[ad_1]
HERSHEY >> Rarely are the PIAA wrestling championships a spot for District 1 wrestlers to find redemption.
If one doesn’t get it done at the Class 3A Southeast Regional tournament, chances are things aren’t going to be any easier at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Thursday, Ridley’s Curtis Nelson was the exception. Coming after a third-place regional finish, thanks in large part to a defensive pin he suffered, Nelson (114 pounds) flipped the script, forcing Manheim Township’s Kaedyn Williams to his back from the bottom position for a defensive pin of his own.
“It was sweet,” Nelson said. “I had him. I kept going there, going there, because I knew they’d call it. I just kept working with my bread and butter. I knew it would be a tough match. … I knew he liked that crab tilt, so I knew if I was able to do that, get him on his back, I know it would freak him out, waste some time, lose some breath and I got him with it.”
Williams was 34-0 on the season and a state champion at 106 pounds in 2021. Nelson came in clearly motivated to avenge a disappointing regional tournament, defeating his first round opponent by technical fall in 90 seconds, and he’ll wrestle Altoona’s Braeden Weaver in Friday’s quarterfinals, which kick off at 2:15 p.m.
“Keep wrestling, keep this momentum,” Nelson said of his plan. “Kids saw me beat Kaedyn Williams, they’re gonna be a little scared.”
Kennett’s John Pardo (285) came into his third state tournament as a No. 3 seed from the Southeast, as well. He breezed through his pigtail bout and then held on to knock off Southcentral champ, Michael Hershey of Spring Grove, 4-3. He’ll wrestle Selinsgrove sophomore, Jack Peters, for a spot in the semifinals, which take place Friday at 7 p.m.
“I was in the same spot last year,” said Pardo, who took third as a junior. “Knowing I’ve been here before helps me keep pushing through it.”
Quakertown’s Calvin Lachman almost had a little case of deja vu, also, wrestling on the same mat he was upset in the blood round a year ago.
Ranked No. 4 in the state at 285 by PA Power Wrestling, Lachman overpowered Hollidaysburg’s Wyatt Maines to set up a quarterfinal with Nazareth’s two-time state champ, Sean Kinney.
“That actually did cross my mind,” Lachman said. “Same stage, same mat, but I tried not to let that get to me. I know no heavyweight trains as hard as me or as consistently as me. I’m as excited and grateful this year as I was nervous last year.”
Quakertown led the team standings after the first round, with Mason Ziegler (121), Gavin Carroll (145) and Collin Gaj (152) also in the quarters.
Owen J. Roberts’ Sam Gautreau is back to earn state hardware for a second straight season. After losing a 1-0 decision to Council Rock South’s Bekhruz Sadriddinov in the regional finals, Gautreau got a quick lead and rode it to a 7-3 decision over West Scranton’s Colby Celuck. He’ll have Shikellamy’s Connor Wetzel in quarters.
“That’s not exactly how I saw that match going,” Gautreau said of his opener. “I gotta be patient and take it one match at a time. I think I could’ve done better but sometimes you get weird feels and you just have to deal with it.”
Council Rock South was tied for seventh with Luke Reitter (121), Gavin Cole (160) and Sadriddinov in the quarters, and Owen J. Roberts was tied for tenth. Dillon (215) and Dean (285) Bechtold rolled their way to the quarters.
Also staying alive in the championship brackets are Hatboro-Horsham’s Dominick Morrison (107), Perkiomen Valley’s Max Tancini (107), Radnor’s Jayden Lee (114), Pennridge’s Colby Martinelli (114), and Sam Kuhns (152), Council Rock North’s Eren Sement (127), Upper Perkiomen’s Branden Rozanski (133), Boyertown’s Gavin Sheridan (133), Central Bucks West’s Patrick Kelly (139), Harriton’s Nadav Nafshi (152) and Strath Haven’s Michael Spielman (189).
[ad_2]
Source_link
