Jefferson-Morgan’s Teasdale makes history by remembering past
Marc Billett/ For the Observer-Reporter
Former Jefferson-Morgan standout Gavin Teasdale
Marc Billett / For the Observer-Reporter
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale works to free himself from Saucon Valley’s Josh Jones during Saturday’s 126-pound finals bout at the PIAA Class AA Championships.
HERSHEY – The devastating loss in December laid the groundwork for Pennsylvania wrestling immortality in March for Gavin Teasdale.
The senior from Jefferson-Morgan joined a truly elite group Saturday afternoon at the Giant Center when he won his fourth PIAA Class AA title with a 2-0 decision over Josh Jones of Saucon Valley.
Only 12 other wrestlers have won four titles in this tournament that was first held in 1938 at Penn State’s Rec Hall.
“It’s been a goal of mine since I was younger,” said Teasdale, who was named Outstanding Wrestler. “I don’t know if you know it, but that headgear was given to me by Jimmy Gulibon right after he won his fourth. I was in seventh grade. That’s what I wore out there. Now, I’ll have to find someone young to pass it down to.”
Teasdale, who raised his season record to 40-2 and career mark to 162-2, won this bout not with his normal take-no-prisoners attack mode but with the calculating planning of a mat-tested veteran.
Teasdale scored two escapes then closed up and dared Jones to attack. The Saucon Valley junior produced one decent shot and nothing else.
“It’s been a heck of a roller coaster senior season,” he said.
At the Powerade Christmas Tournament in December, the roles were reversed when Teasdale took on Beau Bartlett of Wyoming Seminary in the marquee bout of the finals. An overaggressive Teasdale was countered twice for takedowns and lost the first match of his varsity career.
“We had a game plan,” said Jefferson-Morgan’s Mike Lesko, who plans to hand in his letter of resignation as head coach this week.
“It was hard sitting there wondering if he is going to try this. I was like, ‘Gavin, stay with it because it’s working.’ He did everything right. He did everything right leading up to this, eating right, getting the right amount of rest, training, watching his weight. You can’t ask for anything better as a coach.”.
Joining Teasdale as local medal winners are Manny Dovshek (120) and John Vargo (182) of Bentworth, Mike Cusick (145) of South Fayette, Christian Clutter of McGuffy (170),
Teasdale reached the finals with a 16-0 technical fall over Avery Bassett of Midd-West in the first round, an 11-4 decision over Ken Kiser of Saegerton in the quarterfinals, and a 14-5 major decision over A.J. Burkhart in the semifinals.
Teasdale’s other victims in the state finals were Austin Clabaugh of Bermudian Springs, who lost a 13-5 major decision in the PIAA 120-pound finals last year; Kollin Myers of Boiling Springs, who was teched by Teasdale, 23-8, in the 113-pound state finals two years back; and Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge, who was Teasdale’s first victim in the state event, losing 4-2 in the 106-pound finals.
The 12 four-time champions are James Conklin of Waynesburg (70-0-1, 1940-43), Jerry Maurey of Clearfield (67-0, 1947-50), Mike Johnson of Lock Haven (84-0, 1958-610, Matt Gerhard of Catasaqua (127-3, 1981-84), Ty Moore of North Allegheny (146-1, 1987-90), John Hughes of Benton (142-2-1, 1988-91), Cary Kolat of Jefferson-Morgan (137-0, 1989-92), Bob Crawford of Milton (138-2, 1990-93), Jeremy Hunter of McGuffey (172-2, 1993-96), Jim Gulibon of Derry (136-4, 2009-13), Chance Marsteller of Kennard Dale (166-0, 2011-14) and Thomas Haines of Solanco (174-5, 2011-14).
Dovshek worked his way through the wrestlebacks and pinned Derek Christie of Westmont Hilltop in 3:39 for seventh place at 120. Teammate John Vargo finished in fifth place at 182 after pinning Matt Lewandowski of Mahanoy in 2:33.
Clutter made it to the third-place bout at 170 before losing an 8-0 major decision to Dalton Group of Susquenita.
“It feels really good being on the medal stand,” said Clutter. “As soon as I knew I was placing, I opened up a little more.”
Cusick finished in seventh place at 145 after a 5-2 decision over Mike Doerfinger of Slippery Rock.