Wait is worth it for Conestoga’s McLellan

FRANCONIA >> In the first period of the 172-pound final, Conestoga’s Hayden McLellan arched back, grinning at the referee as he waited for him to start counting near-fall points.

McLellan believed he was in criteria to earn some back points. The ref disagreed, but McLellan did manage to score an early four points. If it was short-term patience that led to that eventual lead, it was that longer term resilience that had him in that spot in the first place.

McLellan converted that early lead into the first title by a Pioneer at the Class 3A Southeast Regional since Jack Chidester in 2008.

“I feel like it was long overdue,” McLellan said. “I’ve always had the talent. Whether it was getting sick or not peaking at the right time, it just didn’t work out.”

Earlier on Saturday, McLellan won his 100th career bout. It was his second pin of the two-day tournament. He followed it up with a major decision in the semifinals before defeating Pennridge’s Talan Hogan, 6-3, for gold to qualify for states for the first time.

“My teammates and I did a lot of offseason wrestling,” said McLellan, a senior. “It was a lot of coaches and a lot of specialized time to hone our attack.”

Conestoga tied a school record with three qualifying for the PIAA Championships, which begin Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Jake Allred (189 pounds) also made the finals but wound up on the wrong end of a 6-2 decision to Owen J. Roberts’ Dean Becthold, for his second straight trip. Miles Warkentine (127) won the fifth-place bout to grab the final spot.

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Conestoga’s Hayden McLellan looks for near-fall points in a 6-3 win over Pennridge’s Talan Hogan in the 172-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)