McCutcheon Drops to #1; Brill Rolls

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Brian Brill (Blue Singlet)

Brian Brill isn’t going away anytime soon (besides the Lehigh wrestling room next Fall). The Central Mountain senior has been dominating the 160 LBS. weight class this season, much like he did a season ago at 145 LBS. The only concern for the returning State Champion is another returning State Champion by the name of Chance Marsteller. The two are on a collision course to meet in the finals of this years PIAA Class AAA 160 LBS. State Championship. Marsteller is ranked as the #1 overall wrestler in the Nation at 160 LBS. by TheOpenMat while Brill checks in at #6 in the Nation. Last weekend Brian Brill captured an Escape the Rock Championship Belt and defeated Norristown’s (#3) Brett Harner by a score of (9-2) in the finals. Over the Holidays Marsteller ran into Harner in the finals of the POWERade Tournament and had a similar result, picking up a win by a score of (11-4). If my math is correct, these two talented wrestlers should match up rather nicely if and when they do finally meet.

Kiski Area junior Matt McCutcheon may have been fed up with wrestling star athlete Perry Hills from Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Hills a senior at PCC will attend the University of Maryland next year, not for wrestling, but as a highly anticipated quarterback. In the meantime Hills will look to improve on his PIAA 4th place finish last season at 189 LBS. Last season Hills caught the attention of many when he defeated Central Dauphin’s Kenny Courts at the Beast of East (6-4) in the consolation round. McCutcheon won’t be missing Perry Hills much as the two have met a number of times over the past several years. Last season McCutcheon was a 5th place finisher at 189 LBS. as a sophomore. That followed up a freshmen season in which he qualified for the PIAA State Tournament at 160 LBS. Unfortunately he ran into Hills four times including all three post-season tournaments. During the regular season dual meet between the WPIAL Section 1 rivals Kiski Area and Pittsburgh Central Catholic McCutcheon recorded his only win against Hills with a (5-2) victory. In the WPIAL Section 1 finals Hills downed McCutcheon (3-0). The following week Hills followed it up with a (3-1) decision in the WPIAL (SW Regional) finals. Of course it wouldn’t be a successful trip to Hershey unless the two grappled again during the PIAA State Tournament. That match found Hills the victor with a score of (3-1), although both left Hershey with hardware.

This season its a new weight class but the same result. On January 7, 2012 at the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Duals, 195 lb. senior Perry Hills once again defeated McCutcheon by a score of…wait for it…you guessed it…(3-1). Thus far, Hills is undefeated and earned a Beast of the East Championship in December. For McCutcheon his junior campaign is going as planned, and quick. Matt is 25-1 at 195 LBS. with 23 first period pins, 1 second period pin, and 1 major decision. One of those first period pins was recorded in :05 seconds. Along the way McCutcheon earned a Manheim Holiday Tournament Championship and a Westmoreland County Championship. For Matt McCutcheon the new weight classes are an opportunity to wrestle at a suitable weight. As a sophomore he was too big for 171 LBS. but not necessarily a true 189 pounder either. This season, the 182 pound weight class, plus the 2 pound growth allowance granted this week, is where Matt will compete for a PIAA State Championship. The good news is Perry Hills will most likely remain at 195 LBS. With McCutcheon dropping to 182 LBS. he is now the clear favorite to win a State Championship. The Kiski Area junior as two wins over 3rd ranked Ryan Burnheimer at last years State Tournament as well as victories over several other ranked wrestlers in the weight class.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]