J-M’s Teasdale, C-M’s Macri on collision course
Waynesburg’s Caleb Morris fights to control Carrboro, North Carolina’s Quincy Monday in the 132-pound quarterfinal bout at the Powerade Tournament. Morris won by decision, 3-2.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale wrestles Cole Rhone of Benton in a 120-pound quarterfinals bout in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School Thursday night. Teasdale won 12-6.
Waynesburg’ss Colin McCracken drags Bishop McCo’ss Anthony Walters in bounds during the 195-pound quarterfinal bout at the Powerade Tournament. Walters won by decision, 7-3.
CANONSBURG – Logan Macri wasn’t expecting Gavin Teasdale to be in his weight class for the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament.
But if Macri has learned anything in wrestling, the junior from Canon-McMillan High School knows things can quickly change.
Teasdale decided to wrestle at 120 pounds, instead of his normal 126, and that just made the weight class that much stronger.
Macri and Teasdale remained on a collision course by each winning their quarterfinal bouts Thursday evening in the Canon-McMillan gymnasium.
Macri disposed of James Pierandozzi of Lockport, Ill., 8-1.
Teasdale, a two-time undefeated state champion from Jefferson-Morgan, had his hands full with Cole Rhone of Benton. But having ones hand full in Teasdale’s case still means a six-point loss for his opponent. Teasdale warded off Rhone with a 12-6 decision to move into today’s semifinals, which begin at 11 a.m.
Consolation finals are at 4:30 p.m., the Parade of Champions begins at 7 p.m. and the finals begin at 7:30 p.m.
Teasdale and Macri join two other local wrestlers – Waynesburg’s Caleb Morris and Canon-McMillan heavyweight Brendan Furman – in the semifinals.
Macri ran his record to 9-3 with his latest victory.
“I just wanted to keep the pressure up,” said Macri. “I want to keep my offense up, too.”
Macri found out Teasdale was dropping to 120 when he read it in the newspaper. Teasdale made the move so as not to be in the same weight class as his good friend Spencer Lee, a three-time undefeated state champion from Franklin Regional. Teasdale made the decision before the season started. Teasdale and Lee are headed to the University of Iowa after they graduate. Lee is a senior, Teasdale a junior.
“I’ve wrestled Gavin once or twice before,” Macri said. “I wrestled him in the offseason and I think once as a freshman.”
Before the Teasdale-Macri bout can happen, each must win in the semifinals. Macri is the No. 3 seed and takes on No. 2 Beau Bartlett, a freshman from Wyoming Seminary. Bartlett won an 8-3 decision over No. 7-seed Jake Abeyta of Oakdale, Calif., in the quarterfinals.
Teasdale meets Colton Camacho, a sophomore from Franklin Regional, in the semis. Camacho won a 3-2 decision over Tyler Martin, a freshman from Bishop McDevitt. Neither Camacho nor Martin were seeded in the weight class.
“I let my ankles get tied up in scrambles,” said Teasdale. “If I don’t do that, I think I extend my lead and possibly get a (technical fall). You have to get used to that because a lot of people are going to do that to me. I have to work on keeping the distance closer and keeping heavy hands on him.”
Furman’s pin sends the Big Macs’ senior against Isaac Reed, the No. 3 seed from Kiski.
“I practiced with him once,” said Furman. “This gives me confidence enough to know I have it in me to win. I’ve always wrestled well here. It’s a home-field advantage for us. I get to go home and sleep in my own bed.”
Morris won a hard-fought 3-2 win over Quincy Monday of Carrboro, N.C. Morris escaped with 58 seconds remaining to win the bout. He will meet Jobe Chishko of Penn-Trafford in the semifinals.
Waynesburg’s Colin McCracken, who came into the tournament as the No. 4 seed, dropped a 7-3 decision to Anthony Walters of Bishop McCort. A five-point move in the third period turned a close bout into a four-point win for Walters.
Wyoming Seminary (94) holds a two-point lead over Lockport, Ill., (92) in the team standings. Reynolds (91) is third, followed by Kiski (90) and Bound Brook, N.J. (73.5). Canon-McMillan and Belle Vernon are tied for ninth place.