RAMS STAND ALONE
Spring-Ford secures sixth straight trip to PIAA duals; Boyertown goes 0-2 at Upper Dublin
Four Pioneer Athletic Conference teams entered the quarterfinals of the District 1-3A Duals, Saturday, but when the smoke finally cleared after a long, exhausting day of wrestling, only Spring-Ford still remained.
The Rams have mastered the art of peaking at the right time and out-working opponents, and in doing so, booked their sixth straight trip to the PIAA Duals.
Eighth-seed, Owen J. Roberts, had the win of the tournament, knocking off No. 1 Council Rock South in quarters, but that just ended up clearing a path for Spring-Ford to reach its fifth district final in six seasons.
There, No. 3 Pennridge won their first-ever district duals title with a 3622 win over Spring-Ford, and both sets of Rams will compete in the first round of the PIAA Duals, Thursday, at the Giant Center in Hershey.
“I’m so proud of the guys,” Spring-Ford coach Tim Seislove said. “From where we were in December, barely being able to put a lineup out there, the kids kept getting better and got healthy and now we’re state-bound. We knew we could do something special and we did it.”
Fifth-seeded Boyertown and No. 10 Perkiomen Valley were eliminated after going 0-2, while the Wildcats lost their last two on the day, a win away from states.
Spring-Ford (16-4) bettered the Bears, 36-24, in quarters and assumed a rematch with South, who beat the Rams, 54-15, in December. Instead, OJR presented another rematch opportunity.
“We lost to Council Rock earlier in the year and we knew it would be a hard one,” Spring-Ford senior Cole Smith said. “Owen J. surprisingly beat them and we beat (OJR) a few weeks ago so we were very confident that we could beat them again, and we did.”
The Wildcats (13-5) led 31-18, with three bouts to go, but Gus Smith (107 pounds) and Cole Smith (114) picked up first-period pins and Dominick Ferrizzi (121) got six to push the Rams into the final.
Cole Smith’s pin gave him 100 career wins, and he added another against Pennridge’s Cole Coffin, 2-0, in the final.
“It meant a lot,” Cole Smith said. “I’ve been working very hard the last four years and trying to get as many wins and place at as many tournaments as I can. Earlier in the year I saw my best friend and teammate, Quinn Smith, get 100 and that motivated me to keep pushing and get 100 wins, as well. We keep pushing each other so we can see each other on the podium at states.”
Against Pennridge, Spring-Ford lost eight of the first nine bouts, but closed out the contest with four straight wins and will face District 10 champ, Erie Cathedral Prep, Thursday night.
In pa-wrestling.com’s December 15 rankings, SpringFord was tied for the eighthhighest Class 3A school, but nearly two months later, the Rams found their way back to the top.
“It’s a culture that was established a long time ago, back to the 1970s,” Seislove said. “Spring-Ford always had a tradition of good wrestling and the kids come into the program and buy into it and want to do it. A lot of people, from the youth all the way up, make it work.”
Owen J. Roberts’ Cinderella run was short-lived, as the loss to Spring-Ford dropped them into a consolation semifinal matchup with No. 6 Quakertown. The Panthers claimed nine of 13 matches, but Dillon Bechtold (215) won one of the feature bouts of the day with a 5-1 win over Calvin Lachman.
“Win or lose, good or bad, it was a good experience for us,” OJR coach Steve DeRafelo said. “We wrestled three really good teams and we had some great matches. We had the opportunity to wrestle some good kids and we learned a few lessons, which is always the goal.”
Boyertown (13-8) bounced back from its loss to Spring-Ford and almost made South 0-2 against the PAC. The Bears got pins from Mike Kelleher (215) and Cooper Gardner (285) to garner a 27-22 lead, with three to go. The Golden Hawks won the last three, with the clincher, an 8-2 decision by South’s Pat Woloshyn over Luke Heimbach, in the finale.
“Obviously we know we can compete, but they need to believe they can beat them and I think that’s the difference right now,” Boyertown Tony Haley said.
Perk Valley (15-7) was in its first district quarterfinal since 2000, but the Vikings were just a little outmanned, with a 42-19 loss to No. 2 Sun Valley and a 43-24 setback against Quakertown.
Senior Kelly Kakos (152) entered the day with 98 career wins, but he fell to Sun
Valley’s Brandon Carr, 9-6, and Quakertown’s Collin Gaj, 11-5.
Gavin Pascoe (160) won two matches in sudden victory, taking down Sun Valley’s Alexander GambleWilliams and Quakertown’s Zach Borzio.
“Gavin had two tough, quality wins,” Perk Valley coach Dave Thomas said. “Gavin, on our team, has had the toughest season, with beating kids and losing to kids who are ranked.”
