Stout, Mt. Lebanon have sights set on postseason success

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 8, 2019 | 3:18 PM

Luke Stout comes from a wrestling family and eats, breathes and sleeps wrestling.

Finding success during his junior year, he is hoping to claim an elusive state title.

Stout (19-1) headlines a Mt. Lebanon program that plans to have a handful of wrestlers making their presence known at the WPIAL and PIAA tournaments.

The Blue Devils have won all four of their dual meets, finished third at the Eastern Area tournament on Dec. 7-8 and had three medalists at the Powerade tournament Dec. 28-29.

“This group seems to do the little things. We preach that little things add up to big things,” coach Marc Allemang said.

“If you have a big goal, you need to continue to do the daily things right. Everything else takes care of itself if you’re focused. If you go through the motions, a lot of things can derail you.”

Stout, who won the 170-pound title in the Cadet Division at the Junior National Championships over the summer, was the Blue Devils’ highest finisher at Powerade as he finished third in the 182-pound weight class. Stout defeated Belle Vernon’s Scott Joll by a 14-3 major decision.

Earlier in the season, Stout defended his Eastern Area title after pinning Penn-Trafford’s John Bacher at 1:40.

Last season, Stout was an Allegheny County and Eastern Area champion and finished fourth at WPIALs and states.

Luke’s older brother, Kellan, captured a state title during his perfect senior season. Kellan now wrestles at Pitt.

“He’s a kid that does everything right. He lives it and every little thing he does he does right. I think he needs to continue to believe in what he’s doing,” Allemang said.

“He knows what it’s like to wrestle in those pressure situations and big stage situations. He doesn’t need to wrestle a different style or approach a match a different way.”

Senior Nathan Hoaglund (14-5) finished fifth in the 285-pound weight class after a 5-1 decision over Stroudsburg’s Sami Khamis at the Powerade tournament. Hoaglund finished in second-place at Eastern Area.

“He learned and grew up on the way. He wasn’t having the kind of success he has been having for a couple of years in his high school career,” Alllemang said.

“It’s the mentality and attitude he carries that allows him to have success right now.”

Freshman Mac Stout (17-4), Luke’s younger brother, finished seventh in the 160-pound weight class after a 3-1 decision over Council Rock North’s Dillon Sheehy.

Mac Stout finished third at Eastern Area, as did junior Jackson Gray (145). Senior Sean McKinney (126) finished fourth in the tournament.

In order to have a strong presence in the individual portion of the postseason schedule, Allemang wants to make sure his wrestlers don’t have added pressure and treat the section, WPIAL and state tournaments all the same way.

“If they believe in themselves and they don’t put any added pressure on themselves and one match at a time and treat it like any other tournament, they can certainly do it,” he said. “We have to wrestle some good tournaments.”

Mt. Lebanon has dual meet wins over Ringgold (55-17), Baldwin (76-6), South Fayette (48-18) and Upper St. Clair (47-21).

The Blue Devils have two tough Class AAA, Section 2B matches remaining against Bethel Park on Wednesday and Peters Township on Jan. 16. The matchup against the Indians could have sub-section title implications as the Blue Devils look to avenge last season’s 48-23 loss.

“They are all big. You have to get one at a time. Obviously, the win against Upper St. Clair was big because if you lose that one you put yourself in a toss up,” Allemang said.

“The match in front of us is the most important match for us. I know Bethel and Peters are both tough matches. We just have to handle our jobs.”

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Mt. lebanon