dual meet wins in the state with 1,075, among other records. State champs and NCAA champs alike have wrestled in the practice room at the Canonsburg, PA high school since the days that R.J. O'Connell started the intramural program. Canon Mac's 90th season is officially over, and we're looking back on our history.
Canon-McMillan High School has dominated in the sport of wrestling for over 90 years. A brief history of the program reveals that the team is one of the most historic in the nation. CM holds the record dual meet wins in the state with 1,075, among other records. State champs and NCAA champs alike have wrestled in the practice room at the Canonsburg, PA high school since the days that R.J. O'Connell started the intramural program. Canon Mac's 90th season is officially over, and we're looking back on our history. Check out the video:
CM’s 90th Anniversary Poster Analysis
It’s finally November, and that can only mean one thing: wrestling season is here! This is a special season for Canon-McMillan wrestling; the program will look to the future with new Head Coach Havelka while also honoring the past by remembering 90 years worth of history.
It’s finally November, and that can only mean one thing: wrestling season is here! This is a special season for Canon-McMillan wrestling; the program will look to the future with new Head Coach Havelka while also honoring the past by remembering 90 years worth of history.
One of the best ways to pull all of this tradition together is through Alumni Night, which will take place on Friday, December 22 against Kiski. Former head coach, Chris Mary, and head of the CM Wrestling Alumni Association, Brian Hritsko, started Alumni Night a few years ago to honor decorated CM wrestling alumni.
“Alumni night, to me, is about getting together with past wrestlers and fans and reminiscing about the great teams and times we had. CM wrestling is a close-knit community, and it’s important that we keep that going.”
The Alumni Association is trying to make this event bigger and better than ever this year, and that starts with understanding the past. To discover the past, I’d like to introduce a poster that I created to give meaning to this upcoming season. . .
Coaches from left to right: Jason Cardillo (2015-2017), Ron Junko (1976-1979), Dave Cook, R.J. “Roc” O’Connell (1927-1938), Chris Mary (2001-2014), Andrew “Pooch” Puchany (1957-1970), Tim Mousetis (1995-1996), John Ross (1948-1956)
Wrestlers from left to right: Philip Ahwesh (30’s), Cody Wiercioch (10’s), Albert Miles (00’s), Solomon Chishko (10’s), Lester Peterson (60’s), Bruce Cridge (90’s), Colin Johnston (00’s), Sylvester Terkay (80’s), Manuel Pihakis (50’s), Nick Catalano (00’s), Dalton Macri (10’s), Craig Dellorso (80’s), Elias George (40’s), George O’Korn (60’s), Mark Angle (90’s), Brendan Furman (10’s), Connor Schram (10’s)
The Wrestlers
Choosing the wrestlers on this poster was no easy feat, as Canonsburg and Canon-McMillan have had their fair share of phenomenal wrestlers. I chose wrestlers from many different years to show some of the dominant individuals across all eras. The wrestlers on this poster account for nearly a quarter of all of CM’s WPIAL titles and almost 50% of all of the program’s State titles. In addition, eleven of these grapplers are in the 100 Win Club -- Manuel Pihakis just falls short at 99 wins. There are also 13 total NCAA medals between the six collegiate medalists. Another fun fact is that Sylvester Terkay competed in the WWE in the late 2000’s. To me, and a lot of the Canonsburg wrestling community, these wrestling legends are the face of the program; for that reason, I included them at the forefront of the poster.
The Coaches
Of the sixteen coaches from the program, eight of them are on this poster. These coaches have won 722 matches over 64 seasons, accounting for 68% of CM’s total wins. Coaches Mary and Puchany are tied with having coached the most seasons, 14. Of course, I also had to include the founder and first head coach of the Canonsburg Gunners, Coach O’Connell. Interestingly enough, no coach has had a higher win percentage than Coach O’Connell’s 92.86%, although some have come close to it. Even though I included Phil Ahwesh with the wrestlers, he also went on to became a head coach in ‘46. Few of CM’s head coaches actually went through program; in fact, many are from neighboring towns, including Chartiers Houston. Without these coaches many of these wrestlers would not be able to compete at the high level that they have, and they deserve to be recognized. As the coaches are the backbone of the program, I included them looming in the background.
The Names
The legendary wrestlers are the face, the coaches are the backbone, but the names on the bottom of the poster are the heart of the program. These 148 last names are either Section, WPIAL, or State champs. The reason I included last names is because many of them have carried on for generations through Canonsburg. Grandfathers, uncles, dads, sons, brothers, and cousins have all competed for the program under the same last names. Personally, my grandfather wrestled in the 50’s, my dad and uncle wrestled in the late 70’s and 80’s, I wrestled in the early 10’s, and my brother is wrestling currently. The names are grouped on the poster because they are all united by a common bond that is CM Wrestling, and they show that CM is also strong as a team.
The Accomplishments
The accolades from 1927-2017 on this poster are unparalleled throughout the section, WPIAL, PA, and U.S. Canonsburg and Canon-McMillan have a combined 1060 wins, 242 losses, and 15 ties, giving the program an 80.5% win percentage. As wrestling is an individual and team sport, I included the team and individual accomplishments, both of which are impressive. The program makes successes out of individuals, but it also succeeds as a team.
The 90 year history of the Big Macs and Gunners is truly phenomenal because of the legends, coaches, family names, and holistic accomplishments. This poster is a way to look back on the history and pay homage to the greats that have passed through the wrestling room; furthermore, it is a way to allow current wrestlers and fans to discover the rich tradition of Canon-McMillan’s past. The Alumni Association will be selling these posters at home matches for the duration of the season, with proceeds going back into the program.
