Incoming J-M wrestler ranked No. 2 in U.S.
Mike Lesko was around for the Cary Kolat era, and he has seen some amazing feats from someone who is considered one of – if not the best – wrestlers in history.
Lesko also has been around for the emergence of Gavin Teasdale, who has roared through the youth league and middle school seasons as well as impressing on the national stage. Teasdale will be a freshman on Jefferson-Morgan High School’s wrestling team this season.
So could this be another Kolat in the making?
“No one can be another Cary Kolat,” Lesko said. “I never mention them in the same breath.”
It’s not that Lesko is playing down the talent of Teasdale, whose father Brandon was a standout athlete at Jefferson-Morgan. Lesko just doesn’t see the point of putting all that pressure on his prized wrestler. And Lesko wants Teasdale to blaze his own path through the wrestling world.
Kolat won four PIAA titles and finished with a perfect 137-0 record. Teasdale has not wrestled in a varsity match yet. That will happen Friday, when the Rockets participate in the two-day Eastern Tournament at Gateway High School. Teasdale is the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the country by Intermat at 106 pounds, behind Cade Olivas of St. John Bosco, Calif. The two wrestled in last month’s “Who’s No. 1?” event at Lehigh University and Olivas came away with a 3-1 decision.
“Gavin goes non-stop,” Lesko said.
“No one is going to outwork him. I’ve seen him as a young kid and now I get to see him as a young man. He’s just unbelievable. He’s right there. The sky is the limit.”
Jefferson-Morgan will compete in this year’s Powerade Chrsitmas Wrestling Tournament and Teasdale might draw two-time state champion Devon Brown from Franklin Regional.
“Powerade will be his first (varsity) big time tournament,” Lesko said.
Teasdale’s youth accomplishments are long and distinguished, including winning a Cadet National Freestyle title in Fargo, N.D., three Junior Olympic titles and a 2014 FILA Cadet National championship in Akron, Ohio.
“He’s a constant worker,” said Lesko. “He’s such a likable kid. There is no arrogance to him.”
Teasdale will be the centerpiece to a Jefferson-Morgan team that is ranked fourth behind Burgettstown, South Fayette and Burrell in the Observer-Reporter Preseason Wrestling Rankings. He and Brendan Howard, a senior who finished sixth at 120 pounds in the Southwest Regional Tournament last year and third in the WPIAL Championships, go at it every day in practice.
“Gavin is giving up 15 pounds to Howard,” said Lesko. “It’s unbelievable to watch them. I have never seen Howard like this before. I’ve seen a lot of improvement on the mat by him. I think the big reason is Teasdale.”
The Rockets were hit hard by graduation. John Demaske, a sixth-place finisher at 126 in Hershey with a 42-3 record; Jason Miller a regional and WPIAL runner-up at 138 with a 28-5 record; and Ryan Zalar, a fourth-place finisher in the region and WPIAL runner-up at 160 with a 35-10 record; are gone.
“We’re going to be young,” Lesko said. “We’re going to have half our weight classes with experience, and have little to no (varsity) experience.”
Bill Bowlen, a WPIAL champion, regional runner-up and state qualifier at 170 with a 40-6 record, is back; as is Ian Wolfe, a third-place finisher in the WPIAL Championships at heavyweight with a 32-11 record. Lesko also believes Trevor Kniha, a 152-pound junior with a 29-22 record, is ready for a breakout season.
“He’s filled out real nice,” Lesko said. “I think he’ll turn some heads this year. He’s not afraid to go with anyone. (Bowlen) should have medaled at states last year. Mentally, he’s there and physically, he’s there. There is no reason not to medal this year. And I told Ian this is his last shot. He’s been working hard and that might get him over the hump.”