Seeking 4th straight PIAA wrestling title, Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale advances to semifinals

By: Alec Italiano
Friday, March 9, 2018 | 12:00 PM

HERSHEY — Gavin Teasdale is halfway to history.

The Jefferson-Morgan senior moved one step closer to becoming the 13th wrestler to win four PIAA individual titles, advancing to the 126-pound semifinals with a 11-4 decision over Saegertown's Kenny Kiser on Friday morning at Giant Center.

Teasdale led a crop of eight WPIAL wrestlers who advanced to the semifinals, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Penn State recruit is the only WPIAL wrestler in Hershey with a previous state title.

Quaker Valley freshman Conner Redinger advanced to the 106-pound semifinals with a 14-3 major decision over Benton's Gable Strickland.

Southmoreland senior Ty Griffiths, a state runner-up last season, made it to the 145-pound semifinals with a 6-5 decision over Pequea Valley's Gabe Miller.

Burrell senior Corey Christie and Frazier sophomore Thayne Lawrence reached the 152-pound semifinals on opposite ends of the bracket, as Christie posted a 14-6 major decision over Northwest Lehigh's Jackson Bernhard and Lawrence recorded an 8-0 major decision over Southern Columbia's Cade Linn.

Freedom senior Bryson Miller got to the semifinals at 195 pounds, beating Cambridge Springs' Clay Verbanac by a 4-2 decision.

Derry junior Dom DeLuca advanced to the semifinals at 220 with an 8-4 decision over Muncy's Hunter Poust.

South Side Beaver senior 285-pounder Bishop McCoy rounded out the WPIAL's semifinalists at heavyweight with a 2-1 decision over North Penn's Justin Kriner.

Ligonier Valley senior Robby Patrick, a two-time PIAA runner-up, also advanced to the semifinals with a 15-0 technical fall of Mahanoy's Colin Fegley at 170 pounds.

An additional 10 WPIAL wrestlers earned state medals by claiming victories in the third round of the consolation bracket — the so-called “blood round” — guaranteeing themselves top-eight finishes.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.

Tags: Burrell, Frazier, Freedom, Jefferson-Morgan, Ligonier Valley, Quaker Valley, South Side, Southmoreland