PIAA championship 1st step for J-M’s Teasdale
Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan carries Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge in his 106-pound final of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey Saturday. Teasdale won the state title with a 4-2 decision over Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge.
Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan uses his head to balance himself in his 106-pound final of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey Saturday. Teasdale won the state title with a 4-2 decision over Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge.
HERSHEY – If it appeared that Gavin Teasdale was in total control, it was because he was.
Teasdale became the first PIAA Class AA wrestling champion in Jefferson-Morgan High School in 20 years when he polished off Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge, 4-2, in the 106-pound finals Saturday afternoon at the Giant Center.
Mike Lesko thought maybe this was the time his talented freshman would show some emotion. But Teasdale left the Jefferson-Morgan head coach waiting for the celebration that didn’t come right away.
After signing his bout sheet, Teasdale walked over to Lesko and the two shared a hug. It was then that Teasdale allowed a smile.
“I never jumped into a coach’s arms after a win,” said Teasdale, who finished the season with a 46-0 record. “It’s not my style.”
Teasdale was one of two area Class AA wrestlers to win state titles Saturday. Mike Carr became the second PIAA wrestling champion from South Fayette and the second in his family after his brother, Nick (2010), when he gutted out a 3-1 decision over Tyler Vath of Saegertown in the 138-pound final.
“It felt great,” said Carr. “All the hard work paid off.”
George Phillippi of Derry was named Outstanding Wrestler after beating defending state champion Korbin Myers of Boiling Springs, 1-0, in the 132-pound final.
Reynolds won the team title with 87 points. Boiling Springs was second with 84 and Saegertown was third with 71.5. Jefferson-Morgan (59) was sixth and South Fayette (51) was tied for seventh.
The last wrestler to capture a state title at Jefferson-Morgan was Justin Tracanna, who won the 171-pound title in 1995. The last finalist for the Rockets was Ethan Virgili, who made the 189-pound finals in 2008.
“I talked to him about states,” said Teasdale of Tracanna. “He gives me points about what I’m doing wrong. He’s helped me work on my wrestling.”
Even though Teasdale did not show nerves, a large group of family and friends at the ecent more than made up for it.
“I was real nervous,” said Teasdale’s mother, Kristin. “I couldn’t eat at all today. It’s a big deal for him but he just doesn’t show it. When he won one of his junior Olympic titles, he and his dad hugged. He’s just happy to eat wings. It’s his favorite thing on earth.”
Lesko understands it, too.
“That’s what it says about him,” Lesko said. “It’s his life, his job. He knows it’s his job to go out there and work hard. Show emotion? He’s not that type of kid. But he’s a great wrestler.”
This was the third meeting between Teasdale and Burkett, and Teasdale has won all three, winning at the Southwest Region finals and the finals of the Bedford Tournament.
Teasdale took Burkett down with 21 seconds left in the first period and escaped 17 seconds into the third period. Burkett cut the lead to 3-2 with a takedown midway through the match.
“I was trying to score as many points as possible,” said Teasdale. “I wasn’t thinking about sticking to a two-point lead. I was trying to get my offense in. I was happy with my match. At the end of the day, I was walking out with a gold medal as a freshman. So it was a good day.”
Teasdale stretched the lead to 4-2 with an escape 44 seconds before the second period ended, then road Burkett for two minutes to secure the win.
This win keeps Teasdale on the same straits with another Jefferson-Morgan great, Cary Kolat, who won four titles and compiled a 137-0 record.
“I have my goals set and this is one-fourth of the way done,” said Teasdale. “I have a lot more to go through in my high school career.”
“He has one under his belt,” said Lesko. “I want him to blaze his own path. All that counts are the three days of wrestling (in Hershey).”
Three other J-M wrestlers won medals. Brendan Howard finished in seventh place after a 3-2 decision over Caleb Bordner of Tri Valley; Bill Bowlen finished sixth after a 4-3 loss to Brett Beltz of South Fayette at 182; and Ian Wolfe was fourth after a 5-4 loss to Saul Wilkins of G.A.R. Memorial in ultimate tiebreaker.
Besides Beltz and Carr, Jared Walker finished third at 160 with a 5-2 decision over Drew Doak of Blairsville.
Anthony Welsh of Beth-Center was fifth at 170 after a 5-1 decision over Gavin Hoffman of Montoursville.