Alumni Spotlight: Mike Hull

Source: Pittsburgh Sports Report

So far in this series, we’ve highlighted past CM wrestlers who have become college coaches and Division I wrestlers. Taking a slightly different approach this week, the Alumni Association is removing our headgears and picking up helmets as we tackle 2010 CM graduate, Mike Hull.

During his days as a Big Mac, Mike was a four-sport athlete, excelling in football, wrestling, baseball, and track. On the football team Mike played linebacker and running back as a captain. #49 helped the Big Mac football team to a winning season record, a feat which has not happened since his time under Coach Montecalvo.

To Mike, fall was for football and spring was for baseball, when the Big Mac was a part of the 2008 AAAA State Championship team and made into a captain over time. In his senior year, Mike was not satisfied with three sports, so he picked up another; in track & field, Mike competed in the 100 meter and shot put. His high school wrestling days are remembered by many wrestling fans because of the 2010 WPIAL finals match against Kiski. Coming down to the last bout, the captain put his shoulder injury aside to clinch the Big Mac’s first of four straight WPIAL AAA Team Championships.

Mike furthered his education at Penn State University, where he continued to play football, following in his father’s footsteps. After a 2010 redshirt year, the Nittany Lion played special teams in 2011. In 2012 “Hull” started to become a household name in State College as he started as an outside linebacker, eventually switching to inside linebacker in the 2014 season. The defenseman was also named a captain in his final season under Coach James Franklin, when he lead his team and the Big 10 in tackles. #43 ended his college football career on a high note after PSU sanctions were lifted and Mike became a Pinstripe Bowl Champion.

Source: Daily Collegian

The Nittany Lion graduated with a degree in finance and signed with the Miami Dolphins after being undrafted. Cut from the lineup in 2015, Mike persevered on the practice squad. He was pulled up later that season for three games. #45 eventually earned a spot as the starting inside linebacker for Miami. During his three seasons with the team in the NFL, he has amassed 35 tackles and 1 interception.

Mike has had quite the career as a Big Mac, Nittany Lion, and now Dolphin. In 2015 he met us to discuss tips with the current wrestlers for the CM Alumni Wrestling Camp. That video can be found below:

Cover Photo Source: Dolphins Wire

Alumni Spotlight: Colt Shorts

Source: Waynesburg Athl.

We move from one coach to the next in this week’s Alumni Spotlight on local Waynesburg University Graduate Assistant, Colt Shorts. This is Colt’s first year coaching at Waynesburg (3-2 record on the season), as he just finished his degree in Kinesiology Exercise Science at Cal Poly State University earlier this year.

Colt graduated from Canon Mac in 2012 with a Powerade Championship, WPIAL Championship, and an 3rd place finish at the PIAA State tournament. He was a part of two WPIAL team titles, a team-individual State title, and a team State title. Colt is also a member of CM’s 100 Win Club with a HS record of 129-30, with 50 of those wins coming just from his junior year (an in-season wins record at CM).

In college, he jumped up to 157lbs after wrestling 103lbs for most of his high school life. Through his college career, Colt made the finals of Reno Tournament of Champions, finished 7th at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, placed three times at the PAC-12 Championships, was nationally ranked at #19 by FloWrestling, qualified for the DI NCAA tournament this past year, became a Papa John's and Coca-Cola student-athlete of the week, and earned a Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.

Colt gives back to the Canon-McMillan wrestling program by helping with CM Alumni Wrestling Camp and stopping in to practices and local clubs. Check out his video below to learn more about the Big Mac turned Mustang turned Yellow Jacket:

Cover Photo Source: The Tribune

90 Days Until CM Wrestling's Home Opener

It's the 90th anniversary of the Canon-McMillan wrestling program, and what better way to kick off this season's events than with a countdown to the first home match! In just 90 days, the Big Macs will face off against Montour in its home opener on Wednesday, December 13. 

The high school team will compete in six dual meets this year, with four home matches against Montour, Kiski, Waynesburg, and Central Catholic. The team will also wrestle at the Cumberland Valley, North Canton, Powerade, TRICADA, and Escape the Rock tournaments throughout the season. Make sure to check out CM's full schedule here, including important dates for scrimmages, matches, and tournaments.

With the first match quickly approaching, the Alumni Association had the opportunity to sit down with new Head Coach Jeff Havelka to get his thoughts on the upcoming season. Coach Havelka was hired back in May of this year, and the wrestlers had the chance to meet him at a picnic in June. Watch the video below to understand his coaching mentality, and get ready to support him in 90 days as he leads the CMHS Big Macs into battle.

