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HERSHEY — Curtis Nelson didn’t get the ending he wanted, but he left the championship round of the PIAA Class 3A tournament with head held high Saturday after a 6-3 loss to Landon Sidun of Norwin, the top ranked wrestler at 114 pounds in the state.
Nelson, ranked sixth in Pennsylvania at 114, flashed speed and quickness to grab an early 2-0 lead, but Sidun took control of the tempo and collected a late takedown to prevail. No Ridley wrestler has placed higher at states than Nelson, who also medaled last year.
“It was a hell of a match against a great wrestler,” said Ridley coach Ron Rainey, his phone blowing up with text messages. “Everybody here is such a great wrestler and we’re so proud of Curtis. We thought we had (Sidun). We got the first takedown. We thought he was going to get a couple of swipes with back points when he was on top. The ref didn’t see it that way, I guess. But the kid just held position so strong. He couldn’t penetrate after that first takedown.”
The texts were congratulatory and conciliatory for Nelson, who will shoot up the rankings after thoroughly introducing himself to the state. Wrestling heads, experts and long-time mats writers used a variety of terms to describe Nelson, a junior, ranging from unorthodox, energetic, and super-quick to opportunistic.
Nelson’s skill set is unique. He’s the guy who attacks after a calculated series of head fakes. Asked what makes Nelson special, Garnet Valley coach Chris Tate, who watched Nelson throughout the tournament, the Central League season and with the Black Sheep wrestling club in Concordville, was short and succinct.
“He can do things that most people can’t,” Tate said. “Ridiculously athletic.”
Nelson also has class. More than a handful of the losers at states barely make an effort to shake hands after the matches. Nelson not only gripped Sidun’s hand, but he also gave him a smile and patted him on the back. Pure class.
“He was playing it smart,” Nelson said of Sidun. “He was playing it so smart. I let him get a takedown and it shouldn’t have been that easy. … Later I was trying to fight but we were on the edge. I heard 15 seconds left. I knew I had to try something.”
The latter reference is to Nelson trying to force Sidun into a defensive pin with the clock winding down. Nelson was positioned but Sidun managed to roll out of it. All was said and done.
“I worked my butt off to get here, man,” Nelson said. “I feel pretty good about that. I’ll be back here next year better than ever. I’ll keep working. The work doesn’t stop.”
Only one other Delaware County wrestler medaled, and that was sophomore Michael Spielman of Strath Haven, who was eighth at 189 pounds. He sustained injuries after being body-slammed in the consolation round Friday, winning by disqualification over Brody Daugherty of Manheim Central. Thus, Spielman had to forfeit matches to Tucker Teats of Selinsgrove and James Deluise of Bethlehem Catholic.
Spielman is just the second wrestler from Strath Haven to medal, joining John Crawford, who was sixth in 2019.
Nelson joins Ridley state medalists Kirk Dabney (98 pounds), third in 1976, Mike Flynn (185), fourth in 1976, Chris Johnson (105), fourth in 1978 and Ron Venit (185), fourth in 1985.
“I’m glad he’s a junior,” Rainey said. “He’s going to get another shot at this next year.”
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