Jefferson-Morgan’s Teasdale wins 4th WPIAL title
Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan, right, pressures Shawn Broadwat of Derry during their 125-pound final of the WPIAL Class AA Championship at Canon-McMillan Saturday.
Joe Tuscano/ observer-reporter
Christian Clutter of McGuffey gets a hand to the face by Southmoreland's Jaden Datz in the 170-pound finals. Clutter won a 1-0 decision.
CANONSBURG – It would be a mistake – especially for opposing coaches and wrestlers – to believe Gavin Teasdale has lost some of his punch.
The three-time state champion from Jefferson-Morgan High School hit two rough patches this season, both times resulting in losses that derailed what had been until then a perfect record.
Watching Teasdale thrash through the 126-pound weight class Saturday put one in the mind of the Tasmanian Devil weed-whacking everything in site as he bore down on Bugs Bunny.
Teasdale added another title and earned another honor when he devoured Shawn Broadway of Derry in the 126-pound finals of the WPIAL Class AA Championships at Canon-McMillan High School.
Teasdale’s 18-4 major decision gave him his fourth WPIAL title, an accomplishment only 27 other wrestlers managed in WPIAL history.
The last wrestler to do it was Spencer Lee of Franklin Regional. The first was Andy Puchany of Canonsburg in 1939. The list is filled with familiar names – James Conklin, Buns Pihakis, Cary Kolat and Coleman Scott, to name but a few – and now Teasdale’s is one of them..
Teasdale also was named Outstanding Wrestler.
“I didn’t wrestle like I could have but I think I was letting if fly,” said Teasdale. “If I wrestle and keep my pace, I’ll be able to get to my offense and be able to attack more.”
Teasdale said its was satisfying to be a four-time champion but it did not dominate his thoughts.
“I think of it as another event,” he said. “Just like the state tournament, I’m going to be going for my fourth there and I’m going for my fourth here. Wins will come to you (if you wrestle well). You can’t be looking forward. You have to take it one match at a time. If I’m outworking everyone, then the championships will come.”
Joining Teasdale on top of the awards stand were Christian Clutter of McGuffey, who won a 1-0 decision at 170 pounds from Jaden Datz of Southmoreland for his second title in as many years, and Jonathan Vargo of Bentworth, who took a 1-0 decision from Luke Shingle of McGuffey at 182 pounds.
Teasdale, the top seed in the weight class, reached the finals by pinning South Fayette’s Gary Loeffler in 1:26, then winning by technical fall, 18-1, over Austin Ryan of Burgettstown in the semifinals.
Clutter made an escape stand for the title and second win over Datz in as many nights. Clutter beat Datz in the Section 2 final.
“It’s the scariest part of wrestling you can have, a 1-0 lead in the third period,” said Clutter.
“Yeah, it was scary. It’s always neck-and-neck with him. It just comes down to who’s wrestling well that day.”
Vargo entered the tournament as top seed and made it stand with win over Shingle.
“I work hard at practice, sometimes go to two practices a day just for this,” said Vargo.
“I just keep grinding.”
Two other area wrestlers took second. Shane Kempr of Burgettstown, who lost a 6-0 decision to Ian Oswalt of Burrell at 113 pounds; and Connor Main of West Greene, who fell 5-0 to Derrry’s Dom DeLuca at 220 pounds.