SAINTS ARE GOLDEN
Berks Catholic defeats Wilson 41-15 to win the BCIAA team title in the program's 3rd season
Berks Catholic didn’t search for a magical path from start-up program to the top of the Berks County wrestling world.
Coach Derek Sola told the Saints from the start of their first dual meet season in 2000-21 that the only way to bring home a championship was through dedication and hard work.
Berks Catholic completed the quick trip to the top Friday night in Wyomissing, defeating two-time defending county champion Wilson 41-15 to earn the BCIAA wrestling championship in the program’s third year.
“These guys put a lot of time into it,” Sola said. “It’s a very serious thing for them. I’m just really proud of them.”
The Saints (19-0) started the match with a pair of falls for a quick 12-0 lead and Wilson (13-2) never recovered. Wilson was able to close within six points before Berks Catholic won five of the last six bouts.
Junior Marvin Armistead, one of Berks Catholic’s three-year starters, sealed the victory with a technical fall at 133 pounds.
“We knew this was in our future if we put the work in,” Armistead said. “Losing earlier when we were younger really helped us become who we are now. We’re just glad that we improved and that we keep moving on. We’re going to keep building.”
Berks Catholic will open the District 3 Team Tournament next week as the No. 1 seed in Class 2A. Wilson sits in the No. 2 spot in 3A but was no match for the Saints on Friday night.
Wilson won just four bouts, two of them in overtime and another by one point.
“I knew it was going to be tough coming in,” said Wilson coach Jason Gibble. “They had eight guys in the county (individual) finals, they’re a tough team. I think on our best night we might have a chance, but I doubt it. They’re solid everywhere.”
Wilson had to battle to defeat Berks Catholic 37-19 last season to earn its third county championship in four years. But when the Saints opened Friday’s championship match with falls by Carmine Lenzi and Ricardo Tinoco, Berks Catholic was on its way to avenging last year’s loss.
“Emotions are very important with kids,” said Sola, who earned his 200th win in the final, including stints at Pennridge, Lampeter-Strasburg and Hamburg. “Getting on a roll like that is very big. Any time you can start like that it definitely helps you out.”
Wilson got a couple key wins to slow the Saints. Blaise Eidle scored a 4-2 double-overtime win over Gabe Davis at 172 in the third bout. After Tim Saylor scored a 5-0 decision for Berks Catholic at 189, Wilson’s Ryan McMillan upended county champion Brody Kline 3-2 in the ultimate tiebreaker at 215.
Even with those two hard-fought wins, Wilson still trailed 18-6 six bouts into the match after Owen Reber won a decision at 285 for the Saints.
Wilson closed the gap to six points with a fall by McKaden Speece at 106. But Berks Catholic took control from there.
Brayden Hartranft scored a fall and Noah Rosa won a decision before Armistead clinched it. Nathan Moshack followed with a fall before John Maurer closed it out with a 1-0 decision.
Wilson’s only win in the last six bouts was a 3-2 decision at 121 by county champion Jimmy Garcia over Gunnar Maciejewski.
“I’m super excited, it’s amazing,” Armistead said. “Finally the hard work we’ve been putting in is paying off. I’m just so proud of my teammates.”
The team tournament started with Tulpehocken earning its first BCIAA victory with a 35-29 win over Brandywine Heights. Berks Catholic defeated Tulpehocken 67-6 in the semifinals.
Wilson downed Daniel Boone 32-27 in the semifinals after Boone had knocked off Gov. Mifflin 40-27 in the quarterfinals.