Team USAPITTSBURGH -- The 44th annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic (formerly known as the Dapper Dan) took place Sunday late afternoon into the evening on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Yet again it was a strong crowd for an electric wrestling program at the Fitzgerald Fieldhouse. The event never disappoints, as the Keystone State seniors seem always to come out strong and pull off some unexpected wins.
No. 1 senior recruit Gable Steveson picked up OW honors for Team USAThe main event dual started out par for the course for the United States as No. 4 Zach Elam (Staley, Mo.) beat No. 6 Anthony Walters (Bishop McCort) 3-0 at 220 pounds and No. 1 Gable Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) earned a 17-8 major decision over No. 5 Isaac Reid (Kiski Area). Steveson was named the Outstanding Wrestler for the United States team.
With the United States up 7-0, things took a turn towards the unexpected in favor of the Keystone State when Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia) reversed No. 5 Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee, Iowa) to secure an early third period pin at the 4:20 mark in the first of two 120 pound bouts. The other 120 pound bout saw No. 5 (at 126) Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) knock off the other Pennsylvania state champ at 120 Logan Macri (Canon-McMillan) 6-4. Team USA led 10-6 after four bouts.
The 126 pound bout was held back for the featured match, so the program went on to 132 pounds where No. 3 Real Woods (Montini Catholic, Ill.) earned a decisive 9-2 victory over No. 20 Kyle Davis (Wyoming Seminary).
Pennsylvania would come through with two big wins in the next two matches to shrink the deficit to one after seven matches. First, it was No. 10 Cole Matthews (Reynolds), who was able to take an early lead then fend off the late attacks of No. 1 Quinn Kinner (Kingsway, N.J.) to win 5-4 at 138 pounds. Then, No. 1 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth) used a late reversal to outlast No. 3 Brock Hardy (Box Elder, Utah) in a 9-8 barn burner at 145.
Next up for the United States were three national No. 1 ranked wrestlers, and all three come through with victories that enabled Team USA to earn yet another Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic victory. At 152 pounds it was David Carr (Massillon Perry, Ohio), who beat 160 pound state runner-up Zach Hartman (Belle Vernon Area) 14-8. At 160 it was Shane Griffith (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) beating small-school state champion Caleb Clymer (Northwestern Lehigh) by 12-4 major decision). While at 170 it was Travis Wittlake (Marshfield, Ore.) knocking off No. 2 Trent Hidlay (Mifflin County) 5-2.
Pennsylvania would cut the streak of United States wins at three with a mild upset at 182 pounds, as a 5-2 win from No. 7 Cody Mulligan (Saegertown) over No. 2 Jack Jessen (Willowbrook) cut the dual meet deficit to 23-15. The deficit was further cut when No. 1 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville) upended No. 3 (at 220) Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) 3-1 at 195. The main event of the dual meet was the 126 pound match with Pennsylvania needing a pin to win the dual.
Gavin Teasdale was named Outstanding Wrestler for PAThough the Keystone State did not get a pin, it did get a lasting upset as No. 8 Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson Morgan) avenged a preseason all-star match defeat, getting a takedown inside the last 20 seconds to beat No. 1 Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.) 5-4. That performance yielded Teasale the Outstanding Wrestler honor for the Pennsylvania squad.
Gavin Teasdale @Teasdale_Gavin made critical adjustments this time around against Patrick Glory in the @PWrClassic on Sunday #PAPOWER �'� pic.twitter.com/ibRZ1ure4w
�" PA Power Wrestling (@PAPowerWrestle) March 26, 2018
The undercard featured the WPIAL (southwestern Pennsylvania) all-stars against seniors from the state of Iowa. For four matches it was a good dual meet as the score was tied 6-6. However, nine wins later, the Iowa group came home with a 36-6 victory.
USA 23, Pennsylvania 21
220: Zach Elam (USA) dec. Anthony Walters (PA), 3-0
285: Gable Steveson (USA) major dec. Isaac Reid (PA), 17-8
120: Jaret Lane (PA) pinned Kyle Biscoglia (USA), 4:20
120: Patrick McKee (USA) dec. Logan Macri (PA), 6-4
132: Real Woods (USA) dec. Jack Davis (PA), 9-2
138: Cole Matthews (PA) dec. Quinn Kinner (USA), 5-4
145: Sammy Sasso (PA) dec. Brock Hardy (USA), 9-8
152: David Carr (USA) dec. Zach Hartman (PA), 14-8
160: Shane Griffith major dec. Caleb Clymer, 12-4
170: Travis Wittlake (USA) dec. Trent Hidlay (PA), 5-2
182: Cody Mulligan (PA) dec. Jack Jessen (USA), 5-2
195: Gavin Hoffman (PA) dec. Brandon Whitman (USA), 3-1
126: Gavin Teasdale (PA) dec. Pat Glory (USA), 5-4
Iowa 36, WPIAL 6
126: No. 14 (at 132) Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge, Iowa) dec. Caleb Morris (Waynesburg), 8-4
132: No. 17 Zach Price (Johnston) dec. Noah Levett (Kiski Area), 9-8
138: Tyler Griffiths (Southmoreland) dec. No. 8 Michael Blockhus (New Hampton, Iowa), 7-5
145: Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area) dec. Ryan Steffen (Crestwood, Iowa), 8-2
152: Grant Stotts (West Des Moines Valley, Iowa) dec. Corey Christie (Burrell), 2-0
160: No. 19 Josh Ramirez (Dubuque Walert, Iowa) dec. Seth Gates (Burrell), 8-2
170: No. 15 Ben Sarasin (Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Iowa) dec. Jesse Quatse (Greensburg Salem), 6-2
182: No. 4 Joel Shapiro (West Des Moines Valley, Iowa) dec. No. 19 Tim Wallace (Albert Gallatin), 4-3
195: No. 16 Bryce Esmoil (West Liberty, Iowa) pinned Nate Ansell (Connellsville), 3:20
220: No. 11 Boone McDermott (Dubuque Wahlert, Iowa) dec. Ian Edenfield (Laurel Highlands), 6-3
285: No. 11 Caleb Sanders (Glenwood, Iowa) dec. Gearld Brown (West Mifflin), 3-2
113: Grayson Kesterson (Williamsburg, Iowa) dec. Frank Bonura (Moon Township), 5-2
120: No. 14 (at 132) Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge, Iowa) dec. Louis Newell (Seneca Valley), 9-5
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