Teasdale to wrestle in Pan Am Games
Following an outstanding freshman season for Jefferson-Morgan High School’s wrestling team, Gavin Teasdale will embark on a trip to Havana, Cuba, to participate in the Pan Am Games as a member of Team USA’s Junior Wrestling Team. The event is sponsored by FILA.
Teasdale received an invitation from USA Wrestling recently and submitted an application. He was chosen and will compete in the freestyle and Greco-Roman programs at 110 pounds.
And one of the coaches for Team USA is Cary Kolat, an undefeated four-time PIAA wrestling champion and two-time NCAA champion who also is from Jefferson-Morgan.
“They pick you based on the best performance in your weight class,” said Teasdale. “I got the e-mail from the USA (Wrestling) director and they asked if I was interested. I’m excited. It’s fun to go out of the country.”
Teasdale leaves for Havana Sunday and will begin competition Tuesday.
“This is unbelievable,” said Jefferson-Morgan head coach Mike Lesko. “There is no question that he is qualified.”
Teasdale’s youth accomplishments are long and distinguished. He won a Cadet National Freestyle title in Fargo, N.D., three Junior Olympic titles and a 2014 FILA Cadet National championship in Akron, Ohio.
Teasdale is ranked No. 2 in the country by Intermat, behind only Cade Olivas of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif. The two met in the Who’s No. 1 event, a preseason tournament last year that matched the top two wrestlers in each weight class. Olivas decisioned Teasdale in a close 3-1 match.
That was just a slight bump in the road for Teasdale’s year. He swept through the high school regular season, winning a title at the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament and ripped off 46 straight wins to capture Jefferson-Morgan’s first state championship in 20 years, dating back Justin Tracanna’s win at 171 in 1995.
“How can he not get better?” Lesko said. “He’s only missed two days of working out since winning the state title.”
Having Kolat along is a plus. He has worked out with Teasdale in the offseason and knows a little about world team wrestling. Besides winning two national titles while at Lock Haven University, he won a silver medal in the 1997 World Championships in Krasnoyarsk and a bronze medal in the 1998 games in Tehran. He also competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he placed ninth.
“He wanted to come down and coach,” Teasdale said. “I’m sure he could help me in Cuba. It’s good that he’ll be there.”
Twelve new teams will be included in this year’s Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament, including Kiski, North Allegheny and Shaler from the WPIAL.
Franklin Regional, the defending champion, returns but Buchanan, Calif., which finished in second place, just three points behind Franklin Regional, will not be back.
Belle Vernon, which finished fourth, is considered a strong favorite to challenge for the team title. Latrobe, which features two-time state champion George Phillippi, will participate.
The tournament will be held Dec. 29-30 at Canon-McMillan High School.