Teasdale steals spotlight, takes home championship
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Jefferson-Morgan's Gavin Teasdale looks to the official as he earns two points for a takedown of Patrick Glory of Delbarton, N.J. Teasdale won with a 13-3 major decision in the 106 pound finals at the Powerade tournament.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Jefferson Morgan's Gavin Teasdale is introduced before the start of his match against Patrick Glory of Delbarton, NJ.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Jefferson-Morgan's Gavin Teasdale won with a 13-3 major decision in the 106 pound finals at the Powerade tournament against Patrick Glory of Delbarton, N.J.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Canon-McMillan's Tommy James wrestles Belle Vernon's Milton Kobaly in the 182 pound bout for seventh place. Kobaly won 5 to 4.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Colin McCracken turns Connellsville's Tommy Provance leading to a pin for third place in the Powerade consolation round on Tuesday night in the 182 pound bout. McCracken won with a pinl at 2:23.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Colin McCracken wins the 182 pound bout against Connellsville's Tommy Provance for third place in the Powerade consolation round on Tuesday night. McCracken won with a pin at 2:23.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Jefferson-Morgan's Gavin Teasdale controls Patrick Glory of Delbarton, N.J. Teasdale won with a 13-3 major decision in the 106 pound finals at the Powerade tournament.
CANONSBURG – Wrestling royalty was on display at the Powerade Christmas Tournament Tuesday night, mostly to participate in the pageantry of this event.
Kenny Monday, an Olympic champion and four-time NCAA champ from Oklahoma State; Coleman Scott, an Olympic medalist, NCAA champion and four-time All-America at Oklahoma State; and Nico Megaludis, a three-time PIAA champion and three-time All-America at Penn State; each had their turn in the spotlight.
They came to see the talent, which was exceptional this year. Franklin Regional’s stable of great wrestlers, Latrobe’s talented medal-winners, and of course, the newest shining light to the sport in this area: Gavin Teasdale.
The 106-pound freshman from Jefferson-Morgan capped his first Powerade tournament with a dominating 13-3 major decision over Patrick Glory of Delbarton, N.J.
Not only does Teasdale’s win give him a gold medal but it also puts in position to become a four-time champion in this event. Only five other wrestlers in the 48-year history of Powerade have accomplished that, the latest being Chance Marsteller of Kennard-Dale in 2013.
But Teasdale was a bit more interested in the spoils of his victory that lay ahead on this night.
“I’m going to get wings at Quaker Steak and Lube,” he said.
Teasdale feasted on Glory, wrestling his best in the most important bout of the tournament.
“When the lights are on,” Jefferson-Morgan head coach Mike Lesko said, “you don’t have to worry about him.”
Teasdale had his first takedown 13 seconds into the match and never looked back. He led 4-1 after one period, 13-3 after two and rode glory the final two minutes for the win.
“It feels good,” Teasdale said. “This is my first big tournament win in my high school career.”
Quick as cat and slicker than motor oil, Teasdale flustered Glory by continually beating him to the punch on the mat. He even bull-rushed for a four-point move to start the second period that gave him an 8-1 lead and all but ended the match.
“I felt fine,” he said. “I think put pressure on myself in the earlier bouts. I warmed up harder this time and felt better.”
The win moved Teasdale’s record to 17-0 and secured his No. 2 ranking in the country by Intermat.
Teasdale was one of three Rockets to place. Brendan Howard, a 120-pound senior, took sixth place and Ian Wolfe, a senior heavyweight, was eighth.
The semifinals were not kind to the three Waynesburg wrestlers who made it that far. The Raiders went 0-3 in that round but each came back to take third-place finishes, giving Waynesburg its best finish in the tournament since the early 2000s.
A.C. Headlee, a 132-pound senior, fell into the losers’ bracket after dropping a 1-0 decision to George Phillippi of Derry. Phillippi, who was a state champion two years ago and finished third last season, got the escape in about 10 seconds into the third period and held off Headlee’s leg attack. Phillippi rode Headlee for the second period.
Headlee is a four-time bronze medalist in this tournament.
“We counted it up and it was 17 shots (by Headlee) to zero (by Phillippi),” said Waynesburg head coach Joe Throckmorton. “But you can’t rely on the refs to call stalling. He’s got to get out from the bottom. But that’s why you come here. It prepares you for the state tournament and that’s the ultimate goal.”
Shaun Wilson, a 138-pound junior, was pinned by defending state champion Cameron Coy of Penn Trafford in the semis but fought back to take third place with a hard-fought 7-6 decision over Tyler Vath of Saegertown.
Colin McCracken, a 182-pound sophomore, was shut out by Kellan Stout, 8-0, in the semifinals but roared back to third place with a pin of Connellsville Tommy Provance in 2:23.
“He’s got so much potential,” said Throckmorton. “I don’t think Colin realizes how good he is yet. I was sitting with Kenny Monday and Coleman (Scott) and they both thought he had a lot of upside.”
Canon-McMillan had four placewinners but none above seventh place. Logan Macri, a 106-pound freshman, Matt Oblock, a 132-pound sophomore, and Brendan Furman, a sophomore heavyweight, each took seventh place. Tommy James, a 182-pound junior, finished eighth.
“I was pleased,” said C-M coach Jason Cardillo. “I think a couple of our wrestlers could have finished a little higher, but we finished strong. Tommy had a close match (5-4 against Tommy Provance of Connellsville). If they wrestle again, it might be a different outcome. It was a long couple of days, especially over the Christmas break.”
Peters Township’s Mike McAleavey took sixth at 182.