Waynesburg’s Headlee wins 4th Tri-CADA title
Waybnesburg’s A.C. Headlee, top, became the first four-time champion at the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Wrestling Tournament when he decisioned Matt Oblock of Canon-McMillan in the 132-pound final Saturday.
Brendan Howard of Jefferson-Morgan, left, keeps an eye on Austin McDermitt of Burgettstown during their 120-pound final in the Tri-CADA Wrestling Tournament Saturday at Ringgold High School. Howard won a 4-3 decision.
MONONGAHELA – One of the benefits about the competition in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament is it reveals flaws and emphasizes what a wrestler needs to do to improve.
A.C. Headlee had it driven home to him in the Powerade semifinals, where he lost a 1-0 decision to George Phillippi of Derry when he could not escape in the second period.
Armed with the knowledge of his wrestling shortcomings, Headlee went back to the practice room to rid himself of that weakness.
The results were on display Saturday afternoon in the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Tournament at Ringgold, where the Waynesburg senior stopped defending champion Matt Oblock of Canon-McMillan, 3-1, in the 132-pound finals to become the first four-time champion in the 10-year history of this event.
Headlee was one of four champions for the Raiders, who won the team title. Shaun Wilson at 138, Shane Piper at 152 and Colin McCracken at 182 were the others.
Canon-McMillan was second, thanks in part to titles by Cameron Fontenot at 126 and James Zeremenko at 195. Jefferson-Morgan, which had Gavin Teasdale (106), Brendan Howard (120) and Bill Bowlen (170) crowned as champions, was third.
“I wanted to dominate more,” said Headlee, now 26-1 and ranked sixth in the country by Intermat. “I should’ve done better in the final. I’m sure I’ll see (Oblock) three or four times more this season.”
Headlee opened a 2-0 lead after one period, thanks to a takedown. He escaped – something he couldn’t do against Phillippi at Powerade – to make it 3-0 after two periods. Headlee allowed an escape to Oblock but nothing else in the final 30 seconds.
“I got off my (butt) better,” said Headlee. “I think the loss at Powerade was good for me. It showed me what I needed to do. The little details mean a lot I find.”
Howard also rallied from a disappointing loss at Powerade, where he went into the consolation round after getting pinned in the quarterfinals and finished sixth – and knocked off top-seeded Austin McDermitt of Burgettstown, 4-3, thanks to a third period takedown.
“It feels great,” said Howard, a runner-up here last season. “This has rejuvenated me.
“I had a great start at Powerade but couldn’t finish. It motivated me. I thought I could have been top three. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.”
Teasdale had no such devils to exorcise as he dominated Logan Macri of Canon-McMillan, 10-1.
“It’s a new competition for me,” said Teasdale, now 20-0. “I like this tournament. It has a different feel to it.”
Teasdale and Macri have met three times prior to starting their varsity career with similar results.
“I know what he does in a match and he knows what I do,” said Teasdale. “I just warmed up the same way and prepared the same way. My goal was to get Outstanding Wrestler.”
That went to Headlee.
Wilson pinned California’s James Campbell in the semifinals and won a 14-5 major decision over Ty Mitchell of Bentworth to win at 138. Piper knocked off the No. 1 seed – Jeff Kusich of Avella – and No. 2 seed – Jake Gerard of Ringgold – to win the 152-pound title. Three weights later, McCracken cruised to a 12-1 win over Mike McAleavy of Peters Township at 182.
Gage Nicolella of McGuffey won his second consecutive title with a 1-0 decision over Alex Lynch of Seneca Valley. Nicolella’s brother Teague failed to place. Liam McElhoes won the 220 title.
Fontenot became one of two Canon-McMillan champions when he stopped top-seeded Hunter Neely of Bentworth, 5-1, in the 126-pound finals. Fontenot came into the tournament unseeded.
Zeremenko pinned Ryan Keys of Waynesburg in 2:10 to win the 195-pound gold medal and Furman followed two finals later to stop McGuffey’s Ryan Stienstraw 2-1 in overtime.