Herrera-Rondon wins 3rd state title
HERSHEY — For Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, it was the perfect ending.
Quite literally.
The Seneca Valley senior polished off an undefeated season Saturday by winning his third state title during the PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Herrera-Rondon decisioned Rocco Welsh of Waynesburg, 3-1, in the 152-pound title match. His record this season was 39-0.
His high school career record is 175-14.
“You run out of things to say about him,” SV coach Kevin Wildrick said. “Alejandro is just a solid, technical wrestler.”
Despite competing in a loaded weight class, Herrera-Rondon allowed only two points on the day. He surrendered a takedown in a 5-2 decision of Cathedral Prep's Paniro Johnson in the semifinals.
Herrera-Rondon began the tourney with a 16-0 technical fall over Dom D'agostino of Interboro in 3:19.
“My goal this year was to win a state championship, not go undefeated,” Herrera-Rondon said. “I had never gone unbeaten for an entire season before, though.
“This is a nice cherry on top.”
The Raiders' Dylan Chappell placed second at 132 pounds, losing a 6-0 decision to Briar Priest of Hempfield in the title match. Chappell had defeated Priest in the WPIAL tourney and West Regional.
“I got caught on my back in the second period and gave up five points,” Chappell said. “That changed the entire match.”
Still, Chappell finished his career as a three-time WPIAL champion and three-time state runner-up. He was 37-3 this season, 164-26 in his career.
“Getting to the state finals three years in a row is quite an accomplishment,” Wildrick said. “Sure, it's a shame we couldn't see Dylan get his hand raised in his final match, but this consistency was impressive.”
Chappell said the highlight of his career was winning a WPIAL title and getting to the state final as a sophomore.
“My freshman year, I was behind Ali,” he said of Herrera-Rondon. “My success as a sophomore proved to me that I could do it.”
Chappell began the state tourney with a 9-0 decision of Nazareth's Dominic Wheatley, then scored a 2-1 decision of Jade Swisher of Bellefonte Area in the semifinals.
Chappell is headed to Bucknell University to wrestle while Herrera-Rondon is going to Oklahoma.
“I can't wait to get there,” Herrera-Rondon said of Oklahoma. “I've already been talking to the coaches.”
SV sophomore Tyler Chappell placed third at 106, decisioning Dom Flatt of Solanco, 6-5, in the consolation final. He lost a 2-1 overtime decision to Manheim Township's Kaedyn Williams in the semifinals.
“It could have gone either way,” Tyler Chappell said of the semifinal match. “As soon as I lost, I wanted to come back and get third.
“I learned a lot this year. I know what ways I have to get better and I know I'm good enough to win a state title, hopefully next year.”
Tyler Chappell won his first match, 6-1, over Josh Jasionowicz of Stroudsburg. He deisioned Carson Wagner of Northampton, 2-0, to reach the consolation final.
