Kiski Area Open Tournament 2004

This past Saturday, November 27, 2004, the new gym at the Kiski Area High School hosted the annual "Kiski Area Open Tournament" for wrestlers ages 6 to 15. This is fundraising event that attracts wrestlers from school districts all over the area. The Kiski Area High School Wresting Boosters put on this event to raise money for the High School team. Steve Joseph, Tournament Director and Chuck Tursky, Kiski Area High School Coach, have been in charge this event for about 15 years now.

It is great for the kids. Wrestlers like "being together, getting to learn with other teammates. There is a lot of camaraderie," says Coach Joseph. "You get to meet a lot of people and parents get to know each other."

Wrestling starts out in the early morning for the first division of 7-10 year olds. At 7:15 am is sign-in and wrestling begins at 9:00 am and ends about 2:00 pm. The next division 11&12 year olds and Jr. High level, starts about 2:00 pm and ends about 8:00 pm. The new high school facility was in use for the first time, for this tournament, so there were many things to work out. Four full mats were in use and there was a lot more room than the old gymnasium.

When the Kiski Area Open Tournament first started, it was scheduled at the end of March because this was when the high school ended their season. If high school students were competing in high school wrestling, they could not compete in the open tournament so this was a good time the open tournament. As the years passed, it became just a junior tournament.

In the mid-1990’s the tournament was changed to around the 17th to 22nd of December but this time did not work out for many folks because of the holiday season. Volunteers were many times at a minimum. Then in 1997, the tournament was moved to Thanksgiving time. This time is working out well and will continue annually.

Wrestling in this tournament is a "great experience and lots of fun for the kids. There are many parents that are serious about the sport," says Coach Joseph.

The following is submitted information:

A silver plaque was given for First, Second and Third Place finishers with a Kiski Area Tournament Champion T-shirt for all Champions. The number of participants totaled was 412 wrestlers entered in the tournament. Total from Kiski Area was 40 for Elementary and 21 from Junior High.

Special Thanks go out to:

Tournament Organization - Coach Chuck Tursky, Coach Chris Heater and Coach Dave Fiore from the KA High School Varsity coaching staff.

Tournament operation - Karen, Doug and Andrew Joseph - Beth, Jeff and Ashleigh Pollack, Sue Jeffries, Jen Tursky, Brenda Heater, Harry Schoeller, Bill Geiselhart.

Cafeteria - Debbie Briscoe, Sue and Chuck Jefferson, Sue Milanak, Laura Spisak, Robin Laero, Lisa Taraszewski, Lori Kiehl, Amy Crissman, Barb Moore, Raelene Writt, Tracy Clark with other varsity wrestling parents helping throughout the day.

The high school wrestlers worked the scoring tables.

The ref’s are a very important part of the day. They day could not be done with out their help.

Anyone interested in the Kiski Area Junior Wrestling Organization can call Coach Steve Joseph 724-468-4140.

A list of area place winners is below:

8 &Under - Tyler Faulk Kiski Area - 50# 3rd. - Mitchell Nagy Kiski Area - 55# 2nd. - Zach Kelly Burrell - 65# 2nd. - Brett Zanotto Valley - 80# 3rd. - HWT. Allan Beattie Burrell 1st.

9-10 - Zach Wolford Burrell - 75# 2nd. - Toby Schreckengost Kittanning - 85# 2nd. - Matt McCutcheon Kiski Area 95# 1st. - Anthony Dongiovanni Kiski Area 105# 3rd.

11-12 - Geoff Alexander Fox Chapel - 70# 3rd. - Jeremy Landowski Burrell - 85# 1st. - Matt McCutcheon Kiski Area - 95# 1st. - Ricki Bass Highlands - 105# 3rd. - Billy Emerick Kiski Area - 115# 2nd. - Danny Meighan Kiski Area - 125# 2nd. - Brain Beattie Burrell - 140# 1st. - Harry Schoeller Kiski Area - 140# 2nd. - Tom Penley Kiski Area - 140# 3rd.

Junior High- Dane Johnson New Ken - 85# 1st. - Tyler Berger Burrell - 90# 3rd. - Jack Clair Plum - 105# 2nd. - Josh McMillan Kiski Area -115# 2nd. - Justin Harold Kiski Area - 115# 3rd. - Steve Shank Burrell -130# 3rd. John Puskar Kiski Area - 145# 2nd. - Vinnie Thompson Fox Chapel - 145 3rd. - Jesse Briscoe Kiski Area -155# 2nd. - Jeff Krajci Kiski Area - 175/200# 1st. - Dan Irwin Kiski Area - 175/200# 3rd. Andrew Johnson Valley -HWT 1st.

Full results of all wrestlers participating can be found at:

http://65.61.23.146/tournaments/04%20tournaments/04Kiski.htm

Kiski Area Open Tournament 2004

Kiski Area Open Tournament 2004

Kiski Area Open Tournament 2004

Kiski Area Open Tournament 2004

Doug Joseph with Dad, Coach Steve Joseph