In Hershey, Dillon Becthold, a senior at Owen J. Roberts, admitted that he had been thinking about this moment all through the season, especially after coming close to winning the year before.
When Bechtold got the chance to compete again in the Class 3A PIAA Championships, he made sure to perform without any uncertainties.
By pinning Caleb Marzolino from Abington Heights in the 215-pound final, Bechtold made history by becoming the first Wildcat to win state gold since Dan Mancini in 2019.
Bechtold expressed that winning the state gold had been on his mind throughout the year, and he was constantly aware of it while focusing on upcoming matches and tournaments.
Despite finishing as a runner-up in his junior year and fifth as a sophomore, Bechtold managed to secure two pins and was never really in danger during the tournament.
In the match against Marzolino, Bechtold started the second period with a 2-0 lead and then got into a scramble. He maintained control and managed to pin Marzolino just three seconds before the period ended.
Bechtold admitted to feeling a bit nervous before the important match, but he was able to stay calm, score points, and secure the win, which he described as an amazing experience.
Dillon’s younger brother Dean Bechtold (285) finished in second place after losing by technical fall to three-time state champ Sean Kinney from Nazareth. Dom Morrison (107) from Hatboro-Horsham was the only other District 1 wrestler to clinch a Class 3A state championship.
Dean did not feel ashamed of losing to the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament, Sean Kinney, and received words of encouragement from Kinney when they shook hands after the match.
“He told me it’s okay, said I was a tough wrestler, and assured me that I would win the state title in the next two years,” Dean shared.
With six of the other seven heavyweight medalists graduating, Dean agrees with Kinney’s assessment.
Dean stated, “I believe that in the next two years, the state title will be mine to lose.”
Morrison will also have high expectations in the future, but they won't exceed the ones he set for himself this season.
Morrison expressed his confidence and stated, “I definitely expected it. I was full of confidence and knew I could do it. I was ranked No. 1 in the state before this, and I proved it.”
Morrison finished the season with a 43-3 record, winning all four of his state matchups by decisions. In the finals, he took the lead due to a locked-hands violation by Aiden Herndon from Cedar Cliff, and then managed to escape in the second period. Herndon received a point when Morrison’s shoelaces came untied, resulting in his second stalling violation.
Morrison made it through the last 17 seconds and became the Hatters’ first state champion since Dennis Merriam in 1975.
“My school isn’t known for wrestling, so it’s incredible,” Morrison said. “I’m never gonna forget this moment.”
Ridley’s Curtis Nelson (107) and Quakertown’s Collin Gaj (152) suffered losses in their final matches.
Nelson was ahead of Norway’s Landon Sidun early but couldn’t maintain the lead in a 6-3 decision.
Gaj almost executed a takedown late in the third period but couldn’t complete it against always cautious Kollin Rath of Bethlehem Catholic.
Quakertown ended up in fourth place in the team standings behind Beca, Nazareth and State College. Owen J. Roberts was just a half-point behind the Panthers, in fifth place. Both District 1 schools achieved program-records for points scored at the state tournament, with 67 and 66.5, respectively.
