HERSHEY >> If there was a definition of a “character win,” victories in the first session of day three at the PIAA Championships would be the clear example.
Wrestlers heartbroken after falling short of their dreams to be a state champion and pushing through a grueling three-day tournament makes anything accomplished on Saturday a well-earned feat.
Often times the finality of it all hits, as well, and nine District 1 seniors wrestled their last matches of their high school careers. The bonus is they left with state medals around their necks.
For Quakertown’s Mason Ziegler (121 pounds), an upset in the quarterfinals thwarted a lifelong goal, but he rallied back with four straight wins to take third.
“To be honest after I couldn’t win the gold, it just hurt really bad,” said Ziegler, who qualified for states four times and won three medals. “I just wanted to wrestle for the gold this trip. In the grand scheme of things the gold really doesn’t matter. It’s about the memories I made in my high school career.”
Fellow Panthers, Gavin Carroll (145) and Calvin Lachman (285) took fifth and eighth, respectively, while Collin Gaj (152) matched up with Bethlehem Catholic’s Kollin Rath in the finals.
Pennridge’s Sam Kuhns (152) scored a takedown in overtime against Central Mountain’s Griffin Walizer to place fifth, while Cole Coffin (sixth at 121), Quinn McBride (sixth at 127) and Talan Hogan (seventh at 172) also made it to the podium.
“This is my first time I’ve ever won a match at Hershey at individual, so this is great,” Kuhns said. “In my last match going out like that, that was great.”
Kennett’s John Pardo (285) dropped his consolation semifinal rematch to Spring Grove’s Michael Hershey, but bounced back to take fifth with a 6-2 win over St. Joseph’s Prep’s Maxwell Roy.
Pardo finished with a 127-21 career record and was Kennett’s second-ever two-time state medalist.
“Obviously it was very disappointing,” Pardo said. “I had a rough semifinals and then to lose in the consolation semis the way I did, I didn’t feel like myself. It feels good to end my career with a win and I’m still proud with how I did.”
Boyertown’s Gavin Sheridan (133) ended his career as a fifth-place finisher, coming from behind to defeat Central Bucks West’s Chris Dennis. He became the second Bear to qualify for states all four years and walks away a two-time medalist.
“It’s big for me because I know that not only is this my last high school match, but also my last match in a Boyertown singlet,” Sheridan said. “I wanted to leave wit ha win and a smile on my face.”
Council Rock North’s Alexander Diaz was a combined 8-6 with seven forfeit wins his first two seasons, and in his final match, he defeated Emmaus’ Emilio Albanese. It was his fifth straight win in the consolation bracket to claim third.
“Definitely two years ago I couldn’t even imagine being here,” Diaz said. “I was undersized but still put the work in and made a huge leap. I worked hard with my brother (Xavier) and that was a big part of it also.”
Perkiomen Valley’s Max Tancini (107) won his second medal, taking fifth, while North’s Eren Sement placed third for the third straight year.
West’s Patrick Kelly (139) finished fourth, Harriton’s Nadav Nafshi (152) was eighth, Council Rock South’s Connor Lenahan (114) was fifth and Gavin Cole (160) and Bekhruz Sadriddinov (172) were eighth.
Owen J. Roberts’ Sam Gautreau finished third, holding on to a 5-4 win.
“It’s always a barn-burner,” Gautreau said. “It wasn’t as much about the win as it was wrestling a full match and put it all out there for five minutes. If I lost I would’ve been upset, but if I leave it all out there I don’t think many people can beat me.”
