Trinity’s Fife after big wins at Tri-CADA tournament

It’s easy to find Austin Fife in a crowd.
The 6-6, 275-pounder tends to stand above the group.
Lately, the senior from Trinity High School has been gaining even more attention on the wrestling mat.
He decisioned Canon-McMillan’s Brendan Furman, ranked No. 2 in the Observer-Reporter Wrestling Ratings, in early December for his biggest win of the season and is coming off a pin of Austin Riggleman in Wednesday’s loss to Waynesburg.
The next step in his progression is today, when the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Wrestling Tournament begins at Albert Gallatin High School.
First-round action begins at 4:30 p.m. Semifinals are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and the finals are at 2:30 p.m.
Waynesburg is the defending team champion and Furman is the defending champion at heavyweight.
This will only be Fife’s second appearance at Tri-CADA. Trinity did not participate last season and Evan Seaman was the Hillers’ starter at heavyweight three years ago.
“Hopefully, I can make it to the finals and Furman, too,” said Fife, who has been accepted at Johns Hopkins University. “He’s always a good opponent, always a tough match for me. Beating him (in December) gave me motivation and got me to do better this year.”
Fife credits a lot of his success to head coach Mark Powell, who has been working to get the heavyweight to be more aggressive on the mat.
“He believes in himself,” said Powell. “If you believe in yourself and work hard and believe in the system, you are going to get good results. He grew into a true heavyweight. There are not too many true 280 pounders that have his size. That’s hard to wrestle.
Fife passed on playing football this season to prepare for wrestling. That meant long hours in the weight room, but he felt it was worth it.
“Coach Powell has me on a vision quest,” said Fife. “I’m doing all I can to find wrestling partners and do what I can in the room. I’m getting my conditioning up and I feel a lot stronger this year. I’m more confident. Coach Powell has had me drilling with some guys who came in and that has helped me.”
As one might imagine, Fife has a large appetite. And he works part-time at a place that can fulfill those cravings.
“I work at Sbarro’s and Charley’s Steakery at the (Washington Crown Center Mall) and I do like to eat a lot there but not before a match,” said Fife. “
Notes
Trinity’s Mike Kalosky will not compete in the tournament because of a meniscus tear suffered in the preseason. Kalosky competed in some early dual meets but decided to have the knee repaired now so he can be ready for the postseason. … Though Belle Vernon is a member of Tri-CADA, the Leopards will be wrestle in the Westmoreland County Tournament this weekend. … Gavin Teasdale, the undefeated defending state champion from Jefferson-Morgan, will be after his second straight title in this event. He won at 106 pounds last year.