LET THE MADNESS BEGIN
Utility worker Paul Tarpay finishes installing the hardwood floor Monday at PPG Paints Arena for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament games to be played there Thursday and Saturday.
University of Pittsburgh wrestling coach Keith Gavin was pleased to hear that four Panther recruits have been chosen to wrestle in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic March 25 at Fitzgerald Field House.
“When I got here it was late in the recruiting game,” said Gavin, who was hired 11 months ago. “To hear that we will be so well represented at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic shows me that we are on the right track with our recruiting efforts.”
Two Pitt recruits will appear on the Pennsylvania All-Star Team — Wyoming Seminary’s Jack Davis and Reynolds’ Cole Matthews. The other two — Seneca Valley’s Louis Newell and Hempfield’s Luke Kemerer — will be on the WPIAL AllStar Team.
Three of the four have signed a letter of intent with Pitt. Davis has made a verbal committment.
Matthews (177-14) is a three-time PIAA Class 2A finalist and two-time champion who competed at 138 pounds this season. Davis (138-24) is a two-time National Prep champion who is entered at 132. Wyoming Seminary is in Kingston, which is near Wilkes-Barre.
Newell (156-25) is a twotime PIAA Class 3A silver medalist and four-time placewinner who will compete at 120. Kemerer (150-23) is a two-time PIAA Class 3A bronze medalist and threetime placewinner who will compete at 145.
“It’s no secret that Pennsylvania has a wealth of talent,” Gavin said. “Everybody is recruiting here. This is my first recruiting class and I’m very pleased with the kids who have chosen Pitt to continue their academic and athletic careers.”
The Pennsylvania AllStar Team features four wrestlers from the WPIAL, including Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale (162-2), who became the 13th wrestler in Pennsylvania history to win four PIAA titles on Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey. Teasdale will compete at 126 pounds.
The other three WPIAL wrestlers on the Pennsylvania All-Star Team are Canon-McMillan’s Logan Macri, Belle Vernon’s Zach Hartman, and Kiski Area’s Isaac Reid.
Macri (152-30) is one of two wrestlers chosen at 120 pounds, as the Classic committee took advantage of the wealth of talent at this weight class. The other is Southern Columbia’s Jaret Lane. Macri won the PIAA Class 3A title, while Lane claimed a second PIAA Class 2A title.
Hartman (170-25) is a three-time PIAA Class 3A placewinner who placed second at 160 this year, but will move down to 152 for the Classic. Reid (129-24) is a twotime PIAA Class 3A finalist and one-time champ at 285 pounds.
The United States AllStars will face Pennsylvania’s All-Stars in the feature match at 6 p.m. The WPIAL All-Stars will face a team of Iowa All-Stars in the preliminary match at 4 p.m.