PITTSBURGH – If you weren’t inside the Fitzgerald Fieldhouse on Sunday night, you missed an electric atmosphere as the best wrestlers in the Nation took on Pennsylvania’s top seniors at the 44th Annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. In the end Team USA would bring their win streak over Pennsylvania to seven straight years with a narrow (23-21) win over the Keystone State.

After spending a day traversing the City of Pittsburgh, both teams followed advice given by guest speakers Sammie Henson and Nate Carr, leaving it all on the mat and putting on a show Sunday night. After a slow start at 220 pounds where #4 Zach Elam (Missouri) defeated #5 Anthony Walters (Bishop McCort) it was Team USA’s Gable Stevenson who got the crowd going with an impressive (17-7) major decision over #5 Isaac Reid (Kiski Area). Gable came in ranked as the pound-for-pound best senior in the Class of 2018 and it showed and he took care of business against a very tough Reid. 

The tide turned in Team PA’s favor when unranked senior Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia) got to his feet in the second period and, as Iowa’s #12 Kyle Biscoglia looked to return him to the mat, the 2-time Pennsylvania State Champion hit a beautiful chin whip. Lane planted Biscoglia on his back and quickly earned the fall for a huge bonus point victory. 

In the second of two matches at 120 pounds #3 Patrick McKee of Minnesota came from behind to down Pennsylvania’s Logan Macri (Canon-McMillan). Macri secured the matches first takedown but McKee chipped away claiming a (6-4) victory. At 132 pounds it was all #2 Real Woods of Illinois who went into overdrive against #12 Jack Davis (Wyoming Seminary). Woods was a smooth operator on his feet claiming a (9-2) win over the 2-time National Prep Champion.

Team Pennsylvania got back on the board at 138 pounds when Reynolds senior #8 Cole Matthews delivered in his future home gym of Pittsburgh. Taking on the #2 ranked wrestler in the Nation at 138 pounds, Quinn Kinner of New Jersey, the seniors left it all on the mat. At the end of the first period, the two ended up in a scramble, with Matthews coming out on top of a funk situation to get a takedown plus two back points before an escape from Kinner. The 2-time New Jersey State Champion answered in the second with a takedown to bring the match even at (4-4). Kinner, one of the toughest wrestlers in the Nation from top, was able to ride Matthews out for nearly the whole third period but with twenty seconds left Cole escaped to go up (5-4) where the match would end.

At 145 pounds it was #1 vs. #2 in the Nation, and the blockbuster match didn’t disappoint. Words really won’t do the match any justice so just watch the amazing display of talent on Flo.

Sammy Sasso, PA dec Brock Hardy, UT (9-8)

After the win from Sasso at 145 pound it was back to Team USA who got critical wins in the next three bouts. At 152 pounds #1 David Carr followed in his father’s footsteps at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic grabbing a (14-8) decision over a very tough Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon). The trend continued for Team USA at 160 pounds as #1 Shane Griffith (New Jersey) won by major decision over Pennsylvania State Champion Caleb Clymer (Northwestern Lehigh). In one of the marquee matchups of the evening #1 Travis Wittlake Jr. handed 2-time PIAA State Champion and undefeated senior #3 Trent Hidlay (Mifflin County) his first loss since October 2017 winning (5-2). The match was much closer than the score indicated.

Team Pennsylvania closed the gap in the next three weights picking up key victories. At 182 pounds 2-time State Champ #10 Cody Mulligan (Saegertown) took out the #2 ranked wrestler in the Nation, Jack Jessen (Illinois), with a convincing (5-2) decision. #1 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville) made it two in a row for Pennsylvania as the 3-time State Champion held on for a (3-2) win over giant Brandon Whitman (Michigan) at 195 pounds. 

4-time Pennsylvania State Champion #9 Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson-Morgan) closed out his historic career on top as he earned revenge on #1 Patrick Glory (New Jersey) in the final bout of the evening. These two have faced each other three times over their career with Teasdale winning the first two meeting but Glory owning the last match. The match went a similar path as their last meeting at Flo’s Who’s #1? event back in October 2017 with Teasdale taking deep shots but unable to finish on a stingy Glory. On his second attempt Teasdale finishing, albeit not cleanly, on Glory to go up (2-0) before giving up an escape to end the first period. Gavin escaped the start the second period but Glory came out on top of a wild scramble to close out the second tied (3-3). Teasdale basically cut Glory in the third period to give him the advantage (4-3). Just as Gavin let him go Glory quickly turned in and hit a low single, which he nearly finished, before having it blown dead for potentially dangerous. As time slipped away Gavin hit a low single with thirteen seconds left, securing both ankles and coming out the back door for a quick finish to win it (5-4). 

