Headlee commits to North Carolina
The way A.C. Headlee sees it, this is a perfect match.
The senior from Waynesburg High School will wrestle next year at the University of North Carolina, home of Tar Heels assistant coach and Headlee’s close friend Coleman Scott.
“I grew up watching him,” said Headlee, who made his decision known Sunday. “I’m hoping that the next national champion from Waynesburg is wrestling for the last national champion from Waynesburg.”
Not only was Scott an NCAA champion while at Oklahoma State but also a bronze medalist in freestyle at 60 kg (136 pounds) in the 2012 Olympics. Headlee is projected at either 133 or 141 in college, so Scott will be a welcome workout partner.
“I felt fate wanted me to go there,” said Headlee. “I’ve known Coleman forever. He had a pretty big role in getting me there.”
Headlee narrowed a long list of major college Division I programs to three: Cornell, Virginia Tech and North Carolina. He also seriously considered the U.S. Naval Academy. He is a strong student and ranked 13th in his class after last year.
“There was a big list,” said Headlee. “I’m so glad it’s all over with. It’s a big relief. It’s hard to tell the coaches no. You’re talking to legends. I didn’t like doing that at all.”
Headlee had a slew of third-place finishes at 126 last season: taking third in the PIAA Class AAA Championships in Hershey, third place in the Junior Freestyle National Championships in Fargo, N.D. this summer, third at the Beast of the East Tournament in Delaware and third in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School. His high school record was 39-6.
“I was kidding him about this,” said Waynesburg wrestling coach Joe Throckmorton. “I told him I’m not handing him a third-place medal again this year.”
Throckmorton said North Carolina, coached by C.D. Mock, is getting a tremendous wrestler in Headlee, someone who is constantly trying to improve.
“His best position is on his feet,” Throckmorton said. “He’s also very good on top. You can show him a shot in practice and he can go out and do it the next time. Against the high, high, high quality wrestlers, he goes for the fall sometimes instead of just being satisfied scoring points.”
Throckmorton said one of the best benefits Headlee will have at North Carolina is having Scott as a workout partner.
“They are both close to being 133-pounders,” he said. “That will be great for A.C. to learn from him.”
Headlee is ranked No. 1 in the country at 132 by Flow Wrestling and will compete against Mitchell McKee of the Kimball Secondary School in Minnesota in the Who’s No. 1 tournament Oct. 18 at Lehigh University, then head to North Carolina for the Super 32 tournament laster in the month.
Jared Walker of South Fayette will continue his academic and athletic career at Kent State University next fall.
Walker, a multi-sport athlete with the Lions, chose wrestling over football. Walker was second in the 160-pound weight class at the PIAA Championships in March. He is a three-time WPIAL champion and two-time placewinner in Hershey.