{"id":45052,"date":"2026-03-31T15:16:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/45052\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:16:07","slug":"mt-lebanon-grappler-shines-in-pittsburgh-wrestling-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/45052\/","title":{"rendered":"Mt. Lebanon grappler shines in Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Jox scores technical fall in final match <\/p>\n

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Paige Jox of Mt. Lebanon controls her opponent, Makenna Howell of Ada to pick up points during 148-pound action at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. Jox scored a tech fall against Howell, 20-4, and Pennsylvania went on to victory, 51-3, against an all-star squad from Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

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Paige Jox and Cole Gibbons, both from Mt. Lebanon, were celebrated for their selection and participation in the 52nd annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. Jox and Gibbons were among the top wrestlers to compete in the event and were feted at a banquet prior to the competition.<\/p>\n

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Cole Gibbons attempts to move Garon Kaiser into position to score points but the Mt. Lebanon grappler was unsuccessful in his attempt as he dropped a 4-0 decision in the 160-pound match during the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. Despite Gibbons\u2019 loss, Pennsylvania defeated an all-star team from Oklahmona, 56-3.<\/p>\n

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Paige Jox of Mt. Lebanon was a little dubious about participating in the 52nd Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic (PWC) but she was blown away once she competed in the event, which is dubbed The Rose Bowl of High School Wrestling. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I was skeptical but the whole event was so awesome,\u201d Jox said. \u201cWhen I went into it, I didn\u2019t think it would be so fun but I had a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jox and all the girls and boys competing in the event, which was held on March 28 at the AHN Arena on the Peters Township High School campus, were treated like royalty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe event was set up so nicely,\u201d Jox said. \u201cWe got all this great gear, stayed in a nice hotel (Hilton Garden Inn) and they even had an amazing banquet. Plus,\u201d she added, \u201call the wrestlers did so well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jox and the Pennsylvania Girls All-Stars certainly performed well. In fact, they wrestled to near perfection, defeating a team of the best grapplers in the state of Oklahoma, 51-3.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely expect us to win,\u201d Jox said. \u201cI did not expect the score to be that significant. All the wrestlers were talented.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jox certainly fell into that category. During her scholastic career at Mt. Lebanon, she compiled a 106-28 record with 49 falls to go along with three medals in both district and regional competition.<\/p>\n

This winter, Jox captured WPIAL and Southwest Regional titles. She took the bronze medal during the PIAA state championships. Jox posted a 36-7 record.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes me proud how well I did this year because there are so many great girls wrestling in the state,\u201d Jox said. \u201cIn the end I figured out my place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jox jumped up to 148 after wrestling at 118 and 124 in previous years. She said the transition was not easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first I had a lot of doubt, not that I thought I couldn\u2019t do it but with how strong I would be against the other girls. I had to overcome my personal struggles because obviously moving up five weight classes is a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jox had little difficulty dispatching her opponent in the PWC. She scored technical fall, 20-4, against Makenna Howell, who was the state runner-up in Oklahoma this winter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I actually had no clue as to who she was, I figured if I did what I normally do, then I would be okay,\u201d Jox said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI did all that I planned to do and did a good job of that. I thought my match went well.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the matches for Pennsylvania went well. There were four wins by fall, two by tech fall and one by major decision. The lone loss came by decision, 11-4, at 112.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so proud of my team,\u201d Jox said. \u201cI think we showed how good girls wrestling is in this state. The weight classes are so much deeper and there are more talented girls than any other states.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jox added that competing in the PWC was \u201ca great way\u201d to end her scholastic career. She noted the many fans, friends and family that showed up to support her. \u201cI appreciated everything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Jox will wrestle at Washington & Jefferson College. She prepares for that transition by competing nationally. On April 9, she will participate in the women\u2019s nationals being held in Spokane. She is also looking forward to the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals to be held July 10-19 in the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to keep wrestling,\u201d she said. \u201cI am thrilled with how my high school career turned out but I am looking forward to taking that next step at W&J.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cole Gibbons has already moved on from wrestling. The Mt. Lebanon senior is now playing lacrosse and looking to help the Blue Devils win their fourth straight WPIAL title this spring.<\/p>\n

Gibbons, like Jox, competed in the PWC. Despite a tough 4-0 loss to Garon Kaiser, a state champion with a 126-41 record, at 160, Gibbons said the experience was a positive one as the WPIAL all-stars defeated Oklahoma, 56-3.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a great time at the Classic,\u201d he said. \u201cI was honored to be a part of something so historic. Truly blessed to be able to say I competed in the event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gibbons enjoyed a scholastic career that few at Mt. Lebanon have experienced. A member of the Century Club, he posted a 133-44 record, complete with 52 pins. This winter, he captured WPIAL and Southwest Regional titles before securing a sixth-place medal at the PIAA state championships. Gibbons will wrestle at New York University.<\/p>\n

In the main event at the PWC, the United States All-Stars defeated Pennsylvania, 23-19. The U.S. is 22-3 against the state since 2000. The last time Pennsylvania won the competition was in 2021 with a 27-23 victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boys competition was really impressive,\u201d said Jox.<\/p>\n


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