County wrestlers ready for the grind

February 27, 2020 Last Updated: February 27, 2020 07:58 AM High School

SV's Chappelll lone top seed from area at WPIAL Class AAA Championships

Let the grinding begin.

Twenty-six Butler County wrestlers are headed to Canon-McMillan High School this weekend for the WPIAL Class AAA Championships. Those finishing among the top four in their respective weight classes advance to next weekend's PIAA Tournament in Hershey.

But it is a tough road to get there.

“You never know what's going to happen,” Seneca Valley coach Kevin Wildrick said. “Everyone is capable. Even if it's unexpected, a kid can get on a roll for two days and get through.

“So much of this sport is how confident you are on the mat.”

Matches get under way at 5 p.m. Friday with preliminary bouts. Quarterfinals and consolations get started at 7:30 p.m.

Semifinals begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with the finals and consolation finals slated for 5 p.m. that day.

Seneca Valley has the county's lone top seed in defending WPIAL champion Dylan Chappell (41-4) at 120 pounds. The Raiders have two other defending district champions in the field in Alejandro Herrera-Rondon at 132 and Antonio Amelio at 145.

Herrera-Rondon (35-3) is seeded second behind Greater Latrobe's Gabe Willochell (30-0). Amelio (29-14) is seeded seventh at 145 despite winning that weight class a year ago. Hempfield's Ty Linsenbigler (34-2) is the top seed there.

Seneca Valley has 12 wrestlers in the field. Wildrick is hopeful of advancing at least seven to the state meet.

“I'd expect Alejandro and (Willochell) to do battle in the finals ... maybe in the finals the next two weekends,” Wildrick said. “Of course, they have to take care of business first to get there.

“Antonio's lost some tough, close matches this year. He bumped up to 152 pounds a few times to help the team. The seedings don't mean all that much anyway.”

Butler coach Scott Stoner agreed.

“You have to wrestle the top guys at some point,” Stoner said. “We didn't wrestle all that well last weekend (at sections), but I like the way the brackets play out for us this weekend.

“We've got six kids in the tournament and we could go 6-for-6 in getting through. It wouldn't shock me. But our kids have to perform.”

The Golden Tornado's top seed is 195-pound Caleb Baxter (30-8) at 195. Cooper Baxter (30-6), a sophomore, is eighth at 170.

“Every match is an uncertainty,” Stoner said. “What is certain is this will be a great tournament. WPIAL wrestling is deeper than ever before.There will be some great matches.”

Knoch has four wrestlers in the tournament. Guy DeLeonardis (20-1), a senior, is seeded sixth at 160 and junior Eli Reese (23-5) seventh at 285.

The Knights have never had a state qualifier.

“Both of these guys have excellent shots at getting there,” Knoch coach Grayson Hixon said. “Eli has another year after this one. Guy has put in all the preparatory work for this season you could ask for.

“He's a very motivated wrestler. He's ready. His dream all year has been to get to the state tournament. That dream is still alive. All we can do now is hit the mat and let the chips fall where they may.

“Kam Grassi (138 pounds) would be a four-time WPIAL qualifier if an injury didn't prematurely end his season last year. He's a seasoned wrestler,” Hixon added.

Mars has four WPIAL qualifiers. The Planets' highest seed is senior Sean McElhinney (22-15), 12th at 160.

BUTLER COUNTY WPIAL AAA QUALIFIERS

106 pounds: Tyler Chappell (Seneca Valley) 24-11

113: Hunter Swedish (Seneca Valley) 28-12, Levi Donnel (Butler) 34-3, Rocco Darocy (Mars) 19-11

120: Dylan Chappell (Seneca Valley) 41-4, Brandon Krul (Mars) 19-12

126: Clayton Dressler (Butler) 21-14

132: Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (Seneca Valley) 35-3

138: Chanz Shearer (Seneca Valley) 32-7, Christian Scheller (Mars) 23-9, Kam Grassi (Knoch) 22-6

145: Antonio Amelio (Seneca Valley) 29-14, Nate McMaster (Butler) 25-11

152: Drew Vlasnic (Seneca Valley) 31-7, Steven Green (Butler) 28-11

160: Guy DeLeonardis (Knoch) 20-1, Sean McElhinney (Mars) 22-15

170: Liam Volk-Klos (Seneca Valley) 28-12, Cooper Baxter (Butler) 30-6, Kyle Lauster (Knoch) 14-12