Teasdale’s superb feat earns Headliner award
Observer-Reporter
Jefferson Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale finished his high-school career with a 162-2 record, including four PIAA titles. For his accomplishments, Teasdale will received the Observer-Reporter Sports Headliner award April 29 at the Tri-County Athletic Directors Coach of the Year Banquet.
Jefferson-Morgan sophomore Gavin Teasdale, a PIAA champion as a freshman, has yet to lose a match at the high school level.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale warms up during a recent practice before the start of his senior season.
Perfection arrived on Jefferson-Morgan High School’s varsity wrestling team four years ago dressed in an orange and black singlet.
Gavin Teasdale took wrestling fans with him on a memorable journey from that time, filled with drama, personal challenges and, finally, a triumphant ride into the PIAA history books.
Four state finals, four victories. Perfect.
With a 2-0 decision over Josh Jones of Saucon Valley in the 126-pound finals of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships in Hershey last month, Teasdale stepped into elite company.
He became only the 13th four-time champion in the tournament’s 81-year history, and the second wrestler at Jefferson-Morgan to accomplish the feat. Cary Kolat, one of the most famous wrestlers in the sport at any level, did it with his win in the finals of the 1992 state tournament, capping a 137-0 varsity record.
Teasdale flirted with an undefeated record but finished at 162-2.
For his accomplishments, Teasdale will receive this year’s Observer-Reporter Sports Headliner award at the Tri-County Athletic Directors Coach of the Year Banquet, which will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Meadow Lands.
Tickets for the banquet are $35 each and are on sale at Washington High School, 201 Allison Avenue, Washington, Pa., 15301. Reservations can be made by calling Washington athletic director Mike Bosnic at 724-223-5085, ext. 2091.
All proceeds from the banquet benefit Special Olympics.
To reach this spot in PIAA wrestling history, Teasdale had to clear some hurdles. He was treated at a hospital for dehydration during a summer tournament in Las Vegas, lost a high profile preseason bout to Patrick Glory of Delbarton, N.J., in the “Who’s No. 1?” tournament at Lehigh University in October, lost his first varsity match to Beau Bartlett of Wyoming Seminary in the 126-pound finals of the Powerade Christmas Tournament at Canon-McMillan, and lost a second to Caleb Rea of Weir High School at the Buckeye Local Panther Classic in Ohio.
Teasdale rose from these drawbacks to put his name on one of the most elite lists.
One key was a great strategy by Jefferson-Morgan head coach Mike Lesko, who turned the high-octane moves of Teasdale into a slow-down match against the dangerous Jones.
Another key was Teasdale’s attitude.
He said he went into each match with the same outlook.
“It goes down in the books as a four-time champion, but I looked at this like it was any other tournament,” Teasdale said after beating Jones. “I went out there and treated it that way and just wrestled my style.
“My mindset for every tournament was to come in and get the (Outstanding Wrestler award) because that would mean I already won the tournament. I used that (strategy) coming into the state tournament. Not freezing up or being afraid to attack and score as many points as I can.”
Teasdale has gone out of his way to compliment Kolat and try to put comparisons to rest.
“You look at my record and Cary’s record and he has the goose egg (in the loss column),” Teasdale said.
Teasdale’s other state finals victims were Austin Clabaugh of Bermudian Springs, who lost a 13-5 major decision at 120 pounds last season; Kollin Myers of Boiling Springs, who lost by technical fall, 23-8, at 113 pounds two years ago; and Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge, who was Teasdale’s first victim, losing 4-2 in the 106-pound finals.
The latter part of the postseason seemed to ignite Teasdale. He became a four-time WPIAL champion and four-time Southwest Region champion. Both accomplishments were watched by his college coach, Penn State’s Cael Sanderson.
And Teasdale avenged his loss to Glory in the feature bout of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic.
Now, Teasdale has different goals: making the U.S. National Team, win NCAA tournament titles while at Penn State and qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team.
Those accomplishments would be Kolat-esque and rooted in these early high school victories that so many fans witnessed.