Quarterfinals Owen J. Roberts 36, Council Rock South 30
At Upper Dublin HS 121 - Pat Woloshyn (CRS) won by forfeit (0-6) 127 - Ryan Nathan (OJR) dec. Roman Vega, 8-7 (3-6) 133 - Ben Brillhart (CRS) pinned Brady Quinn, 4:32 (3-12) 139 - Mason Karkoska (OJR) pinned Charlie Musto, 1:41 (9-12) 145 - Skylur Davidheiser (OJR) dec. Andrew Lindros, 4-2 (12-12) 152 - Sam Gautreau (OJR) dec. Gavin Cole, 3-1 (15-12) 160 - Bekhruz Sadriddinov (CRS) pinned Logan Brower, 1:26 (15-18) 172 - Dysen Neil (OJR) dec. Aidan Murray, 6-5 (18-18) 189 - Dean Bechtold (OJR) pinned Ryan Gottwald, 5:04 (24-18) 215 - Dillon Bechtold (OJR) pinned James St. Thomas, 0:46 (30-18) 285 - Christian Gregory (OJR) pinned Aidan Queppet, 2:20 (36-18) 107 - Connor Lenahan (CRS) pinned Daniel Randolph, 1:57 (36-24) 114 - Luke Reitter (CRS) pinned Quinn Carr, 2:31 (36-30)
Spring-Ford 36, Boyertown 24
At Upper Dublin HS 121 - Luke Heimbach (Bt) won by tech. fall over Dominick Ferrizzi, 5:41 20-5 (0-5) 127 - Quinn Smith (SF) pinned Andrew Myslinski, 2:31 (6-5) 133 - Sonny Mash (Bt) dec. Brennan McGrann, SV 8-6 (6-8) 139 - Gavin Sheridan (Bt) maj. dec. Jamie Silva, 15-3 (6-12) 145 - Owen Dykie (Bt) pinned Matt Offner, 0:56 (6-18) 152 - Ryder Gehris (Bt) dec. Jacob Mest, 8-2 (6-21) 160 - Anthony Attilio (SF) pinned Brent Caprio, 1:18 (12-21) 172 - Mason Richards (SF) pinned Preston Stabley, 0:35 (18-21) 189 - John Kelly (SF) dec. Mike Kelleher, 3-1 (21-21) 215 - Cooper Gardner (Bt) dec. Daniel Borzillo, 5-4 (21-24) 285 - Connor Hudak (SF) dec. Casey Shaak, 5-1 (24-24) 107 - Gus Smith (SF) pinned Cole Fogle, 2:20 (30-24) 114 - Cole Smith (SF) pinned Brody Coleman, 0:31 (36-24)
Sun Valley 42, Perkiomen Valley 19
121 - Dalton Pedrick (SV) maj. dec. Joey Capaldo, 8-0 (4-0) 127 - Hunter Delaney (SV) pinned Joseph Kaczorowski, 0:24 (10-0) 133 - Gunnar Pedrick (SV) pinned Patrick Lamirande, 3:45 (16-0) 139 - Brecken Strickland (SV) won by forfeit (22-0) 145 - David Voghel (SV) pinned Anthony Rossi, 0:24 (28-0) 152 - Brandon Carr (SV) dec. Kelly Kakos, 9-6 (31-0) 160 - Gavin Pascoe (PV) dec. Alexander Gamble-Williams, 3-1 SV (31-3) 172 - Carson Pascoe (PV) maj. dec. William Cadden, 16-2 (31-7) 189 - Carter Euker (PV) dec. Anthony Laird, 4-2 (31-10) 215 - Grant Euker (PV) dec. Ronald Weaver, 7-1 (31-13) 285 - Chase Thompson (SV) won by forfeit (37-13) 107 - Max Tancini (PV) pinned John Deorio, 5:57 (37-19) 114 - Timothy Kearney (PV) won by tech. fall over Connor Sacks, 15-0 (42-19)
Semifinals Spring-Ford 36, Owen J. Roberts 31
127 - Quinn Smith (SF) pinned Alex Brandt, 1:57 (6-0) 133 - Brennan McGrann (SF) pinned Brady Quinn, 3:02 (12-0) 139 - Mason Karkoska (OJR) maj. dec. Jamie Silva, 13-0 (12-4) 145 - Mason Mazzerle (OJR) won by inj. default over Matt Offner, 2:36 (12-10) 152 - Skylur Davidheiser (OJR) dec. Jacob Mest, 5-3 (12-13) 160 - Sam Gautreau (OJR) won by tech. fall over Anthony Attilio, 26-11 (12-18) 172 - Mason Richards (SF) pinned Logan Brower, 0:36 (18-18) 189 - Dean Bechtold (OJR) maj. dec. John Kelly, 13-0 (18-22) 215 - Dillon Bechtold (OJR) pinned Daniel Borzillo, 0:55 (18-28) 285 - Christian Gregory (OJR) dec. Connor Hudak, 3-0 (18-31) 107 - Gus Smith (SF) pinned Daniel Randolph, 1:47 (24-31) 114 - Cole Smith (SF) pinned Quinn Carr, 1:14 (30-31) 121 - Dominick Ferrizzi (SF) won by forfeit (36-31)
