Willingness to work gives Mt. Lebanon wrestlers an edge
Mt. Lebanon requires only one thing of its wrestlers: a willingness to work hard, says Mark Allemang.
“Wrestling is a hard sport,” explained the Blue Devils’ skipper. “So if you are coming out for such a sport, we know you are willing to work hard. That is all we ask.”
Allemang and his staff will do the rest. They will help the Lebo grapplers in their quest to be winners on the mat. However, doing more will make them better; doing the most will make them the best.
“At this stage of the game, the kids who are tops in the WPIAL and the PIAA are doing extra,” said Allemang, who is assisted by Chris Kolling, Brad Cipriani, Jack Hnath and Tom Shultz.
The No. 1 grapplers, Allemang points out, are putting extra time on the mat and in the weight room. They are going for extra runs and focusing on their diets.
“They are living a lifestyle that is conducive to success. Much like anything else in life, if you want to be successful you need to invest quality time and take advantage of as many opportunities to improve as possible.”
Allemang also noted that it is difficult to be in the upper tier of wrestlers if you are not doing the things he has mentioned.
Under Allemang’s guidance, the Blue Devils are moving in that direction.
Luke Stout, however, may already be there. He is set for a sensational sophomore season after a fantastic freshman year. The 160-pound grappler posted a 34-7 record last winter, complete with a fourth-place finish in the WPIAL and an appearance in the PIAA tournament, a first for a Lebo frosh.
“Luke expects a lot out of himself, and as a staff, we are expecting him to set a high standard for the team regarding the way you should carry yourself on and off the mat,” Allemang said. “He demonstrates leadership and what work ethic looks like every day.”
Allemang anticipates similar leadership from veterans Sean McKinney, Jackson Gray and Nathan Hoaglund. A 126-pound junior, McKinney posted a 21-9 record last season. A sophomore like Stout, Gray was 16-11 and will wrestle at 145. A junior heavyweight, Hoaglund compiled a 28-11 record last year.
“We expect a lot out of those three guys after they put together solid performances last season,” Allemang said. “They can build off last year and potentially make a run for a WPIAL medal and qualify for the PIAA tournament.”
As they bolster their self-confidence, Allemang also predicts success for Darvish Kapitonov (13-18), Mickey Kail (11-8) and Mike Riley (2-1). Kapitonov is a sophomore and wrestles at 120. Kail is a junior who can wrestle at 135 or 145. Riley is a senior who weighs in at 152.
“Those guys have been around a few years and they know what to expect,” Allemang said of the trio. “They need to believe in themselves and their abilities. They can wrestle at a high level.”
Lebo also returns Eli Crittenden, Sam Sloan, Regis Wintermantel and Robert Wingold from last year’s playoff squad. However, the Blue Devils anticipate using some of their talented freshman in the lineup. Among the freshman on the roster are Patrick Dunn (145), Joe Gibbons (138), Rian and Sean Griffin, who wrestle between 132-145, Luke Iovino, Iso Karimov, Tyler Long, Natalie McGregor, Joe Simoncelli, Ben Streiff and Graham Thoresen.
“We discussed with all of the ninth-graders that there is an expectation to want to compete right away,” Allemang said and acknowledged some of them will start. “There will be adjustments that they will have to make in terms of preparation and level of intensity in the room but they have been doing great. We are really pleased with our freshman group.”
Allemang is pleased with how senior Nick Benincasa, juniors Koray Bakirci, Owen Johns, Ian Loop and David Venturella, as well as sophomores Thomas Griffin, Noah Hart, Ryan Horgan, Everett Lefever, Jimmy Riley, Fayzullo Solohiddinov and Micah Stauffer have meshed together with the team.
“We have a very close group. Everyone works hard and is very coachable,” Allemang said. “We have a mixture of ability levels within the room. Some guys on the team have wrestled since elementary school and others are first-year wrestlers. All the kids on the team treat each other the same. Everyone is included.”
By the end of January, Allemang hopes the Blue Devils are included in the WPIAL team tournament. Qualifying won’t be easy, and just surviving subsection action will be a challenge.
“No matter which team we wrestle, it is tough. There are a lot of talented wrestlers,” said Allemang of the Section 2B competition. “The coaches have been around and get a lot out of their athletes. I think this is going to be an exciting subsection to watch. Add in the other schools from 2A and there really are a ton of tough kids across the section.”
Lebo gets a taste of the tough action when it travels to Bethel Park tonight (Dec. 13) then hosts Upper St. Clair on Dec. 20. The Blue Devils visit Peters Township on Jan. 10. Matches start at 7:30 p.m.
Of those key competitions, Allemang said, “Bethel has a lot of talent. Peters is consistently tough, and Upper St. Clair is always a tough rivalry match.” He added while expectations are to keep improving as a group, the Blue Devils “obviously want to be able to compete for that top spot in the subsection.”
“Like every school,” he continued, “it is early and there is a lot to do before that becomes a reality, but that is what we are striving for. That’s the goal, and goals need to be lofty so you work for them.”
Notes: Two Lebo grapplers reached lofty heights this past weekend. During the Eastern Area Invitational Tournament, Luke Stout (160) and Nathan Hoaglund (285) won championships while Sean McKinney (126) and Jackson Gray (145) medaled with sixth-place showings. As a team, Lebo finished 10th out of 23 participating schools.