Chambersburg freshman Tate Nichter shows he isn’t your typical freshman in impressive major over Garden Spot’s Finkey
HERSHEY: Chambersburg freshman Tate Nichter isn’t your typical freshman. He doesn’t get rattled by the wrestler in front of him.
There is no intimidation. If anything, Nichter is the one making his opponent, regardless of age, second guess strategy.
Nichter is a combination of strength and talent. His demeanor is reminiscent of a seasoned veteran, and he doesn’t get overwhelmed by any situation during a match. All of those qualities were on display in Friday’s District Class 3A Championship 145-pound semifinal round.
The Trojans ace was the total package on the mat at Hershey’s Giant Center. He dominated every position in an impressive and dominating 14-4 major decision over Garden Spot senior and 2017 state qualifier Connor Finkey.
“I’m not thinking I’m a freshman wrestling a senior who is supposed to win,” Nichter said. “I’m out there wrestling my best, whoever it is, trying to get a win.
“Sometimes, I lost my mind in it [being a freshman]. I don’t think about it a lot, and then I see all of these people look at me or talk about me, and I feel like I’m there … just a few more steps.”
There was no score after the first period. In the second and third, it was all Nichter from the neutral position.
After an escape 15 seconds into the second, Nichter took Finkey, ranked No. 9 in the state according to PA Power Wrestling, down 23 seconds later for a 3-0 lead. The Spartan’s senior escaped, but he never recovered.
“It’s huge,” Nichter said of the first takedown. “You get that takedown, and it’s another thing in someone’s head. You get that first takedown, and they are like, ‘Oh, crap, I might lose this match.’”
In this case, the match was over.
Nichter, who is ranked 16th in the state, scored on another takedown and took a 5-2 lead to third. Finkey escaped to close the gap before changing his strategy.
It didn’t work. Finkey tried to throw the Trojans upstart twice and ended up on the short end of two takedowns and five near-fall points in what turned out to be a lop-sided bonus-point decision.
“It’s about taking him in deep waters,” Nichter said. “Get him in an uncomfortable position in the match and taking advantage of them.
“After the first throw, he was done. I felt him mentally break there, and it was all my match from there. I’m comfortable with the upper body. I’ve been wrestling freestyle and Greco my whole life, so I’m used to it.”
It doesn’t get any easier for Nichter in the finals, as he will stare across the mat at No. 8-ranked Northern senior Micah Hoffman.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Nichter, who dropped a 6-5 decision to Hoffman in last week’s Section III final. “We are buddies, so it should a fun one.”