Mt. Lebanon places three at Burgettstown Tournament
Photos: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ejiro Montoya puts the pinning moves on Jonah Stearman. Montoya recorded a fall against Stearnman in section action and in follow-up action as he went on to pick up a bronze medal in the 107-pound weight class at the Burgettstown Tournament.
Three Mt. Lebanon wrestlers placed during the Burgettstown Tournament. From left are: Ejiro Montoya, Cole Gibbons and Ben Lloyd. Montoya and Gibbons claimed third-place bronze medals while Lloyd took home a sixth-place medal.
Mt. Lebanon made its first appearance in the Burgettstown Tournament and the Blue Devils walked away with three medals not to mention a positive experience.
“We have never wrestled there during my tenure,” said Lebo coach Marc Allemang. He explained since the Blue Devils did not participate in the Powerade Tournament over the winter break, they looked for another event.
“I have always heard good things about this tournament,” Allemang said. “You get a chance to see different competition. There were a lot of good wrestlers there from schools we do not compete against on a regular basis so this was a good opportunity for us.”
Junior Ejiro Montoya and freshman Cole Gibbons garnered bronze medals while sophomore heavyweight Ben Lloyd secured a six-place medal.
Montoya started the year at 114 but recently made the drop to 107. According to Allemang, both weight classes are “pretty tough” but Montoya was impressive at Burgettstown. He scored a major decision, 15-4, to beat Kyle Lantz from Cochranton for third place.
Montoya opened tournament action with a tech fall and a pin before he lost, 7-1, to Central Valley’s Antonio Boni. He scored another major decision, 10-1 against Conneaut’s Daylee Watson, to reach the consolation match.
“Ejiro is quick on his feet and has that physical and emotional edge when he is wrestling,” Allemang said. “We really enjoy watching him do his thing. When he is in that rhythm I like his chances against anyone.”
Montoya did not wrestle his freshman year during the COVID season but last year he posted a 28-9 record. He was 16-2 after picking up a pin during a dual meet against Peters Township. The Indians beat the Blue Devils, 50-15.
“Ejiro really came into his own last season,” Allemang said. “Last year we got a chance to really see how well he could compete with some of the top guys in the WPIAL.”
As a freshman, Gibbons is having a great season. He improved to 17-2 after pinning Southmoreland’s Landon DeLara for third place in the 145-pound weight class at Burgettstown. Gibbons won his other matches by major decision, decision and injury.
Gibbons added to his win total in the dual against PT. He recorded an 8-5 decision against Noah Schratz at 145.
Lebo had an inkling of Gibbons’s potential because he placed in the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling and Keystone Tournaments.
“Cole has really been a joy to watch,” Allemang said. “He is extremely physical and continues to push a high pace. He will attack for as long as he is on the mat.
“Cole has great confidence in himself and knows he can compete now.” Allemang added. “I am really excited for him and the start he has had so far.”
Lloyd sports a 17-6 record. He pinned Noah Leslie of Highlands in his opening match at Burgettstown but lost by falls in his ensuing bouts to finish sixth.
Noting that Lloyd did not have the same start to his freshman season (10-23) as Gibbons is having, Allemang said that he is a “great testament” to success through hard work.
“Ben needed to figure out a lot of positions and he needed to add some size to his young frame.”
Allemang added that Lloyd reminds him of Nathan Hoaglund, who is now wrestling at the University of Pennsylvania. He said that they both kind of started really raw and just kept chipping away.
”Ben is really bright and happy every day. I think that is another similarity I see in him and Nathan. Ben wants to be in the room. He loves learning. He asks questions. He is just always curious about what he can do to improve. Those are such great characteristics to have.”
The Blue Devils finished 10th as a team in the tournament and Allemang mentioned that he was pleased with the performances of Zach Bramonth, Grant Elder and Joe Gamble although none secured enough wins to get into a medal round.
“They had pretty good tournaments,” he said. “We are still missing that complete tournament where everyone is putting it all together at the same time but I think we are getting closer. I am excited to see how they compete at the county tournament.”
The Allegheny County championships were scheduled for Jan. 20-21 at Fox Chapel.
Notes
In the loss to PT, Conner Smalls scored a pin for the Blue Devils at 121.
John Radnor (127), Darius McMillon (133), Parker Nave (189) and Caleb Bebout (215) had falls for the Indians. Chris Cibrone (160) and Jiovanni DeChicchis (172) won by tech falls. A.J. McGarrity managed a major decision at 139 while Eliot Schratz (152) and Zack Stromock (285) won by decisions. Brayden Apple won by forfeit at 114.