Sunday, March 16, 2003

Mark McKnight didn't have any problems showing his emotions after winning PIAA gold last weekend. Once the Chartiers Valley wrestler edged out Shikellamy's Mike Sees in the 119-pound Class AAA finals, he blew kisses to the crowd and did a backflip. "I haven't done one in awhile," said McKnight, in regard to the backflip. "It seemed like a good idea at the time." By beating Sees, 6-4, in overtime, the senior topped off an outstanding high school wrestling career. As a result, he's been named South & West Wrestler of the Year. "This year, he was one of the best wrestlers in Pennsylvania," Chartiers Valley coach Mike Johnson said. "He's the total package. "His work ethic all year has been outstanding. He did all the extras and everything came together." Besides winning the first state title in 40 years at Chartiers Valley, McKnight also became the winningest wrestler in the school's history. McKnight passed Scott Hutton's 122-27 mark in the Southwest Regionals. He finished up at 130-12, including a 38-1 record this season. McKnight was also named to Team Pennsylvania for the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic today at Fitzgerald Field House along with four other WPIAL wrestlers. "It's great competition," McKnight said. "I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to come in with pretty much the same attitude." The lone blemish on McKnight's record came at the Southwest Regionals, where he lost in the semifinals to Plum sophomore Sean Clair, 6-5. Clair went on to win the title. "I ran into a little hill," said McKnight, who attends South Fayette, which doesn't have a wrestling team. "I had to convince myself that it was in the past and concentrate on the next step. "I think that made me realize what I had to do." Johnson thinks the loss might've helped. "In a sense, it may have been a blessing," said Johnson, who is in his seventh year as wrestling coach at Chartiers Valley. "I think that helps to motivate more." That, and the fact that it was McKnight's last chance to win PIAA gold. In his sophomore season, he fell to West Chester Henderson's Jermain Jones in the state finals. Last season, he lost to Waynesburg's Coleman Scott in the semifinals. "I definitely went in with confidence," McKnight said. "I knew I could win it, and that was enough to get me there. I was a little more relaxed because I had been there before. That helped out a lot." Perhaps the most remarkable part of McKnight's season was the fact that he was wrestling at 119 pounds. He wrestled at 103 pounds in his first three seasons. "It could've been a really hard move," Johnson said. "But he discovered the weight room, and it really paid off." McKnight also took advantage of his speed and quickness. "I knew it would be a good choice," McKnight said. "My speed helped me out a lot. It might've played to my gameplan to move quicker." McKnight's wrestling strategy incorporates a lot of motion, set ups and movement. An aggressive wrestler, McKnight prefers to be on the attack. "It's definitely going to be hard to replace him," Johnson said. "He brings a lot to the program. He had an outstanding high school career, and I was glad to have him."