It was a critical win for Teasdale who has had a rollercoaster ride in his senior year at Jefferson-Morgan. The Penn State recruit showed why he is considered one of the best ever from Pennsylvania digging deep for the late win over Glory – earning him the inaugural Gene Bowman Team Pennsylvania Outstanding Wrestler Award.  

For his efforts Gable Stevenson won the Team USA Outstanding Wrestler Award and David Carr won the Turning Point Award.

In the preliminary bout Team Iowa dominated the WPIAL All-Stars (36-6) winning several tight bouts in the final seconds. Southmoreland senior Tyler Griffiths was a shining spot for the WPIAL at 138 pounds as he upset the #6 ranked wrestler in the Nation, Michael Blockhus with a (7-5) decision which earned him the Team WPIAL Outstanding Wrestler Award. Iowa’s Drew Bennett, who wrestled twice in the dual and came out on top both times, earned the Outstanding Wrestler Award for Team Iowa.

 

United States All-Stars 23 Pennsylvania All-Stars 21

 

220 #4 Zach Elam Kansas City, MO dec. #5 Anthony Walters Bishop McCort 3-0
285 #1 Gable Steveson Apple Valley, MN major dec. #5 Isaac Reid Kiski Area 17-7
120 Jaret Lane Southern Columbia pinned #12 Kyle Biscoglia Waukee IA 4:20
120 #3 @126 Patrick McKee Albertville, MN dec. Logan Macri Canon-McMillan 6-4
132 #2 Real Woods Wheaton, IL dec. #12 Jack Davis Wyoming Seminary 9-2
138 #8 Cole Matthews Reynolds dec. #2 Quinn Kinner Kingsway, NJ 5-4
145 #1 Sammy Sasso Nazareth dec. #2 Brock Hardy Brigham City, UT 9-8
152 #1 David Carr Massillon, OH dec. Zach Hartman Belle Vernon 14-8
160 #1 Shane Griffith Westwood, NJ major dec. Caleb Clymer Northwestern Lehigh 12-4
170 #1 Travis Wittlake, Jr. Broadbent, OR dec. #3 Trent Hidlay Mifflin County 5-2
182 #10 Cody Mulligan Saegertown dec. #2 Jack Jessen Villa Park, IL 5-2
195 #1 Gavin Hoffman Montoursville dec. #3 Brandon Whitman Dundee, MI 3-2
126 #9 Gavin Teasdale Jefferson-Morgan dec. #1 Patrick Glory Delbarton Randolph, NJ 5-4

 

Iowa All-Stars 36 WPIAL All-Stars 6

 

126 #17 @132 Drew Bennett Fort Dodge Iowa dec. Caleb Morris Waynesburg 8-4
132 Zach Price Johnston Iowa dec. Noah Levett Kiski Area 9-8
138 Tyler Griffiths Southmoreland dec #6 Michael Blockhus Cresco Iowa 7-5
145 Luke Kemerer Hempfield dec. Ryan Steffen Cresco Iowa 8-2
152 Grant Stotts West Des Moines Iowa dec. Corey Christie Burrell 2-0
160 Josh Ramirez Dubuque Iowa dec.. Shaun Gates Burrell 8-2
170 #16 Ben Sarasin Cedar Rapids Iowa dec. Jesse Quatse Greensburg Salem 6-2
182 #3 Joel Shapiro West Des Moines Iowa dec. Tim Wallace Albert Gallatin 4-3
195 #16 Bryce Esmoil West Liberty Iowa pinned. Nate Ansell Connellsville 3:20
220 #11 Boone McDermott Dubuque Iowa dec. Ian Edenfield Laurel Highlands 6-3
285 #16 Caleb Sanders Glenwood Iowa dec. Gerald Brown West Mifflin 3-2
113 Grayson Kesterson Williamsburg Iowa dec. Frankie Bonura Moon 5-2
120 #17 @132 Drew Bennett Fort Dodge Iowa dec. Louis Newell Seneca Valley 9-5