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All-Delco Wrestling: With help of haunting video, Ridley’s Curtis Nelson looks ahead

Devastated after falling a few points short of the gold medal at the PIAA Class 3A state wrestling championships, Curtis Nelson gathered himself and moved on.

On the ride back from Hershey the next day, the Ridley junior allowed himself the first of what have become daily looks at video of a 6-3 loss in the championship final to freshman Landon Sidun of Norwin, the top rated 114-pounder in the nation, according to Flo Wrestling.

While Nelson was formulating a plan for the potential rematch, there was a slight detour. In the middle of asking “where we are going,” he was told he was the VIP in a parade forming at Ridley Township headquarters on MacDade Boulevard and Morton Avenue.

“There were a bunch of people smiling and clapping,” recalled Nelson, who waved to them from a fire truck. “I just really appreciated that. Great people, all waiting for me. I was so glad they had it.”

The community certainly appreciates having Nelson. For the second straight year he is the Daily Times Wrestler of the Year.

The All-Delco first team includes Darren Minicozi, Dalton Pedrick, Gunnar Pedrick, Brecken Strickland, Hunter Delaney and Brandon Carr of Sun Valley; Jayden Lee of Radnor; Cole McFarland of Haverford; Ethan Bliss, Paxton Hunt and Dylan Bledsoe of Garnet Valley; Michael Spielman of Strath Haven and Greg Ferrari of Interboro.

From the asthma attack Nelson fought through to reach states to a series of victories over a group of skilled ranked wrestlers in Hershey, the memories are forever for Nelson. It was a remarkable run, Nelson becoming the first Ridley wrestler to compete in a state final, the school’s highest finisher ever and its only two-time state medalist.

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Nelson entered states the hard way, as he had to battle back from a defensive pin in his first match at regionals to finish third and qualify for states. After opening states with a win by technical fall over Caiden Harbert of West Allegheny, Nelson made a statement pinning previously undefeated Kaedyn Williams of Manheim Township, who had won 34 straight matches and was a three-time state medalist with a championship medal at 106 pounds. Nelson won by fall in 3:16.

In the next round, Nelson decisioned Braiden Weaver of Altoona, who was fifth in the states at 106 the previous year, 3-1. Then he defeated Santino Sloboda, a state medalist the previous year, 6-4, to reach the final.

“When I beat Santino Sloboda in my semifinals match, I looked over at my dad and saw the smile on his face,” Nelson said. “I was like ‘Dad, I did it!’ The smile on his face just filled me with adrenaline. I was so happy.”

In the title match, Nelson grabbed a 2-0 lead over Sidun, who had eliminated highly regarded Colby Martinelli of Pennridge, third in the states the previous year. Down by a point later, Nelson threw a Merkle at Sidun in the second period that stirred the crowd into calling for two back points which would have produced a 4-3 lead.

“In the third period it was like, either I go now, or I lose by one point,” Nelson said. “I’d rather take a shot at winning than lose by one point.”

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Nelson nearly got the tilt over Sidun but didn’t finish it and out of position, he gave up a takedown.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t look at that match,” said Nelson, who cues up the video on his phone. “Even on the weekends I look at that match. It haunts me. I should have gone back to the same attack I hit him with where I grab the arm and I hit him with a little single that worked. Can’t do anything about it now. Maybe next time I wrestle him.”

That would be an interesting match because both Sidun and Nelson are tournament tested. In the Pennsylvania Flo Wrestling rankings in December, Nelson was sixth at 114 pounds. Sidun was No. 1, Williams second, Martinelli third and Sloboda fourth.

In addition to the work Nelson puts in, he gets support from coach, Ron Rainey, who wrestled at 145 pounds for the Green Raiders from 1991-93. In his third season in charge of the varsity, Rainey led the squad to its third straight winning season in the Central, a 9-1 record good for a share of the title.

The matches, training and pep talks wouldn’t have been the same for Nelson without Rainey.

“Coach Ron has been with me since Year 1,” said Nelson, who began wrestling at age 7. “To have him all this time and at states, that was special. He told me ‘I love you kid. Great job. I’m so proud of you.’”

Right now, Nelson prefers not to mention his college options, and for good reason. Wrestling recruiting is a very fluid industry. Rest assured the courtships will intensify. That won’t prevent Nelson and his Ridley teammates from having fun.

Nelson needed a little levity at regions as he tried to regain his strength after the asthma issue. The Green Raiders stayed overnight at a hotel for the two-day competition hoping the rest would help. The top five finishers in each weight class qualify for states.

“We’re trying to go to sleep,” Nelson said. “And my friend locked himself out of his room. He was knocking on the door in his pajamas. He’s like help! Help!”

Help was on the way, but not before a lot of laughs. End of tension.

The class Nelson showed congratulating Sidun after falling should not go unmentioned. In a state tournament full of uninspired handshakes and veiled congrats, Nelson offered a strong handshake and patted his opponent on the back, as well.

“It was a good match, and I lost fair and square,” Nelson said. “And he just won states.”