I believe 20 years ago to the day, a District 1 wrestler had a state final match against a returning state champion from Waynesburg. Every person in the arena knew the inevitable conclusion to the match. It wasn't pretty. This year the D1 wrestler is going to win it. My pick is 3-1 Gaj on a late third period takedown. Gaj has to wrestle at all times. Church is very good at getting points on the edge of the mat and late in periods. I'm worried Church is going to steal a takedown with under five seconds in the first and stalling out a win. 

Dillon Bechtold has his work cut out for him. It's a little funny to me that two guys that wrestled at 189 this year are in the finals at 215. Sasso is top notch. 

Waynesburg and Canon-Mcmillan have been the best regular public high school programs in the state for the past 80 years. They are the real thing, they have attained a level of excellence some of the members of this site would like to ascribe to their own favorite schools. Members of my own family have won regional, state, and Powerade titles for Waynesburg and Canonsburg, so I know their mentality when it comes to wrestling. That being said, I think Church, rather than trying to steal a championship by stalling, will attempt to make a statement. He couldn't drop to 139 to get even with Rath for a loss earlier this year, but he can take it out on Gaj. 

I'm not asserting that the kid from Quakertown can't win, but don't underestimate a two time state champ from the mountains of southwest Pennsylvania.

The next time Mike asks about multiple state finalists in the same year, add FCA and Quakertown to the list.

Edit:  FCA went 9 for 9 in the medal round. That's coaching. That's amazing.  

2 firsts, 2 thirds, 3 fifths, 2 7ths.  - pretty sure they set the AA scoring record.

If that's the first year of the state OW award, Waters just became only the 2nd freshman to win it.

Anyone want to guess who the first freshman OW was?

Franklin Regional's 152 points in 2015 is the overall record.

Faith's 9 medals is tied for 2nd most all-time in a single year by a team.  Bethlehem Catholic had 9 in 2014 and Northampton had 10 medals in 2004.

Kolat?

Hat's off! 

15 seconds to go. A final flurry occurs. Church tries one of those jump over things that some guys do - the Ridley 107 does it well. Didn't work for Church and Gaj gets the takedown. But there's more! Church grabs Gaj's uniform during the takedown. Gaj gets 2 and 2:  two points for the takedown, 2 points for the 3rd penalty. Yikes.  Gaj won 7-1 with 4 penalty points. Unusual.

Dodfan: Have you forgotten Andre Petroski?

Not the correct call

The bottom guy is already limited in ways to score.  Potentially dangerous and put them back down.

Eventually the bottom guy will change his approach, but he’s definitely not stalling.

Yep, Kolat... and he was the only person to win the OW award 4 times.

Chance won the OW 3 times.  He did not win as a freshman as Nico Megaludis won it that year.

It's much more obvious when the top wrestler throws a leg in late to force a potentially dangerous call. In this case, you're certain the bottom wrestler hadn't started his standup before the top wrestler threw in the leg? Looked to me like it all happened in one motion. Also, it happened twice! Twice! You don't make that call in that situation. Unfortunately, I think the referee let the moment get the better of him. I actually thought he had done a nice job for the entire match up to that point in not letting the CV coach talk him into earlier stall calls as Evans wasn't trying to initiate action with his pushing, but none of that matters now. 

I really didn't think anyone would be defending that. You proved me wrong. 

Also, (cue the outrage machine) Collin Gaj is the best District 1 wrestler since Chris Kwortnik. 

Slow down there, Dodfan.  You're ready to anoint Gaj as the greatest in the last 35 years, and I'm not too sure about THIS year. How many District 1 wrestlers have decked the returning state champ in the first period of the state finals, ever?

I know I can't remember any, except one: Adam Waters

There are three extraordinary wrestlers in D1 right now. I'd kinda like to wait a couple of years until we decide who is the GOAT.

and when talking about extraordinary seasons, you've gotta consider Zach Kemmerer's 2006 year. He was 54-0, won Ironman and won the Beast of the East.  Can't get much more iconic than that.

and Dodfan, while watching the semi's, I was also taken by how great Gaj is. Not Kwortnik-great yet maybe, but getting there. Remember, when Kwortnik was winning states as a Sophomore, he rode roughshod over the weight class, including a first period pin in the finals.

We have 2 sophomores and a freshman who should make a tremendous impact on District 1 history. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

You really just made that comparison?

I'm hoping that I'm reading this wrong, you aren't sold Gaj is the best wrestler in District 1 right now?
 

It's a matter of opinion isn't it? It's not like they can wrestle, though I would like to see how Waters would do against Rocco Welsh. I suspect he wouldn't win, but he might perform as well or better than Furman - a Cornell recruit.

I hope he recovers fast! You hate to see any injury but that's a real tough one. I read somewhere a while ago that Joe Thiesmann tries to reach out to all athletes that sustain that injury. 

I hope he feels better soon. I'm praying for him. 

