In Friday's 189-pound quarterfinal match, Huntingdon's Andrew McMonigle lifted Clearfield's Carter Chamberlain off the mat and knocked him down. McMonagle won 11-4 and advanced to the semifinals.
Written by Todd Irwin
sports@altoonamirror.com
Andrew McMonigle's celebrity status rose shortly after he won the 189-pound title at the PIAA Class 2A Championships at Hershey's Giant Center.
McMonagle, a senior at Williamsburg High School who struggled at Huntingdon as a junior and senior, was rewarded with two parades.
Huntingdon's parade came on the night he scored a thrilling 8-7 come-from-behind victory over previously unbeaten Garrett Garcia of Southern Columbia in the championship final.
“It was really amazing,” McMonagle said. “I would like to thank both communities. They have been so supportive all year long. Huntingdon was the best. They welcomed us like their own. The people are great there.
“The Williamsburg community is so supportive. A lot of them don't know much about wrestling, but they're always there to cheer you on, congratulate you, and tell you they're thinking of you.”
Last week, his Easter Seal Drive was televised locally in Huntingdon, where an autographed photo of him was put up for auction.
“It's pretty cool,” he said. “It’s really nice to be able to get out there and help give back to the community that has given me so much.”
McMonagle, who won his fifth state title at Huntingdon, was named Altoona Miller's Wrestler of the Year on the 41st Miller All-Star Team.
“I'm really grateful and honored,” McMonagle said. “A lot of people have helped me get to this point. I'm really grateful to everyone who has helped me.”
“I think it's a great honor for him,” Huntingdon coach John Mikut said. “That kid has worked hard and should get everything he can get.”
McMonagle's title may be the last for a Williamsburg student, as Williamsburg has never had a wrestling program.
“I hope something more happens in the future,” McMonigle said. “I don't want to be alone. I want to start something.”
McMonagle competed at Central as a freshman and advanced to the super regionals. However, he missed his next season with a shoulder injury. When Central ended its cooperative with Williamsburg, Huntingdon began its cooperative with Williamsburg. McMonagle went 85-10 in two years with the Bearcats and 47-3 this season.
“It was a seamless transition,” Mykut said. “We embraced him 100 percent from the beginning, and he embraced us. I think he would say he loves the Bearcat wrestling program. Once you're in that program, you're in it for the rest of your life.” He's going to be a part of the program, and he knows it. Whenever he comes back to the area, he's always welcome to stop by our practice room.”
As a junior, he finished second with an epic tie-break loss to Glendale's Zeke Dabler and qualified for the state tournament with a third-place finish at the Southwest Regional. However, in his first match he tore the PCL, LCL and meniscus in his knee. Although his knee injury appears to have been very serious, McMonagle did not require surgery.
“When it happened, they said it was my ACL, and it was just a huge blow,” he said. “I just knew that no matter what, I was going to keep trying to come back. I knew I was lucky. It wasn't my ACL.
“I have the best personal/therapist in the business, Zach Holman, who helped me tremendously with my return. I have the best coaches and staff at the M2 Training Center and the players at Huntingdon have been great. It was just a group effort to get me back and get me where I wanted to be.”
McMonagle wore a knee brace at the beginning of the season, but quickly became comfortable enough to wrestle without it.
“My knee brace came off around December,” he said. “Then about a month later, I think I was completely fearless and really testing my knee. I continued wrestling from there and it felt pretty good. I was a little nervous coming back at first. I did, but once you get out there, you don't think about it that much.”
McMonagle finished with an overall record of 93 wins and 17 losses, but was always a favorite to win. This year, he led the state with 37 pins and finished with 71 for his career. McMonagle credits much of his own pinning success to Penn State great David Taylor's M2 training center in Boalsburg.
“We've been working on the armbar,” McMonagle said of the M2. “I’ve always been an armbar guy. David (Taylor) is the best guy in the armbar business and really helped me in that regard. My coach at Huntingdon, Coach Miket, was a big influence on that as well. He's not a big fan of tech falls. He always says get the pin if you can.”
One opponent he didn't pin was Bald Eagle Area's Caleb Close. He defeated Crows 6-3 in the Laurel Highlands Conference Tournament finals and was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler.
Close then sandwiched him 5-2 and 5-3 in a battle of the top two in PA Power Wrestling's rankings in the District 6 and Southwest Regional finals.
“He has been a huge contributor to my success this year,” McMonigle said. “We've been training together all summer, and we're back to training together again. We just keep pushing each other. Those losses motivate you even more. only.
“He really helped me open up and be free. It's not about the outcome of the match. It's just that if you go out there and give it your all and wrestle free, what happens is… It happens.”
“He's the type of kid who always wants to wrestle the strongest kid,” Mycutt said. “With Close, he knew he was the best kid and he always wanted to play against him.
McMonagle, who began wrestling at the age of 8, will continue his wrestling career at North Dakota State University.
“I'm excited,” McMonagle said. “I can't wait to get out there and work for them. They have the best coaching staff in the country. I can't wait to get out there and meet the kids on the team and start competing and getting better every day.” I think we can build something special together.”
