Whitehall senior Willmont Kai is hoping the third time is the proverbial charm.

Kai, the defending state champion at 133 pounds, suffered a 4-2 defeat to Bethlehem Catholic senior Keanu Dillard in their match at the Northeast Class 3A Regionals at Liberty High School last weekend.

Earlier, Dillard nipped Kai 1-0 in the district final. Dillard, who also is a returning champ, captured a title at 127 last year and decided to bump up this year.

Kai has a 39-3 mark with his only other defeat this season to Cedar Cliff’s Kavon Muyleart in a 4-1 loss at the Beast of the East tournament in Delaware Dec. 21. So far, Kai has a 145-24 mark, and he will be headed to Nebraska next year to continue his career.

He doesn’t plan to change his course of action at the state championships in Hershey this weekend.

“You know it was a very good match,” reflected Kai. “Some stuff didn’t go my way, but it is what it is. I’m just going to stay on pace for next week because I don’t have a lot of time to tweak anything.

“I’m going into this week with the same mindset as always, but this time I’m going to drag him into war.”

Zephyrs’ head coach Tim Cunningham was pleased with his team’s overall effort.

Freshman Mason Hopkins (32-15,17 falls) will join Kai in Hershey, as he claimed a third-place finish at 152 pounds.

“The guys wrestled well and gave everything they had,” beamed Cunningham. “The effort and right attitude was demonstrated on the mat. Willmont and Mason had a great tournament and we will be right back at it in the practice room making adjustments and sharpening things up.”

Seniors 172-pounder James Hopkins (31-11) and 121-pounder Kade Pascoe (30-12) saw their careers end in the regional round. Hopkins had an overall 116–42 record, while Pascoe was 107-51.

Cunningham knows it will be a big loss.

“James and Kade have been invaluable to this program,” added Cunningham. “Throughout their four years, they both were invaluable on and off the mat.”