Oct 19, 2014 3 min read

For the third time in three seasons, Washington High School’s wrestling program will have a new head coach.

Adrian Turner was recently promoted to varsity head coach.

He takes over for John Paiani, who accepted a teaching position at Canon-McMillan and could not continue as head coach.

Paiani replaced Josh Barrette after the 2013 season, when Barrette decided to resign because of family obligations.

“Adrian was an assistant coach under Josh and John, and he’s been here for five years,” said Joe Nicolella, athletic director at Washington High School. “He was the only candidate after we posted it internally. No member of the district (was interested in the job).”

The Prexies had a 1-7 record last season but saw the number of competitors increase to 14. The school board discussed discontinuing the program two years ago, but fan support changed their minds.

“What’s good about hiring Adrian is that he’s really good with the kids,” Nicolella said. “He worked with Josh and John, so he can continue the continuity. He knows what to do.”

Wash High has six returning starters, including junior Kurt Adkins, who was 12-10 at 132 pounds last season. Senior Keirs Gloady had an 11-9 record at heavyweight.

A.C. Headlee, a senior at Waynesburg High School who recently committed to the University of North Carolina, decisioned Mitch McKee of St. Michael Albertville High School in Minn., 5-3, Saturday in the 132-pound finals of Flowrestling’s Who’s No. 1 event at Leeman-Turner Arena at Lehigh.

The event pitted some of the best high school wrestlers in the country against each other with sights on being No. 1 at their respective weight class for the regular season.

Gavin Teasdale, a freshman at Jefferson-Morgan High School, dropped a 3-1 decision at 106 pounds to Cade Olivas of St. John Bosco in Bellflower, Calif.

Headlee and Teasdale are scheduled to participate in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament, which will be held Dec. 29-30 at Canon-McMillan High School. A field of 48 teams includes local teams from Trinity, Waynesburg and Jefferson-Morgan.

Headlee and Teasdale also could appear in the Tri-County Athletic Directors Wrestling Tournament at Ringgold High School, Jan. 9-10.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association will hold an All-Star Classic Nov. 1 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Palestra.

Tyler Wilps, a graduate of Chartiers Valley High School, was supposed to compete in the 174-pound bout against Robert Kokesh of Nebraska, but had to withdraw because of an injury. Wilps, who wrestles for Pitt, was replaced by Southern Oregon’s three-time NAIA national champion Brock Gutches. This will mark the first time since 2004 that an NAIA wrestler competed.

The Classic includes five NCAA champions and 20 All-Americans. Two wrestlers form Edinboro – A.J. Schopp and Mitchell Port – and one from Lehigh – Mason Beckman – will be competing.