Tony Dallago
Accomplishments: Dallago was one of the pillars in Central Dauphin building a state power in wrestling. He finished his career with a record of 171-28 with a pair of district titles (2006, 2009). At the state level, Dallago wrestled in four different weight classes and placed in all of them. After finishing eighth as a freshman, he was a surprise runner-up as a sophomore before placing fifth and winning a state title as a senior at 189.
Did you know: As much heart as Dallago showed competing through his four years, it was equally big off the mat. The Rams star took on Cystic Fibrosis after learning his neighbor and elementary coach Dean Shields' son Preston was diagnosed with the disease. Dallago raised $11,000 for Preston as a senior and continues to be as passionate about fighting CF as he is about winning a national championship as a senior with the Illinois wrestling team.
Why here: This one could get some fans in a tizzy because Dallago lost 28 matches, but what he brought to the table warrants his place. No one was more exciting, and his high-risk, high-reward style was worth the price at the gate. More impressive is that his accomplishments came with dramatic increases in weights, which can't be overlooked. After 112, he was forced into the more physical 140-pound class and responded by making the state finals where he fell to Upper Perkiomen's Zack Kemmerer, holder of the state record for wins with 199. Dallago made every adjustment possible his last two years, placing at 152 and winning gold at 189 by pinning three of his four opponents. Enough said.
What they said: “It was like watching Gumby wrestle. He had an innate ability to get in precarious positions and get out of them with the most spectacular results possible. Whenever I saw him as a freshman at 112, I didn't expect him to be a state champion at 189. That's one of the great things about Tony. Despite that huge jump in weight and height, he learned to adapt to whatever his physical circumstance was. He was tough and never stopped wrestling.” — Former lead wrestling writer for the Patriot-News.
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