Feel free to use the photos below as your Facebook Cover photo, phone lock screen, or computer desktop. To save: Click to enlarge photo > Right Click > Save Image As > Save
Facebook Cover Photo
Computer Desktop
Phone Screen
A Brief History of the Canon-McMillan Wrestling Program
In a year that saw Charles Lindbergh fly across the Atlantic Ocean, Ford Motor Company produce its last Model T, and the Yankees sweep the Pirates in the World Series (typical), 1927 also brought the start of a dynasty when R.J. O’Connell journeyed from Penn State University to Canonsburg, PA to teach science. While Penn State was not the power house in wrestling that it is today, O’Connell brought his knowledge from the university’s program to Canonsburg High School when he started an intramural program
In a year that saw Charles Lindbergh fly across the Atlantic Ocean, Ford Motor Company produce its last Model T, and the Yankees sweep the Pirates in the World Series (typical), 1927 also brought the start of a dynasty when R.J. O’Connell journeyed from Penn State University to Canonsburg, PA to teach science. While Penn State was not the power house in wrestling that it is today, O’Connell brought his knowledge from the university’s program to Canonsburg High School when he started an intramural program.
The program started success early for Canonsburg from its first matches in 1933 into the 1959 merger between Canonsburg, Cecil, and North Strabane areas to form Canon-McMillan High School. The CM wrestling program has had over 2,000 wrestlers and 16 head coaches come into the mat room. As this year marks 90 years since R.J. O’Connell first stepped foot in Canonsburg, it’s time to take a look back at some of the history and stats of the whole program.
Wins & Losses
1,060 wins, 242 losses, 15 ties. The record of Canonsburg and Canon-McMillan HS helps the program stand tall as the team with the most dual meet wins in Pennsylvania. At more than 100 matches behind, Waynesburg and Easton come in at second and third most wins. Coaches O’Connell and Mason lead the “Gunners” on an 87 win streak in their first eight official seasons. With his own 45 match win-streak, Coach Chris Mary holds the record for most CM dual meet wins with 214, with notable victories over Erie McDowell and Central Dauphin in the 2012 and 2013 PIAA State Finals. While the wins are great, the program has also suffered many heartbreaking losses to teams that have become certain rivals like Waynesburg, Trinity, North Allegheny, and Latrobe, among others.
Coach Chris Mary gets psyched after a big WPIAL win
Coaches Cardillo and Haynes at the state tournament
Team Titles
8 is the number of times the “Big Macs” have gone a full season without a single team loss. The program boasts other team credits such as 39 Section titles, 20 WPIAL titles, and 8 State titles. Canon Mac has won the last 16 Section titles, dating back to Mary’s second season as a coach in 2002. If he accomplishes nothing else, new Head Coach Jeff Havelka must continue to dominate the Section, as he has big shoes to fill. As for WPIAL? CM won 4 straight WPIAL titles from 2010-2013. However, what most fans don’t know is that the “Gunners” won 6 straight WPIAL titles from 1936-1941, starting by capturing the first ever WPIAL Team Championship. At the state level, CM won 8 straight State titles from 2010-2013, including three team-individual titles.
Canonsburg "Gunners" wrestling team under Coach Phil Ahwesh (1947)
Individual Titles
Jason Dami after winning PIAA quarterfinal (1994)
There is nothing that has made CM Wrestling the program it has been more so than the individuals that have wrestled in it. From 1927-2017, over 220 wrestlers -- including myself -- have brought home Section titles. At the WPIAL level, there have been 150 titles won by “Gunners” and “Big Macs,” with twenty-four of those coming from 4X Champs Andy Puchany (a future head coach), Don Haney, Manuel Pihakis, Mark Angle, Colin Johnston, and Solomon Chishko. While there have been no 4X State Champs from the school, George Custer and Manuel Pihakis have each brought home 3 titles of the program’s 43 total. CM has qualified over 170 wrestlers and claimed 134 state medals.
Accolades
Other than big high school stats, the “Big Macs” have sent 20 wrestlers, 4 coaches, and 3 teams into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. 39 wrestlers have also made the prestigious achievement of being a part of the “100 Win Club.” At the collegiate level, the school has been a part in helping twelve individuals win 22 NCAA medals, including 5 NCAA Champions. In the 2017-2018 season, be sure to look out for Dalton Macri (12), Connor Schram (10), and Solomon Chishko (4), as they are all ranked in FloWrestling’s Top 20 and looking for NCAA titles. In other areas, the CM Alumni Wrestling Camp has molded the current generation of CM wrestlers for 3 years, while the Mac Open Golf Scramble brought together past generations of wrestlers and fans in its first year.
Canon-McMillan Wrestling has built up a tradition of continued excellence carried on from the “Gunners” to the “Big Macs.” These statistics show that CM started strong and has been a team to reckon with for nine decades, and that will continue into the future with the support of fans, families, and previous generations of wrestlers. As this upcoming season starts up, the Alumni Association will be taking a closer look back at the history of the program with analysis, history lessons, and interviews, so be sure to come back often for new articles. Check out the Infographic below, and look forward to an eventful season!
*All outside information is referenced from http://www.cmwrestlingalumni.com/ or “A History of Canonsburg Canon-McMillan High School Wrestling” by Paul Amic.