A Successful Week for Canon-McMillan Wrestling

The season hasn't started yet, but that does not mean that the CM wrestling program can't find success in the off-season. Last week, August 9-11 was the 3rd annual CM Wrestling Alumni Camp and August 12 was the inaugural Mac Open Golf Scramble.

The Alumni Wrestling Camp is a summer wrestling camp for Big Mac wrestlers only that is put on each year by the school's alumni. It started three years ago when Camp Director Josiah Hritsko pulled together some of his closest high school teammates to bring technique, motivation, and team bonding to the current generation of CM wrestlers through ages K-12.

This year, the camp was put on by a similar bunch, but with newcomer camp counselors Brendan Furman (Cornell), Nick Konyk (Mercyhurst), Matt Oblock (Wheeling Jesuit), and Declan Lewis. On day 1 Connor Schram (Stanford) and Colt Shorts (Cal Poly) returned to show off some of their west coast knowledge. Bobby Patnesky (Coach Penn State Behrend) and Dalton Macri (UNC) came in for day 2 sessions, teaching moves from the top and neutral positions. Day 3 was one of the camp's best days in its history with 2016 NCAA Champion Nico Megaludis (Penn State) demonstrating detailed moves from his time as a Nittany Lion and local WPIAL wrestler. Also on that Friday, Angelo Broglia (Clarion) taught Jiu Jitsu, a mixed martial arts form, to the boys in a means to discuss a different path for life post-wrestling. The broad history of Big Mac wrestlers that the camp can pull from is truly incredible.

In addition to the technique, the wrestlers were taken to North Strabane Park and Angel's Acres to talk about goals and to do some team bonding activities. Camp Counselors, Coach Slack, and new HS head coach Jeff Havelka spoke to everyone about the upcoming season and finding an identity. And as for the coveted camp championship belt? In its second year of existence the three teams -- Gold (Furman), Blue (Konyk), and White (Oblock) -- competed with all age groups by earning points in relay races, games, and a final triathlon event to decide a winner. Gold team emerged victorious for the second year under a new captain and hoisted the team belt. Final awards were given to Tanner Mizenko (Junior High) for being the Team Motivator and to Tim Hritsko (High School) for being the Hardest Worker. View the Wrestling Camp gallery HERE.

After the younger generation of CM wrestlers took part in camp, the older alumnus took to the golf course on Saturday for the first annual “Mac Open” Golf Scramble. The event was put together in conjunction with Chad Maggi and Brian Hritsko of the Canon-McMillan Wrestling Alumni Association. 84 wrestlers, fans, family, and friends gathered at the Village Green Golf Course to golf 18 holes, compete for prizes, and eat and drink. Prizes were awarded for “The Kyle Deliere” longest drive, closest to pin, longest putt, “The Dami” closest second shot, and “The Michael Caldwell” putting contest. By the end of the day, Jason Dami, Chuck Murdy, Mike Murdy, and Brandon Lesko finished first out of 21 teams shooting 15 under par. View the gallery for the Mac Open HERE.

Both the Alumni Wrestling Camp and Mac Open Golf Scramble were possible because of the great local sponsors. The camp looks forward to its fourth year and the golf outing looks to become an annual event. The proceeds from each event will be put back into the Canon-McMillan Wrestling Alumni Association to benefit the current K-12 wrestling programs and Kyle Deliere and Michael Caldwell scholarships.

High School Wrestlers Meet New Coach

Wednesday, June 28 was the first night of the beginning of a new era for the CMHS Wrestling Program. With the announcement of the new head coach, Jeff Havelka, in May, the team decided to get together at Angel's Acres to have a meet and greet with their new leader.

After a great dinner, Coach Havelka was able to introduce himself to the high school team and let the parents know what he has in store for the upcoming season. The night was not all business, though, as the the boys swam and played some corn hole with the new coach. All look forward to the upcoming 2017/2018 season.

CM Wrestling Hires New Head Coach

The Canon-McMillan High School Wrestling Program has had its fair share of coaches throughout the years. After four years as head coach, Jason Cardillo resigned at the end of this season with 4 Team Section titles, 2 Team WPIAL finals, 18 Section Champions, 3 WPIAL Champions, and 3 State Champions under his tutelage.

CM decided on a new head coach last month by bringing on Jeff Havelka to continue the program's tradition. Havelka wrestled at Burgettstown HS and served as assistant coach at Waynesburg University and head coach at Chartiers-Houston HS.

Read more about the head coach in the Observer Reporter HERE.