Teasdale certainly one to watch for Rockets
Given the fact that the Jefferson-Morgan wrestling team lost three wrestlers to graduation who had each racked 100-plus wins, there might be some whispers that the Rockets could be gotten this year.
Not so fast.
Yes, Jason Miller (136 wins), John Damaske (136) and Ryan Zalar (106) have graduated, but that doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare for coach Mike Lesko.
“We’re doing OK,” he said. “We have to replace those guys, which on most nights meant 18 points, and we have to do it fast. Half of our team has a lot of experience, the other half has virtually none.”
The Rockets return experienced guys like Brandon Howard, Ian Wolfe, Bill Bowlen, Trevor Kniha and Anthony Patterson coming back.
Lesko likes his veteran guys a lot.
“Kniha (29-22 at 152 last year) has filled out real nice and I think he’ll turn some heads this year,” Lesko said. “He’s not afraid to go with anyone. Bowlen should have medaled at states last year. Mentally, he’s there and physically, he’s there. There is no reason not to medal this year. And I told Ian this is his last shot. He’s been working hard and that might get him over the hump.”
But maybe the most important wrestler for the Rockets this year might be a guy who has never wrestled a varsity match. He would be Gavin Teasdale, the third-ranked 106-pounder in the country by Flowrestling rankings.
The youngster comes to varsity wrestling with an absolutely stunning junior record. He won a Cadet National Freestyle title, won three Junior Olympic titles and won a 2014 FILA Cadet National championship.
“It’s amazing to say, but he’s known throughout the world,” Lesko said. “He’s going to be something and something really good. This is a kid who works out twice a day, 364 days a year. He only takes Christmas off.”
While the freshman has already excelled on the international level, he’ll get his first taste of big-time high school wrestling when he competes in the Powerade Tournament Dec. 28-29 at Canon-McMillan High School.
For Lesko, the key to his team’s success this year will be simple: staying healthy and learning week-to-week.
The Rockets will open their season Dec. 10 at McGuffey.
Beth-Center figures to give J-M a run in Section 2-AA. B-C will be led by junior Anthony Welsh, who finished second in the WPIALs and fifth in the Southwest Regional and posted a 37-8 record. Nico Brown finished fourth in WPIALs and third in the Southwest Regional and was 34-16 on the season.
Other returnees include Darren Sparrow, a sophomore who wrestled at 106 last year; Jason Stay, a senior who was 26-12 at 152 a year ago; and Robert Work, a junior who wrestled at 170 last year.
A half-dozen returnees return for West Greene, including senior 220-pounder Will VanNorman, who was 23-9 at that weight last year. Others include: sophomore Joey Chapman, 11-17 at 106; senior Sheldon Phillips, 19-10 at 120; sophomore Colton Hamilton, 13-16 at 138; senior Donovan Weaver, 15-13 at 152 and senior Tyler Nefzi, 2-10 at 285.
At Mapletown, returnees include Brian Brady, a sophomore who was 16-14 last year at 106; Noah Hixon, a junior who was 19-11 at 120 a year ago; and Harley Gee, who was 16-13 at 220 last year.