HERSHEY >> Things did not end the way Downingtown West seniors, Max Hale and Chase Mielnik, dreamed of.
At the Giant Center in Hershey, they rarely do.
Church Farm’s Emmanuel Lawal can attest to that, as well.
But one thing’s for sure, the West duo earned its way to the podium, and the state medals the pair came home with are some of the most coveted awards in the high school wrestling world.
“I prayed a lot this week, and after every prayer I told myself, win or lose, it’s all for the glory of God,” Hale said. “Even though I didn’t get the outcome I wanted, I know it’s all a part of his plan and I’m going to keep enjoying the journey.”
Downingtown West’s Max Hale gets a leg against Peters Township’s Donovan McMillon, but lost, 5-4, in the 182-pound semifinals. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Hale started his day in the 182-pound Class 3A semifinals, but Peters Township’s Donovan McMillon won the battle, 5-4. He had about an hour to bounce back and take on Spring-Ford’s Joey Milano, who was out for blood after being pinned by Hale in the regional finals the week prior. Hale scored a takedown in the waning seconds to force overtime, but after Milano rode him out in the first 30 seconds of tiebreaker, Hale decided to cut him and try to win it on his feet. The two got in a scramble, but Hale couldn’t finish it and lost, 4-3.
In the fifth-place bout, Hale got to end his high school career with a 5-1 win over Penn Manor’s Nick Baker. That win tied Hale with Doug Zapf for the most wins in West history (156). Hale placed sixth as a sophomore and managed fifth-place finishes the past two years, making him the only three-time medalist in West history.
“Losing in two semifinals is not fun,” Hale said. “My goal my whole career was to be a state champ and now I’ll never be able to do that, but I know in my heart I gave it my all.”
Downingtown West’s Max Hale gets in on a shot against Penn Manor’s Nick Baker in a 5-1 win for fifth-place in 182 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Mielnik (220 pounds) clinched his first medal the night prior, and started Saturday off hot. In his opener, he pinned Cedar Crest’s TJ Moore. He followed with a major decision against Belle Vernon’s Cole Weightman, to reach the consolation semifinals.
“It was part of the plan, placing top four,” Mielnik said. “I’m as happy as I can be with it.”
Downingtown West’s Chase Mielnik takes down Belle Vernon’s Cole Weightman en route to a 10-2 win in the 220-pound consolation semifinals. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
In the consi finals, Mielnik was pinned by Greensburg Salem’s John Meyers, and walked away with fourth place. He finished his career with 125 wins.
“I felt like I had a decent tournament,” Mielnik said. “I don’t think I wrestled great that last match, but I came a long way since being JV at the beginning of my freshman year to fourth int the state. It’s been a good journey.”
A day after defying the odds by reaching the Class 2A state finals, Lawal (285) stared an even bigger challenge in the face.
That mountain of an obstacle was named Colby Whitehill, of Brookville, and he hadn’t lost since his sophomore year.
“I had nothing to lose,” Lawal said. “Win or lose, I was taking first or second, so I was going to keep pushing hard.”
Church Farm’s Emmanuel Lawal walks off while Brookville’s Colby Whitehill gets his hand raised after pinning Lawal in the 285-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Whitehill was too dominant, however, taking Lawal down quickly and eventually getting him to his back for a 63-second pin. On his way to the finals, Whitehill also had pins of 41 and 17 seconds.
Lawal finished his career with a record of 111-30, despite not wrestling prior to his freshman year. He’ll graduate, by far, the most-decorated wrestler in program history, with second and eighth-place medals, the only two on by a Griffin.
“I’m definitely proud,” Lawal said. “Even though the match ended quicker than I expected, the run I had these two days, I proved not only myself, but a lot of people wrong.”
Church Farm’s Emmanuel Lawal finished the highest area place-winner with a silver medal at 285 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Coatesville’s Nate Lucier (120) suffered the semi-slide, as well, after being shut out by Seneca Valley’s Dylan Chappell, 3-0, in the semis. Next, Lucier got tilted for two and never found any offense against Carlisle’s Rafael Portilla, and lost that, 2-0.
“I think the semis loss, I didn’t get over as quick as I needed to,” Lucier said. “It’s a lesson learned.”
In his final bout of the day, Lucier couldn’t get past Nazareth’s three-time state medalist, Andrew Smith, falling 3-2. Lucier was the first medalist for Coatesville since Chase Stephens in 2017.
“It’s bittersweet,” Lucier said. “I definitely achieved one of my longtime goals, but still didn’t achieve my main goal of getting on top of the podium, but I still have next year.”
Coatesville’s Nate Lucier tries to hold in a 3-0 loss to Seneca Valley’s Dylan Chappell in the 120-pound semifinals. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
West Chester Henderson’s Sammy McMonagle (126) was beaten by Council Rock South’s Kyle Waterman for the second straight week, sending him to the seventh-place match.
There, he scored two takedowns to get by Chartiers Valley’s Dylan Evans, 5-2.
“Obviously it’s huge to get seventh,” McMonagle said. “I didn’t want to end my year on a loss, especially knowing I’m capable of beating anyone here. It’s huge for me, mentally, to beat a good, hard kid. Everyone is tough here, so it’s great to get a final win.”
West Chester Henderson’s Sammy McMonagle returns Chartiers Valley’s Dylan Evans in a 5-2 win for seventh-place at 126 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Lucier and McMonagle will be back for one more go, next season. With 121 wins, McMonagle will have a shot to break teammate Killian Delaney’s school record for wins (160). McMonagle also set a school record with 46 wins in a season.
It likely won’t be long into next season when Lucier joins the Century Club, sitting on 96 career victories.
Sun Valley’s Hunter Catka (285) was the lone state champion for District 1, and his brother, Ryan Catka (195) took third, as the six state medals for the Ches-Mont League was a record.
Former Malvern Prep wrestler, Connor Quinn (160) won fifth-place for Owen J. Roberts, and teammate, Antonio Petrucelli (145) placed seventh.