Consolation first round Council Rock South 31, Boyertown 27
127 - Ajay Bhatt (CRS) maj. dec. Sonny Mash, 10-2 (4-0) 133 - J.D. Heiser (Bt) pinned Roman Vega, 4:29 (4-6) 139 - Gavin Sheridan (Bt) dec. Ben Brillhart, 6-3 (4-9) 145 - Owen Dykie (Bt) dec. Andrew Lindros, 9-5 (4-12) 152 - Gavin Cole (CRS) pinned Logan Oakes, 1:01 (10-12) 160 - Bekhruz Sadriddinov (CRS) pinned Ryder Gehris, 1:16 (16-12) 172 - Brent Caprio (Bt) dec. Aidan Murray, 13-9 (16-15) 189 - Ryan Gottwald (CRS) dec. Joshua Larrimore, 6-2 (19-15) 215 - Mike Kelleher (Bt) pinned Micky Trampe, 3:48 (19-21) 285 - Cooper Gardner (Bt) pinned James St. Thomas, 3:59 (19-27) 107 - Connor Lenahan (CRS) pinned Cole Fogle, 2:29 (25-27) 114 - Luke Reitter (CRS) dec. Brody Coleman, 5-0 (28-27) 121 - Pat Woloshyn (CRS) dec. Luke Heimbach, 8-2 (31-27)
Quakertown 43, Perkiomen Valley 24
at Upper Dublin HS 127 - Logan Pfistner (Qt) pinned Joseph Kaczorowski, 3:48 (6-0) 133 - Patrick Lamirande (PV) dec. Cody Stank, 9-4 (6-3) 139 - Kyler Roesener (Qt) won by forfeit (12-3) 145 - Gavin Carroll (Qt) pinned Anthony Rossi, 5:06 (18-3) 152 - Collin Gaj (Qt) dec. Kelly Kakos, 11-5 (21-3) 160 - Gavin Pascoe (PV) dec. Zach Borzio, 4-2 SV (21-6) 172 - Carson Pascoe (PV) pinned Maxwell Hibsman, 1:17 (21-12) 189 - Carter Euker (PV) pinned Dylan Fenstermacher, 5:15 (21-18) 215 - Calvin Lachman (Qt) maj. dec. Grant Euker, 15-5 (25-18) 285 - Keondre Lopez (Qt) won by forfeit (31-18) 107 - Max Tancini (PV) pinned Waylen Strzelski, 0:59 (31-24) 114 - Isaac Williams (Qt) pinned Connor Sacks, 0:27 (37-24) 121 - Mason Ziegler (Qt) pinned Joey Capaldo, 0:27 (43-24)
Consolation semifinals Quakertown 51, Owen J. Roberts 19
133 - Cody Stank (Qt) pinned Brady Quinn, 2:26 (6-0) 139 - Mason Karkoska (OJR) pinned Kyler Roesener, 1:49 (6-6) 145 - Gavin Carroll (Qt) maj. dec. Skylur Davidheiser, 13-5 (10-6) 152 - Collin Gaj (Qt) won by forfeit (16-6) 160 - Sam Gautreau (OJR) maj. dec. Zach Borzio, 12-3 (16-10) 172 - Maxwell Hibsman (Qt) pinned Logan Brower, 3:45 (22-10) 189 - Dean Bechtold (OJR) pinned Dylan Fenstermacher, 2:36 (22-16) 215 - Christofer Sanchez (Qt) won by forfeit (28-16) 285 - Dillon Bechtold (OJR) dec. Calvin Lachman, 5-1 (28-19) 107 - Waylen Strzelski (Qt) won by tech. fall over Daniel Randolph, 21-4 (33-19) 114 - Isaac Williams (Qt) pinned Quinn Carr, 1:22 (39-19) 121 - Logan Pfistner (Qt) won by forfeit (45-19) 127 - Mason Ziegler (Qt) pinned Alex Brandt, 3:19 (51-19)
Championship final Pennridge 36, Spring-Ford 22
139 - Sam Kuhns (Pr) won by tech. fall over Jamie Silva, 24-9 (5-0) 145 - James McGill (SF) dec. Brady McMahon, 3-1 (5-3) 152 - Gio Iadonisi (Pr) pinned Jacob Mest, 5:10 (11-3) 160 - Ryan Gallagher (Pr) dec. Anthony Attilio, 2-1 (14-3) 172 - Talan Hogan (Pr) maj. dec. Mason Richards, 10-2 (18-3) 189 - Ryan Rowe (Pr) pinned Tanay Shankar, 1:12 (24-3) 215 - Chase Washington (Pr) dec. Daniel Borzillo, 7-3 (27-3) 285 - Riley Cullen (Pr) pinned Connor Hudak, 1:36 (33-3) 107 - Colby Martinelli (Pr) dec. Gus Smith, 4-2 (36-3) 114 - Cole Smith (SF) dec. Cole Coffin, 2-0 (36-6) 121 - Dominick Ferrizzi (SF) won by disq. over Quinn McBride, (36-12) 127 - Quinn Smith (SF) pinned Danny Metzler, 0:22 (36-18) 133 - Brennan McGrann (SF) maj. dec. Anthony Granite, 14-2 (36-22)