Daren Hidalgo stood at the podium with the District 3 Class AAA Section IV wrestling gold medal hanging around his neck, thinking things couldn't get any better Saturday evening.
The 145-pound Dallastown senior had just squeaked out a 7-6 decision against Dover's Tim Mannino for his first sectional title.
Then came the announcement over the PA system, and Hidalgo's night improved even more.
Earlier that day, a U.S. priority mail envelope had arrived at the Hidalgo residence, officially announcing Hidalgo's acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Hidalgo's parents hid the letter, waiting to surprise him - and the rest of the crowd at South Western High School - until after he won his match.
"That way he would have two great things happen today," said Hidalgo's father, Jorge, a 1981 academy graduate.
Hidalgo, who will have his tuition paid for at West Point - whether or not he wrestles - put his hand over his mouth and crouched slightly as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
"I've been waiting for this for so long, some of my friends at school have gotten it, and I was on the waiting list, so I started applying to other schools," he said. "It's amazing. I can't believe it. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Hidalgo captured the big moment of the night, but he had to wrestle the spotlight away from Dover brothers Alex and Travis Little, who each won sectional titles.
All those days beating each other up in their Conewago Road home apparently have paid off for senior Travis (119 pounds) and sophomore Alex (103).
"We go at it all the time in our living room," Travis Little said. "We battle as hard as we can until somebody hits a wall or someone gives up."
Alex Little, who was on JV last season because he was too light, started things off with a 6-2 win against Spring Grove freshman Nathan Warner.
Two matches later, Travis Little made it a family sweep by pinning Red Lion sophomore Jerrid Hartman with four seconds remaining in the first period.
It was one of three pins on the night.
Dallastown 215-pounder Justin Terhune won by fall over New Oxford's Jeff Erb in 1:38.
York County Tech heavyweight Nate Weaver, the only Spartan to make the top four at any weight class, pinned Spring Grove's Ryan Shearer in 2:31.
Spring Grove's Jim Dent, who wasn't even seeded at 152 pounds, won by major decision, 12-2, over Red Lion's Cale Hildebrand.
Red Lion captured the team title with 180 points. Seven of their wrestlers made the finals and five - John Andel (112), Eric Albright (125), Josh Hartman (130), Chris Dahlheimer (140) and Keith McDonald (189) - won titles.
McDonald won perhaps the tensest match, a 2-1, double overtime victory over Dover's Shawn Holtzapple on rideout time. With three seconds remaining, Holtzapple came close to a reversal that would have ended the match, but officials ruled time had expired.
"They really stepped up this weekend," said Red Lion coach Biff Walizer of his team. "Hopefully, we can stay healthy and keep it rolling."
Red Lion sends 10 wrestlers to next week's District 3 tournament at Hersheypark Arena, second most behind Dallastown's 11. The Wildcats finished second on Saturday with 162.50 points. They had six finalists and two champions.
Spring Grove, the other YAIAA Division I tri-champion, qualified nine wrestlers for districts, including two champions.
Paced by the Little brothers, Dover has six wrestlers heading to Hershey. Central York, South Western, New Oxford and Gettysburg will each send four.
One wrestler apiece from York County Tech, Susquehannock, Kennard-Dale and Waynesboro also made the district tournament.
