Solomon gets revenge on Homet
Franklin Regional junior into PIAA tournament, 12-1
ALTOONA, Pa. — What a difference one week can make. Franklin Regional junior Finn Solomon dropped a 2point decision to Waynesburg’s Cole Homet in the 138pound final last week in the WPIAL/Southwest Region tournament. Saturday, the two met again in the final of the Class 3A Super Regional tournament at Altoona High School and it was a completely different story. Solomon recorded two takedowns, a reversal, and two three-point near falls en route to a dominating 12-1 victory over Homet. “I approached this tournament much different than last week,” Solomon said. “Last week, I went in nervous, just wanting to win. This week I went in with the goal of scoring as many points as I could. I wasn’t worried as much about the outcome. It was a much different mental approach.” Solomon is one of 29 WPIAL wrestlers who qualified Saturday for the PIAA Class 3A tournament, which will be held at Giant Center in Hershey. “This sets me up for next week,” said Solomon, who placed second in the state as a 113-pound freshman, but fell short of a PIAA berth a year ago at 126 pounds. “Not qualifying last year made me work even harder to get back. I’m glad I have another chance to show everybody what I can do.” Solomon was joined atop the winner’s platform by Panthers teammate Carter Dibert, who won the 126pound weight class with a 4-2 win over Central Mountain’s Luke Simcox. “This is a super tough tournament. I’m glad I could finish on top today,” said Dibert, who won a PIAA title in 2019, but placed third last year. “I’m excited for next week.” Solomon and Dibert were among nine WPIAL wrestlers who claimed gold medals. Seneca Valley had three champs — brothers Tyler and Dylan Chappell and Alejandro Herrera-Rondon. Tyler Chappell posted a 31 win the 106-pound final against Solanco’s Dominic Flatt. He recorded the winning takedown with 10 seconds left. “I wasn’t concerned,” said
Chappell, when asked about the possibility of overtime. “I knew I could get a takedown there. I’m the better wrestler. I knew I could win.”
Dylan Chappell won at 132 pounds with a narrow 6-5 win over Hempfield’s Briar Priest. Chappell built a commanding 6-1 lead in the third period, then held off a late comeback by Priest who almost scored the winning points at the buzzer.
“I lost my pace and wasn’t working as quick, and got a little winded,” said Chappell, when asked about Priest’s comeback. “I can’t let that happen next week.”
Herrera-Rondon default in the won 152- by medical pound final, as Waynesburg’s Rocco Welsh decided not to wrestle after suffering a knee injury in the semifinals.
“Rocco tweaked his knee pretty bad in his semifinal match with [Erie Cathedral Prep’s] Paniro Johnson,” Waynesburg coach Joe Throckmorton said.
“They’ve wrestled three times this year already and could meet again next week at Hershey, so we didn’t want to take a chance.”
The other four champs from the WPIAL were Waynesburg’s Mac Church, Norwin’s John Altieri, Pine-Richland’s Cole Spencer and Hempfield’s Isaiah Vance.
Church won the 120pound title with a 4-3 win over Chambersburg’s Karl Shindledecker. A takedown with 3 seconds left in the second period provided the margin of victory.
and “He’s has a long good legs,” scrambler said Church of the takedown. “I finally got in on that shot and was able to pull him in and finish the takedown.”
Altieri won when by disqualification he was slammed by Waynesburg’s Wyatt Henson 43 seconds into the 145-pound final. Altieri was believed to have suffered a neck injury and was taken to a local hospital for observation.
“I always hit my double like that. I may have been a little too aggressive this time,” Henson said. “I hope he is OK and can wrestle next week.”
Spencer won at 160 pounds with a 10-3 win over Bellefonte’s Ethan Richner. Vance posted a 7-2 win over Selinsgrove’s Nate Schon at heavyweight.
Latrobe’s Vinny Kilkeary and Waynesburg’s Luca Augustine also made it to the finals. Kilkeary dropped a 9-7 decision to Manheim Township’s Kamdyn Williams at 113 pounds. Augustine lost, 5-3, in the 172-pound final to Mifflin County’s Trey Kibe.