Making it to a state championship is always an honor, but losing and not advancing to the top sometimes can be disheartening; although this was not the case for sophomore, Ryan Mauro.

The WPIAL section AA wrestling state championship took place at Hershey on March 9-11.

In order to advance on to states, wrestlers must place in sections, then WPIALs, and then place in the top 5 at regionals. At regionals, Mauro was put in a very difficult situation: he had to battle it out for 5th place. Fortunately he pulled through, took 5th place, and advanced onto the state championship.

Unfortunately at states, Mauro lost in the third round, meaning he wouldn’t be able to climb the metal stand. Mauro looked at all the positives of his shortcoming to motivate and push himself to come back better than ever for the years to come.

“The feeling of losing, I hate that feeling,” said Mauro, “That feeling is what will motivate me to push myself to make it to states again next year.”

Mauro believes that if he pushes himself hard enough next year he could “place his junior year” and then perhaps make a run at winning states his senior year.

Making it to states was also very meaningful for Mauro because he got to prove wrong everyone who didn’t believe in him.

“I love proving people wrong and proving my support right,” said Mauro.

Mauro also views the experience as “an honor” because of his status as a sophomore.

“Not a lot of underclassmen make it to states in the heavier weights,” said Mauro.

The person Mauro couldn’t thank enough for helping him reach his major achievement is his coach, Steve Santia, for pushing him every day.

Of course he was very excited to compete in the states championship, but he also recalls the butterflies he felt when he first arrived.

“I was very nervous,” said Mauro, “I’ve never wrestled on that big of a stage before.”

Next year, for his junior year, Mauro plans to push himself more than ever to reach his dream of becoming a state wrestling champion.