The Buckhorns senior wrestler won the 127-pound title at the Lackawanna League Championships on Saturday. Blaut was the No. 4 seed, and he beat No. 1 seed West Scranton’s Connor Lagier, who is ranked 13th in the state according to PA Power Wrestling, by 6-5 decision in the semifinals. Blaut also had two first-period pins and a technical fall in the tournament. He also had a first-period pin over West Scranton’s Anthony Olavarria in Wallenpaupack’s 43-23 win over the Invaders on Wednesday.
Family: Mom, Melissa Travis; dad, Zachary Travis; brother, Tristian Travis; sister, Kaelyn Travis.
You’re 12-0. What do you think of your start to the season: It’s actually exactly what I expected it to be. Not to sound overconfident, but I worked hard all summer. I’ve been visualizing myself competing against the best kids in the state and putting myself up top above them. Last season, I got into my head, and I was out of my mental. I wasn’t ready to compete against the best kids, but I just came back, got into a different mental state and wrestled to the best of my ability.
Besides the mental game, is there anything else you focused on in the offseason to prepare for this season: Just doing as much as I can and prioritizing not giving away opportunities to get better. Giving it my best effort when nobody else would be, and getting as many practices in.
Take me through the third period against Connor Lagier when you rallied from a 4-2 deficit: So, I chose down. I knew I could get out. I haven’t really struggled with bottom at all in my career, so I knew I was going to be able to go down and get out. Then, I was thinking I was going to get the escape and go for a takedown, but I got off bottom, his leg was there so I got in on the leg, took him down. Instead of getting that takedown, I got a reversal. So, I got my reversal and took him to his back for two swipes and then they called injury time. But it was just not giving up. Last year, I would have gone down two points. I would have sat on bottom, but I really wanted it. I was hungry. My teammate (Gio Lomonaco) lost to him Wednesday by one point in the third period. I just really wanted that match for me and my teammates.
It’s really early in the season, but Lagier is a two-time state qualifier and is ranked 13th in the state. Do you consider this a defining win at the moment for you: Yeah, this really opened my eyes to how the rest of my season could go. I feel like he’s one of the toughest kids I was going to see until Coal Cracker. So, that was really a good match for me to get under my belt.
What is the Lackawanna League Tournament like for you and what do you try to get out of it: It’s really just go out there and wrestle. Usually, the years we’ve had we struggle at that tournament. It’s early in the season. We’re all just getting back onto the mat. It’s a good tournament. I like it, but it doesn’t mean much. It’s just go out and let it fly and whatever happens, happens. It lets you know where you’re going to be at.
What are your goals for this season: I want to place at states, and that’s it. That’s my one goal. I just want to win, get to states, place.
What’s it like being apart of this Wallenpaupack team: It’s awesome. It’s the best coaching staff I’ve ever had. They’re hands down just awesome, well-rounded. I’ve got a great group of kids to wrestle with, Gio (Lomonaco), Kyle (Scartelli). It’s just a great program. It’s run well. Good leadership everywhere.
Do you have any plans for after high school: I would love to wrestle. I was thinking about the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
What would you major in: I would go for electrical construction.
Athletes you admire: David Carr.
What do you admire about him: His strong connection to God. That above all things, and then I love his wrestling style. It’s so unique, and his technique is nice.
Favorite sports team: Iowa State and Penn State wrestling, and the New York Giants.
Favorite food: My mom’s homemade Hamburger Helper.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before a match: Actually, no. I do not.
Three people you’d like to have dinner with: Charles Oliveira, David Carr and Odell Beckham Jr. I was supposed to go to one of (Beckham’s) camps when I was younger, but he ended up getting traded to Cleveland. And then Saquon Barkley took over the camp, so I got to be with him for a little bit.