Slinger, Stout secure silver at states
Marc Billett/For The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon’s Luke Stout attempts to get the upper hand on Carter Starocci but the Cathedral Prep wrestler already has a leg up on the competition during PIAA Class AAA championship action. Starocci defeated Stout, 7-1, to win the 182-pound weight class. Stout finished second.
Marc Billett/For The Almanac
Upper St. Clair’s Jake Slinger has his hand full wrestling Kawaun DeBoe from Cathedral Prep during PIAA Class AAA championship action. Slinger dropped a 3-1 decision to DeBoe to finish runner-up in the 285-pound weight class.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Luke Stout works on his pinning moves.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jake Slinger finished his career as the all-time winningest wrestler in Upper St. Clair history with a 138-26 career record.
Jake Slinger will wrestle next season at Pitt.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Luke Stout posted a 42-2 record in 2019 and improved to 111-16 overall. The district champion and PIAA runner-up is ranked by USA Today as one of the top high school wrestlers this season.
Marc Allemang summed up best what wrestlers Luke Stout of Mt. Lebanon and Jake Slinger of Upper St. Clair felt after falling one win short of their goals for PIAA championships.
“Hurt,” said the Mt. Lebanon coach. “Hurting after that match is a perfectly normal feeling. But, finishing second in the toughest wrestling state in the country is nothing to hang your head about.”
Days now removed from their disappointing defeats on March 9 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Stout and Slinger acknowledged the sting they experienced but said they have moved on.
Stout lost his bid for a state title in the 182-pound weight class when he succumbed to defending champion Carter Starocci of Cathedral Prep, 7-1. Starocci represents the only blemishes on Stout’s season. At 42-2 on the year, Stout had lost to Starocci in the Powerade Tournament back in December.
“I knew he was really good so there were no surprises,” Stout said. “I wasn’t nervous because I felt the pressure was on him being the defending champion. I gave it my all. I pushed him hard but it did not work out the way I felt it would. I was a little upset afterwards because I felt I could have done better but he wrestled better. I’ll learn from this match, improve and come back stronger next year.”
For Slinger, there is no next year. The senior will wrestle at George Mason next season. So suffering his lone loss in his penultimate match of his scholastic career proved painful. In the heavyweight (285-pound) final, Slinger lost a hard-fought match, 3-1, to Kawaun DeBoe, also from Cathedral Prep. DeBoe was last year’s runner-up.
After two scoreless periods, DeBoe registered an escape 40 seconds into the third period. Taking on a more offensive position, Slinger attempted a “desperation shot” with 20 seconds to go and suffered a takedown.
“Anger rushed out of me because I knew that ended the match,” Slinger said. “Sheer frustration at that point,” he added. “It was a big shock to me and I got stuck in the moment. I didn’t know how to deal with it and I didn’t know what to think. I was really down.
“The loss does sting a bit but I have been able to collect myself. I am really happy with how my high school career turned out. I don’t have many regrets. I have been very blessed to have a good season and career and I am looking forward to what is to come.”
What came immediately after Slinger’s state performance was an invitation to participate on the WPIAL squad in the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, held March 15 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to be picked to compete in such a prestigious event,” Slinger said of the Classic, which is considered the Rose Bowl of scholastic wrestling, pitting the best wrestlers from around the country against each other. “I get to compete again with some of my good friends and perhaps get a win. I’m striving for that and it sounds good to be able to end my high school career with a victory.”
For Slinger, there have been many victories. A county title, a WPIAL crown, a Southwest Regional championship to name a few but the benchmark this season was becoming the winningest wrestler in Upper St. Clair High School history. Slinger finished his career with a 138-26 record.
“It’s weird, but I don’t consider it my highlight. It feels good for the most part to hold the record and have my name up there in the record books but it’s not accompanied by a state title,” Slinger said. “The true highlight for me really was just competing with my fellow seniors on the team. I bonded together with them my whole career and I cherish that deeply.”
