Teasdale goes out in style
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Jefferson-Morgan鈥檚 Gavin Teasdale accepts his award for being Team Pennsylvania鈥檚 Outstanding Wrestler on Sunday after defeating Patrick Glory of Delbarton, New Jersey, 5-4, in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic at the Fitzgerald Field House. Teasdale and Glory wrestled the last match at 126 pounds.
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地 Jefferson-Morgan鈥檚 Gavin Teasdale has his hand raised after defeating Delbarton, New Jersey鈥檚 Patrick Glory, 5-4, in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic on Sunday at the University of Pittsburgh鈥檚 Fitzgerald Field House.
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地 Jefferson-Morgan鈥檚 Gavin Teasdale is in on a takedown attempt against Patrick Glory of Delbarton, New Jersey, during their match at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic on Sunday at the University of Pittsburgh鈥檚 Fitzgerald Field House. Teasdale edged Glory, 5-4.
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Jefferson-Morgan鈥檚 Gavin Teasdale made sure his last high school match was his best in defeating Patrick Glory of Delbarton, New Jersey, 5-4, in the 126-pound weight class in the final bout of the 44th Annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic at the University of Pittsburgh鈥檚 Fitzgerald Field House.
The senior and Penn State University recruit avenged an earlier setback to Glory at FloWrestling鈥檚 Who鈥檚 No. 1 event on Oct. 8 in scoring a takedown with six seconds remaining for the win at 126 pounds. Teasdale defeated Glory in the Powerade Christmas Tournament finals his freshman and sophomore years. Glory came into the bout ranked No. 1 in the country at 126 by FloWrestling. Teasdale was ranked No. 9.
The United States All-Stars edged Team Pennsylvania, 23-21.
In the preliminary match, Team Iowa defeated Team WPIAL, which included five area wrestlers, 36-6.
Teasdale was awarded the Outstanding Wrestling Award for Team Pennsylvania. He was also awarded the PIAA Wrestler of the Year prior to the main event featuring the Pennsylvania All-Stars against Team USA.
Even so, Teasdale is always looking to improve.
鈥淚 try to avoid getting my ankles up as much as possible when I come out the back,鈥� Teasdale said. 鈥淭hat is what me and my coaches work on. I knew if I could stick with my offense, it would be better than his. The key is to wrestle your style. It really came down to who wanted the match more. We were both tired.鈥�
鈥淚t is about mental toughness. It was a great final match. You are going to lose some, but the whole goal of sports is to get better. You can鈥檛 get any better than the support here.鈥�
Teasdale is not known for showing his emotions, but raised his arms after the final buzzer sounded.
鈥淚t was a pretty nice way to finish my career,鈥� Teasdale said. 鈥淚 was happy to come away with the victory. I am excited to get into freestyle wrestling this summer, and then going to Penn State and wrestling at Rec Hall.鈥�
Glory is headed to Princeton, and the two could meet again at the next level.
鈥淭here is a good chance I could wrestle him (Glory) again in college,鈥� Teasdale said. 鈥淲e are developing quite the rivalry.鈥�
Teasdale came out aggressive and got in on his shot early in the first period, but Glory hung on to avoid giving up the takedown. Teasdale kept the pressure up and secured a takedown with 33 seconds remaining in the first. Glory almost scored a reversal but Teasdale gathered himself and just allowed an escape with three seconds left in the first.
Glory deferred choice to Teasdale in the second, and after the four-time state champion escaped, Glory tied the bout at 3-3 when he scored a takedown with 27 seconds remaining in the second.
Glory escaped for a 4-3 lead with 1:48 left in the third, but Teasdale had the answer.
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Caleb Morris (148-33) dropped an 8-4 decision to Fort Dodge鈥檚 Drew Bennett (153-8) at 126 pounds to open up action in the preliminary bout featuring Team WPIAL and Team Iowa. Bennett is a one-time state champion. Morris, who is undecided on his college of choice, is a two-time WPIAL champion. Bennett scored four takedowns and allowed four escapes.
鈥淵ou always want to be on top all the time, and that鈥檚 why we鈥檙e wrestlers,鈥� Waynesburg Central coach Joe Throckmorton said. 鈥淭here are bumps along the way. You never know when you鈥檙e going to peak. We have been fortunate to have guys in the Classic eight or nine years in a row. It is always an honor to be picked for the team, whether you win or lose.鈥�
West Virginia University head wrestling coach Sammie Henson was inducted into the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. Henson competed in the 1989 Classic. He is a two-time NCAA champion for Clemson University and was a 1998 World Champion and 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist. Henson鈥檚 sons, Jackson and Wyatt, wrestled for Waynesburg Central this year. Jackson, a senior, was a state qualifier, and Wyatt, a freshman, finished fifth at the state tournament. Jackson will wrestle for his dad at WVU next year.
The 2018 Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted four new members in Larry Hall, Colin Johnston, Nico Megaludis and Merle Tournay.