Mt. Lebanon pair seek national wrestling titles
The Mt. Lebanon High School wrestling team will be well represented at the USA Wrestling National Championships.
Kevin Kinyua qualified for Junior Nationals, while Sean Perri qualified for Cadet Nationals, which will take place Friday through July 21 at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D.
"Kevin placed third in freestyle and second in Greco-Roman at the [Pennsylvania Amateur Wrestling Federation] state tournament while competing at 113 pounds," said Mt. Lebanon coach Bill Lewis, noting that the top three finishers in each weight class qualify. "Sean placed third in Greco-Roman at 120 pounds."
Kinyua is a two-year starter who recently completed his junior year at Mt. Lebanon. Perri made his varsity debut last season as a freshman. Each earned a WPIAL Class AAA tournament berth during the 2011-12 season after placing fourth in Section 4-AAA.
"It's been five years since our last Fargo qualifier," Lewis said. "Sean's cousin, Greg Perri, qualified five years ago after winning a [PAWF] state title. It's great to have two kids going to Fargo. We're very excited to see our young wrestlers doing so well."
Mt. Lebanon had seven wrestlers compete in the PAWF state tournament.
"We had eight kids qualify and seven made the trip to Central Mountain High School for the state tournament," Lewis said. "That's the most kids we've had going to the state tournament in seven years."
Lewis wrestled at Junior Nationals after his senior year at Peters Township in 1986.
"They held the tournament at the University of Northern Iowa at the Unidome at that time," Lewis said. "I had a 4-2 record in the freestyle tournament, but didn't place. It was a great experience nonetheless. I wish I would have done it earlier in my career, but I waited until after I had graduated. I'm glad to see Kevin and Sean qualifying so early in their high school careers."
Cadet and Junior Nationals are the two biggest high school tournaments in the country.
"Approximately 80 percent of the state champions across the country participate at Fargo," Lewis said. "It's the pinnacle of high school freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Our future Olympians will come from [the tournament in] Fargo."
Football takes priority
Mt. Lebanon's top wrestler last year was Kellan Stout, who placed fourth in the WPIAL as a 160-pound freshman. Stout did not participate in the PAWF state tournament.
"Kellan is splitting time between football and wrestling," Lewis said.
"He's got a chance to become the starting quarterback [for the Blue Devils], so he's been working very hard during the offseason to impress the new coach, Mike Melnyk."
Stout did wrestle at FloNationals, a folkstyle tournament that took place at Drexel University in Philadelphia March 31 to April 1.
"Kellan didn't place, but had a good record," Lewis said. "I think it's safe to say he would have qualified for a trip to Fargo if he could have fit it into his busy schedule."
A trip to Gotham
Lewis missed a family reunion picnic in June, but had a good reason.
"I went to New York City to watch [Waynesburg Central graduate] Coleman Scott in the conclusion of the Olympic Team Trials," Lewis said. "I found a cheap flight and stayed with a friend in Queens."
Scott was one of three individuals who wrestled off for the final spot on the United States freestyle team. It took place June 7 in Times Square.
"It was great to see wrestlers invade Times Square," Lewis said. "There was a who's who of wrestling in the crowd. It was kind of surreal."
Scott beat his two opponents to qualify in the 132-pound weight class. He joins North Allegheny High School graduate Jake Herbert on the US Freestyle Team.
"It's amazing to see that one-third of the U.S. freestyle team is from the WPIAL," said Lewis, referring to the fact that the Olympics has only six weight classes."
Kevin Kinyua qualified for Junior Nationals, while Sean Perri qualified for Cadet Nationals, which will take place Friday through July 21 at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D.
"Kevin placed third in freestyle and second in Greco-Roman at the [Pennsylvania Amateur Wrestling Federation] state tournament while competing at 113 pounds," said Mt. Lebanon coach Bill Lewis, noting that the top three finishers in each weight class qualify. "Sean placed third in Greco-Roman at 120 pounds."
Kinyua is a two-year starter who recently completed his junior year at Mt. Lebanon. Perri made his varsity debut last season as a freshman. Each earned a WPIAL Class AAA tournament berth during the 2011-12 season after placing fourth in Section 4-AAA.
"It's been five years since our last Fargo qualifier," Lewis said. "Sean's cousin, Greg Perri, qualified five years ago after winning a [PAWF] state title. It's great to have two kids going to Fargo. We're very excited to see our young wrestlers doing so well."
Mt. Lebanon had seven wrestlers compete in the PAWF state tournament.
"We had eight kids qualify and seven made the trip to Central Mountain High School for the state tournament," Lewis said. "That's the most kids we've had going to the state tournament in seven years."
Lewis wrestled at Junior Nationals after his senior year at Peters Township in 1986.
"They held the tournament at the University of Northern Iowa at the Unidome at that time," Lewis said. "I had a 4-2 record in the freestyle tournament, but didn't place. It was a great experience nonetheless. I wish I would have done it earlier in my career, but I waited until after I had graduated. I'm glad to see Kevin and Sean qualifying so early in their high school careers."
Cadet and Junior Nationals are the two biggest high school tournaments in the country.
"Approximately 80 percent of the state champions across the country participate at Fargo," Lewis said. "It's the pinnacle of high school freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Our future Olympians will come from [the tournament in] Fargo."
Football takes priority
Mt. Lebanon's top wrestler last year was Kellan Stout, who placed fourth in the WPIAL as a 160-pound freshman. Stout did not participate in the PAWF state tournament.
"Kellan is splitting time between football and wrestling," Lewis said.
"He's got a chance to become the starting quarterback [for the Blue Devils], so he's been working very hard during the offseason to impress the new coach, Mike Melnyk."
Stout did wrestle at FloNationals, a folkstyle tournament that took place at Drexel University in Philadelphia March 31 to April 1.
"Kellan didn't place, but had a good record," Lewis said. "I think it's safe to say he would have qualified for a trip to Fargo if he could have fit it into his busy schedule."
A trip to Gotham
Lewis missed a family reunion picnic in June, but had a good reason.
"I went to New York City to watch [Waynesburg Central graduate] Coleman Scott in the conclusion of the Olympic Team Trials," Lewis said. "I found a cheap flight and stayed with a friend in Queens."
Scott was one of three individuals who wrestled off for the final spot on the United States freestyle team. It took place June 7 in Times Square.
"It was great to see wrestlers invade Times Square," Lewis said. "There was a who's who of wrestling in the crowd. It was kind of surreal."
Scott beat his two opponents to qualify in the 132-pound weight class. He joins North Allegheny High School graduate Jake Herbert on the US Freestyle Team.
"It's amazing to see that one-third of the U.S. freestyle team is from the WPIAL," said Lewis, referring to the fact that the Olympics has only six weight classes."
wrestling