Max Shaw’s title at the Allegheny County tournament, which concluded Saturday at Fox Chapel High School, had special significance for two reasons.

Shaw, a Thomas Jefferson senior, recorded a 3-2 win against Hampton’s Justin Hart in the 195-pound weight class to avenge a 2018 loss to Hart in the final.

Shaw’s victory also clinched the team title for Thomas Jefferson, its first in the 18-year history of the tournament. The Jaguars accumulated 170.5 points in the two-day competition to outscore two-time defending champion North Allegheny (168).

“That’s awesome,” said Shaw, when informed he clinched the title for the Jaguars. “We’ve never won this tournament before. It’s a big step for our program.”

Shaw caught Hart with a double-leg takedown midway through the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Hart posted a 6-3 win against Shaw in the title match a year ago, also at 195.

“I lost to him in last year’s county finals, then beat him at the WPIAL tournament,” Shaw said. “It’s a tough match with him every time we wrestle. It was great to be in the county finals again and win this time.”

Shaw was joined atop the winner’s platform by teammates Michael Zacur and Alex Weber. Zacur won the 126-pound title with an 8-2 victory over Hampton’s Zack Wright. Weber claimed his second title, this time at 152 pounds, with a 3-0 shutout of South Fayette’s Eli Brinsky.

“It’s pretty awesome to repeat,” Weber said. “That was my goal. Winning the team title is a bonus.”

North Allegheny had only one finalist and he didn’t stay on the mat long. The Tigers’ Jon Hoover registered the fastest fall of the finals, when he pinned Carlynton’s Collin Milko at 0:37 in the 170-pound final.

Mt. Lebanon was a close third in the team standings with 160 points, despite having four wrestlers in finals. The Blue Devils had two champions — brothers Mac and Luke Stout.

Mac Stout, a freshman, won the 160-pound title in his county debut. He posted a 10-6 win in the final against Quaker Valley’s Patrick Cutchmember.

Luke Stout, a junior, hit the county trifecta by winning his third title. He needed only 2:45 to pin Nick Whittington of Keystone Oaks in the 182-pound final.

“It’s exciting to win a third title and know that I have a chance to become a four-time county champ,” Luke Stout said.

Stout is the 15th wrestler in county history to win three or more titles. Only four wrestlers have won four county titles.

Weber and Stout were among six repeat champions. The others were North Hills’ Sam Hillegas, Shaler’s Ryan Sullivan, Quaker Valley’s John Rocco Kazalas and Upper St. Clair’s Jake Slinger.

Hillegas won the outstanding wrestler award for the second year in a row after pinning Quaker Valley’s Conner Redinger in the 132-pound final. Redinger also was a returning champion.

“It’s pretty cool to win back-to-back OWs,” said Hillegas, one of three wrestlers competing at 132 who had won a county title. “I can’t remember ever doing that before. It’ was a tough weight class. It will help me get ready for the postseason tournaments.”

Sullivan pinned Allderdice’s Troy Jacobson in the 120-pound final.

“It’s great to come back and win again,” Sullivan said. “It’s a big accomplishment. It’s a step in the right direction with the postseason tournaments coming up.”

Kazalas posted a 6-3 win in the 145-pound final against Mt. Lebanon’s Jackson Gray. Slinger recorded an 8-0 major decision victory in the 285-pound final against Mt. Lebanon’s Nathan Hoaglund.

First Published: January 20, 2019, 12:25 a.m.