Mt. Lebanon wrestler wins PIAA title
Kellan Stout has his hand raised in triumph by the referee after scoring a 1-0 decision in the 182-pound match during the PIAA state championships.
Kellan Stout and John Jakobsen tie up during 182-pound championship action during the PIAA tournament. Stout scored a 1-0 decision to win the state title. He is the 14th state champion from Mt. Lebanon, but the first since 1997.
Kellan Stout signs autographs for the young wrestling fans that watched him capture a gold medal at the PIAA championships.
Champions are created when nobody is looking. Just ask Kellan Stout.
The Mt. Lebanon senior said that he reached the top of the podium at the PIAA championships by doing the little things that went unnoticed.
Winning the gold medal, he said, is a result of “a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff.” There were “extra workouts,” added conditioning, trips to Pitt to practice and late-night runs through the neighborhood.
“Exhausting,” he described the training, “but, I kept the goal in mind.” Even when he turned left out of his driveway to tackle his runs, Stout kept his eye on the prize. “There are mostly hills where I live. Huge hills,” he emphasized. “It wasn’t always easy. It’s more a mental thing. Getting out and just doing it.”
Last weekend, the effort paid off. Stout cruised to the first gold medal in Mt. Lebanon wrestling history since the fabled Kurt Angle claimed the prize in 1987. Stout is the 14th state champion from Mt. Lebanon.
“It feels great,” said Stout. “It definitely was a long time in coming.”
For Stout, it was a long, difficult year since his runner-up showing. He lost last year’s title by a 3-1 decision to Latrobe’s Zack Zavatsky. That loss always weighed on Stout’s mind. “The moment he stepped off the podium at last year’s state tournament Kellan was on a mission to stand atop the podium this year,” said his coach, Bill Lewis.
“The key to Kellan’s victory really was a culmination of countless hours of hard work and determination. We all see our athletes hands get raised and the thrill of victory but what we many times don’t see is all the blood, sweat and tears that they go through to get there.”
After pouring his heart into the preparation, Stout marched to the podium. Stout so dominated the competition that he surrendered no points in the tournament. In fact, he outscored his opponents, 27-0. “That doesn’t happen very often on this level,” Lewis noted. “That kind of performance doesn’t just come along every day. It was an impressive run he put together against the best in Pennsylvania. He really was in the zone.”
Stout opened with a victory, 6-0, against Joe Pyfer from Penncrest. Pyfer was 37-6 on the season. Of the win, Stout said, “I felt like I could have gotten more than six points but it was a good first match where I could get my feet wet and be able to get the jitters out. After that I was more settled.”
Stout then scored a major decision against Derek Spachman (33-9) from Hazleton Area, 13-0, to reach the semifinals where he decisioned Josh Colello (43-6) of Cedar Cliff, 7-0.
“I gained more confidence,” Stout said after those victories.
Stout was now ready to go the distance. For the championship, he edged John Jakobsen (36-2) of Stroudsburg, 1-0.
“Definitely, winning 1-0, is stressful but I felt like I was the aggressor.
“The hardest thing (in the final) was there was a lot of hand fighting and that gets tiring. But there was a lot riding on that match. I was pleased with my performance. I didn’t want it to be that close though.”
While Stout admitted he could have scored more if he needed to, he escaped in the second period for the only point that mattered and held on for the victory.
“I pride myself on being on top. I like to be on the top and not let the opponent up for points. I ride the top hard. I feel I’m good at that,” Stout said.
According to Lewis, Stout was good throughout every period because he epitomizes Dan Gable’s definition of a winner. According to the Olympic great, “The first period is won by the best technician. The second period is won by the kid in the best shape. The third period is won by the kid with the biggest heart.”
“When it came down to it I think Kellan just wanted it more and he was willing to grind it out and put it all out on the mat to get what he felt he deserved. He paid the price in all the sacrifices he made along the way to get there and I don’t think he was going to be denied.”
There’s no denying Stout’s been the best wrestler in Mt. Lebanon history. Nobody in the school’s illustrious program has won more matches. Stout owns a career record of 138-18.
“We couldn’t be any more proud of Kellan and what he has accomplished while at Mt. Lebanon including his most recent PIAA State Championship,” Lewis said. “Along the way to his state title Kellan has a great season.”
Stout caps his undefeated 38-0 season with an invitation to appear on the Pennsylvania roster in the prestigious Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic to be held March 15 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House.
“I’m looking forward to that. It’s going to be a great weekend. The competition will be hard and it will be a workout but I want to win.”