Cusick upsets second seed, earns trip to Hershey
Joe Tuscano/Observer-Reporter
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale keeps the head of McGuffey’s Jett Pattison on the mat during their 126-pound quarterfinal bout in the PIAA Class AA Southwest Region Tournament at Indiana University Friday.
Dalton Lough of McGuffey tries to keep his balance against Levi Hockenberry of Mount Union during their 195-pound bout Friday at the PIAA Class AA Southwest Region Tournament in Indiana. Lough lost a 3-2 decision.
INDIANA – There is no better place for your biggest victory than the postseason.
Just ask Mike Cusick.
The senior from South Fayette High School slept well Friday night, secure in knowing that he earned a berth in the state wrestling tournament.
Cusick did so with a 7-4 upset of Alex Caldwell, a District 6 champion from Ligonier Valley, in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class AA Southwest Region Tournament at the Kovalchik Center at Indiana University.
The top six wrestlers from each weight class advanced to the state event at the Giant Center in Hershey March 8-10.
Cusick will be joined in the semifinals by Shane Kemper (113) of Burgettstown; Gavin Teasdale (126), a three-time PIAA champion from Jefferson-Morgan; Christian Clutter (170) and Luke Shingle (182) of McGuffey; John Vargo (182) of Bentworth; and Connor Main (220) of West Greene.
Cusick used three takedowns to win his match and move his record to 35-5. Cusick draws Tyler Griffiths of Southmoreland in today’s semifinals (noon). Finals are at 5:45 p.m.
“It’s awesome, just awesome,” said Cusick. “He was the second seed and I wasn’t expected to win. I went in there just wanting to do my best and come out with the “W.” All I’m worried about is going to states and doing the best I can.”
South Fayette head coach Rick Chaussard that a week’s worth of practice on Cusick’s takedowns paid off.
“Without a doubt, it was his biggest win,” said Chaussard. “We wanted him to keep moving. When he’s on his feet and keeps moving, that’s when he is at his best.”
Kemper won a hard-fought 4-2 decision over Zane Blackburn of Westmont Hilltop to raise his record to 31-8. The District 7 runner-up gets Josh Boozel, a District 6 champion from Mount Union.
Teasdale had no trouble making it to the semifinals. He won by 19-4 technical fall over Jett Pattison of McGuffey and gets Brady Villa of Tussey Mountain in the semifinals.
McGuffey nearly had the hat trick into the semifinals. Clutter won a 9-5 decision over Garrett Henigin of Blairsville and will face Derek Brown of Penn Cambria in the semifinals.
Luke Shingle followed with a 1-0 decision over Levi Sheeler of North Star in the quarters, making a second-period escape stand. Shingle (39-9) will wrestle Kyle Myers, a District 6 champion from West Branch, in the semis.
“It’s probably my biggest win because it made me a state qualifier,” said Shingle. “Last year, I wrestled a couple close matches and was really close to being a state qualifier. I knew it was going to be pretty close this year, too.”
Dalton Lough came up one point shy of making it a trifecta, dropping a 3-2 decision to Levi Hockenberry of Mount Union. Lough can still qualify for the state event with a few wins in today’s consolations.
Vargo (28-6) came in as the District 7 champion and made the semifinals with a 10-6 decision gets Austin Crouse, a District 5 champion from Chestnut Ridge in the semifinals.
Main, who wrestled at Waynesburg last season, returned to West Greene this year and will make his first trip to the state tournament after a 7-0 shutout of Cory Johnston of Glendale. Main (31-7) gets Anthony Walters, a District 6 champion from Bishop McCourt, in the semis.
“I just wanted to do everything I could to make it happen,” said Main. “I just let it fly. Now, there’s no real pressure on me.”