South Fayette wrestler wins his 100th
Brett Beltz shown here during the WPIAL Class AA team semifinal match where he recorded a pin at 195 for South Fayette recently recorded his 100th career victory.
Brett Beltz
Brett Beltz of Bridgeville once dreamed of becoming the next John Cena. In fact, Beltz was so enthused about WWE that he begged his parents to join the South Fayette youth wrestling program.
“They gave out a pamphlet at school and I thought it was like WWE,” explained the son of Gloria and Ronald Beltz. “My parents tried to tell me that it wasn’t like that at all. But, I still wanted to do it.”
Once he started wrestling, Beltz discovered he liked the sport. He welcomed the authenticity and accountability wrestling offered. He said there is no one to blame when you falter. “It’s all on you. It’s me, myself on the mat. No one is depending on me. I’m depending on myself.”
Yet, in his zest to help his team, the South Fayette senior accomplished quite a feat. He recently registered his 100th career win. The victory occurred during the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AA wrestling tournament at Canon-McMillan. Beltz pinned Jimmy Duchi in the Lions’ 33-28 loss to McGuffey.
Beltz reacted jubilantly to the fall, not because he had reached the milestone. Rather, because the pin pulled South Fayette within two points, 27-25, with two bouts remaining.
“I was looking for a pin because we needed six to keep our hopes alive. When my coach told me before I went out on the mat, we needed a win, I had my mind set on getting a pin and I did.
“For me to do that in a key match, I got caught up in the moment. I got up and the place was going wild, screaming. I wasn’t even thinking about my 100th. But it was an awesome way to accomplish something I have always wanted to do.”
After breaking his thumb during his sophomore year, Beltz never envisioned he would realize his goal. He missed the entire 2012-13 campaign. Hence, it actually took him three years to attain 100 wins. “I’m so relieved and excited,” said the 17-year-old senior. “It’s special to be part of the Century Club.”
Beltz belongs to another successful club at South Fayette. He is a two-year member of the football team that has captured back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA championships. The 6-foot, 165-pound defensive back ranked among the team’s leaders in sacks. He recorded 51 tackles and intercepted two passes as the Lions rolled to their second straight, undefeated 16-0 season last fall. For his efforts, he earned the specialty player distinction on the all-conference squad.
“Last year I was along for the ride, playing just on special teams, but this year, I felt I helped the team earn it,” Beltz said. “I was a big contributor.”
Football contributes to Beltz’s wrestling success. He said football and wrestling complement each other. The sports help each other “100 percent” he added. “A takedown with a double leg is basically a tackle in football,” he explained. And while he conditions in different ways, Beltz said he never got tired on the field because he wrestled.
Winning championships in football also aids in wrestling, agreed Beltz. “My experience helps because I know how to win,” he said.
Beltz has accumulated many thrilling wins in wrestling. As he prepares for the Section 1 tournament on Feb. 14 at Ellwood City, Beltz enters the event as a two-time champion. His first title represents a cherished moment in his career. After falling behind, 6-0, Beltz recorded a third-period pin to claim the title. “He shot in a single and I pinned him. The crowd went crazy. It was awesome,” he said enthusiastically.
As a freshman, Beltz was also the WPIAL runner-up. He was a fifth-place finisher as a junior. In each of those years, he placed sixth in the Southwest Regional, one spot away from clinching a berth in the PIAA championships. “That motivates me to push extra hard so as not to miss out this year. I don’t want to be one step away again this time,” he said.
With 100 career wins in hand, Beltz has his sights set on this year’s Southwest Regional. The tournament will be held Feb. 27-28 at Canon-McMillan. The top finishers again advance to the PIAA championships set for March 5-7 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
“The goal is to be on the podium at states in Hershey. Win a WPIAL title and make it to Hersey and place would be the ultimate dream,” said Beltz.
Because he bumps up to the 182-pound weight class for the tournament, Beltz faces the ultimate challenge. “It’s a tough weight class,” he explained. “I’ll be giving up some pounds to the top-notch wrestlers. They are all 182 pounds of muscle.”
In order to contend with the likes of Billy Bowlen – the Jefferson-Morgan grappler is rated No. 1 at 182 in Class AA, Beltz must remain tough on his feet. He has only been taken down twice this season. He says he has to improve his technique on the bottom and his ability to ride an opponent.
Beltz will also have to continue training hard. While the football team continued its run in the state playoffs, he did not miss a wrestling practice. After workout sessions at school and lifting in the weight room, Beltz often travels to Central Catholic High School in Oakland to train with the Pitt Bull Wrestling Club. Mt. Lebanon’s Kellan Stout, last year’s PIAA runner-up at 182, is among the club’s other members.
“Brett’s a very energetic young man who has been a pleasure to coach,” said South Fayette mat boss Rich Chaussard. “He will do whatever is asked of him. He has worked hard to reach his goal (of 100 wins) and he still has more goals to reach as we enter the individual part of the season.”
After he graduates high school, Beltz will strive for more goals. He plans to wrestle at Seton Hill University. While he had many other offers, he selected the Division II school for a variety of reasons. “Seton Hill showed the most interest and I liked the coaches,” Beltz said. He added of head coach Brian Tucker, “He’s young and thinks the same way as I do.” Because the university is a smaller private school, Beltz noted the average class size is small. “I felt comfortable with that,” said Beltz, who plans to focus on math with an eye on a career in business or actuary science.”
“After my official visit,” Beltz said, “I am more than ready to move on, but I’m going to miss South Fayette and all my friends from football and wrestling. They are unbelievable. I’m going to miss high school wrestling, too. There’s nothing like it.”
Not even WWE. “Oh,” Beltz chuckled, “I stopped watching WWE once I realized it was fake.”