Northern Lebanon wrestler Aaron Seidel advances to PIAA Class 2A 121-pound final

HERSHEY — Aaron Seidel is headed back to the finals of the PIAA Class 2A boys wrestling championships.

Northern Lebanon’s junior and two-time state champion beat Lincoln Sledzianowski of Bishop McCort 11-0 in the 121-pound semifinals Friday at the Giant Center to earn his return.

It was Seidel’s second victory over Sledzianowski this season, having beaten him 11-5 in the final of the Mid-Winter Mayhem championships in January.

“The main thing for me was … hit my shot(s),” Seidel said, “ride on top to get my best position.”

He exercised patience over the first two minutes and change, scoring a takedown off Sledzianowski’s missed shrug and escaping to start the second period.

With 32 seconds left in the second period, Seidel scored another takedown and opened up the offense, tilting Sledzianowski for three back points and an 8-0 lead going into the third period.

“After I got a 4-0 lead (actually 5-0), I felt, ‘Oh yeah, the tilt’s going to come,’ ” Seidel said. “I can kind of chill and work my stuff.”

Wanting no part of bottom, Sledzianowski chose top to start the third period.

Seidel escaped, deflected a Gator Roll try by Sledzianowski, then got another takedown and turned Sledzianowski one last time with a tilt.

Seidel will see a familiar face across the circle in the final this afternoon. Lebanon County native Greyson Music, a freshman from Bishop McDevitt, upset Louie Gill of Reynolds 7-5 in sudden victory, setting up the third meeting of the year between the two.

Seidel won by technical fall, 22-5 in 5:47, in the sectional finals and by major decision, 24-11, for the District Three title.

Seidel secured his spot in the semifinals by pinning Chase Shaner of Hughesville in 1:01. Seidel turned Shaner with a cross-wrist tilt, holding him on his back for the fall.

Joining Seidel with a medal will be teammate Sam Wolford. Wolford took his spot in the consolation semifinals at 107 with a 7-1 win over Jordan Manyette of Trinity.

Points were in short supply when Wolford met Chestnut Ridge’s Dominick Deputy in the quarterfinals. After a scoreless first period, Deputy rode out Wolford in the second, then broke free with 1:39 left in regulation for a 1-0 victory.

In the blood round, Wolford secured his spot on the podium with a 5-2 win over Caleb Hummel of Philipsburg-Osceola.

With the match tied at 2-2 with a minute to go, Hummel let Wolford out. Wolford parried Hummel the rest of the way, scoring a takedown at the end for a 5-2 win.

Lancaster Catholic’s Gavin Badger took a 4-3 lead into the third period of his morning match with Brody Beck of Cambridge Springs. On top to start the period, he turned Beck with a minute left, but could only get a one count. Worse, on his next try at a turn, he was penalized for an illegal figure four.

Thirty seconds later he was again penalized for the same infraction. Now down 5-4, he let Beck out, looking to force overtime with a takedown that never came and the Shippensburg recruit saw his season end with the 6-4 loss.

Wrestling begins today with consolations at 9:30 a.m. Placement matches begin at 11:30 a.m. The finals begin at 4 p.m.