The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
16 locals to compete at PIAA 3A South East Regional
North Penn’s Eddie Galang expects to do at least one thing in his first trip to the PIAA Class 3A South East Regional.
“I just hope to give it all I have,” said the Knights senior last Saturday at the District 1-3A North Tournament. “Leave it all on the mat and just have fun. It might be my last time wrestling ever, so just make sure I have fun and enjoy the moment.”
Galang is one of the three North Penn wrestlers and 16 locals looking to move a step closer to Hershey Saturday in a regional meet reconfigured to get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fields for each of the 13 weight classes have eight wrestlers with matches taking place at both Council Rock North and Council Rock South — North hosting weights 106-138 while 145-285 taking place at South. The tournament begins at both sites at 10 a.m. with championship finals scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Top four finishers from each class advance to the PIAA 3A East Super Regional — which will include Districts 1, 2, 11 and 12 — March 6 at Quakertown.
Galang, who placed second at districts along with NP teammate William Morrow, begins the 132-pound bracket against Strath Haven junior Kelton Brunner. Also in 132 is Central Bucks West’s Chris Cleland, who faces Griffin Hollingsworth of Garnet Valley.
Morrow, meanwhile, is one of three state qualifiers in the 145 field and opens against West Chester East’s Andrew Luke. Morrow placed fifth at 138 at last year’s regionals. Bensalem’s Connor Eck, who beat Morrow by 8-4 decision in the district final, reached PIAAs at 145 in 2020 while District 1-3A South champ Sam McMonagle of West Chester Henderson took seventh at states at 126 last season.
North Penn’s third regional qualifier is freshman Michael Cliver, who faces Downingtown East’s Keanu Manuel in the 120 quarters.