Gavin Garners Bronze Medal In University World Games

DATE: 7/14/2008 9:27:00 AM
By Sophia Duck
Pittsburgh Sports Information

2008 NCAA Champion Keith Gavin earned the bronze medal at 163 pounds in
the 2008 World University Wrestling Championships held in Thessaloniki,
Greece, last week.

“We are very proud of Keith’s success as a bronze medalist in the 2008
University World Freestyle Wrestling Championships,” said Head Wrestling
Coach Rande Stottlemyer. “His success is a real testament to his rapid
development in the transition from collegiate to freestyle wrestling,
which is the dominant international style of wrestling we will be watching
in the summer Olympics.

“Keith’s dream is to represent the USA in the 2012 Olympics and this
achievement is a significant first step and certainly a confidence builder
for him as he pursues that dream.”

Gavin won two matches in the early rounds against Adamson of Canada (2-0,
0-7, 1-0) and Poland’s Marcinklewicz (2-0, 1-0). In the next round, Gavin
dropped a 0-1, 0-1 match to Matyle of Belarus, but ended the week with his
third-place victory over Kasapoglu of Turkey (0-1, 2-0, 1-0).

As the only undefeated DI wrestler at the completion of the 2007-08
season, Gavin earned a berth in the in the World University Games after he
won a title at 163 pounds in the USA Wrestling University Nationals in
Akron, Ohio.

Join the Mt. Lebanon Youth Wrestling Camp.  It’s only for 4 days and it will help him keep in shape during the summer.  Want to know more…click here for details.

Honored on Saturday, was Alan Housner (class of 72′). He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of fame at the 39th annual PWCA Hall of Fame Banquet. The banquet was held in State College where ten members were inducted into the prestigious hall of fame. Alan joins legendary Lebo Coach George Lamprinakos and Olympian Kurt Angle in the PA Hall of Fame.

Also in the news….

- Our 6th Annual "Unofficial" Wing Eating Contest will tentatively be held on Tuesday, May 13 at the Quaker Steak and Lube at Robinson Towne Center. All wrestlers are invited to join us in this "all you can eat" wing eating contest of skill and intenstinal fortitude. Any parent interested in stepping up to the plate is welcome to join us. More information will be distributed to the wrestlers at school.

- The 2007-2008 schedule has been posted.

- Congratulations to Coach Panayot Kirov whose daughter is expecting her first child. Stay tuned when we bestow the Coach Pap Pap honor on Panyot around August 15.  He can still do a front flip… suplex… and walk across the wrestling room on his hands… not too bad for a Grandpa

Our wrestlers continue to have an outstanding spring as 6 more qualified for the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) in West Mifflin yesterday.  Congratulations to Steve Riggs for taking 1st Place, Steve Gannon and Matt Patrick for capturing 2nd Place, Jack Hnath in securing 3rd Place, and Adam Kemerer and Steve Patrick for locking up a spot with 4th Place finishes.  They will join Mark Buda, Luke Seibert, Kevin Quach Le, Graham Warne, Andy Buttlar, and Austin VanHorn at the National Tournament in Salisbury, Maryland.  This is a record number of qualifiers for Lebo!

♦We are still looking for some interested parents to help assist the wrestling team in our annual spring fundraiser. We will be taking down the tennis bubbles at the tennis center on Saturday, April 26. Please mark the calendar as we will need as many wrestlers as possible. If any parents are interested in helping out please contact Coach Lewis at blewis@mtlsd.net

Congratulations to Lebo Alumnus Alan Housner (Class of 72′) for being selected as a 2008 inductee into the PWCA PA Wrestling Hall of Fame!

Alan is a 1972 graduate of Mount Lebanon High School, Pittsburgh, PA and a 1977 graduate of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN with a B.S. in health and physical education. In 1991, he earned an M.Ed. from National Lewis College in learning disabilities. At Mount Lebanon, Alan compiled a phenomenal record of 50-1. He was a two-time WPIAL champion. In 1971, he was a PIAA runner-up at 120 lbs. and in 1972 was the PIAA champion at 127 lbs. At Purdue, Alan had a 59-17 record. In 1975, he was a Big Ten runner-up and placed 6th in the NCAA championships. In 1976, he was a Big Ten champion and was recognized with the Purdue "Walk" Award. From 1985-1991, Alan was the head wrestling coach at Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, IL, where his teams logged a 40-28 mark. He remains a teacher at Hinsdale Central and resides in Woodridge, IL.

We are very excited to announce an upcoming series of clinics that will be offered right here in the Mt. Lebanon Wrestling Room. 2x Olympian Panayot Kirov will share his expertise with area wrestlers. The cost of each clinic is $30. Wrestlers can sign up for 1 clinc or all 4. Anyone who registers for all 4 will only have to pay for 3! Please see attached flyer for more details. We ask that our wrestling families support Coach Kirov and show your appreciation for his committment to Lebo Wrestling.

Let me share a few things… he was undefeated in international competition for 10 years! He is a 2x Olympian and placed 5th in the 1980 Olympics. He was ranked #1 in the world in 1984, yet although making the olympic team unable to compete in the 84′ Olympics because Bulgaria boycotted the games. He is a former Bulgarian National Team Coach (his focus was technique and tactical preparation for their Olympians) and he was even recruited to be a National Team Coach for Spain. His letters of reference are impecable and contain extraordinary comments from some of the most distinguished members of the wrestling community around the WORLD. He has letters from officials high up in FILA… he has the endorsement of the US Olympic Greco Developmental Coach… as well as letters from other Olympians, etc. As most of you know he was even asked this year to join the US Olympic Coaching Staff to serve as an Instructor and clinician for 10 days, at the Olympic Winter Camp, at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. 

Click here for more information

The lebo boys continue to qualify for big time tournaments during the spring and this weekend we had 6 kids make it out of the NHSCA qualifier - the Top 4 in each weight class will compete at the National tournament in Salisbury, Maryland.  From the Middle School Division Mark Buda snagged 1st Place, Luke Seibert brought home 3rd Place, and Kevin Quach Le and Graham Warne took 4th Place.  In the High School Division Andy Buttlar powered his way to 1st Place trophy and Austin VanHorn took 4th Place.

If you would like to see how all of our Lebo wrestlers have done this spring check out the Blue Devil Trophy Club section.

Washington & Jefferson hosted the PAWF qualifier in Greco-Roman & Freestyle divisions with the top 4 in each weight class qualifing for the State tournament in June…Lebo placed 9 wrestlers.  

In the Greco-Roman division we had a three Buda’s…J.T., Andrew and Mark all finished 3rd and Jack Hnath secured 4th Place.

In the Freestyle division Austin VanHorn and J.T. Buda finished 2nd, Jack Hnath brought home 3rd, and Andrew & Mark Buda each finished with a 4th Place medal.

Congratulations to seniors Andrew Buda and Greg Perri for earning 1st Team Almanac All-Stars!  Andrew closed the season with a 26-7 record and took 1st Place in the section 5 tournament, Greg ended his season with a 27-9 record and took 2nd Place in the section 5 tournament.

Earning Honorable Mention were Andy Buttlar (103), Adam Kemerer (112), Stan Kochanek (119), Chris Johns (125), Chris Kostas (135), and Connor O’Hara (285).

If you would like to read the complete article - click here.