Mt. Lebanon expecting big year on the mats
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Luke Stout poses with his fourth-place medal from the PIAA wrestling championships. The rising Mt. Lebanon junior recently captured a national title during the USA National Cadet and Junior Wrestling Championships held in Fargo, N.D.
8. Mat matters
Luke Stout dominated the national and local wrestling scene. Wrestling for Team Pennsylvania, he won the 170-pound weight class in the Cadet Division during the Marines Cadet/Junior National Championships held July 12-20 in Fargo, N.D. He racked up a 6-0 record. He defeated his opponents by impressive scores of 10-0, 10-0, 8-2, 13-1, 10-0, 12-2.
The Mt. Lebanon junior also finished fourth in the PIAA and WPIAL championships and improved to 69-14 in his scholastic career.
Stout's teammate, Nathan Hoaglund, also competed in the national championships. The senior, who was an Eastern Regional champion, posted a 30-8 record in 2018 and was 25 wins from entering the Century Club with a 75-33 career mark heading into this season.
Finally, the wrestling world mourned the passing of Michael Wandrisco, 53, on March 27; Frank Vulcano, Sr., 89, on May 28 and Ralph Jelic, 84, on May 28. Wandrisco was an official; Vulcano was an icon, inducted into seven Hall of Fames and the founder of the Powerade Tournament while Jelic, Pitt football standout, had sons, Jeff and Chris, that competed at Mt. Lebanon.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon’s Nate Hoaglund, right, goes head to head with Upper St. Clair’s Jake Slinger during dual meet action earlier this season. A junior, Hoaglund finished fifth in the prestigious Powerade Tournament held over the holiday break at Canon-McMillan High School.
Nate Hoaglund
Mt. Lebanon owns seven WPIAL team championships in its storied program. Under legendary coach George Lamprinakos, the Blue Devils won titles in 1965, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1978 and 1980.
Could 2019 be the start of a similar run for Lebo’s mat men?
Perhaps. Because the Blue Devils return a plethora of experience and welcome fresh talent in four of a handful of ninth-graders, they have the potential to greatly improve upon last year’s third-place showing in the subsection and 8-7 overall record.
Marc Allemang is certainly enthused about Lebo’s prospects.
“This team has a lot of potential to do great things,” said the Blue Devils’ mat boss.
“If everyone in the room is giving their maximum effort and are focused on improvement we can accomplish a lot.”
Luke Stout and Nathan Hoaglund have already accomplished great things for themselves and the program. Both are two-time WPIAL qualifiers and USA Junior National qualifiers.
A junior, Stout finished fourth in the district and medaled, also fourth, during the PIAA state championships in March. During the summer, he captured the Freestyle Cadet state and national titles. The 182-pound grappler is 69-14 in his scholastic career.
Hoaglund is also a Freestyle Cadet state champion. The senior heavyweight was a fifth-place finisher in the Super 32 Tournament. Hoaglund, who is 25 victories from entering the Century Club with a 75-33 career mark, committed to University of Pennsylvania.
In addition to Stout and Hoaglund, Jackson Gray (145), Sean McKinney (126) and Mickey Kail (138) are also key veterans returning to the line-up. McKinney and Kail are three-year letterwinners while Gray is a returning section champion.
Also, Eli Crittenden (120), Darvish Kapitonov (132) and Regis Wintermantel (195) have two years of experience while Elliot McGregor (106), Luke Iovino (138), Joe Gibbons (152), Ian Loop (170), Ryan Horgan (182) and Ben Streiff (220) are returning letterwinners.
“There is a core group of veteran guys that have been a part of Mt. Lebanon Wrestling for a number of years,” Allemang said. “They have worked hard together and understand the expectations we have for them. This group also understands the importance of individual contributions for team success. Good teams are not just about individuals, but 14 guys in the line up working together for a team win. Everyone will have a role to play.”
Even the newcomers are expected to contribute. Allemang expects to keep 4-5 freshmen on the high school team this winter. The group has experience coming up through the community’s and junior high programs.
Most notable is Mac Stout. His brothers are Luke and Kellan, a former state champion who wrestles for Pitt. The youngest Stout is a multiple Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state placewinner. Last year as an eighth-grader, he was a state finalist.
“We think he will make an impact right away,” predicted Allemang. “He is from a strong wrestling background and he understands the commitment level it takes to be successful. Mac is a great kid with a lot of potential to have success over the next four years. I am excited to watch him and Luke wrestle on the same team for the next two years.”
Allemang is equally thrilled about his team’s prospects because of the blend of grapplers on the squad.
“We are also excited about the group of freshman we have in the room this year and excited to watch our seniors in their final season lead a team they have been a part of for four years so our team will have a lot of balance,” said Allemang.
“I am excited to watch them all grow as a group. We have veteran guys that show good leadership and that will help to develop our younger wrestlers.”
The competition, however, has developed its talent, too. Upper St. Clair and Peters Township, which handed Lebo losses last season, have quality wrestlers returning to their line-up, including among others: Jake Slinger (99-25), a George Mason recruit; Grant Walnoha (63-32); Donavan McMillan, who as The Almanac’s Rookie of the Year and a 30-match winner last winter; Brandon Matthews (85-29); Coltin Jezioro (76-30); and Jeff Markert (61-23)
“We are in a tough section,” conceded Allemang. We know we have to be at our best to beat either one of those programs. Our focus will be on competing at every weight.
“Our goals remain the same for every season. We want effort in the room and in our matches and we want to see guys continuing to develop throughout the season,” concluded Allemang.
NOTE: After competing in the Eastern Area Tournament this weekend, Lebo opens section action at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at home against Ringgold.
Dec. 22 is alumni recognition night when the Blue Devils host South Fayette.
Email: Chip Gray at rwgray@verizon.net or Bill Lewis at BLewis@mtlsd.net for details regarding the ceremony and post-match social.