Michael Turi from West Scranton has made a name for himself in the wrestling world through dedication and hard work. Turi is a two-time Times-Tribune All-Region and Lackawanna League Division I first-team coaches all-star wrestler with back-to-back seventh-place finishes at the PIAA Class 3A Championships.
Entering his junior season, Turi is ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 3A. He is also a Northeast Regional silver medalist and fourth-place finisher and a two-time District 2 champion, where he earned Most Outstanding Wrestler as a freshman.
Turi also thrives in regular season tournaments, capturing two Lackawanna League Tournament titles, a Cumberland Valley Tournament title, a Bethlehem Catholic Classic crown and a Jarvis Tournament title over the last two seasons. He is 88-11 with 25 pins, 25 technical falls, 25 decisions and eight major decisions in his career.
Key Achievements and Milestones
The junior won the 152-pound title at the Lackawanna League Wrestling Championships with a technical fall in the quarterfinals, a pin in the semifinals and a technical fall in the final, which was his 100th career victory. Going into the final at the league championships, did you know you needed one win for your 100th career? I knew. I just tried to go in like it was the same wrestling match as always.
At the league championships, the team finished third. I think we bounced back good from that loss. All our guys wrestled good, we had four champs. We were scoring points. We’ll be back in the next couple matches.
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Handling Pressure and Competition
You are ranked second in the state in Class 3A. How do you handle that, knowing that you’re going to get an opponent’s best every time? I don’t think there’s much pressure. I like that I’m ranked No. 2. It shows the work I’ve been putting in. If there are guys coming for me, that’s good. I want the good competition, I want the good matches.
What is it like wrestling someone for the first time? I don’t really like to know how the guy I’m wrestling is before I wrestle him. I just like to go out and do my own thing, not worry about what he is going to do.
Wrestling Moves I Wish I Knew in High School
Future Goals
What other goals lie ahead for you? State champ. One-hundred percent. That’s my biggest goal. How have you used your seventh-place finishes at states the past two years as motivation? I have “State champ” written on my wall, so I see it every day. It reminds me that I have to keep working hard. Doesn’t matter if I’m tired, just keep going. That seventh place last year made me realize that there’s some more work to be put in and I can’t be complacent.
Commitment to Cornell University
The two-time state medalist committed to Cornell University. “I picked Cornell because they had both the wrestling and the school, but I really liked the team,” Turi said in a phone interview. “I thought they had a really good connection up there. They do a lot of things together. The coach has them up to eat a lot at his house, so I thought that was pretty cool. And I liked Ithaca. I thought it was a nice town.
You recently committed to Cornell University. Talk about the decision: It has a family feel there and I felt I really fit in. They were very welcoming, very supportive. Great wrestling program, great schooling that will set me up for the future. I just believe that I’ll really strive up there. How glad are you to get your college decision out of the way: It’s a big relief to get that done now.
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Led by 133-pound title winner Vito Arujau, Cornell placed second at the NCAA Division I championships last season, 100 points behind Penn State.
Personal Preferences and Inspirations
Favorite school subject: History. Athletes I admire: Mike Tyson. Any wrestlers: I would say Jason Nolf. I liked the way he wrestled at Penn State. I used to watch a lot of those Penn State guys when I was little. If you could have any superpower, what would it be: Ability to fly. Anything on your Christmas list: Just a new phone screen protector. Best Christmas present you received: A PS4.
“I feel like I’ve definitely gotten mentally stronger,” Turi said.
West Scranton looks to build on its success last season, when it captured its first league title since 2005 and its first district crown since 2006. “I think it’s a really exciting year,” Turi said. “I think it’s a year that we could put a good team together and do pretty good at team states, make it again like last year, win districts and make a good run down there.
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