There isn’t much of a checklist left for Billy Rappo (H.M. @ 120) as far as high school wrestling is concerned.

The Council Rock South senior has won tournament after tournament, including the biggie last season, a PIAA Class AAA state title in Hershey. But one championship had eluded him. Until now.

On Thursday night, Rappo stood on the top step of the podium after scoring a 4-0 decision over previously unbeaten Grimaldi Gonzalez of host Liberty in the championship match at 120 pounds at the Liberty Holiday Classic.

“I was third last year and I wanted to do better than that and win,” Rappo said. “You go into every tournament to win because you want to be the best.

“But the guy I wrestled was really good. He is ranked high (in the state) and I knew he would be tough.”

Rappo used a pair of back points in the second period to propel him to the victory.

“Being a state champ, people think you’re going to win,” Rappo said. “But this is a really strong tournament, like regionals or states, because there are so many good wrestlers in every weight class. My goal was to win and I’m glad I was able to do that.”

Competing in state and national tournaments year round, there aren’t many wrestlers Rappo is unfamiliar with. However, Gonzalez was one of the few he didn’t know much about.

“He was at a cadet (national) camp I was at, but he was in a heavier weight class,” Rappo said. “So I really didn’t know what he liked to do.”

Come the postseason, Rappo expects to drop down to 113 and make another run at Hershey.

With the weight classes being altered this year, he’ll need to weigh 115 (after the two-pound allowance in mid-January).

For Complete Article by Drew Markol, Philly Burbs