Tussey Mountain Wrestling
1987 & 1988
1987 & 1988
Class of 2024
Tussey Mountain had an outstanding undefeated wrestling team in 1987-88.
The Titans were 15-0 in dual meets and outscored their opponents, 625-293. Tussey wrestlers won 64.5% of the their dual meet bouts, and 8 of the regular starters finished with winning records
With Jan Clark as the head coach, the undefeated season came on the heels of an 11-4 record in the 1987 season. The assistant coaches were Todd Furry and Mike Shippy.
“We had some outstanding kids on that team, and they worked hard,” said Clark. “It’s not often that you have an unbeaten team, so that is pretty special.”
The Titans had 11 returning letterwinners for the 1987-88 season, and they were led by 3-year letterwinners Scott Husick and Joe Hall as well as Robert Yutzey and John Horton, who were 2-year letterwinners as seniors. The other letterwinners were seniors Mike Crooks and Mike Brode; juniors Andy Lazor, Donald Buckley, and John Higgins; and sophomores Jason Banco and Adam Baker.
Other members on the team were seniors Jim Brode and Joel Treece; juniors Steve Miller, Glenn Runk, Kevin Willis, Bob Drenning, Mike Hall, and Kevin Miller; sophomore Steve Treece; and freshmen Shawn Husick and Aaron Baker.
With the number of returning lettermen, Tussey had high hopes for a good season. There was good balance throughout the lineup with no glaring weaknesses.
Despite all that, the team went beyond many expectations.
The season started with a second-place finish at the Tri-County Tournament. Claysburg beat the Titans by 1 point. Scott Husick, Joe Hall, Lazor, and Banco won titles, while Shawn Husick and Buckley took third and Crooks was fourth.
The Titans were also second at the Newport Tournament to Kishacoquillas. Shawn Husick, Scott Husick, and Hall were champions.
The dual meet season started with a 34-28 road win over Mount Union, while they beat Glendale, 41-22, at home.
After the holiday break, the Titans continued to roll up impressive wins as they hit the meat of their schedule. They topped Portage (36-23), Northern Bedford (37-18), Meyersdale (42-26), Rockwood (66-5), Penn Cambria (51-14), Southern Huntingdon (45-15), Central (31-26), Claysburg-Kimmel (31-30), Everett (33-21), Hyndman (57-4), Bellwood-Antis (42-20), and Juniata Valley (46-15).
The Titans closed their great season with the big home win over Chestnut Ridge, 32-26.
“We weren’t supposed to beat Claysburg, but we pulled it out when Joe Hall won at the end,” said coach Clark. “We also had a big win from Shawn Husick. Shawn was winning his match against a highly-ranked kid, but he defaulted and that gave us 6 points.”
Clark would have liked to have seen how this team would have done in a dual meet tournament like they have in today’s sport.
“I think that we would have done pretty well, because we had good balance up and down the lineup. We weren’t weak anywhere.”
The Titans had 3 champions at the District 5 Tournament and a sixth-place finish. Shawn Husick, Lazor, and Joe Hall were the champions, while Scott Husick was second. Shawn Husick was the Outstanding Wrestler.
At the regional tournament, Lazor and Joe Hall won regional championships, while Shawn Husick was third.
Lazor was hurt and did not compete at the state tournament, but the other 2 performed well. Hall, who entered states with a 27-0 record, placed fourth at state, while Shawn Husick also took third.
“Lazor actually injured his wrist in practice the week of states,” Clark said. “He was rolling on the mat with me, and he landed awkwardly on his hand. I think I felt worse than he did.”
Joe Hall finished with a 31-2 record with 18 pins, which was third best in the Huntingdon Daily News coverage area behind 2 unbeaten state champions in Huntingdon’s Jason Shea and Mount Union’s Troy Sunderland, who went on to be Penn State’s head coach.
Scott Husick and Lazor had 21-2-1 record, while Husick had a 29-5 record. Jason Banco had a 20-4-1 record.
Overall, Tussey wrestlers had a 189-103-5 record with 76 falls. In addition to Hall’s 18 pins, Shawn Husick added 11 and Buckley had 10.
The 1987-88 Titan wrestling team will always stand out as the pinnacle of Tussey Mountain wrestling. The individual efforts, accomplishments, and highlight, combined with the undefeated season, will always be imprinted on the wrestlers on the team and area wrestling teams.
Season Scores
Mount Union 34-28
Glendale 41-22
Portage 36-23
Northern Bedford 37-18
Meyersdale 43-26
Rockwood 66-5
Penn Cambria 51-14
Southern Huntingdon 45-15
Central 31-26
Claysburg 31-30
Everett 33- 21
Hyndman 57-4
Bellwood-Antis 44-20
Juniata Valley 46-15
Chestnut Ridge 32-26
The members of the 1987-88 Tussey Mountain Wrestling team are (from the left): First Row - Steve Miller, Jason Banco, Scott Husick, and Mike Hall. Second Row - Bobby Drenning, Adam Baker, John Horton, Rodger Yutzey, Kevin Willis, Shawn Husick, Don Buckley, and Steve Treece. Back Row - Andy Lazor, Mike Crooks, Joe Hall, Aaron Baker, and Mike Brode.
1987-1988 District Five AA Tournament Placewinners
Champions-Shawn Husick 105, Andy Lazor 126, Joe Hall Unlimited
2nd place Scott Husick 112
Outstanding Wrestler Shawn Husick.
1987-1988 Southwest Regional AA Tournament Placewinners
Andy Lazor Champion
Joe Hall Champion
Shawn Husick Third
1987-1988 PIAA State Tournament Placewinners
Shawn Husick 4th place
Joe Hall 4th place.
