No Panic Necessary
JACKSON TWP — Some wrestling teams may get nervous if trailing by 11 points with six bouts remaining, especially when their hopes of a district championship are at stake.
Not Seneca Valley.
The Raiders know they are best in the lower weight classes, so when they were on the short end of a 20-9 score after the heavyweight matchup, they did not panic.
SV won the final six contests, four by pin, in dispatching Thomas Jefferson 42-20 in a WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal battle of section champions Wednesday at Seneca Valley High School's William Paul Gymnasium.
The win sends the Raiders to the semifinals Saturday at Norwin High School.
Freshman Tyler Chappell began the surge with a pin of TJ's Gabe Gallioto in just 33 seconds. Hunter Swedish followed with a quick takedown of Aidan Stella at 113 pounds.
Swedish earned a pin in one minute and 22 seconds, giving the Raiders a 21-20 lead.
“I always try to get after it right away, take it to 'em,” said Swedish. “I was definitely looking for a pin, as I'm sure we all were once the lighter weights took over. We're really confident in that part of our lineup.”
After a forfeit won by Seneca, Dylan Chappell's pin at 126 clinched the victory before Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, ranked No. 2 in the state, earned the final pin of the night.
“It's no secret that we're pretty strong with the lighter weights,” said SV coach Kevin Wildrick, “but I thought the top of our lineup not giving up many bonus points was big.
“It wasn't a huge surprise that we were down at that point in the match, but those (bouts) were close and our guys did a good job of hanging in there.”
Drew Vlasnik began the match with a pin for the Raiders at 152, but the Jaguars won five of the next six bouts, a streak interrupted by Nick Funovits' decision for SV at 220.
The Raiders reached the quarterfinal round by dismantling Franklin Regional, 59-10, earlier in the evening. It was Wildrick's 100th career coaching win.
Chanz Shearer, Caden Leighty, Liam Volk-Klos, Conor Hayes and Swedish each earned wins via fall against the Panthers.
“We preach to our guys all the time to go out and wrestle hard, no matter the opponent,” said Wildrick. “As a group, we're working extremely well right now.”
TJ arrived to the match against Seneca Valley after sweating out a 36-34 victory over Butler.
The Golden Tornado led 34-30 with only the 132-pound bout remaining before Colton Spohn lost via a first-period fall to Ben Eckenrod.“If we get blown out, then that's where we're at,” said Butler coach Scott Stoner. “It's a lot harder to take when you lose like we did tonight.“We were up by four points and I thought that was going to help us. Even if we lose by decision, we still win as a team (by one point).Another bout Stoner believed could've went Butler's way was at 195, where Caleb Hartung dropped an 8-3 decision to Trystan Alava.“This is the playoffs. These are the better teams,” added Stoner. “We needed more heart tonight.”Butler trailed the Jaguars 30-16 before a forfeit and two pins from Levi Donnel and Clayton Dressler put the Tornado ahead.Butler's other pin came from Steven Green at 152 pounds.QuarterfinalSeneca Valley 42, Tho. Jefferson 20(Match started at 145 pounds)106-Tyler Chappell (SV) pinned Gabe Gallioto, 1:04; 113-Hunter Swedish (SV) pinned Aidan Stella, 1:21; 120-Evan Vetter (SV) by forfeit; 126-Dylan Chappell (SV) pinned Mclaine Stanek, 1:24; 132-Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (SV) pinned Ben Eckenrod, 3:13; 138-Chanz Shearer (SV) dec. Kale Buckiso, 8-4; 145-Michael Zacur (TJ) dec. Antonio Amelio, 3-1; 152-Drew Vlasnik (SV) pinned Jase Dorsey, 3:48; 160-Brendan Finnerty (TJ) tech. fall over Caden Leighty (16-1), 5:15; 170-Brian Finnerty (TJ) dec, Liam Volk-Klos, 5-0; 182-Jake Fish (TJ) dec. Patrick Johnson, 4-2; 195-Trystan Alava (TJ) dec. Conor Hayes, 6-3; 220-Nick Funovits (SV) dec. Denver Haynes, 3-2; Hwt.-Logan Danielson (TJ) dec. Davin Beahm, 4-0Second RoundSeneca Valley 59, Franklin Reg. 10(Match started at 138 pounds)106-Tyler Chappell (SV) major dec. Justin Bass, 9-0; 113-Hunter Swedish (SV) pinned Kaleb Sheetz, 3:16; 120-Dylan Chappell (SV) dec. Carter Dibert, 8-5; 126-Dalton O'Neill (FR) major dec. Evan Vetter, 11-3; 132-Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (SV) dec. Finn Solomon, 5-1; 138-Chanz Shearer (SV) pinned Nathan Stone, 2:44; 145-Mason Spears (FR) pinned Antonio Amelio, 5:39; 152-Drew Vlasnik (SV) dec. Gavyn Beck, 5-1; 160-Caden Leighty (SV) pinned Andrew Bonace, 3:05; 170-Liam Volk-Klos (SV) pinned Christo Marion, 4:52; 182-Tyler Yurich (SV) major dec. Dylan Singleton, 11-1; 195-Conor Hayes (SV) pinned Anthony Alesi, 1:39; 220-Nick Funovits (SV) by forfeit; Hwt.-Dalton Beahm (SV) by forfeit
