AMATEUR WRESTLING

Gateway High School senior-to-be Jay Ivanco bought a Bass Tracker boat to spend a little more time enjoying one of his favorite hobbies--- fishing -- but he hasn't had much spare time to get out on the water.

"I've taken the boat out a couple times, but wrestling has taken up much of my summer," said Ivanco. "Right now it's more important for me to prepare for my final season of scholastic wrestling."

With that in mind, Ivanco has continued to compete since the high school season ended in March.

"I haven't stopped wrestling," said Ivanco. "With my senior year approaching, I have to get my name recognized by college recruiters. Every Division I school in the country [that sponsors wrestling] will have scouts at the national tournament."

The tournament Ivanco is referring to is the USA Wrestling National Championships, which will take place in Fargo, N.D. beginning Saturday and continuign through July 30.

"I had a chance to go to Fargo last year, but decided it would have been a waste of money since I had to move up one weight class," said Ivanco. "I couldn't make it down to 112 for the [Pennsylvania Amateur Wrestling Federation] state tournament, so I wrestled at 119 and qualified. I thought about going to Fargo, but didn't think it would be smart when you consider the level of competition and the size difference."

Ivanco returned to the PAWF state tournament in June and earned a second berth to Fargo, but this time as a legitimate 119-pounder. He advanced to the state final before losing to Clearfield's Brad Pataky, who placed third in the PIAA Class AAA tournament in March at 119 pounds.

"I didn't wrestle very well and Pataky wrestled a great match," said Ivanco, a two-time PIAA Class AAA place-winner. "I was a little surprised at how badly he beat me, especially after seeing Pataky beat [Derry Area's] Troy Dolan by only one point in the semifinals. I've already beaten Dolan and expected to have a close match with Pataky."

Ivanco arrived at Lock Haven University yesterday for the training camp all Pennsylvania team members must attend prior to leaving for Fargo.

"I've heard that the Fargodome is very intimidating," said Ivanco, referring to the site of the national championships, which take place at North Dakota State University.

"I've been told that the most important thing is to get in and out of every match as soon as possible. I may have to wrestle as many as 12 matches in three days, so you have to get off the mat as quickly as you can."

Ivanco has never been to Fargo before, but has been to national championships, prior to reaching high school.

"I've been to Iowa, Tulsa and Michigan for national tournaments," said Ivanco. "I've also wrestled in the Tournament of Champions in Ohio. But I've never been to a tournament as big as Junior Nationals."

Ivanco is entered in the Junior Division, which includes wrestlers who recently graduated from high school and are heading to college.

"The competition should be very stiff," said Ivanco. "My goal is to place among the top eight and become an All-American. That would certainly help my chances of getting a Division I scholarship."

Ivanco would like to wrestle at a Division I college, but also wants to stay close to home.

"I have a lot of family and I would like them to be able to attend my matches," said Ivanco, who has been contacted by University of Pittsburgh coach Rande Stottlemyer, and is also looking into Penn State, West Virginia, and PSAC schools such as Clarion and Edinboro.

Ivanco has compiled an impressive 78-7 record in his first two seasons of varsity competition. He broke into Gateway's starting lineup as a 103-pound sophomore and posted a 38-4 record in his debut. He won a Section 4-AAA title, advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA finals before losing to Waynesburg's Chris Neidermeier in overtime, and then placed fourth in the PIAA.

Ivanco moved up to 112 pounds last season and posted a 40-3 record. He won a second section title, then made another appearance in the WPIAL finals and lost again to Neidermeier, and capped the season by finishing fifth in the PIAA.

"My goal for my senior year is to win WPIAL and PIAA titles," said Ivanco. "It would be great to finish my scholastic career that way. It would also be great to win a national title."