The Titans were 15-0 in dual meets and outscored their opponents, 625-293. Tussey wrestlers won 64.5% of the their dual meet bouts, and 8 of the regular starters finished with winning records
With Jan Clark as the head coach, the undefeated season came on the heels of an 11-4 record in the 1987 season. The assistant coaches were Todd Furry and Mike Shippy.
“We had some outstanding kids on that team, and they worked hard,” said Clark. “It’s not often that you have an unbeaten team, so that is pretty special.”
The Titans had 11 returning letterwinners for the 1987-88 season, and they were led by 3-year letterwinners Scott Husick and Joe Hall as well as Robert Yutzey and John Horton, who were 2-year letterwinners as seniors. The other letterwinners were seniors Mike Crooks and Mike Brode; juniors Andy Lazor, Donald Buckley, and John Higgins; and sophomores Jason Banco and Adam Baker.
Other members on the team were seniors Jim Brode and Joel Treece; juniors Steve Miller, Glenn Runk, Kevin Willis, Bob Drenning, Mike Hall, and Kevin Miller; sophomore Steve Treece; and freshmen Shawn Husick and Aaron Baker.
With the number of returning lettermen, Tussey had high hopes for a good season. There was good balance throughout the lineup with no glaring weaknesses.
Despite all that, the team went beyond many expectations.
The season started with a second-place finish at the Tri-County Tournament. Claysburg beat the Titans by 1 point. Scott Husick, Joe Hall, Lazor, and Banco won titles, while Shawn Husick and Buckley took third and Crooks was fourth.
The Titans were also second at the Newport Tournament to Kishacoquillas. Shawn Husick, Scott Husick, and Hall were champions.
The dual meet season started with a 34-28 road win over Mount Union, while they beat Glendale, 41-22, at home.
After the holiday break, the Titans continued to roll up impressive wins as they hit the meat of their schedule. They topped Portage (36-23), Northern Bedford (37-18), Meyersdale (42-26), Rockwood (66-5), Penn Cambria (51-14), Southern Huntingdon (45-15), Central (31-26), Claysburg-Kimmel (31-30), Everett (33-21), Hyndman (57-4), Bellwood-Antis (42-20), and Juniata Valley (46-15).
The Titans closed their great season with the big home win over Chestnut Ridge, 32-26.
“We weren’t supposed to beat Claysburg, but we pulled it out when Joe Hall won at the end,” said coach Clark. “We also had a big win from Shawn Husick. Shawn was winning his match against a highly-ranked kid, but he defaulted and that gave us 6 points.”
Clark would have liked to have seen how this team would have done in a dual meet tournament like they have in today’s sport.
“I think that we would have done pretty well, because we had good balance up and down the lineup. We weren’t weak anywhere.”
The Titans had 3 champions at the District 5 Tournament and a sixth-place finish. Shawn Husick, Lazor, and Joe Hall were the champions, while Scott Husick was second. Shawn Husick was the Outstanding Wrestler.
At the regional tournament, Lazor and Joe Hall won regional championships, while Shawn Husick was third.
Lazor was hurt and did not compete at the state tournament, but the other 2 performed well. Hall, who entered states with a 27-0 record, placed fourth at state, while Shawn Husick also took third.
“Lazor actually injured his wrist in practice the week of states,” Clark said. “He was rolling on the mat with me, and he landed awkwardly on his hand. I think I felt worse than he did.”
Joe Hall finished with a 31-2 record with 18 pins, which was third best in the Huntingdon Daily News coverage area behind 2 unbeaten state champions in Huntingdon’s Jason Shea and Mount Union’s Troy Sunderland, who went on to be Penn State’s head coach.
Scott Husick and Lazor had 21-2-1 record, while Husick had a 29-5 record. Jason Banco had a 20-4-1 record.
Overall, Tussey wrestlers had a 189-103-5 record with 76 falls. In addition to Hall’s 18 pins, Shawn Husick added 11 and Buckley had 10.
The 1987-88 Titan wrestling team will always stand out as the pinnacle of Tussey Mountain wrestling. The individual efforts, accomplishments, and highlight, combined with the undefeated season, will always be imprinted on the wrestlers on the team and area wrestling teams.
Season Scores
Mount Union 34-28
Glendale 41-22
Portage 36-23
Northern Bedford 37-18
Meyersdale 43-26
Rockwood 66-5
Penn Cambria 51-14
Southern Huntingdon 45-15
Central 31-26
Claysburg 31-30
Everett 33- 21
Hyndman 57-4
Bellwood-Antis 44-20
Juniata Valley 46-15
Chestnut Ridge 32-26
The members of the 1987-88 Tussey Mountain Wrestling team are (from the left): First Row - Steve Miller, Jason Banco, Scott Husick, and Mike Hall. Second Row - Bobby Drenning, Adam Baker, John Horton, Rodger Yutzey, Kevin Willis, Shawn Husick, Don Buckley, and Steve Treece. Back Row - Andy Lazor, Mike Crooks, Joe Hall, Aaron Baker, and Mike Brode.
1987-1988 District Five AA Tournament Placewinners
Champions-Shawn Husick 105, Andy Lazor 126, Joe Hall Unlimited
2nd place Scott Husick 112
Outstanding Wrestler Shawn Husick.
1987-1988 Southwest Regional AA Tournament Placewinners
Andy Lazor Champion
Joe Hall Champion
Shawn Husick Third
1987-1988 PIAA State Tournament Placewinners
Shawn Husick 4th place
Joe Hall 4th place.
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania