(L-R) '91 Alumni Dave Maday and Jason Turnbull
at Briarwood East Golf Club

11/17/2009 Interview
w/Dave Maday & Jason Turnbull
 

JASON TURNBULL   Jason Turnbull, (son of former West York HS and West Chester University wrestler Ted Turnbull), is a 1991 graduate of West York Area High School... where Jason was a '91 Sectional Champion and '91 District III South Central Regional Champion @ 135lbs. Jason did not allow any earned points at the '91 Sectionals and District III Regionals! Jason was also a 1991 West York Outstanding Wrestler (along with Dave Maday). Jason attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but did not wrestle while at IUP. Jason is married to his wife Allison (10 years) and has two boys... (Cael - 8 yrs. old and Graham - 3 years old).  Jason is entering his 7th year as a junior high wrestling coach at Dallastown, and is in his 3rd year of coaching the Dallastown elementary and youth program.  Jason is a brokerage advisor at Rock Commercial Real Estate. DAVE MADAY   Dave Maday, also graduated from West York in 1991.  Dave is a 1996 graduate of Brown University with a BA degree in Organizational Behavior & Management. Dave Maday earned four wrestling letters while at Brown at 118lbs. and 126lbs. Dave lived in Atlanta for two years, then moved to the Washington DC area and worked in Arlington, VA for five years as a stock analyst at FBR & Co.  Dave also coached wrestling (both Sr. High & Jr. High) at The Potomac School in McLean, VA. Dave returned to York, PA in 1995 and co-founded the Spot Media Group in 1997. Spot Media is an advertising and web design company.  Dave lives with Tiffani Kleiser and her son Cade in Central York.  Dave enjoys sports, fantasy sports and visiting friends and family.  While at West York, Dave Maday was a 3-time Sectional Medalist (2nd-1989, 1st-1990, 1st-1991), a 2-time District/Regional Medalist (2nd-1989, 3rd-1991), 2-time PIAA State Qualifier ('89, '91) and a 3-time West York Wrestling Outstanding Wrestler ('89, '90, '91).  Dave also was awarded the George Sterner Memorial Award in 1991.  Dave was a 2-time Governor Mifflin Holiday Wrestling Tournament runner-up in '89 and '90.  Visit - The David Maday Photo Page.  ▪ Don Lehman, owner and webmaster of westyorkwrestlingalumni.com caught up with Dave and Jason for a West York Wrestling "Q & A." DAVE MADAY/JASON TURNBULL INTERVIEW by Don Lehman DL - Its been about 20 years since you wrestled for West York!  Does it feel like it's been that long... and how close are you to making your weight from that time? JAT - It feels like a life time ago!  Let’s just say that I have not maintained my "boyish" figure from high school.  I’m about 195 lbs. - but, muscle weighs a lot! DM - 20 years?  It's hard to believe that it has been that long.  Thanks for reminding us, Don!  I weigh about 145 lbs now, so not too bad.  Chalk it up to a high metabolism.  I think we need a scale, I'm taking the "over" (on 2 bills) for Jason!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - I think Hall of Fame coach John T. Toggas was still the head wrestling coach at West York when the both of your wrestled.  I also recollect that '74 NCAA Division II National Champion (ESU) and '69 PIAA State Champion Bill Luckenbaugh was an assistant... and  '83 Blair Academy National Prep Champion and 3-time EIWA Champion '85, '87, '88 (Lehigh) Tom Toggas, also helped out.  Am I missing anyone, and what specifically did you learn from each of these champions... and any other coaches that made you a better wrestler? JAT - Coach John T. Toggas was an icon when I was there.  He coached a lot of the basic techniques and kept me interested in wrestling throughout my Elementary and Junior High/Senior High experiences.  Honestly, he was like a father figure to me.  Coach Bill Luckenbaugh was very entertaining and expanded on many aspects of the sport by showing us more advanced skills.  Coach Luckenbaugh was our "emotional" leader and nickname giver!  My interaction with Tom Toggas was more limited.  I think he was there my sophomore year, but he worked more with the upper weight classes. DM - You have it right.  Coach Toggas sure looked out for us!  He really was like a second father and a coach that you wanted to win for.  Coach Toggas kept me focused and taught me to take it one match at a time.  Coach Bill Luckenbaugh was a constant reminder of staying in good position and definitely made the practice room fun.  He had an aggressive foot stomp to get your attention during matches too!  Tom Toggas coached our sophomore year and brought a lot of intensity to the room.  He pushed you hard in order to get the best out of you.  I also learned a great deal of wrestling from WY's Kevin McCleary, who was my Freestyle and Greco-Roman coach in the offseason.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - Dave, I know you wrestled after high school at Brown University - tell me a little about that NCAA Division I and EIWA experience... and Jason, did you put the shoes back on after wrestling for West York? JAT - I attended IUP, but they didn’t have a wrestling program.  I was an emotional wreck after my disappointment at the PIAA's and needed a break.  I put them back on about 7 years ago with the Dallastown Junior High and Youth program, but I now use them for instructional purposes only!  Ask Dave Maday about the last time we were at West York's room - and he tried to take my title.  It included a big crack and Dave sitting in the emergency room! DM - Brown University Wrestling was an incredible experience and a whole different level.  Everyone in the room was tough as can be.  You immediately became a better wrestler.  I had the pleasure of wrestling behind the late Willie Carpenter, Brown's first-ever All -American, so my EIWA tourney experience was limited.  It was a long, grueling season so I still wrestled my fair share of bouts.  Jason - you were NOT turning me with that power half! My neck was just weaker than my willpower!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - Which was tougher - losing weight, practice, or the actual dual meet or tournament match?  Why? JAT - That’s a good question.  I’d have to say the weight loss and practices.  The preparation was pretty grueling.  Just to make the weight my senior year, I was running about 6 miles every day plus practicing for two hours. DM - For me, the tournament match was the toughest.  I hated the long wait in between matches and struggled to keep focused.  Losing weight was a close second.  Wrestling is the toughest sport!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - Every wrestler has a favorite move or a series of a couple moves/holds "that they count on" per each match.  What was your favorite move or hold... and can you pick out a big match that by using that particular move, propelled you to a win? JAT - My favorite move was a cross-face cradle.  A match that stands out was my quarterfinal match at Districts in my junior year.  I was in a pretty close match and I locked up a cross-face cradle, scored with it, and then repeated it 3 – 4 times in a row to win by tech fall.  After that, I felt confident with that move and continued to use it my senior year. DM - From my feet, my favorite was the arm drag to a double leg.  From the mat, I was a big fan of "tilts".  In all of my big matches, if I didn't score from one of those moves (or a duck under), I was in trouble!  At Districts (my sophomore year), I wrestled a tough kid from Wilson in the quarterfinals.  I hit both moves and won the match to advance to the semifinals.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - You both wrestled at both the AA and AAA classification levels while at West York.  In your words, is one any tougher than the other? JAT - In my opinion, AAA would be tougher at the Sectional and District levels.  It could be a toss up once you enter the PIAA State tournament.  As a whole, though... I think AAA has better competition because there are more schools in DIII. DM - From top to bottom, I would also say AAA because of the additional schools in District III.  Each division had its fair share of tough wrestlers, though.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - What was your one individual match and team dual meet that stands out to each of you the most while at West York, and the outcome? JAT - The individual bout that stands out was my District III Regional semi-final's bout in my senior year.  I had this kid from Hamburg who was "like" 25-0 entering the match.  I was fairly pumped up for that match because I did not want to go into the consolation bracket!  I remember the match starting, and the next thing I knew - it was the start of the third period and I was winning 14-0.  I chose down, and the guy intentionally let me up, which gave me the technical fall.  Essentially he quit, which in all of my years of wrestling, I have never seen.  After that match, I accomplished my goal, which was to make it to the PIAA State tournament.  As far as the team dual meet, it was my first high school dual meet with West York vs. Dallastown.  Bill Bence was still the head coach at Dallastown and had an unbelievable win streak in the county... and I don’t think I ever saw the gym that full!  We had a good team and were expected to be pretty competitive with them.  I don’t think I was ever so nervous for a match.  We ended up losing the match, but it was close and extremely exciting. DM - The individual bout that stands out to me was my sophomore year versus Spring Grove's Sam Metzger.  He was a senior and already an accomplished wrestler.  I was definitely the underdog.  Nonetheless, it was one of those matches where my "favorite" moves worked and I ended up winning the match.  Looking back, I think that victory was the turning point in my wrestling career from a confidence standpoint.  My most memorable dual match was my senior year versus Cumberland Valley (and Don correct me if I am wrong on the team).  We had no business winning that match.  Either way, it came down to the heavyweight match, our heavyweight won - and we secured Coach Toggas' 300th victory!  I was proud to be a part of that coaching accomplishment.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - What was your "off-season workout regimen" like while at West York? JAT - West York Wrestling Alumnus - Kevin McCleary, had an off-season clinic and wrestling camp (Freestyle and Greco-Roman) for which we traveled all over the state.  I did a lot of individual wrestling tournaments with my dad and lifted a lot of weights. DM - I wrestled Freestyle and Greco-Roman in the York County Wrestling Club, entered scholastic tournaments and lifted weights.  The summer of my sophomore year, I made the PA Freestyle team and wrestled at Junior Nationals in Iowa.  That was a great experience.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - You both were successful at West York - but if you had the opportunity to do it all over again in the same setting, what would you do differently to accomplish your goals? JAT - The first thing I would have done is better preparation for the PIAA State Tournament.  I was cutting a large amount of weight, which caught up with me at the wrong time.  I ended up losing to someone I should have beaten.  Your body is very sensitive when putting it through those extremes, and I should have managed my body a bit better prior to that tournament.  Overall, I could have had a better work ethic in the off season.  And MAYBE... I could have been a little nicer. DM - If I could do it all over again, I would compete at a "more natural" weight class, lift more weights and learn how to stall when you have a one point lead with 7 seconds left!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - You both live and work in the area... Jason, as a Brokerage Advisor for Rock Commercial Real Estate and Dave, as a partner with the Spot Media Group... do you follow West York Wrestling these days? JAT - The West York Youth have come into Dallastown, and we’ve had a joint practice.  At the Junior High level, we see West York in a quad scrimmage at the beginning of the year, and West York comes to the Dallastown Junior High Invitational.  We also wrestle West York JH in a regular season dual meet.  I occasionally speak with Brian Gross and the Junior High staff and get updates on the progression of the program. DM - Unfortunately, not as much as I'd like to.  Running a business takes up an incredible amount of time.  Hopefully, I will be able to make it to some WY matches this year!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - I know you guys are friends - do you keep in contact with any of your other West York Wrestling Alumni these days? JAT - I’ve run into some guys that I wrestled with, but Dave Maday is really the only one I’ve continued to have a close friendship with - to the point where he was the best man in my wedding.  Dave’s the Facebook, Twitter guy! DM - Jason and I have remained close friends throughout the years, even though I was out of the area for 15 years.  I moved back to York, PA about 4 years ago and now have the joy of hanging out with Jason almost on a weekly basis!  I see Paul Burdette (class of '91) pretty often as well.  I run into some others here and there, such as Dan Feeser.  And yes, some on Facebook too!!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL -  Jason, your father Ted Turnbull *, was an excellent wrestler at West York and a former West York Wrestling Booster Club President and Elementary Coach.  What did you learn from Ted Turnbull per your own wrestling style... and Dave, what kind of support did you get from your family as you participated in this very tough sport? * (Ted Turnbull was a 1971 YCIAA Sectional Runner-up to Central's John Luckenbaugh) JAT - The "love of the sport" is what I learned from my dad.  There were many wrestling matches on the living room and kitchen floors!  He introduced me to the sport when I was in second grade.  Some kid jumped on my back and I didn’t like it, so I quit.  He put me back in the sport in fourth grade.  He took me to tournament after tournament.  That was our thing... we just got in the car and went. DM - I did not come from a wrestling family but my parents were always, always there to  support me.  Long tournaments, wins, losses, special meals, whatever... they were always there for me.  Plus, I'll never forget all of my dad's words of encouragement, such as "you got your ears cranked"!!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - If you could spend a half-hour speaking to the 2009-10 West York Wrestling Team, what would you tell them? JAT - Nothing comes easy in this world.  I would tell them there is no substitute for hard work.  If you work hard enough at anything, you will be successful.  You don’t have to be the most flashy guy in the world.  Focus on what you are good at.  Surround yourself with good people that have common goals. DM - I would tell them that wrestling is the most difficult sport out there.  Wrestling takes a whole different level of willpower, dedication and hard work to be successful. Seek out competition and wrestle kids who are better than you.  Balance your sport with your academics, also.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - Both of you felt a different type of emotion in a championship finals of a South Central District III Regional Tourney.  Jason, you won the 1991 AA crown, and Dave, you lost a tight 3-2 decision to Troy Longenecker of Governor Mifflin in the 1989 AAA finals.  Tell us about the emotion in those championship bouts. JAT - I was proud of myself.  I came off the mat and the emotions I felt were that "I accomplished a goal I had set for myself."  Seeing how happy Coach Toggas and Coach Luckenbaugh were... and seeing my parents in the stands made it more emotional.  I felt pride, accomplishment and relief that all of my hard work had finally paid off and that I won the District/Regional title and Dave didn’t!! DM - It was a gut wrenching loss as I gave up a takedown with only 7 seconds left.  I have thought about that match a "few" times over the years.  Thanks for remembering Don!  Seriously, as a sophomore, and you may not know this, but I started out the season on the junior varsity team.  I eventually made varsity at 112lbs. - but then dropped to 103lbs. at the end of the year for YCIAA Sectionals.  I really didn't know what to expect, so making it to States, despite that tough loss in the District III finals, was above the expectations that I had at the time.  The most frustrating part is that Jason ended up winning a District title and will forever be one-up on me.  Too bad he only made it to States once!                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - Are there any secrets about being successful in the sport of wrestling? JAT - Athleticism and repetition.  A wrestler has to be an athlete, and he has to do it enough that it becomes instinctual. DM - I don't think there are any secrets.  You need to work hard and focus on the technical aspects of the sport while you practice, and practice often.  Wrestling can also be a very "mental" sport and staying focused is very important.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - Did you take anything from wrestling that has helped you in your present careers? JAT - I’ve always been competitive, and that competitive nature has helped me in my career.  Wrestling has also taught me self-confidence and leadership, and it has helped me establish a good work ethic.  All of these qualities I take with me to work everyday. DM - Willpower, dedication, a strong work ethic and leadership skills are all attributes that I learned and were enforced through wrestling.  These same attributes are instrumental in my career as a business owner.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - I am convinced - that to have a successful High School/Jr. High School Wrestling program, you need to have a successful and well-run Elementary/Youth Feeder Wrestling Program.  Your thoughts... and do any coaches stand out from your younger days when you started out with the "toughest" sport? JAT - I absolutely agree with that!  Dallastown measures its program annually by the amount of kids who have participated in their wrestling program from 1st through 12th grade.  A huge factor... is to keep a large amount of students entering the pyramid.  The bottom of the pyramid is the foundation, which is the youth program.  Funneling those students from the youth to the junior high and eventually the senior high program provides a successful program.  There can’t be any egos within the coaching staffs.  Each level of the program can't blame one another.  Everyone has to be consistent with their teaching and goals throughout the entire program.  A person who stands out to me in the West York program is Jeff Meckley, who was my WY Junior High Coach.  He provided years of service to West York’s wrestling program, and was a fantastic mentor. DM - I agree with you Don.  I think for any sport, especially wrestling, it is important to have a strong feeder program.  The perennially strong wrestling programs have strength in numbers and great community support/involvement.  Elementary/Youth programs must be well organized and the kids must be taught the basics of the sport... and sportsmanship, while having fun.  I did not start wrestling until the 6th grade and my junior high coaches, John Chiappy and Jeff Meckley, taught me the basics and made wrestling fun.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - What do you do for fun these days? JAT - I have two little boys, who keep me quite active.  My oldest son, who is 8, wrestles for Dallastown and has recently gotten involved in baseball.  My youngest son is 3, and isn’t quite old enough to wrestle - but he wants to! DM - Most of the fun I have these days revolves around spending time with my girlfriend and her son, going to sporting events, watching sports and getting together with friends.  And if I get really, really bored, I call Jason Turnbull.                                                                 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DL - Dave and Jason, thank you so much for sharing your memories with the westyorkwrestlingalumni.com readers, and most of all, thank you for being a big part of the West York Wrestling Alumni family! ▪ Note - both Dave Maday & Jason Turnbull were 1st Team - JT Toggas Top 60 Team! ▪ You can e-mail Dave Maday HERE! & Jason Turnbull HERE!      ROCK™ COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Jason Turnbull, CCIM ▪ Brokerage Advisor @ ROCK 1991 West York Wrestling Alumnus                Dave Maday, Partner - The Spot Media Group ▪ Dave Maday - 1991 West York Wrestling Alumnus 1991 West York @ YCIAA Sectional AA Championships ▪ (L-R) Steve Young, Head Coach JT Toggas, Jason Turnbull, Dave Maday, WY Area Asst. Coach Bill Luckenbaugh & Jeff Wolfe (kneeling in front). 1991 PIAA South Central Regional AA Wrestling Champions Front Row (L-R) Robbie Corbin (Hanover HS), Shawn Edwards (East Pennsboro HS), Eric Suhr (Conrad Weiser HS), Gordon Zubrod (Camp Hill HS), Chris Bohn (Boiling Springs), Jason Turnbull (West York Area). Back (L-R) Roosevelt Moskow (Milton Hershey), Shannon Forsythe (Berm. Springs), Sam Sassani (Millersburg), Brian Booze (Greencastle-At), Damian Jones (Newport), Todd Ayers (Upper Dauphin), John McDowell (Greencastle-Atrium). 1991 YCIAA Wrestling Sectional AA Championships Jason Turnbull - West York High School.  ▪ YCIAA AA 135lb. Sectional and District III AA SC Regional Champion ▪ 1989 PIAA District III AAA Championships @ Shippensburg University.   ▪ West York's 103lb. Dave Maday (left) in the championship finals. Maday lost to Governor Mifflin's Troy Longenecker (right), 3-2. 1989 West York Outstanding Wrestler Award ▪ David Maday with Head Coach John T. Toggas. Dave Maday is a 3-time WY Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient!

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