Dapper Dan Werstling Classic: Country's best descend on Field House
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Nico Megaludis has been attending the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic since he was 5 years old, but this year, he has a front-row seat, so to speak, as one of the 13 starters on the Pennsylvania All-Stars.
"Wrestling in The Classic has been a goal of mine since the first time I attended," said Megaludis, a senior who concluded his career at Franklin Regional High School with four WPIAL Class AAA titles and three PIAA crowns.
The Pennsylvania All-Stars will face the United States All-Stars in the feature match today at 6 p.m. The WPIAL All-Stars will face Team Michigan in the preliminary match at 4.
The Classic is sponsored by the Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Charities and local volunteers. Proceeds from the Wrestling Classic support a youth wrestling program for inner-city children through the Dapper Dan Youth Sports Leagues at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Megaludis, a Penn State recruit, takes a 170-1 career record and a 135-match winning streak into his 125-pound bout against Connor Youtsey (203-2), a three-time Michigan champ.
Megaludis is one of two WPIAL wrestlers on the Pennsylvania All-Stars. The other is Burrell's Travis McKillop (163-31), a three-time PIAA place-winner and one-time champion who competes at 160.
McKillop, who has signed with Pitt-Johnstown, will face Bryce Hammond (157-14), a two-time California champion.
"I've been going to The Classic since I was 8," McKillop said. "My cousin, Scott [McKillop], was on the WPIAL team in 2004."
The Pennsylvania All-Stars also feature Wyomissing's Nick Hodgkins and Reynolds' Mason Beckman, both two-time PIAA Class AA champs and four-time place-winners. Hodgkins (164-8) won his second title at 145 and will face Alex Dieringer (172-4), a three-time Wisconsin champ.
Beckman (196-12) is a two-time state champ at 119 pounds. His opponent is Earl Hall (210-2), a four-time Florida champion.
The two-time National Prep School champion is Evan Henderson of Kiski School. Henderson (149-9), a native of New Florence, won both titles at 140 and will face Cam Tessari (189-3), a four-time Ohio champion.
First Published March 27, 2011 12:00 am