Slinger adds that he is ready to move on. He says he plans to “train his butt off” when he goes to George Mason. Unsure how much his loss in the state finals predicates his future, Slinger hopes to be standing on top of the NCAA podium by 2020.
“(The PIAA) is a good course to motivate me but it does not weigh heavily on me because I don’t dwell on the past. I keep pushing forward. It’s a stepping stone to my overall goal.”
For Stout, his silver-medal performance, indeed, propels him. While he is a three-time PIAA qualifier and two-time state medalist, he is determined to return to Hershey next winter and capture that elusive state championship, much as his older brother, Kellan, did ahead of him before heading off to Pitt.
“While Luke was dominant in all his matches up to the finals against some really good kids and we could not be happier or prouder of him, he will stay the course and get back to business and continue to hunt down that goal of being a state champion,” said Allemang.
According to Allemang, the difference between silver and gold for Luke is minor adjustments because he is such a good wrestler. The match against Starocci exposed a few areas that require work but mostly it was just finishing shots and improving some defensive positions.
“Luke is one of the most driven people I have ever met,” Allemang said. “He will leave no stone unturned and will focus on the details of his training. He will make a few adjustments and be back (at Hershey) wrestling at a high level like he always does. I believe he has the talent and I believe great things will happen for him.”
While Stout was unable to predict at what weight he will perform in 2020 because he thinks he will only get “bigger and stronger” over the year, he already has begun preparing for his quest.
For example, he keeps his body in peak physical condition by adhering to a healthy diet that eliminates junk food and soda.
“It has made a big difference,” he said.
So has facing competition throughout the country. During the summer months, he plans to defend his championship at Junior Nationals as well as focusing on the little things one can’t see when they are actually competing. Then once the high school season commences, he will be in the wrestling room drilling and conditioning. He’ll also maintain a rigorous strength and lifting schedule designed specifically for him by Frank Cremonese.
“The routines are personalized and functional,” he said. “It’s all part of what I always do. Because you’ve done all the hard work, you can put it all out there and trust what you’ve been doing. I know all the hard work I’ve done hasn’t been for nothing.”
Stout noting his winning a WPIAL championship as an example.
“It was cool to see the progress throughout the season and check off goals. I feel that I am on the right path and headed in the right direction,” he said. “While silver wasn’t the outcome any of us wanted, I’d have to say that I was pleased with the season. It was cool definitely to accomplish something but I believe it still fuels the fire for next year.”
Four more area wrestlers earned medals during the PIAA Class AAA championships.
Brandon Matthews of Peters Township finished fifth in the 182-pound weight class. The senior decisioned Tyler Mousaw of Unionville, 4-1, in his consolation contest.
Nathan Hoaglund of Mt. Lebanon secured sixth place in the heavyweight category. The medal capped a career that has included a spot on the Pennsylvania team in the Junior National Freestyle Tournament and in the Super 32 in Greensboro. The senior will wrestle at Penn next season.
“After losing in the blood round in the WPIAL last year and missing out on states, Nathan went back to work and trusted the process,” said Lebo skipper Marc Allemang. “His growth over the past four years should be an example for any young wrestler wanting to know how they can improve. Nathan is an example of hard work and never giving up. He showed steady, continuous improvement. Finishing runner-up in the WPIAL and sixth in the state, as a staff, we could not be happier for him. He’s an incredible kid.”
Luke Montgomery of Bethel Park scored seventh place in the 195-pound division. The junior decisioned Ethan Seeley of Great Valley, 8-1, in his consolation match. He finished 4-2 in the tournament.
”Luke wrestled very well,” said BP mat boss Tim Crawford. “Aside from his consolation against Max Shaw he scored a take down in every match. We just don’t have an answer for Max’s style but Luke was pretty dominant in his four wins. Placing seventh as a junior was a great experience for him.”
Colton Jezioro of Peters Township earned eighth place at 152.