Bellefonte finished in top 10 in States; led by three medalists

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 14, 2021

By BRIAN CARSON

HERSHEY – Bellefonte finished in the top ten in the team race and crowned three medalists at the PIAA Class 3A championships on Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

The Red Raiders finished tenth with 27 points, with junior Jude Swisher (132) and seniors Ethan Richner (160) and Ethan Rossman (189) reaching the medal stand.

Swisher (26-3) captured his second PIAA medal with a 5-0 victory over Coatesville’s Nathan Lucier for third place. The three-time state qualifier placed fourth in 2020.

The Red Raider scored a takedown in the second and third period in a dominating performance over the East Super Regional champion.

Swisher opened the tournament with a 3:59 fall over Bethlehem Catholic’s Matt Mayer. Seneca Valley’s Dylan Chappell knocked Swisher into the consolations with a takedown late in the third for the 2-1 victory in the semifinals. The Bellefonte junior reached the third-place match with a 7-1 win over Waynesburg’s Colton Stoneking.

Swisher will enter his senior campaign with a 93-17 career record.

Rossman (24-4) won his first PIAA medal with a fourth-place finish. The Red Raider senior dropped a 9-3 decision to Nazareth’s Drew Clearie for fourth. Rossman started his run with a 7-0 win over Hazleton’s Bryce Molinaro before dropping a 3-2 decision to Hampton’s Justin Hart in the semis. The difference being a Hart takedown in the third.

In the consi-semis, Rossman had a reversal in the second and a takedown in the third to beat Colt Barley of Penn Manor. 4-3. Rossman finished his career with a 111-31 record and a three-time state qualifier.

Richner (22-3) won his second PIAA medal; he was sixth in 2019, with a seventh-place finish at 160 pounds. The Red Raider senior beat Bethlehem Catholic’s Landon Muth by a 14-6 major decision to claim seventh.

A 1-0 loss to Matt Colajezzi of Council Rock South pushed Richner into the consolation. A third-period escape was the difference. Richner dropped to the seventh-place match with a 6-2 setback to Norwin’s Cole Kranitz in the consolation quarterfinals.

Richner ends his high school career with a 120-22 record.

State College senior Lance Urbas placed fourth at 172 to earn his first PIAA medal. After losing his quarterfinal bout to Easton’s Dominic Falcone by a 7-1 score, the Little Lion senior battled through the consolations with a 3-1 win over Nazareth’s Sonny Sasso and a 5-3 victory over Sammy Starr of Kiski Area.

Urbas (20-6) fell in the third-place match to Falcone by a 4-1 count. Lance ends his State High career with a 75-20 record.

Waynesburg won the team title with 100 points and five wrestlers in the finals. Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (152) won the Outstanding Wrestler Award after capturing his third PIAA championship.