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Mitch Spencer, Avella
jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
Certain numbers are important to Mitch Spencer.
Take the No. 100.
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Then, there is No. 125.
That's the number Spencer needs to reach in order to be the career leader in victories at Avella.
The No. 105 represents how many victories Spencer has in his varsity career.
Finally, there is the No. 1, which is what he is shooting for in each of this season's tournaments.
Spencer got off to a quick start this season, marching through the 135-pound weight class of the Chartiers-Houston Invitational on the way to a gold medal.
Spencer decisioned South Side Beaver's John Prezzia, a former PIAA champion, 8-4, in the finals. Spencer was one of three area wrestlers to win gold in the tournament.
It also made him the Observer-Reporter's Athlete of the Week.
"This tournament shows how you stack up against some tough competition," said Spencer, who has a 105-23 career record. "They seeded me first and Prezzia second, so I knew we could meet in the finals. I was looking forward to it."
Spencer is eager to make another run in the postseason. Last year, he won section and WPIAL titles, then made it to Hershey thanks to a third-place finish in the region.
But he stumbled early, losing his first bout to Corey Brown of Reynolds, and had to battle through the wrestlebacks. His 6-5 decision over Buddy Blotzer of South Allegheny got Spencer seventh place.
"I think I'm more mature than I was last year," said Spencer. "It was my first trip to states and it showed me what it was all about. I am concentrating on winning it this year."
Don Rush, Avella's head coach, said the PIAA tournament experience was valuable to Spencer.
"It was his first time up there and he knows what he has to do now," Rush said. "He's just better prepared this year to be at that level. He knows he's as good as anyone there."
Spencer was third in one WPIAL preseason rankings, one spot ahead of Prezzia. It's a strong weight with Zack Sheridan of Mt. Pleasant and Travis McKillop of Burrell returning. McKillop won section, WPIAL and region titles last season and Sheridan went 34-10 but had a bad showing in Johnstown, going 0-2 and failing to make it to the PIAA tournament.
"There are things I can improve, like my mental outlook," Spencer said. "I tend to wrestle better in the first period than I do in the second or third. I was getting conservative. I have to wrestle better in all three periods."
