Freshman Finn Solomon earns statement win over Council Rock South’s Kyle Waterman

MILL HALL, Pa.: Franklin Regional’s Finn Solomon showed no nerves or hesitation when he stepped on the mat in Friday’s Round of 16 at the prestigious King of the Mountain Tournament.

It didn’t matter that Solomon was an unseeded freshman facing the tournament’s top seed at 113, Council Rock South’s Kyle Waterman. This was Solomon’s chance to make a name for himself.

The rest of the state knows him now.

Solomon put together a huge third period, scoring three takedowns to take a 10-5 lead. He put an exclamation point on his dominant win, planting Waterman for a fall in 5:29 to earn a spot in Saturday’s 10 a.m. quarterfinal round.

“It’s huge to me,” Solomon said of the victory. “I was happy I got him in the second match, because he didn’t get a warm-up match, and I did. I didn’t have a tough first match, but I was able to get out there and warm up.

“Carter Dibert wrestled him last year, and he was undersized and lost. He is my practice partner, so I knew I could get in there and beat him.”

Waterman, who entered the weekend ranked No. 3 in the state at 113 by PA Power Wrestling — Solomon was ninth — scored the first points of the match with 26 seconds left in the first period.

But, Solomon isn’t your typical freshman. He shook off the takedown and turned a reversal with 10 seconds left in the period to even the match.

Waterman took down to start the second, and no doubt most of the fans in the Central Mountain High School gymnasium were expecting a quick escape. But, that wasn’t the case.

Solomon, much like his brother Gus Solomon, who graduated from Franklin Regional two years ago, suffocated Waterman on top for the entire two-minute stanza.

“My brother has been teaching me,” Solomon said. “Starting out, I wasn’t so good on top when I was younger. I used to try and do what he did, and I would fall off.

“He just kept teaching me and teaching me, and I kept getting better and better. I knew I could ride him.”

That ability showed late in the third. First, Solomon took the lead on a neutral escape and kept coming after Waterman, securing a takedown for a 5-2 advantage.

Waterman came back with a questionable reversal along the edge. Solomon held a 6-4 lead after a neutral escape and stayed aggressive, pulling the Hawks junior down to the mat for an 8-4 lead.

“I’ve been taught by Jody and John Strittmatter to just keep going no matter what, winning or losing,” Solomon said. “It doesn’t matter who it is, just keep going.”

Waterman escaped, but Solomon kept charging. The Panthers ace laced in another takedown, this time putting his opponent on his back for a victory that will turn heads around the state.

“I just wanted to end the match,” Solomon said. “You never know what can happen at the end. I heard everyone cheering, and I just wanted to get the pin.

“It’s a big win, but I just want to focus on tomorrow. I want to make weight and get ready for my matches tomorrow.”