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HERSHEY - Cael Nasdeo became Williamsport’s first state wrestling finalist in 26 years Saturday morning when he recorded a pair of wins at the PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center.
Nasdeo was the only one of to local wrestlers in the morning session to make the finals. Central Mountain freshman 126-pounder Luke Simcox opened with a victory in the quarterfinals, but lost his semifinal, 7-2, to returning state fifth-place finisher Tyler Kasak of Bethlehem Catholic. Simcox will wrestle in the consolation semifinals later tonight.
Nasdeo sent shockwaves through the tournament when he opened with a 3-1 win over top-ranked and returning state sixth-place finisher Carson Wagner of Northampton. Nasdeo stayed in good position on his feet the whole bout but got deep on a single-leg shot late in the second period. He worked through the funk roll of Wagner to come out on top for a decisive takedown in a 3-1 victory.
The Williamsport sophomore, who is in his first state tournament, was even better in his second match of the day. Facing Solanco’s Dominic Flatt, who Nasdeo lost to at super regionals 6-1, he scored the first takedown just 15 seconds into the first period. Nasdeo then went to work on top, twice using a two-on-one tilt for a trio of back points and a 8-0 lead after one period.
Nasdeo scored his second takedown just 22 seconds into the second period and spent the rest of the match in the top position. He racked up 5 minutes, 23 seconds of riding time in the 6-minute match, eventually winning, 12-0.
Nasdeo becomes Williamsport’s first state finalist since Matt Mapes reached the 152-pound final in 1995. The Millionaires haven’t had a state champion since Matt Neenan won the heavyweight championship in 1990.
Nasdeo will face Manheim Township freshman Kaedyn Williams in tonight’s final, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. The two met last week in the third-place match at the West Super Regional with Williams winning, 2-1. Williams defeated second-ranked Tyler Chappell of Seneca Valley, 2-1, in tiebreaker, to advance to his first state final.
Williamsport’s Riley Bower will wrestle his first two matches of the tournament in the afternoon session which begins at 12:30 p.m.