Saturday, January 18, 2025, 10:35AM |  30°
MENU
Advertisement
North Hills sophomore wrestler Sam Hillegas won his second PIAA title.
1
MORE

Five WPIAL wrestlers win state titles in Class 3A

Marc Billett/Tri-State Sports & News Service

Five WPIAL wrestlers win state titles in Class 3A

HERSHEY, Pa. — Sam Hillegas came into the PIAA Class 3A wrestling finals as the only reigning champion from the WPIAL and with the expectation that he would win again.

While he was picking up his second consecutive gold medal, the North Hills sophomore brought along a few friends to help him celebrate.

Hillegas, who won the PIAA title at 113 pounds in 2017, moved up two weight classes and still brought home the crown as he rallied to defeat Central Dauphin senior Chris Wright, 4-2, at 126.

Advertisement

“It’s real big motivation coming into this tournament and being a winner last year,” Hillegas said. “But you’ve just got to look at it as another tournament and just going out there to wrestle.”

Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale works against Josiah Jones of Saucon Valley en route to his fourth PIAA gold medal Saturday in Hershey, Pa. Teasdale, who won at 126 pounds, is only the 13th wrestler from the WPIAL to win four state titles.
Keith Barnes
Jefferson-Morgan senior Gavin Teasdale wins fourth PIAA Class 2A wrestling title of his career

Hillegas was the last of four consecutive winners from the WPIAL to open the meet.  Overall, five WPIAL wrestlers won state titles. 

“They’re some of my best friends and I work out with those kids and train real hard and we go at it in the practice room,” Hillegas said. 

In the first match, Seneca Valley freshman Alejandro Herrera-Rondon got his first point in two matches against Norwin sophomore Kurtis Phipps. A point may not sound like much, but this one was everything.

Advertisement

It ended a 14-minute dry spell over two matches and came when Herrera-Rondon kept the WPIAL champion Phipps from escaping and rode out the third extra period for a 1-0 victory. He lost to Phipps, 1-0, in the WPIAL finals.

Herrera-Rondo’s victory came down to a flip of the coin as he won the option of which position to take in the third extra period. He took the up position and did not allow an escape, which gave him the only point of the match.

Shaler junior Ryan Sullivan walked off the mat with a silver medal in 2017. But he came back with a vengeance Saturday and ousted West Chester Henderson sophomore Killian Delaney, 4-3, for his first state title.

“The kid is strong, I’m not going to lie, and he kept me up tight and kept me from going on offense,” Sullivan said. 

Canon-McMillan senior Logan Macri made it three consecutive WPIAL victories to begin the meet, as the No. 2 seed at 120 pounds ousted Downingtown West senior Doug Zapf — who won the title at 106 in 2017 — with a 3-2 decision.

“I would have been proud of myself and that’s what I use to take nerves away,” Macri said. “Being second in the state of Pa. is good, but first is that much better.”

After Hillegas, though, things dried up for the WPIAL. Colton Camacho of Franklin Regional (132) and Belle Vernon senior Zach Hartman (160) lost in third-period rallies, while Albert Gallatin’s Tim Wallace (182) could not come back from 3-0 down and lost, 3-1, to Pennridge senior Josh Stillings.

Top-seeded Isaac Reid of Kiski Area ended the streak — and won the WPIAL’s fifth title — when he defeated Cathedral Prep junior Kawaun DeBoe, 3-1, to close out the meet.

First Published: March 11, 2018, 4:23 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Quarterback Kenny Pickett, left, the Pittsburgh Steelers first-round NFL football draft pick, poses for a photo with president/owner Art Rooney II at the team's training facility in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 29, 2022.
1
sports
Joe Starkey: Steelers offense in disrepair thanks to series of misguided, arrogant decisions
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Chase Shugart gets a new ball after giving up a three-run home run to Chicago White Sox's Andrew Benintendi during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Boston.
2
sports
Pirates acquire right-hander Chase Shugart in trade with Red Sox
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
3
sports
Inside Alex Nedeljkovic’s historic night and more takeaways from a wild Penguins win in Buffalo
U.S. Steel Clairton Mill Works in Clairton earlier this month.
4
business
'There is no agreement': Cleveland-Cliffs, USW deny scheming to foil U.S. Steel deal with Nippon
Ice on the Allegheny River in Downtown on Tuesday, Jan.14, 2025. Pittsburgh is forecast to see extreme cold weather next week, with wind chills of 25 degrees below zero possible.
5
news
Pittsburgh is under an extreme cold watch. Here's what that means and what to expect.
North Hills sophomore wrestler Sam Hillegas won his second PIAA title.  (Marc Billett/Tri-State Sports & News Service)
Marc Billett/Tri-State Sports & News Service
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story