Norwin’s Phipps, Seneca Valley’s Herrera-Rondon get rematch in PIAA Class AAA finals
By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 10, 2018 | 12:36 PM
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps celebrates a win over Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Phipps moves on to the state final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Belle Vernon's Zach Hartman defeated Mt. Lebanon's Luke Stout in the 160-pound semifinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Belle Vernon's Zach Hartman performs a takedown on Mt. Lebanon's Luke Stout in the 160-pound semifinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Connellsville's Nate Ansell attempts to defends against State College's Cole Urbas in the 195-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Ansell fell to Urbas in the 3A semifinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder wrestles W.C. Henderson's Killian Delaney in the 113-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Burkholder lost to Delaney in the 3A semifinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps is brought down to the mat by Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Phipps moves on to the state final in class 3A. Phipps won the bout and moves on to the 3A final.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder wrestles W.C. Henderson's Killian Delaney in the 113-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Burkholder lost to Delaney in the 3A semifinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Canon-McMillan's Logan Macri defeated Nazareth's Sean Pierson in the 120-pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Macri moves on to the final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Canon-McMillan coaches react to a call by officials against their wrestler Gerrit Nijenhuis as he squares off against Cathedral Prep's Carter Starocci in the 160-pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Nijenhuis lost the bout to Starocci.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Canon-McMillan's Gerrit Nijenhuis wrestles Cathedral Prep's Carter Starocci in the 160-pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Nijenhuis lost the bout to Starocci.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski's Noah Levett battles in the 138-pound semifinal against Bethlehem Catholic's Ryan Anderson during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski's Noah Levett reacts after being defeated in the 138-pound semifinal by Bethlehem Catholic's Ryan Anderson during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Franklin Regional's Colton Camacho wrestles Souderton's Tyler Williams in the 132-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Camacho won the bout and moves on to the state final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hopewell's Jacob Ealy struggles underneath a hold by North Hills' Sam Hillegas in the 126-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Hillegas defeated Ealy and moves on to the 3A final.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps takes the mat before facing Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Phipps moves on to the state final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
North Hills' Sam Hillegas grabs a win in the 126-pound semifinal against Hopewell's Jacob Ealy during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps celebrates a win over Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Phipps moves on to the state final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Belle Vernon's Zach Hartman defeated Mt. Lebanon's Luke Stout in the 160-pound semifinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Belle Vernon's Zach Hartman performs a takedown on Mt. Lebanon's Luke Stout in the 160-pound semifinal bout in class 3A during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Connellsville's Nate Ansell attempts to defends against State College's Cole Urbas in the 195-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Ansell fell to Urbas in the 3A semifinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder wrestles W.C. Henderson's Killian Delaney in the 113-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Burkholder lost to Delaney in the 3A semifinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps is brought down to the mat by Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Phipps moves on to the state final in class 3A. Phipps won the bout and moves on to the 3A final.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hempfield's Kyle Burkholder wrestles W.C. Henderson's Killian Delaney in the 113-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Burkholder lost to Delaney in the 3A semifinal.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Canon-McMillan's Logan Macri defeated Nazareth's Sean Pierson in the 120-pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Macri moves on to the final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Canon-McMillan coaches react to a call by officials against their wrestler Gerrit Nijenhuis as he squares off against Cathedral Prep's Carter Starocci in the 160-pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Nijenhuis lost the bout to Starocci.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Canon-McMillan's Gerrit Nijenhuis wrestles Cathedral Prep's Carter Starocci in the 160-pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Nijenhuis lost the bout to Starocci.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski's Noah Levett battles in the 138-pound semifinal against Bethlehem Catholic's Ryan Anderson during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Kiski's Noah Levett reacts after being defeated in the 138-pound semifinal by Bethlehem Catholic's Ryan Anderson during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Franklin Regional's Colton Camacho wrestles Souderton's Tyler Williams in the 132-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Camacho won the bout and moves on to the state final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Hopewell's Jacob Ealy struggles underneath a hold by North Hills' Sam Hillegas in the 126-pound semifinal during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Hillegas defeated Ealy and moves on to the 3A final.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Norwin's Kurtis Phipps takes the mat before facing Coatesville's Brennan McBride in the 106 pound semifinal bout during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Phipps moves on to the state final in class 3A.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
North Hills' Sam Hillegas grabs a win in the 126-pound semifinal against Hopewell's Jacob Ealy during the PIAA state championship Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
HERSHEY — When Norwin sophomore Kurtis Phipps won his second WPIAL Class AAA title last week with a 1-0 victory against Seneca Valley freshman Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, he wasn't thrilled how he was awarded the winning point.
Herrera-Rondon was called for an illegal move in the second period, giving Phipps the winning margin at 106 pounds.
“If I was the official, I wouldn't have awarded it,” Phipps said afterward. “We should have settled this in overtime. But on the other hand, this could be a final next week.”
Well, next week is Saturday, and Phipps and Herrera-Rondon will again square off, this time in the PIAA finals.
Phipps (39-0) defeated Cumberland Valley sophomore Ben Monn, 4-1, and Herrera-Rondon (45-8) toppled Council Rock South sophomore Kyle Waterman, 4-1, in the semifinals Saturday morning.
“Oh yes, I was hoping for a rematch,” Herrera-Rondon said. “I didn't think the move I made was illegal.”
The 106-pounders are among nine WPIAL wrestlers who reached the finals, which begin at 7 p.m. at the Giant Center.
North Hills sophomore Sam Hillegas heads the list as he attempts to become a two-time champion. He'll face Central Dauphin senior Chris Wright in the 126-pound final.
The others to reach the finals are Shaler junior Ryan Sullivan at 113, Canon-McMillan senior Logan Macri at 120, Franklin Regional junior Colton Camacho at 132, Belle Vernon senior Zach Hartman at 160, Albert Gallatin senior Tim Wallace at 182 and Kiski Area senior heavyweight Isaac Reid.
The WPIAL wrestlers who fell in the semifinals were Hempfield junior Kyle Burkholder (113), Latrobe sophomore Gabe Willochell (126), Hopewell junior Jacob Ealy (126), Kiski Area senior Noah Levett (138), West Allegheny junior Ty McGeary (152), Canon-McMillan sophomore Gerrit Nijenhuis (160), Mt. Lebanon sophomore Luke Stout (160), Belle Vernon junior Scott Joll (170), Thomas Jefferson junior Max Shaw (182), Connellsville senior Nate Ansell (195) and Laurel Highlands senior Ian Edenfield (220).
