Ridley’s Nelson, Kennett’s Pardo among those finding redemption at PIAA boys wrestling championships

HERSHEY >> Rarely are the PIAA wrestling championships a spot for District 1 wrestlers to find redemption.

If one doesn’t get it done at the Class 3A Southeast Regional tournament, chances are things aren’t going to be any easier at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Thursday, Ridley’s Curtis Nelson was the exception. Coming after a third-place regional finish, thanks in large part to a defensive pin he suffered, Nelson (114 pounds) flipped the script, forcing Manheim Township’s Kaedyn Williams to his back from the bottom position for a defensive pin of his own.

“It was sweet,” Nelson said. “I had him. I kept going there, going there, because I knew they’d call it. I just kept working with my bread and butter. I knew it would be a tough match. … I knew he liked that crab tilt, so I knew if I was able to do that, get him on his back, I know it would freak him out, waste some time, lose some breath and I got him with it.”

Williams was 34-0 on the season and a state champion at 106 pounds in 2021. Nelson came in clearly motivated to avenge a disappointing regional tournament, defeating his first round opponent by technical fall in 90 seconds, and he’ll wrestle Altoona’s Braeden Weaver in Friday’s quarterfinals, which kick off at 2:15 p.m.

“Keep wrestling, keep this momentum,” Nelson said of his plan. “Kids saw me beat Kaedyn Williams, they’re gonna be a little scared.”

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Ridley's Curtis Nelson works Manheim Township's Kaedyn Williams to his back. (Nate Heckenberger - For MediaNews Group)