York County wrestler has 'bigger and better' goal after bittersweet District 3 title
Mason Leiphart admitted it was weird.
The moment he had long waited for was here … and it ended with a simple raise of the arm.
The Dover senior finally won a District 3 Class 3A title after coming in second place the past three seasons. He kept his undefeated season alive.
But it came by medical forfeit after Manheim Township’s Kamdyn Williams did not compete in the 120-pound finals at Spring Grove High School Saturday. Dover head coach Josh Murray said they were told by Spring Grove officials that Williams “wasn’t feeling well” prior to the championship round.
A sophomore and the reigning District 3 Class 3A champion at 113 pounds, Williams did not attend the medal ceremony at the podium.
“I kept going to warm up and it was really awkward knowing I’m going to go out there and just get my hand raised,” Leiphart said. “Especially at a tournament like this.
“It’s a little bit (bittersweet) but I’m just happy to have it after three silvers.”
Williams will have to produce a doctor’s note clearing him in order to be eligible to compete at the state tournament.
As for Leiphart, the senior will now turn his attention to trying to win a “bigger and better” goal – as Murray put it.
“Mason is looking for that gold medal at states and standing on top of that podium in March,” Murray said. “I know Mason was really looking forward to a district championship. We talked about this at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately it had to end this way, but it’s something they can’t take away from him.”
It’s already been a historic season and career for the Dover senior and Franklin and Marshall commit. He set Dover’s career record for wins earlier this winter and now has a career mark of 127-11. He’s 34-0 on the season.
He became Dover’s first District 3 champion since Mark Eckenrode in 1989.
A third-place state medalist at 120 pounds last year, Leiphart said he hasn’t changed much about his approach since going 26-3 last season.
“I think I’m wrestling a little smarter in neutral, but other than that I’m the same as any other year,” Leiphart said. “My ultimate goal is to win, but everyone is good so you’ve gotta take it one match at a time. You can’t get overzealous and jump all the way to the finals.”
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Dallastown senior wins defensive battle for first title
Caden Dobbins said Dallastown coach Dave Gable tries to get him to show his emotions a little more.
Still, Gable admitted he might not be the best messenger — since the longtime coach is usually stoic himself.
Dobbins continued his excellent senior season by beating Shippensburg’s Dominic Frontino, 1-0, for the gold medal at 152 pounds. Dobbins escaped to begin the second period and then controlled Frontino for the entire third period to earn the win.
The senior barely smiled afterward – though the suggestion of a celebratory steak dinner got a brief grin out of him.
“He’s such a humble competitor and team player for us,” Gable said about Dobbins. “To see him be a district champ as a senior and avenge a few losses, I’m very happy for him.”
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Dobbins won what was considered one of the tougher weight classes at the District 3 Class 3A tournament. Three of the four quarterfinal matches were decided by three or less points. Dobbins won three of his four bouts of the weekend by three or fewer points.
He’s now 37-2 this season.
And he got payback on Frontino after losing to him, 6-5, in last year’s “Super Regional” tournament. Dobbins said he didn’t expect this year’s match to be so low-scoring, but it worked to his advantage after he entered the third up one.
He tried to go for a cradle early in the third period but then stuck to his defense.
“You’ve just got to be smart and not doing anything dumb to give the opponent another point,” Dobbins said. “You’re always looking for a cradle but I was still content with the (1-0 win).”
Dobbins is now a three-time state qualifier but will go for his first state medal.
Dobbins and Leiphart were the two York County wrestlers to win District 3 Class 3A titles. Spring Grove’s Ivan Vega made the 132-pound finals but lost, 16-0, to Central Dauphin’s Matt Repos.
Gettysburg continues incredible season with two individual titles
Gettysburg head coach Chris Haines said his wrestlers are fueled by their desire to see each other succeed.
It’s been a key to an incredible run of three straight District 3 team title match appearances and two championships in the past three years.
So Haines wasn’t surprised when senior heavyweight Trevor Gallagher earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over Central Dauphin’s Ben Stewart moments after close friend Sam Rodriguez won the 215-pound title, 11-3, over Central Dauphin East’s Travis Armstrong.
“We’re a very tight-knit group, and this team this season has been remarkable,” Haines said. “When somebody who works their tail off comes up short it hurts everybody. With Sam winning, it just built the platform for Trevor to go out and ooze the confidence to do something he’s never done before.”
The two titles continued an incredible season for Gettysburg, which went undefeated and beat Central Dauphin for the District 3 team title earlier this season. Haines was also named District 3 Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches Saturday. And Gettysburg had four individual qualifiers for the state tournament Saturday.
It was the first individual district title for both Rodriguez and Gallagher.
For Gallagher, it was a redemptive moment. He lost to Stewart in the team finals the past two seasons – getting pinned last year and losing 6-0 this year. The senior scored all three of his points in the third with an early escape followed by a takedown.
“The past two times I’ve gotten caught by the same thing. It feels good to recover,” said Gallagher, who is now 39-5 this season. “I wouldn’t be where I am without Sam. He pushes me so much in the wrestling room.”
Rodriguez’s season has been even more eye-opening. He never placed at districts before this year. He’s now 35-2 this season.
The senior 215-pounder said his improvement this season has been completely “mental.” Haines agreed and said the two have had numerous “sit downs, heart-to-hearts and noise-to-noise” conversations in the past.
“I’ve always dreamed of being here, but each year I’ve taken it for granted and taken my coaches for granted,” Rodriguez said. “This year I’ve taken full advantage of my teammates and coaches. Thanks to them I have my success. It’s a different mindset. I appreciate things more now that I’m a senior.”
Chambersburg wrestler hoping for state title after earning 100th win
Karl Shindledecker said both of his District 3 titles have been “pretty dope.”
But he said he was probably a little more “hype” this year than last season after earning his 100th career win in the finals Saturday. He beat Manheim Township’s Josh Hillard, 6-0, in the 126-pound finals.
He said he wasn’t sure he would get his 100th win this season after missing time this year with an illness. He’s now 21-1 this season.
His teammate, Aiden Hight, reached the 189-pound finals but most to Exeter’s Johnny Miller, 9-1.
After taking second at the state tournament at 126 pounds last year, Shindledecker said he’s more focused on winning state gold than his district crowns.
“This gives me a little more confidence and a better mindset,” he said. “I’ve been in that position last year and I expect to be back in the same position. Trying to get gold and not silver.”
PIAA qualifiers from GameTimePA coverage area
Here are the wrestlers from York, Adams, Lebanon and Franklin counties to finish top four at their respective weights at the District 3 Class 3A tournament to qualify for the PIAA wrestling championships in two weeks.
The state championships will run from March 10 to March 12 at Hershey's Giant Center.
120: Mason Leiphart, Dover, sr. (first); Gabe Pecaitis, Gettysburg, so. (fourth)
126: Karl Shindledecker, Chambersburg, sr. (first); Zach Luckenbaugh, Dallastown, sr. (fourth)
132: Ivan Vega, Spring Gove, sr. (second)
138: Carter Davis, Central York, so. (third); Wyatt Dillon, Dover, so (fourth)
152: Caden Dobbins, Dallastown, sr. (first); Dominic Frontino, Shippensburg, jr. (second); Griffin Gonzalez, Lebanon, jr. (fourth)
160: Macon Myers, Central York, jr.; Jacob Cherry, Gettysburg, sr. (third)
189: Aiden Hight, Chambersburg, so. (second); Diesel Koser, Shippensburg, jr. (fourth)
215: Sam Rodriguez, Gettysburg, sr. (first)
285: Trevor Gallagher, Gettysburg, sr. (first)
Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.