This isn't the same Christopher Vassar that we saw as a freshman and sophomore. Not even as a junior when he was runner-up in the state.
The Vassar that showed up at this year's District 3-AAA Championships was rugged, aggressive and on a mission.
And no one else in the 145-pound bracket had a chance.
The Cedar Cliff senior capped his rampage over the competition with a decisive and tenderizing 13-1 major decision over Spring Grove's Mason Bentzel to wrap up his second district title. He won the 138-pound championship a year ago.
“I feel more comfortable,” said Vassar, who will attend Gardner-Webb University. “I'm comfortable in my practices in the room and with my coaches, who have my best interests on the mat.
“I don't look at names anymore. I don't care. I just go out and wrestle. If I fall short, I know what I need to do to improve. It's' not about wins and losses, it's about getting better. I learned that from that man over there.”
Vassar pointed to Rob Rapsey. Turns out, the Colts head coach has created a monster, one that is capable of bringing home state gold.
It looked that way throughout the tournament. Vassar rolled up a pair of pins, a tech fall and a major over Bentzel that had the look of a tech fall.
“Every match, I try to get the first takedown in the first 30 seconds,” Vassar said. “I don't want to let up.
“I'm looking towards the first match at states. I don't have any expectations. When I'm past the first, I will look at the second. When I'm past the second, I will look at the third.”
Mechanicsburg's Joey Krulock was looking at his second match, as in his chance for a little payback against Central Dauphin's Colton Peppelman.
The two met at the prestigious Beast of the East earlier this year with Peppelman taking the decision. In the 170-pound final, Krulock walked away with an 8-4 decision.
“That was probably my most satisfying win of the year,” the Wildcats senior said. “I have all the respect in the world for Colton. It's tough because we are friends, but when you are on the mat, you are enemies.
“It was an awesome match. When I lost to him, it was after a couple losses and I wasn't right mentally. My brother has been helping me, and he told me not to look at the name and just wrestle my match.
“You can be the biggest guy and the strongest guy but if you aren't their mentally, you can blow it all.”
Central Dauphin won the team title for the seventh year in a row. It was their eighth overall, tying Cumberland Valley for the most in District 3.
Tyson Dippery captured the 138-pound title. Zach Elvin (106), Austin Camacci (113), Garrett Peppelman (160) and Colton Peppelman (170) earned runner-up finishes.
The Rams advanced six wrestlers to states. Big Spring advanced five, including Dustin Rook (126), Chad Wickard (138) and Tommy Rayhart (195), who lost finals matches.
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District 3 individual wrestling tournament links:
- D3 Day 1 wrestling chat
- D3 tournament news, analysis, commentary and profiles
- District 3 Class AAA: Winners brackets | Wrestleback brackets
- District 3 Class AA: Winners brackets | Wrestleback brackets
- Click here for all 2012-13 wrestling brackets