Tyrone star Kyle Scott dedicated to wrestle on the University of Pittsburgh earlier than his senior season began.
But after ending second at 189 kilos on the PIAA Class 2A Championships in March, he determined to flip his faculty alternative additional south to Virginia Tech.
Scott, who shared the Mirror’s Wrestler of the Year award with Altoona state champion Gavin Ciampoli, decommitted from Pitt on May 6. Not lengthy after that, he selected to wrestle for the Hokies, who’re coached by Tony Robie.
“I really don’t have a definite answer,” Scott stated of why he flipped from Pitt to Virginia Tech. “Obviously I do know lots of people down there, in order that sort of performed a job in it. Also, I sort of switched my considered residing within the metropolis. I didn’t actually need to dwell within the metropolis. Blacksburg sort of jogs my memory of State College slightly bit. It’s stunning down there, and it sort of jogs my memory of a mini-State College.
“Obviously their team in incredible. I think this team is going to be a top three contender (for the national championship) in the next five years. That’s where I want to be.”
Scott, who’s transferring to Blacksburg on Saturday, will be becoming a member of Bishop McCort three-time state champ and Class 2A Outstanding Wrestler of the PIAA Championships Bo Bassett at Virginia Tech. Bassett had a really public cut up with Iowa earlier than signing with the Hokies.
Scott typically labored out with Bassett and the Bishop McCort wrestlers at The Compound wrestling membership and frolicked with them within the postseason.
“Obviously, he’s one of my really good friends,” Scott stated of Bassett. “That performed slightly little bit of a job, however in the end it was my determination. I reached out to the coaches. I talked with (Bassett) about it, and he sort of helped me. It was good.
“I do know some guys on the workers too. They simply signed Ty Walls. He was (Tyrone grad) Braden’s (Ewing) outdated coach at Brown. I sort of have slightly little bit of a relationship with him. So that’s fairly good. I’ve met Robie and (assistant Jared Frayer) earlier than. They’re all nice individuals.
“I have nothing but positive things to say about them and the Pitt coaching staff. That’s what made it so hard.”
Pitt additionally misplaced two-time Belle Vernon state champ Elijah Brown, who flipped to Penn State sooner than Scott. Scott decommitted from Pitt in a cellphone name to head coach Keith Gavin.
“It was probably the hardest phone call I’ve ever had to make,” Scott stated. “It was about 2 minutes long. He was not happy. He was pretty upset. It had to be done. It took me about a week-and-a-half to flip from school to school.”
Scott went 46-1 with 19 technical falls and 17 falls as a senior, with his solely loss being a 4-1 to Faith Christian Academy’s now four-time state champion Adam Waters within the state finals.
A 3-time state medalist who positioned eighth as a sophomore in Hershey and fourth as a junior, Scott’s profession is actually on the rise.
As a senior, he gained his first Laurel Highlands title as well as to his first District 6 and Southwest Regional title. He broke A.J. Schopp’s college and Blair County profession wins file in his first bout on the state event. Scott completed with a profession file of 163-27.
Scott is hoping to proceed that rise at Virginia Tech.
“The goal has never changed,” he stated. “I want to be an Olympic champ and obviously win NCAAs. If I keep the path I’m going on I think those goals are definitely in sight. I’m going to work my butt off every day. That’s what the coach expects, and that’s what I expect from myself.”
Scott stated he’ll possible wrestle at 184 as an alternative of transferring up to 197. He doesn’t know if he’ll redshirt his freshman season with the Hokies, who went 11-3 general and 6-0 within the ACC and gained their second straight convention title.
“It’s going to be hard,” he stated. “The depth chart is de facto strong. I’ll simply discover out after I get there. I’m working actually exhausting now, and I’m going to be working tougher down there.
“I’m super excited. I couldn’t be more happy to be with this group of guys. When I was down there, it already felt like home, which is also great.”