Bellevue Wolverines 152-pound wrestler Christian Villani concluded his high school wrestling career the way every high school grappler dreams of — with a resounding pin.

Villani captured his third consecutive state wrestling championship, registering a pin against Peninsula’s Zach Goddard in the Mat Classic Class 3A 152-pound state championship match with 1:24 left in the third round. Villani defeated Goddard 17-0 in the 145-pound title match in 2014 as well. He was determined to defeat Goddard by pin in this year’s rematch.

Villani led 5-0 after the first round and 10-0 after the second round. Instead of sitting on the lead, Villani wrestled aggressively and completed his senior season in style with an emphatic pin at the 4:36 mark of the third round.

“I just can’t thank God enough. It was all off of my habits in practice. I keep a strong faith and I was able to go for those risks that I wouldn’t normally do,” Villani said. “I didn’t want it to end. I don’t want it to end.”

Villani said his emotions got the best of him in the timespan between the semifinals and the showdown in the finals against Goddard.

“Right before the match I got more emotional than I am right now because I knew it was the last time I would ever get coached by my coaches and get cheered on by family and friends,” he said.

Villani plans on wrestling in college, but said he doesn’t know where he will land as of yet. He would like to be a preferred walk-on at Arizona State University or wrestle for Highline Community College.

Bellevue head coach Kyle Smith said what Villani has accomplished is unparalleled in the world of high school wrestling.

“His first state title he won 14-0, his second state title he won 17-0. There is a lot more pressure when you are going for the third one in a row. He did it (won third title) and was not ever scored on in the state finals in three years. I can’t think of a kid who has won two, three or four state titles who have never given up a single point,” Smith said. “It’s a big deal.”

Bellevue Christian’s Daniel Young captured seventh place in the Class 1A 285-pound weight class.

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com