Mt. Lebanon grappler wrestles up record
When describing Turner Gray, Mt. Lebanon wrestling coach Marc Allemang uses plenty of superlatives: “Hard worker. Great teammate. Great representative of our program.” Allemang, however, forgot to mention tremendous sense of humor and huge heart.
For example, when Gray was asked when he started wrestling, the 18-year-old senior responded, “out of the womb.” By kindergarten, he was going to practices because his father “was into the sport” and wanted him to wrestle. Gray’s father, Chip, was a standout grappler at Lebo in the early 1980s and competed for two years at Edinboro. “He’s always there for me.”
Chip’s companions and more than 30 other alumni witnessed history recently as the younger Gray made Mt. Lebanon proud as he etched his name into the record books. With his first-period fall against Trinity’s Donte Cecchine, the 160-pound grappler recorded his 51st career pin to tie the school record held by Stan Kochanek, a 2008 graduate.
On Jan. 13, Turner surpassed the record with a fall during a dual-meet loss, 34-33, to South Fayette. In 32 seconds, he pinned Eamon Horowitz.
“It feels great to finally break the record. Getting it was an amazing experience. We had probably the biggest crowd that I’ve ever seen at a home match so it was really awesome. Plus, I had family from out of town and friends that came to watch so it was great to have them there when I got the pin,” said the son of Bev Gray.
Before Turner took to the mat, Coach Allemang offered encouragement to take the pressure off Gray.
“He told me to just have fun,” he said.
After the match and an announcement of the accomplishment, Gray received a standing ovation from the crowd, which included the three children of the late-great Lebo wrestling coach George Lamprinakos, who received a special presentation for funds they donated to the program.
”Mt. Lebanon has such a great wrestling program. It’s rich in history and tradition,” Gray said. “So I’m extremely grateful to be able to wrestle for the Blue Devils. I’m extremely proud to be able to put my name in the record books.
“To know that I have a record and my name will be going up on the wall is simply amazing. To know that I have the most pins out of anyone is awesome,” he added. “It’s pretty cool. Hopefully, I can get even more so that it will be a long time until somebody else breaks it.”
It’s a safe bet more pins will ensue as Gray has recorded 11 falls while compiling a 19-3 record this winter. Last year, he registered 21 pins, which was two shy of the single-season, school record set by Zeynul Zaynullayev in 2014.
Coach Allemang predicts Gray will have that record too before the end of the season. Experience is Gray’s ally. He has been in the line-up since ninth grade. Plus, he puts in plenty of mat time. After his regular practices, he often stays after to work on moves with his wrestling partner, Luke Stout. He also lifts weights at least three days a week and belongs to the Quest Wrestling Club.
“Turner’s been a consistent wrestler for us over his entire career as well,” Allemang said. “Having a guy that looks for pins and enjoys the art of finding a way to put you on your back is fun to watch.”
Gray agreed. Pins are particularly a huge help to all involved.
“Because of the confidence boost they give to not just me,” he said. “We all like to see a pin. It can certainly change the momentum of a match.”
For as many matches as he has participated in – mounting a career record of 74-34 – Gray approaches his bouts with one objective.
“I’ve always just wanted wrestling to be fun for me,” he said. “Of course, I want to win as many matches as possible though. But I really just go out every match and try to do my best. Wrestle and be in the moment. Go with the flow of the match. Don’t get caught up in things and get frustrated. Go on to the next thing.”
After a match at Chartiers Valley on Jan. 18, the next thing for Gray is the Allegheny County Championships set for Jan. 20-21 at Fox Chapel. Gray is unlikely to face Jake Pollock, to whom he has lost twice this season, as the Shaler grappler has dropped to 152. After the county tournament, Gray and the Blue Devils embark on section team championship action followed by individual wrestle-offs that include district, regional and state finals.
With the record behind him, Gray is ready to tackle those upcoming tournaments.
“Honestly, I was relieved because (the record) was hanging over my head. It wasn’t like it was a big goal of mine. It just happened. I’m not thinking about it anymore. I’m just thinking about what I have to improve and do to reach my next goals, which are to get to the WPIAL finals and place at states.”
Because of his strengths, Gray should improve upon last year’s fourth-place showing in the sectional. Gray said he is working to improve all positions and that he likes to be aggressive and dictate the pace of a match.
While Division III schools are interested in his wrestling abilities, Gray’s career path will dictate his college choice. He hopes to major in international relations, and he eventually plans to work for a non-profit agency or non-government organization doing philanthropic endeavors in third-world countries. He is interested in attending Temple, Syracuse, DePaul, American or North Carolina State universities upon his high school graduation in June.
A Southminster Presbyterian Church youth group trip to Malawai changed his course. The landlocked country in southeast Africa that is among the world’s least-developed countries and faces low life expectancy, high infant mortality, violence and abject poverty.
“My mission trip was the most, life-changing experience,” Gray said. “It gave me direction. I know what I want to do with my life. I want to help give children a promising future. I’m focused most on that.”
Until then, Gray will focus on distancing himself from the competition as well as relishing his records and achievements on the mats.
“Probably setting the record so far has been the highlight (in my career),” Gray said. “It’s the best feeling I have had so far, particularly to be able to get the (pin) record in front of all those former wrestlers, who came back to watch the match.”