Chesla becomes Towanda's first state finalist
HERSHEY - It was an omen.
When Towanda's Travis Chesla's semi-final match was called out the lights at the Giant Center went out.
"I was psyched about it" Chesla said about the lights going out, "I thought that was actually pretty cool. As soon as I stepped on the mat the lights went off. It might have kept me cool down a little bit...It's hot out there."
Chesla has reason to be hot as his wrestling has been on fire at Hershey. He's been so good that opponents have only scored two points against him in three matches.
"I'm happy right now but it hasn't sunk in all the way yet," he said about being in the final.
It has double the amount of meaning as Chesla is Towanda's coach Bill Sexton's first PIAA finalist.
Ever.
"It's a great tribute to what Travis has done this year" Sexton said, "He works hard in the room and it's good to see him here."
Sexton knew Travis was good but didn't want to put any unnecessary expectations on him.
"You never put that load on any kid," he said, "Coming into every season you have kids who think that can do it."
The key for getting this far is consistency.
"We have had kids get to this point but you have to get the job done," Sexton said, "Travis has gotten the job done."
But it hasn't been easy. Chesla has faced it all down in Hershey. Wrestlers have run from him, they have done their best not to let him score and, like his semi-final wrestler Garth Latiksy, they have tried to rough him up.
It hasn't worked.
"He had a lot of upper body strength," Chesla said, "But I got the job done. I kept my cool and I kept capitalizing on the mistakes that he made."
As for his coach, Sexton knows Chesla's mindset is ready to handle anything.
"Nothing bothers Travis," he said, "You've seen him on the football field, on the wrestling mat. He's a hard-nosed kid, he takes it and gives it. You want to get physical with him, fine, I think he can handle it. You're going to get it right back."
The Black Knight believes wrestling at 285 last year has helped him out against guys like that.
"These guys this year, I can hold them down, I can keep them tied up, I can do what I want with them on my feet, unlike last year" he said.
Sexton believes Chesla has improved due to wrestling over a whole span of weights the past two seasons.
"It gave him some confidence that he knew he could get to the state level" Sexton said, "but to be honest with you. At 189 and 215 its guys that do more that has been kind of beneficial to him. He was kind of an oddity at 285 last year, a guy that's in great shape, he had a lot more skills than the guys he wrestled last year. This year, he's using those skills against guys his own size."
Last year his brother Jesse Chesla took third at 215 pounds. Travis is guaranteed to do better.
"I think he's a little jealous," Chesla said of Jesse with a smile, "He gets that way a little bit. The luck of the draw, he had his chance last year."
Going forward Chesla is looking to simply win, no matter how.
"Either by pin or by one point" he said, "A win's a win, especially now."
Copyright ©2012 The Daily Review | 116 Main Street | Towanda, PA 18848 | 1-800-253-3662
Privacy Policy | Opinion Posting Policy | About our ads | Questions or comments? Contact Us
2 posted comments