Teasdale closer to fourth PIAA title
Joe Tuscano/Observer-Reporter
Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan works to free himself of Avery Bassett of Midd-West in the 126-pound first round of the PIAA Class AA Championships in Hershey.
Joe Tuscano/Observer-Reporter
John Vargo of Bentworth controls Elijah Ayers of Coudersport in the 182-pound bout of the PIAA Class AA Championships Thursday in Hershey. Vargo won 8-1.
Joe Tuscano/Observer-Reporter
Christian Clutter of McGuffey is tied up with Gavin Henry of Union City in the 170-pound bout of the PIAA Class AA Championships Thursday in Hershey. Clutter won a 5-1 decision.
HERSHEY – One down, three to go for Gavin Teasdale.
Returning to the form fans know and appreciate, Teasdale, the three-time state champion from Jefferson-Morgan High School, made quick work of Avery Bassett, a freshman from Midd-West in the first round of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center Thursday.
Teasdale, trying to become only the 13th four-time state champion in the tournament’s history, needed only 2:08 to craft a 16-0 technical fall and advance to today’s 126-pound quarterfinals (9 a.m.).
Two local wrestlers – McGuffey’s Christian Clutter (170) and Bentworth’s John Vargo (182) – joined Teasdale in the quarters.
Teasdale unveiled some unorthodox moves in the Southwest Region Tournament two weeks ago at Indiana University, where he found himself balancing on his head and turned onto his back four a four-point move in the finals against Shawn Broadway of Derry.
None of that emerged in this bout as Teasdale had a takedown and four tilts that netted 14 first-period points.
“I wanted to get a few more takedowns but I felt like I could turn him at will,” said Teasdale. “I just take advantage of it. I’m glad to get that first one out of the way.”
After the first period, Bassett looked back to his coaches with a ‘Can you believe this?’ smile. Eight seconds later, they were shaking hands and Teasdale got his arm raised.
“If you keep the pressure on him and stick to your offense, no one should be able to stop you,” he said.
Teasdale, now 37-2, wrestles Kenneth Kiser of Saegerton, a Northwest runner-up with a 33-5 record, in the quarterfinals.
Semifinals are at 7:30 p.m. tonight and finals are 2 p.m. Saturday.
Clutter, who has struggled with his offense at times, scored a takedown and escape in the final period for a 5-1 decision over Gavin Henry of Union City, a Northwest champion with a 36-3 record.
Not a bad start for a fourth-place finisher in the WPIAL.
“I was happy with the way I wrestled,” said Clutter. “As long as you’re winning, you have a good attitude.”
Dalton Group of Susquenita, a Southeast runner-up with a 37-2 record waits for Clutter, a senior with a 44-4 record, in the quarterfinals.
“I’m going back to the hotel and rest,” Clutter said. “I’m a little achy. It’s a very long season.”
Vargo showed some of his versatility – and a strong memory – in rolling up an 8-1 decision over Elijah Ayers of Coudersport in the first round.
“I’d rate myself a 5 (out of 10),” Vargo said of his performance. “I could have made my shots better.”
Vargo, a WPIAL champion with a 31-6 record, will wrestle Matt Lewandowski of Mahanoy, a third-place finisher in the Southeast with a 33-3 record in the quarterfinals.
“I wrestled him when I was really young,” he said. “I remembered the match.”
In other action, Nate Yagle of McGuffey won his preliminary-round match at 106 but was pinned by Conner Redinger of Quaker Valley. Yagle won his consolation bout and can still finish as high as third place.
Yagle’s teammate Jett Pattison won his 126-pound prelim bout then lost a 7-3 decision to A.J. Burkhart of Athens. Pattison received a bye in the consolations and wrestles today.
Luke Shingle of McGuffey went 1-2 and was eliminated at 182. Teammate Dalton Lough went 0-2 at 195.
Manny Dovshek of Bentworth followed the same path as Pattison, winning in the 120 preliminary, then losing in the first round and receiving a bye in the consolations.
Shane Kemper of Burgettstown won in the 113-pound prelims but fell to Beau Bayless of Reynolds, 13-0, and received a bye in the consolations.
Mike Cusick of South Fayette dropped his first-round bout, 3-2, to Logen McClain of Ridgway at 145 but pinned Austin Lee of Berlin to advance in the consolations.
Connor Main of West Greene also is alive in the 220-pound consolations.