Teasdale terrific when it counts
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale enters for the parade of champions before the start of his Powerade championship bout. Teasdale wrestled Delbarton’s Patrick Glory.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale gets a handshake from his head coach Mike Lesko after receiving his first-place medal at the Powerade Wrestling Tournament for winning the 113-pound weight class.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale wrestles Delbarton’s Patrick Glory in the 116 pound championship bout at the Powerade Wrestling Tournament. Teasdale won with a 6-5 decision.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale picks up Delbarton’s Patrick Glory in the 113-pound championship match in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Jefferson-Morgan’s head coach Mike Lesko (right) coaches Gavin Teasdale through the championship bout at the Powerade Wrestling Tournament on Wednesday, December 30.
CANONSBURG – Greatness in wrestling is built one bout at a time, one tournament at a time, one gold medal at a time.
No matter the circumstances.
For Gavin Teasdale, the journey to greatness in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament is halfway complete.
But it did not come without some drama.
Teasdale, the undefeated defending state champion from Jefferson-Morgan, made it two gold medals in as many years in this event when he won a hard-fought 6-5 decision over Patrick Glory of Delbarton, N.J., in the 113-pound finals of a packed gym at Canon-McMillan High School.
Teasdale trailed 3-2 heading into the final two minutes but registered two takedowns, the final one with 1:04 left to secure the win.
“I knew he was going to have a game plan against me,” said Teasdale. “I held back a little and I didn’t finish my takedowns when I had the chance so I have to work on that.”
Teasdale gave up a second period takedown to Glory, the first points scored against the J-M sophomore this season.
“The next time I wrestle him, I just have to go to my offense better,” he said. “I didn’t do too good in this match, but I won.”
Teasdale had a 2-0 lead after one period but Glory escaped, then took Teasdale down with 37 seconds remaining in the period.
“We had to do all the work because he knew what we were going to do and capitalized on it,” said J-M head coach Mike Lesko. “He has nothing to lose. He is coming at you 100 percent.
“I told Gavin the match is not 4:20 seconds. The match is six minutes. Gavin proved it. Kids are going to come after him. That’s No. 1 and 5 in the nation going at each other but Gavin did his job. He won.”
Teasdale was the only local wrestler to make it to the finals.
Wyoming Seminary, the No. 1 team in the nation, won the team title, edging Belle Vernon. Wyoming Seminary was without three starters because of injuries but managed to overtake the Leopards in the finals, where they had two winners in Jake Riegel at 126 and Mason Manville at 152.
“We took 14 in and eight medaled,” said Belle Vernon head coach Mike Doppelheuer. “Our kids are better prepared for wrestling here. These are the best kids in the country.”
Austin Bell, the top seed at 170, was the lone winner for BV. Zach Hartmann finished second at 132 after a 5-3 loss to Tate Ortz of Brookville.
Teasdale, who extended his varsity record to 56-0, is on track to become only the seventh wrestler to win four titles in the history of this tournament, which began in 1967.
Luke Pletcher of Latrobe became the sixth Wednesday night, when he beat George Phillippi of Derry, 3-1, in the 138-pound finals.
The names of the other five – Ty Moore of North Allegheny, Marshall Peppelman of Central Dauphin, Nico Megaludis of Franklin Regional, Jimmy Gulibon of Derry and Chance Marsteller of Kennard-Dale – is also an impressive list.
There have only been 17 three-time Powerade champions; the last two to do it were Josh Shields of Franklin Regional and teammate Michael Kemerer in 2014.
Teasdale, top seeded in the weight, got to the finals with a dominating performance, 12-4, over No. 5 Matt Parker of Pennridge.
Glory entered the match with a 43-4 record and runner-up finish here last year and in the New Jersey state championships.
Waynesburg’s Shaun Wilson, who made it to the semifinals of the 138-pound weight class, lost a 6-5 decision to Pletcher. The senior from Latrobe, who is a two-time state champion and one-time runner-up, led 6-4 late and let Wilson up. He hung on for the one-point win.
Wilson finished fifth after an 11-5 decision over Jake Hinkson of North Allegheny. In the process, he got his 100th career win.
Wilson’s teammate, Colin McCracken, was sent to the consolation round at 182 after a 3-2 loss to Jake Woodley of North Allegheny. McCracken came close to taking Woodley down near the end of regulation but ran out of time.
Caleb Morris fought through the wrestlebacks and took seventh with a 1-0 decision over Gage Bayless of Reynolds.
Peters Township’s Mike McAleavey ended up in fifth place at 220 with a 3-1 decision over Josiah Jones of Westmont Hilltop.
Canon-McMillan’s Logan Macri and Brendan Furman turned in good efforts. Macri finished sixth at 113 pounds following a 5-3 loss to Allen Diltz of Benton.
Brendan Furman took third at heavyweight with a 4-3 decision over Joe Hensley of Moeller. Furman came into the tournament as an eighth seed.
“I didn’t want my junior year to be the year I didn’t place in this tournament,” said Furman. “This puts my head in a better place. I hope to do a lot better, especially in the WPIALs.”
Jefferson-Morgan’s Bill Bowlen finished seventh at 182 after a forfeit by Seth Fritts of Plainview, Okla.