Mt. Lebanon takes third at Allegheny County championships
The Allegheny County Championships at Fox Chapel High School last weekend proved a yardstick by which Mt. Lebanon measures its current and future success on the wrestling mats.
The Blue Devils took third place as a team, finishing only behind champion Thomas Jefferson (170.5) and runner-up North Allegheny (168) with a 160 score. Lebo put the most individuals (four) in the finals of any one team in this year’s event as well as its own history, produced two champions and six place winners that gained All-County acclaim.
Lebo mat boss Marc Allemang said the team’s finish was great for the direction of the program.
“Obviously, at times, we thought we could win the tournament but you have to tip your hat to TJ and NA. Both had more guys place and that is what it takes to win a team tournament,” Allemang said. This tournament is always a fun event. You know going into it that you need to be at your best in order become All-County as an individual, but also everyone needs to contribute to take home a team trophy.”
Mac and Luke Stout along with Jackson Gray, Nathan Hoaglund, Sean McKinney and Regis Wintermantel were Lebo’s biggest contributors. The Stout brothers won championships. Gray and Hoaglund garnered runner-up honors while McKinney and Wintermantel secured sixth and seventh positions on the podium.
“Our four finalists put together nice tournaments and picked up a lot of bonus along the way,” said Allemang. “I was happy to see Sean get All-County. He has had some adversity with various injuries in the past so it was good to see him get on the podium in his senior season and last county tournament. Regis also wrestled a really good tournament.”
The Stout brothers had the best results.
Luke captured his third title when he pinned Nick Whittington from Keystone Oaks in 2:45 of the 182-pound final. En route to the championship, the junior also pinned his other three opponents within a 3-minute, 34-second time span.
“Luke had a dominant performance,” Allemang said, “but he is also such a team guy. He was aware of the team race and was talking about bonus points and encouraging others on the team to get them if they had opportunities. That is just who he is and how he goes about his business. He understands the significance of the team and that is what you expect from your veteran guys.”
Though only a freshman, Mac Stout wrestled like a veteran in winning the 150-pound title. He opened with a fall in 99 seconds and a technical fall in 2:57 before he posted a 17-7 major decision against Upper St. Clair senior Grant Walnoha in the semifinals. He decisioned Patrick Cutchember, 10-6, for the championship.
“Often with ninth-graders they struggle with keeping their composure in pressure situations and make mistakes,” Allemang said, “but Mac is pretty seasoned. It was cool to watch him. He is not afraid to go for things. He is also super athletic and can get himself out of a lot of situations that might get others in trouble.”
So far, Mac has had no trouble following in Luke’s footsteps. He is 22-5 overall. According to Allemang, he benefits from his brother’s support and the siblings keep each other motivated.
“He has ability and is hard to go with for long periods of time,” Allemang said. “I just want effort and hustle out of him in every match. The outcomes will take care of themselves.”
At 145, Gray took care of his early opponents, registering a tech fall and a pin in the opening rounds of action. After back-to-back decisions, he lost, 6-3, to John Rocco Kazalas in the finals.
“Jackson had a tough bracket and beat some really solid competition just to get into the finals,” Allemang said. “He kept his calm in matches that went back and forth. We were very proud of the work he put together.”
At heavyweight, Hoaglund put together a fine showing until he ran into Jake Slinger. The undefeated Upper St. Clair senior has 21 pins in 25 matches this winter. Hoaglund registered three falls and a 3-0 decision before losing to Slinger, 8-0, in the 285-pound final.
“These matches are opportunities to show where you are and expose some weaknesses before the postseason,” Allemang said. “In order to do that you need to really push action.”
In future bouts, Allemang is confident Hoaglund will do just that.
“Nathan is a great kid, always eager to learn,” he said. “I am excited to see how the heavyweight bracket shakes out at the end of the season.”
Allemang likewise feels the same way about McKinney and Wintermantel. They are both seniors.
McKinney won his opening rounds by tech falls before Zack Wright from Hampton won by decision, 6-4, in the semifinals. He won two consolation bouts before slipping dropping two matches to take sixth.
Wintermantel lost in the quarterfinals but wrestled back to take seventh place.
After WPIAL team tournament action, Lebo is looking to do better as it prepares for individual events such as sectionals, regionals and state championships.
“We knew we had some guys that could make noise and place high at the county tournament, which comes up at the beginning of the season when we set our goals for the year. We’ll talk about those goals as we get closer to each event.”
Upper St. Clair and Chartiers Valley finished in the Top 10 among the 37 teams competing in the Allegheny County Championships. The Panthers placed fifth with a 138.5 score while the Colts tied for eighth with 119 points. South Fayette totaled 101 points and tied for 11th position.
Quinn Murray joined heavyweight Jake Slinger atop the podium. The senior won the 220-pound weight class. He posted two pins and two decisions en route to his victory.
Slinger recorded three falls before winning the 285-pound division with a major decision, 8-0.
Other place winners for the Panthers included: Grant Walnoha (third), Sean Martin and Harvey Rauch (both fourth) and Dan Kyle (eighth).
Zachary Macy was CV’s top finisher with a runner-up showing at 138.
Other Colts to place included: Murat Zaynullaev (fourth at 170), Cody Trout (sixth at 132), CC Beatty (seventh at 126) and Josh Sarasnick (eighth at 195).
Top finishers for the Lions included: Eli Brinsky, (second, 152), Quentin Franklin (fourth, 285), Michael DeD (fifth, 160), Dalton Hirt (eighth, 145) and Aaron Cardillo (eighth at 170).
Bethel Park had third-place finishers in Riley O’Mara and Luke Montgomery. Jake Dowell finished fifth and Parker Loera took sixth.