The wrestling program at Jefferson Morgan High School boasts a storied history filled with individual brilliance and team accomplishments. When Pennsylvania wrestling fans discuss the "best ever," the name of Jefferson Morgan High School alumnus Cary Kolat invariably arises.
Cary Kolat: A Legend Forged in Jefferson Morgan
Kolat compiled an astounding 137-0 high school record, securing four Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) championships. He achieved the unprecedented feat of being named Outstanding Wrestler at the PIAA tournament each year he competed, an honor unmatched by any other wrestler.
His collegiate career further solidified his legacy:
- As a freshman at Penn State, Kolat clinched a Big Ten title and finished second in the NCAA Championships at 134 pounds.
- As a sophomore, he was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and secured third place in the NCAA Tournament.
- After transferring to Lock Haven University, Kolat won back-to-back NCAA titles at 142 pounds in 1996 and 1997, boasting a remarkable two-year record of 50-1.
- He also won two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles and back-to-back Eastern Wrestling League championships.
Kolat's success extended to freestyle wrestling, where he was a member of the U.S. Freestyle Team from 1997 to 2001. He earned a silver medal at the World Championships in 1997 and a bronze medal in 1998. He also won three World Cup gold medals, one World Cup silver, and two Pan American championships. Kolat was crowned the U.S. Open champion in 1997, 1999, and 2000.
At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Kolat faced the reigning world champion, Mohammad Talaei, in his first freestyle match. After a thrilling 3-1 overtime victory, the result was protested.
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Cary Kolat vs Talaei Pt2 (2000 Olympics)
Gavin Teasdale: The Next Chapter
Each year, a younger wrestler captures the attention of the wrestling community. In recent years, names like Spencer Lee, Chance Marsteller, and Nico Megaludis have emerged. In 2015, Jefferson-Morgan freshman Gavin Teasdale garnered significant attention, winning major tournaments like the 2014 Cadet National Freestyle in Fargo, N.D., three Pa. Junior Olympic titles, and the 2014 FILA Cadet National championship in Akron, Ohio.
He began his high school career impressively, winning the Eastern Area Invitational Wrestling Tournament. Teasdale (15-0) opened the Powerade Wrestling Tournament with technical fall victories against Ryan Harnett and Ethan Leake, and a 5-3 win against Josh Humphreys.
Teasdale expressed his ambition to become a four-time PIAA champion. He spends time working out at Young Guns where his practice partners include Lee, A.C. Headlee, Vincenzo Joseph and teammate Brendan Howard.
Teasdale vs. Kolat: A Different Path
While comparisons to Kolat are inevitable, Teasdale and his coach Mike Lesko emphasize their differences. Lesko stated, "There is never going to be another Kolat, and Gavin needs to blaze his own path."
Team Success and Individual Brilliance
Makel, a two-time PIAA champion in 1994 and 1995, and Tracanna, a state champion in 1995, led Jefferson-Morgan to a WPIAL Team Tournament championship in 1995.
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Tracanna said, "The bar had been set so high at Jefferson-Morgan team-wise and individually. Certainly, the team championships before us with those great wrestlers probably just drove us. You knew the expectations; they were higher in a positive way and there was a belief in a positive way to accomplish bigger things."
Headlee noted, "That first crew of our great teams were gone. Travis and Justin kept Jefferson-Morgan at the top. It was a lot of other guys, too. But those were the two who it had to be. That has to say a lot about them because we graduated a lot of great wrestlers, and maybe the greatest (Kolat) and they kept us right there."
The Quest for Four
After just five wrestlers won four straight WPIAL individual titles from 1936-1988, the size of the club doubled in the 1990s. Since the turn of the century, 22 more wrestlers have joined one of the most exclusive fraternities in western Pennsylvania sports, including eight in the past ten seasons. Rune Lawrence of Frazier became the 14th four-time PIAA wrestling champion.
In 2018, Jefferson Morgan senior Gavin Teasdale was one victory away from making PIAA wrestling history. Teasdale cruised into the Class AA finals for the fourth consecutive year and found himself one win from becoming the 13th four-time PIAA champion. “I'm ready, my conditioning is ready, my speed is ready and my strength is ready,” said Teasdale (40-2), who faced Saucon Valley's Joshua Jones (36-2) at 126 pounds.
Here's a table summarizing the achievements of key figures in Jefferson Morgan wrestling history:
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| Wrestler | Achievements |
|---|---|
| Cary Kolat | 137-0 high school record, 4x PIAA champion, NCAA champion, World Championships silver medalist |
| Travis Makel | 2x PIAA champion |
| Justin Tracanna | PIAA champion |
| Gavin Teasdale | Multiple Junior Olympic titles, FILA Cadet National champion |