HERSHEY >> When the clock finally hit zero, Owen J. Roberts’ Dean Bechtold raised his huge arms over his head as if he was asking the Giant Center crowd what had just occurred.
He definitely wasn’t the only one who was curious.
The second-year student had just defeated the returning state finalist, Nicholas Pavlechko of State College, 1-0 to secure his spot in the Class 3A PIAA Championship finals, and that was something not even Becthold (285 pounds) expected.
“I was surprised,” Bechtold said. “At the beginning of the season, that kid almost completely dominated me. I wrestled him again and couldn't score any points. That match went exactly as I had hoped, it’s amazing.”
Moments before Dean’s older brother, Dillon (215), easily made his way to his second consecutive state final to make Saturday’s championship round, which starts at 4 p.m., a family affair. This is not only the first time two brothers made the state finals for OJR, but the first time two Wildcats ever got there in the same season.
“It was fantastic,” Dillon said. “I was more excited for his than I was for my own. That kid beat him twice. I know how hard Dean works every single day. He hasn’t eaten any junk food, like Christmas, New Year’s, he hasn’t had a single cookie or brownie since the beginning of the season. He’s just so hard working and it’s fantastic. He’s one of the most focused kids I know.”
Dean will have a tougher challenge in the finals, pitted against Nazareth’s two-time champion Sean Kinney. Dillon, who’s 41-0, will be the favorite against Abington Heights’ Caleb Marzolino.
“It’s fantastic we get to go wrestle for a state championship tomorrow,” Dillon said. “One more, the job’s not done.”
Faith Christian Academy will have four wrestlers in the Class 2A finals, which will run alongside the 3A and girls finals.
Adam Waters (172) is aiming for his second straight first-place finish, while Joey Bachmann (107), Max Stein (152) and Cael Weidemoyer (160) are making their first appearances. Stein went home without hardware last season, after finishing sixth as a freshman.
“Hershey can either be the sweetest place on earth or it can ruin your world for a year,” Stein said. “Hopefully this year it’s the sweetest place on earth.”
District 1 secured 25 medals in the Class 3A tournament and nine more in 2A.
Pennridge brought six kids and four earned wins in the blood round to tie a program record for medalists, which was set in 2016.
Colby Martinelli (114) was injured in the quarterfinals and withdrew from the tournament, but Sam Kuhns (152 pounds) was a 7-0 winner in the blood round to secure his first medal and Talan Hogan (172) pinned for his second.
Cole Coffin (121) and Quinn McBride (127) were a bit more dramatic. McBride used a headlock to erase a deficit against Easton’s Chris Kelly and Coffin was stuck in a 0-0 battle with Council Rock South’s Luke Reitter before locking up a cradle from the top position in the final seconds for a 2-0 win.
Coffin said he was proud of his performance in the blood round and was touched by watching his teammates compete, calling it a memorable experience.
In District 1, there were three wrestlers who won medals at 107 and 285. Hatboro-Horsham’s Dominick Morrison secured a spot in the finals by defeating Emmaus’ Emilio Albanese 6-1 in the semifinals. He will be facing Cedar Cliff’s Aidan Herndon. Perkiomen Valley’s Max Tancini will be going up against Council Rock North’s Alex Diaz in the consolation semis.
Kennett’s John Pardo, along with Dean Bechtold, made it to the semifinals and became the only male medalist from the Ches-Mont League.
Quakertown achieved a program-high by having four medalists, including Calvin Lachman, who secured a win in the blood round. The other medalists are finalists Collin Gaj (152), Mason Ziegler (121), and Gavin Carroll (145).
Central Bucks West’s Patrick Kelly (139) surprisingly made it to the semifinals, using a defensive pin to defeat Jersey Shore’s Brock Weiss despite being behind 11-4.
Kelly expressed his satisfaction in defeating an undefeated opponent and shared his happiness about his success.
Ridley’s Curtis Nelson (114) secured a last-second win by executing a reversal and earning two near-fall points to defeat Butler’s Santino Sloboda.
The action on Saturday will commence with the first round of consolations at 9:30, followed by the matches for the third, fifth, and seventh places at 11:30.
