PIAA wrestling championships: Chambersburg’s Karl Shindledecker sets out to prove he’s ‘as good as anyone’ in the state

Chambersburg wrestler Karl Shindledecker walked out of Altoona Area High School with a shiner on his left eye and a silver medal, but a real sense that he can wrestle with anyone in the state.

Shindledecker was in dominant form in reaching the PIAA Class 3A West Super Regional finals at 120 pounds, then he took another one of the state’s best, Waynesburg sophomore Mac Church, to the wire before falling by a 4-3 decision.

That loss was Shindledecker’s first of the season, but still showed his potential for this weekend’s PIAA championships. He rolled through the first two legs of the postseason and wrestled Church tough with crisp form reminiscent of his run to PIAA bronze two years ago. Win or lose, Shindledecker is showing that he can wrestle with anybody.

“I came away from that match believing Karl is as good as anyone in that state,” Chambersburg coach Matt Mentzer said. “I came away with a very positive view. I think Karl did, too.”

Chamberburg’s Karl Shindledecker suffers a cut over his eye in a 4-3 loss by decision to Mac Church, Waynesburg in the 120-pound final at the West Super Region PIAA, Class AAA Wrestling Championships in Altoona, Pa., Mar. 6, 2021. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Shindledecker will look to parlay those good vibes into a state tournament run and perhaps another shot at Church in the finals.

Mentzer believed Shindledecker was a hair away from scoring a second takedown in that match, maybe with nearfall points, that was called off as potentially dangerous. That’s how close Shindledecker came to springing an upset, but the margin for error goes both ways in a rugged eight-man tournament ahead.

Shindledecker opens with Wallenpaupack freshman Gunnar Myers in the quarterfinals, and he could see Bethlehem Catholic junior Dante Frinzi in the semifinals. Church is the early favorite in the bottom half of the bracket, which also includes Dover’s Mason Leiphart, West Scranton’s Austin Fashouer and Downingtown East’s Keanu Manuel.

Every match will be a battle.

“With the way these little brackets are, there’s a very small line between 1 and 8,” Mentzer said.

Shindledecker isn’t much of a talker — his teammates like to stand within earshot and laugh while he does interviews — but his confidence is clear when he steps onto the mat. Shindledecker has experience wrestling at the highest level in Pennsylvania — he was a PIAA bronze medalist as a freshman — and he looks even sharper as a junior this postseason.

Shindledecker has flipped a switch from winning with scrambling, funk and counters to setting a more attacking tone in his matches. He can still scramble when situations call for it and score off his opponents’ attacks, but his offense has come a long way over the past two seasons.

“I think I’m wrestling more offensive, more attack style, rather than waiting around,” Shindledecker said. “Last year and my freshman year, I think I was more defensive. I scored more off the defensive side. I’m getting more to my offense.”

The effect of that style change shows up beyond the ability to press the action from neutral. Shindledecker is pressing forward and carries that attacking mentality to every position on the mat. He isn’t waiting for anyone this postseason and looks more comfortable dictating the pace.

Even in a losing effort to Church, Shindledecker managed to wrestle his match, fire off shots and prove that he belongs in the conversation as the best 120-pounder in Pennsylvania. Proving it this weekend will require his best offense, his best defense and all of his quiet confidence.

“He can wrestle with anyone in the country,” Mentzer said. “We’re right there with anybody.”

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