O-R Athlete of the Week: Jonny Baiano, South Fayette
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Name Jonny Baiano
School South Fayette
Sport Wrestling
Year Senior
Baiano’s week
Baiano went 5-0 on Saturday and Sunday to win his first Allegheny County Wrestling championship at Fox Chapel High School.
Baiano defeated Plum’s Sam Snyder, 4-0, in the finals at 127 pounds to earn the title. Baiano pinned his first three opponents before edging Central Catholic’s Brooks Blasko, 7-6, in the semifinals.
The tournament was originally scheduled to be contested on Friday and Saturday, but the threat of inclement weather pushed both days back, which caused a dilemma for Baiano.
“I have a job and was scheduled to work Sunday, but I had to call off for the tournament,” Baiano said. “I got in some trouble for missing work, but I don’t think I will lose my job or anything like that.
“I think my mentality going into the tournament was the biggest thing. I was fifth at the county tournament the last two years and I wanted to win the gold real bad since it is my senior year.”
Wrestling at the next level
Baiano has a desire to wrestle in college, which he hopes is at the Division I level, but he hasn’t made a decision on what school he will attend.
“I am going to wait until after the season to make my decision,” Baiano said. “This is my 13th year wrestling and I quit all my other sports to focus on wrestling.”
In addition to his high school practices, Baiano works out at Gladiators Wrestling in Imperial. He has also trained with OMP Wrestling Club in Sewickley and Wrestling With Virtue in Canonsburg.
Milestone victory on horizon
Baiano is approaching 100 career victories as he sits at 96-27. Baiano’s season record is 23-1. His lone setback was a 6-0 loss in the Tri-CADA tournament to Class 2A state runner-up Chris Vargo of Bentworth.
Baiano is looking to qualify for the state tournament in Hershey after coming up short the last two years.
“I definitely want to get to states, but I also want to finish on the podium,” Baiano said. “I have put in a lot of work and I know I have to really step it up in the postseason. I need to have the same mentality I did during the Allegheny County tournament.”
Gone fishing
Baiano uses what little free time he has to go fishing and hang out with his friends.
“I really like fishing,” Baiano said. “There are a lot of lakes and ponds around, and I like to take advantage of that.”
Compiled by Jonathan Guth