Teasdale, Patrick become 4-time PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional champs

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Saturday, February 24, 2018 | 9:15 PM


There haven’t been many four-time champions in the 32 years of the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional tournament.

That list of six grew by two after Jefferson-Morgan senior Gavin Teasdale and Ligonier Valley senior Robby Patrick were done Saturday at IUP’s Kovalchick Conference and Athletic Complex.

Teasdale (36-2, 158-2) claimed his fourth regional title by defeating Derry senior Shawn Broadway, 11-4. He was the seventh wrestler to achieve the feat, and Patrick became the eighth with an impressive 16-0 technical fall over Penn Cambria junior Derek Brown at 170 pounds.

Teasdale built an 11-0 lead and then survived a couple interesting moments in the third period. He also pinned himself — defensively when he tried to roll Broadway over — and then allowed a four-point move to Broadway, who caught him on his back for a moment after securing a reversal.

Teasdale laughed when someone said he gave his coach, Mike Lesko, some anxious moments.

“I tried to do a couple different things, and that’s not me,” Teasdale said. “I had to get to my offense and not get caught in the stupid positions I put myself in.”

Teasdale said he wasn’t focused on becoming a four-time champion. His focus was on winning.

He can become a four-time PIAA champion in two weeks. Earlier in the day, Teasdale broke the career wins record at Jefferson-Morgan previously held by Brendan Howard.

Broadway said he tried to do his best to keep the match close.

“I wasn’t expecting the near pin,” Broadway said. “I was just trying for a reversal.”

Patrick had no problem putting away Brown. He turned him numerous times before finishing the bout in the second period. It’s the third time this season Patrick defeated Brown.

“I kind of separated myself from the rest of the pack this tournament,” Patrick said. “I’m wrestling with more confidence. I’m a lot more physical this year. This is just another win. My focus is on the state tournament.”

Patrick (31-0, 141-14) is a two-time PIAA runner-up, and he’s eager to get to the top of the podium this season.

Mt. Pleasant senior Alex Miscovich finished a solid tournament with a 6-3 win against Ellwood City junior Donavin Chambers in the 132-pound final. It was his first regional title.

“I’m the first (Mt. Pleasant) wrestler since 2006 to win a regional title,” Miscovich said. “It was a confidence builder. Last year, I went two-and-out. It’s a big deal because I had to beat a lot of good kids.”

Miscovich’s coach Zack Sheridan said his senior wrestled a fantastic tournament.

“It was a pretty solid weight class,” Sheridan said. “He’s capable of winning any tournament he’s in.”

The WPIAL had seven champions. The others were South Side Beaver seniors Joe Demor (145) and heavyweight Bishop McCoy, Bentworth junior John Vargo (182) and Freedom junior Bryson Miller (195).

Derry had three wrestlers in the finals, and all finished second. They were Broadway, freshman Ty Cymmerman (120) and junior Dom DeLuca (220).

Cymmerman came up short in the 120-pound final, losing to St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy freshman Zack Witmer, 9-5, and DeLuca lost to three-time regional champion Anthony Walters of Bishop McCort, 5-3.

Earlier in the day, DeLuca avenged his loss to Huntingdon senior Landon Fisher at the PIAA team tournament with a 3-0 victory in the semifinals.

Other WPIAL wrestlers who finished second were South Park freshman Joey Fischer (106), South Fayette senior Mike Cusick (145) and Frazier Sophomore Thayne Lawrence (152).

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

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