jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

Dan Conley is the poster boy against specialization in high school sports.

With football his great love, the senior from Burgettstown decided a winter's worth of weightlifting would not be as fun as competing against other athletes his size in wrestling.

After all, what could it hurt?

As a rock-solid 215-pounder, Conley would be on the delivery side of the sport, just as he was as an all-state linebacker.

Out on the mats, in front of thousands of the state's wrestling fans, Conley wrote an improbable end to a wonderful story, winning Burgettstown's first gold medal in the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships in 16 years last weekend at the Giant Center in Hershey.

No amount of weightlifting could match the thrill Conley had reaching the pinnacle of his second sport.

"I enjoyed it so much," Conley said. "I've never been (to the state tournament) before. I've never been in this arena in the past. I didn't want to ruin it by worrying too much."

Conley's remarkable run makes him the Outstanding Wrestler on the Observer-Reporter's All-District Wrestling Team.

Joining Conley on the first team are Nick Catalano (119), Colin Johnston (135), Michael Hull (215) and Sam Brownlee (Hvy) of Canon-McMillan; Kyle Appleby (152) and Mitch Spencer (130) of Avella; Chris Stay (152) and Aaron Hrutkay (160) of Beth-Center; Brian Scritchfield (103) and Ethan Virgili (189); Sam Guidi (160) of Fort Cherry; Alex Dunaway (103) of McGuffey and Sam Miller of Washington.

The second team includes Colton Blumer (119), Garrett Johnston (135) and Patrick Morris (171) of West Greene; Nick Whipkey (125) and Nick Shuman (189) of McGuffey; Derrick Nelson (112) and Brian Knapp (130) of Waynesburg; Dave Grillo (189) and Ray Campbell (215) of Charleroi; Fred Garcia (171) and Todd Miller (189) of Ringgold; Todd Martinek (160) of Trinity; Ryan Watson (171) of Burgettstown and Andrew Lucarini (103) of Fort Cherry.

As usual, the selections for the All-District teams were based on the accomplishments of a wrestler within his weight class.

Terry Havelka - who led Burgettstown to a Section 1 title, coached a state champion in Conley, advanced nine wrestlers to the WPIAL Championships and five to the regional tournament - is the Coach of the Year.

Conley entered his senior year with the hopes of playing college football once his senior season was complete. He never really thought wrestling would open doors for him.

"Football is my first love," he said. "But, hey, if we get a nice deal from wrestling, then I have to look into it. I thought the possibilities weren't very good. But now, if wrestling pays the bills, then that would be good, too."

Conley has a linebacker mentality with the strength of a lineman and the quick feet of a pulling guard. College football recruiters like the way he moves but were hesitant about his height. He's generously listed at 6-0.

Wrestling recruiters have no such reservations. They are impressed by his ability to use his wide base as leverage for a patented lift move that unsuspecting opponents walked right into on the mat.

"That was my gameplan the whole time," Conley said.

Dan Winnie of Danville walked into two of Conley's lifts, the second resulting in a pin in 3:03 that gave the Burgettstown 215-pounder the gold medal.

Others paid the price for some shoddy scouting.

Carlynton's Jordon Roussos was the victim in the finals of the WPIAL Championships. Josh McDannell of Chestnut Ridge was forced to default in the Southwest Region Tournament finals in Johnstown when he landed on Conley's fist. An ambulance stretcher removed McDannell from the War Memorial.

The time of the default? It was the same time as Conley's pin in the state finals.

Conley seemed genuinely surprised by his accomplishments. He talked about his most important postseason victories in a "Can you believe this?" tone of voice.

"Every wrestler wants to pin their kid in the championship match. It seems like that only happens in a dream. It's just amazing. I couldn't be more happy."

What makes this more special is that Conley will be forever linked to head coach Terry Havelka because he is the veteran head coach's first state champion.

"I'm happy I could take the coaches here," he said. "It's pleasing to know that I was able to bring them here. It makes me happier than winning (the medal)."

Few expected this type of success from Conley. Most recognized his talent but few believed he would win gold. This writer picked him third in the weight class.

"I've been around the program for 29 years," Havelka said. "He's one of the hardest workers I've seen. This is not a surprise to us. His confidence has grown since the Powerade Tournament and he gave a great run right on through."

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