Dillon Bechtold was born into a wrestling family. He was matside from an early age with his father Dan serving as an assistant coach at Elizabethtown College, his alma mater. But Dillon Bechtold’s wrestling career didn’t begin until years later.
“I remember my first tournament ever. It was a takedown tournament. My dad took me to it,” Dillon recalled. “My first match I got thrown really hard and pinned; and my second match I got thrown really hard and pinned.
“I was born into a wrestling family, I think I have gifts where if I worked hard, they would show progress over the years,” Bechtold said.
High School Success at Owen J. Roberts
Bechtold was better than really good in his senior season for Owen J. Roberts. Roberts senior Dillon Bechtold smiles on top of the podium after winning the Class 3A 215-pound final. The Bucknell commit was a one-man wrecking crew this winter, racking up a 42-0 record that included titles at the King of the Mountain, Escape the Rock, Pioneer Athletic Conference, District 1 North and Southeast 3A Regional tournaments. His dominance was unmatched in Pennsylvania.
“Obviously it’s go, go, go usually, but I definitely took some time after the season to look back and think, ‘That’s pretty cool,’” Bechtold said. “Pretty much dominated everybody.”
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“I just wanted to be the best. I just didn’t want to lose ever. Roberts' Dillon Bechtold flexes after winning the 215-pound final. Bechtold has a unique way of looking at things.
His list of aspirations entering his senior season included winning titles at King of the Mountain, Escape the Rock and Trojans Wars. But it also included specific wrestlers he wanted another crack at after past defeats on the way to those wins.
“Ever since I was really little, I wanted to be a state champ. I used to tell myself back then, ‘four-time undefeated state champ,’” Bechtold.
“As I got older, I realized that wasn’t super realistic.
The Making of a Champion
There’s a cliche that ‘champions are born, not made,’ that highest achievers have a special, unteachable quality about them. While there may be some truth to that, Owen J. “I used to think that. But with Dillon, I’ve watched him since fourth grade and seen him build and improve incrementally into who he’s become,” DeRafelo said.
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“He’s committed completely to doing everything it takes to be a champion: the strength training, technique, flexibility, the diet, sleep, everything. Roberts' Dillon Bechtold gets in on a shot against Abington Heights' Caleb Marzolino.
That changed at the Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D., last July. Dillon became a Fargo Junior National double All-American, placing seventh in freestyle and Greco-Roman in the Junior Division.
“Fargo was just a breakout performance, a lot of fun, a lot of good kids, a lot of good wins,” Dillon said. “I think after that, I realized I’m getting there, I’m close.
Bechtold broke into the national top 20 and after his PIAA title win he concluded the high school season ranked No. Marine Corps 16U and Junior Nationals at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.
Arguably his toughest opponent of the season wasn’t part of his 42 wins.
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“Practices were competitive, really competitive,” Dillon said. “There were definitely some punches being thrown every once in a while. We try to keep that to a minimum but it could get a little heated at practice, just because we both don’t like to lose, even if it’s in practice.
Between OJR practice battles with Dean, strength training crafted by OJR assistant coach Mike Brilla and club practice with Steller Trained wrestling club, run by Pa. Olympic gold medalist David Taylor and 2023 World Champion Vito Arujau.
“Strength and mobility were a big focus,” Bechtold said. “My sophomore and junior years, I tore up my knees right before states and then wrestled through it. … That influenced me to do more for recovery to avoid those injuries, stay healthy and win the state title I wanted to win.
“Yeah, I want to win a state title. I want to win it really bad. I’m going to do everything I can to win.
“I wasn’t really doubting myself in any way, but at the same time, if I don’t win it, then I don’t win it. I can’t control everything that happens.
When the whistle blew, there was no stopping Bechtold. He capped his Owen J. His career will continue at Bucknell two days after he graduates from Owen J.
2024 SE AAA final - 215 - Dillon Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts) vs Felix Mason (Downingtown East)
“Especially in college, everybody’s in great shape, great conditioning, everybody’s really strong,” he said.