Rockets’ Teasdale wins 4th WPIAL title
CANONSBURG — Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale became the 28th wrestler in the history of the WPIAL to win four district championships with last Saturday’s Class AA Individual Championship in the 126-pound weight class at Canon-McMillan High School.
Three other area wrestlers finished between second and seventh place to qualify for the PIAA Class AA Southwestern Regional Tournament that begin tonight and continue Saturday at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Ed Frey Arena inside the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex.
The Rocket senior and Penn State University recruit improved his season record to 32-2, and has a 154-2 career mark. He also was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
“I really didn’t think about being a four-time WPIAL champion,” Teasdale said. “I really just look at it as another event and take it one match at a time.
“It is a goal I have had since I was younger, but I figure if I outwork everyone, the championships should come. I know I can’t control being the OW (Most Outstanding Wrestler), so I really don’t worry about it one way or another. I’m just focused on wrestling the best I can every match.”
Teasdale defeated Derry Area’s Shawn Broadway by an 18-4 major decision in the finals. He pinned Broadway in the Section 2-AA finals on Friday, but knew that Broadway would do his best to slow down the pace of the match.
“I figure going into my matches that they are going to try and keep matches close with me, and try to back off of me,” Teasdale said. “You really can’t worry about that and I am going to keep wrestling my style and go after guys.
“I really worked on my turns here, and I know that I have to be good on top and bottom. I was doing a lot of takedowns and letting guys up last year, but now I am working on taking guys down and trying to get turns.”
Teasdale was awarded a bye in the first round as the No. 1 seed, and pinned South Fayette’s Gary Loeffler (1:26) in the quarterfinals. He earned an 18-1 technical fall in 3:10 over Burgettstown’s Austin Ryan in the semifinals.
“I don’t think I wrestled like I could of,” Teasdale said. “I figured if I kept up the pace it would wear on the games.”
West Greene’s Connor Main dropped a 5-0 decision to Derry Area’s Dominic DeLuca at 220.
The Rockets’ Josh Agnew (6th at 132) and Nathan Bilonick (7th at 138) advanced to the regional tournament.