I know it was preseason, and a lot of time has passed since then, but they actually wrestled in the round of 16 at Super 32 this year. Welsh beat Waters 3-1. 

You must have read it wrong. I'm not sold that Gaj is the greatest D1 wrestler since Kwortnik. We've had a few pretty good wrestlers since then -- Mike Pirozzola, Justin Giavinco, Jermaine Jones,  Zach Fryling and a whole family of Rappos may have a thing or two to say about it. 

AND FCA has a couple of kids who are developing on a similar path with several years to go before a comparison about relative impact can be reached. At this point in time, Gaj is probably the best wrestler in District 1.  That's about as far as I'm prepared to commit to.

Adam Waters is the best wrestler in District 1. He was a penalty point away from having an undefeated freshman year where he went Tech - Pin - Pin - Pin thru his first PIAA tournament. Earning him the outstanding wrestler award. If you add his summer accomplishments (Fargo 3rd FS + 2nd GR) I think that makes him a clear choice, as he seems to show a high level of skill in all 3 styles.

I don’t want to let the facts get in the way of your argument, but FCA has 2 nationally ranked wrestlers (Botero and Waters). I didn’t say anything in my post to downplay the amazing wrestler that Colin is - and I won’t do it here. But my argument is that within age group Waters took 3rd and 2nd in the international styles at the national tournament, and went thru his regular season with his only loss being on a penalty point in OT (that he avenged later that day). To then go into his first state tournament (at any age) and demolish the field to the tune of being named the tournament outstanding wrestler; first time in District 1 history that has happened, and only the 2nd time ever….

I rest my case. Adam Waters is the best wrestler in District 1 - Colin Gaj is the best wrestler in district 1 AAA. 

You're educated in wrestling. You are also a top-notch ref. Do you honestly believe that Adam Waters is as good as Collin Gaj? 

He is better.

Do you think any of those guy (except Kwortnik obviously) would beat Collin Gaj of 2023?

BuT hE wAs HeLd BaCk 

Held back a couple times! I’m pretty sure I was standing next to him in line when I was waiting to vote. I could tell he was gonna vote from Trump!

Please don't delete this thread because Botero ruined it on purpose. 

Forum members just ignore him. It's not that hard!

I was actually pointing out that your argument that one of the wrestlers is held back isnt a valid reason. Then cross body said something dumb and I responded with something dumb. 

Anyways the fact that Adam was held back is meaningless in a weight filled with upperclassmen. I think Adam doing something this past weekend that has never been done in district 1 before should carry some weight. Adam beat everyone in front of him as well minus one loss that he avenged the same tournament, and I think it is safe to say that FCAs national level schedule is a little stronger. 

Either way, lets be happy there are some great kids wrestling in district 1 right now and its probably not worth climbing up on top of the water tower behind the Q Mart and yelling at everyone who doesnt agree with you. 

Yes because our goal is to be validated by the district 1 forum

Gaj is great, no doubt. He had a fabulous season this year. But --- he did have 7 losses last year. . Let's allow him to accumulate a body of work.  Pirozzola was a 4x finalist (already 1-up on Gaj). In those 4 years he incurred a total of 7 losses. Gaj better work pretty hard the next couple of years to equal that record. And Pirozzola was at the Beast, so he had worthy opponents.

The difference between Pirozzola and Gaj:  Gaj is a lightning-quick, technically excellent wrestler; Pirozzola was a power wrestler who was close to being a force of nature. But he had cracks, which is why he wasn't Kwortnik. Perhaps because of the way he wrestled, his body didn't hold up, and he lost his college career. 

More than a few D1 wrestlers have done amazing things AK (After Kwortnik).   Nico Megaludis had one loss in 4 years of high school wrestling - Mark Rappo. And I don't think Mark was even the best Rappo!

Ryan Vulakh from Pope John Paul II won Ironman, the Beast, and Escape the Rock and teched and pinned his way thru AA states, and beat the AAA state champ at the same weight class. That was a pretty decent year.  

So don't be so all-fired ready to anoint someone before all the votes are in.

Nah, the thread was infected well before botero posted this time 

District has now had 7 wrestlers win the OW award at states...award started in 1977.

Nice list to be on for sure.

Out of the 25 medalists (16 in AAA and 9 in AA), 23 of them are underclassmen.

 

Really late to the party here, but unfortunately Russiantie is correct. The call was correct based on the hs rule book which considers the bottom man still on the mat if he is in a quad pod (hands and feet on the mat). Top man put the leg in while bottom man was in quad pod both times. Therefore, by the hs rule book the bottom stood up with the leg in and the referee was correct to call it the way he did.  I also believe he warned the bottom man after the first instance. Now is there a better way to deal with situation, certainly.  Let the bottom stand up and call PD if you have. The period is the UTB or ride out and the stalling rules are different.  Also!, NFHSA needs to change the rule