Headlee’s mental toughness was key
Final thoughts on the PIAA Wrestling Championships:
One would have a hard heart if they were not touched by this scene that played out inside the Giant Center in Hershey Saturday night.
Waynesburg High School senior A.C. Headlee, who might have been a multiple state champion had he not been in such talented weight classes throughout his career, had just broken through with his first PIAA Class AAA gold medal.
He won a monumental struggle against Luke Pletcher of Latrobe, 7-2 in ultimate tiebreaker. He had come close to winning the bout in the third period but only a masterful counter by Pletcher saved him.
And it might have spelled the end for Headlee, except this night was going to be different. Headlee emerged the victor, broke into tears after winning, then raced to the stands to embrace his parents, family and friends.
“I’m so proud of him,” Headlee’s father Scott said afterwards while holding the trophy for Outstanding Wrestler that A.C. won. “It was a lot of hard work to get here. He went through a lot but it all paid off.”
Headlee went through his career with such talented wrestlers in his weight class as Michael Kemerer of Franklin Regional, a three-time runner-up who also broke through for the gold Saturday night; Vincenzo Joseph of Pittsburgh Central Catholic, who won his second state title; Dom Forys of North Allegheny; Sam Krivus of Hempfield, who won a state title two years ago; and Pletcher, who was looking for his third state PIAA gold medal.
Headlee’s win was a testament to not only his hard work but his ability to remain mentally strong in the quest. Forys kept him out of the state tournament as a freshman and Headlee managed to finish sixth and third in the next two state events.
Headlee went into the Pletcher bout at a slight disadvantage. Headlee had beaten Pletcher 2-1 in ultimate tiebreaker the week before by riding him out, so the revenge factor was on Pletcher’s side.
But Headlee overcame all those obstacles in order to be called a champion.
• Sometimes, numbers do not mean much.
The local area qualified only 16 wrestlers to the state tournament this season.
Some, including this writer, hailed it as a poor season and an indication of how far the talent has fallen.
So all that happens is that the area had three state champions, strong under any circumstances, and eight placewinners, also a good number in any year.
The WPIAL dominated the tournament, especially the championships. District 7 had 15 state champions – nine in Class AAA and six in Class AA – Franklin Regional set a state record for points scored in winning the team title and the two awards for Outstanding Wrestlers went to WPIAL kids: Headlee and George Phillippi of Derry, who was the Double-A selection.
• When Michael Carr won the 138-pound title in Class AA, the junior from South Fayette jumped up from the mat, fired his headgear in celebration, ran around the mat urging a response from the crowd and finally threw himself into the arms of his coaches.
It was a scene that doesn’t often happen in Hershey and everyone was surprised it came from Carr, normally a soft-spoken and laid-back kid.
If he wins another state title next season, I hope he does the exact same thing.
Too many times, wrestlers look more relieved than overjoyed after winning a gold medal. Some barely break into a smile.
Hey, you just won a state title.
You’ve just gone through a season filled with diets, tough workouts, competition that leaves your body battered and bruised.
Go a little crazy, make the crowd remember you. The sport needs more emotion like that.
• Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan capped a tremendous freshman season by winning the 106-pound title in Class AA.
He became the first J-M state champion in 20 years, when Justin Tracanna won the 171-pound title in 1995.
Teasdale also gave J-M fans a better way to compare him to Cary Kolat, considered one of the greatest high school wrestlers.
Kolat won four state titles and did not lose any of his 137 matches. Teasdale is one-fourth of the way there after capping a 44-0 season with a 4-2 win over Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge in the finals.
• Two former Trinity wrestlers are part of this year’s inductees into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Richard Kelvington, a 1962 graduate, was a state champion with a 61-7-4 record for the Hillers.
Kelvington went on to coach Olivia (Minn.) High School to a 379-120-10 record and won seven district and 15 conference team titles.
Jerry Lattimore, a 1963 graduate, was a two-time WPIAL champion and two-time state champion. He had a 70-5-1 career record.
Lattimore went on to Lamar Junior College, where he helped the team to a National Junior College team title in 1965.
Lattimore died in 2006.
Cermonies will be April 12 in State College.
Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com.