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Avella's Temple battles back
jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
It happened last year in a bout against Adam Wakefield of Freedom.
When Wakefield landed most of his 270-pound body on the back of Alex Temple, the senior from Avella knew something was wrong. The cracking noise told Temple as much.
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When they were handing out the medals in the PIAA Class AA Southwest Region Tournament last Saturday, Temple was on the awards stand for his fifth-place finish at 189 pounds.
Temple's 8-2 decision over Zack Glessner of Forest Hills punched his ticket to the PIAA Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey. The three-day even gets under way Thursday.
"The doctors also said I had scoliosis and degenrative bone disease," Temple said. "They talked about fusion surgery but I didn't want to risk that. I had heard that sometimes you can't walk after having that surgery. I'm too young for that."
Instead, Temple was fitted with a back brace last summer that ran from his chest to the thighs.
"The doctors didn't think I could wrestle again," said Temple. "That brace was uncomfortable. I was hot and sweaty. Starting this season was rough. I couldn't do much. I couldn't run the stairs with the team and a lot of other things."
Even Avella wrestling coach Don Rush had his doubts about Temple's return.
"I was skeptical," said Rush, who is a paraplegic and confined to a wheel chair from an accident. "Once I saw him out there rolling around, I could see he was all right. With me being in a wheel chair, yeah, I was concerned."
Temple, who sat out the football season, slowly got back to normal in wrestling. Except for the pain in his back.
"Sometimes, I had some bad days," said Temple. "It affected my wrestling. But now, after most matches, I don't feel it until the next morning."
Temple has had numerous MRI tests and spent a great deal of time getting treatment.
"I spent a ton of time at Children's Hospital," Temple said.
Temple is one of three Avella wrestlers who advanced to the state tournament. He joins Mitch Spencer, a 135-pound senior, and Kyle Appleby, a 152-pound senior. Temple takes a 36-15 record against Dallas Brown of Delone Catholic, a senior Southeast champion with a 33-3 record.
In the regional tournament, Temple won his first bout before being pinned by Zac Bennett of Westmont-Hilltop in 2:22. He won three of the next four matches to take fifth place.
"I knew it was a tough bracket," said Temple. "I was a little worried. I just did what I could. I knew anyone could beat anyone."
Temple realized he was pretty good at beating the odd, too.
Notes
Six wrestlers will attempt to defend their state title in the tournament. The list includes Luke Frey (112) of Montoursville; Anthony Zanetta (119) of Keystone Oaks; Jordan Moss (135) of Sharon; Dane Johnson (140) and Roman San Doval (189) of Shady Side Academy; and Dirk Cowburn (152) of Coudersport.
