Alex Frazier recaps last weekend’s tournament action and highlights a pair of Norristown wrestlers who reached milestones.
By Alex Frazier
Norristown duo reaches milestone – Norristown 113-pounder Zach Fuentes and 170-pounder Shane Springer both reached impressive milestones last weekend at the Blue Mountain Team Gauntlet Tournament.
And the way the tournament was setup, they reached them at just about the same time.
“It was about two minutes apart,” said Fuentes. “I was walking back into the arena to cool off a little bit and they were announcing Shane for his 150th. It was kind of a coincidence that we had our 150th and 100th at the same time.”
“It was pretty cool,” said Springer.
Fuentes defeated Bryant Penberth of Blue Mountain for his 100th win.
“I didn’t really make it a priority to get there,” said the junior. “It kind of just happened, but it was pretty exciting.”
Fuentes said he wasn’t any more nervous for that match than any of his others.
“I was just hoping I would win that one,” he said.
A funny thing happened on the way to the match.
Fuentes’ father had driven to Schuylkill Haven just to see his son win his 100th, but he was running late.
Fuentes knew his father was minutes from the high school when he stepped out on the mat. He tried his best to extend the match as long as he could. Last year he had pinned Penberth in the third period. This time he just kept racking up points until finally he had a tech fall.
“I tried to let it go as long as possible,” said Fuentes.
Unfortunately, it came too soon as his father arrived a minute after the match ended.
This weekend Fuentes could face his toughest foe of the year at the Escape the Rock Tournament. Council Rock South’s defending state champion Billy Rappo will be down at 113 for the first time this year. Last year he lost to Rappo three times.
Fuentes may eventually drop to 106. He is certified there, but isn’t sure whether he wants to cut the weight. Last year he placed fourth in the state at 103. He is hoping to equal or better that finish this year.
•••
Springer had been looking forward to a tough match against Blue Mountain’s Travis Moyer, but evidently, Moyer was injured and didn’t wrestle. His replacement, Scott Snyder, was no match as Springer caught him in a headlock and decked him in a scant 15 seconds to earn his 150th career win.
At least he had an opponent to wrestle. When he won his 100th match, he did so via a forfeit.
“This was kind of like my 100th win all over again, but I actually got a match,” said Springer.
Springer’s next goal is to break the state record for pins.
That was what was primarily on his mind when he stepped on the mat for his 150th. It was his second match of the day. His first opponent, Robert Beard of Cedar Crest lasted just 25 seconds. His next two opponents went down in 46 and 15 seconds, respectively.
As of Thursday he has 113. The record, held by Matt Yocco, is 127. Springer has a good shot of shattering that mark sometime during district duals.
Getting the pin mentality started when he was a youth wrestler. One of his role models was Upper Perkiomen’s Mark Smith, who was renowned for his headlock. Springer picked up on that and has used it more than once to show his opponent the lights.
“I remember watching him; he was kind of like an idol,” said Springer. “When I was coming to high school,I was hoping to get it (the pin record). I wasn’t exactly sure how good I’d be.”
When he arrived at LaSalle High School as a freshman, Springer pinned 30 opponents. As a sophomore he raised that to 39, including a streak of 33 straight.
“When my streak broke it was at a tournament where Norristown was at,” he said. “It was the only tournament I was at with Norristown in it, so it was kind of weird.”
As a junior he added another 33 falls.
Breaking the pin record is certainly a goal for Springer, but it’s not his first priority.
“Winning states is the ultimate goal,” he said. “If I can get the pin record along the way, that would be nice. If it came down to a choice, I’d pick winning states anytime.”
Springer returned to Norristown this year after three at LaSalle.
“My brother was already at Norristown, and it was kind of difficult for my mom and dad to manage their time,” said Springer. “It’s nice to be able to wrestle with my brother, not because we love each other or anything, most brothers don’t, but just to see how he’s wrestling.”
Springer has yet to decide on a college. He plans to wait until the season is over.
“That way it’s not on my mind,” he said. “I don’t want to have to worry about all that college stuff yet.”
He’s also a little cautious about setting his sights on any particular college, which he did earlier in the year and it didn’t work out.
“I’m like the most superstitious person in the world,” he said.
Springer recalled an interview at regionals his freshman year.
“I had an interview with Dennis Way (Times Herald), and the next day I had some bad calls and missed out on going to states,” said Springer. “The next year he comes up to me the first day, and I say, ‘Mr. Way can I talk to you tomorrow?’”
State Wrestling Schedule –If you’re planning on heading to Hershey for the PIAA Championships this year, you can expect a different schedule for the consolation and finals matches.
In past years, the Class AAA third, fifth and seventh place consolation matches were wrestled beginning at 6 p.m. with the finals starting at 8 p.m.
This year the third, fifth, seventh and championship finals will be wrestled on four mats all beginning at 7 p.m.
Every young wrestler has dreamed about marching in the Parade of Champions, being introduced under the spotlight at the Giant Center and making his bid for a state title on a single mat.
Well, now he will have to share the spotlight.
In my humble opinion, the PIAA could elevate the experience by wrestling the consolations earlier in the day and spotlighting the Class AA and Class AAA finals at the same time, allowing fans to witness two championships simultaneously.
The PIAA has always segregated the two classes, which from an organizational standpoint is probably easier. But wouldn’t it create an electrifying atmosphere with two state finals being wrestled at the same time?
Under the new schedule, the Class AA fourth round consolations are over on Friday about 1 p.m. The Class AAA fourth round consolations finish Saturday about 1 p.m. The AA finals, third, fifth and seventh round consolations begin at 2 p.m.
Why not run all the consolations then and save the AA and AAA finals until 7 p.m.?
I suppose the quick answer is that the PIAA won’t sell as many tickets, which is often the bottom line with that organization. But it’s more likely they could sell out the Giant Center for the finals and the consolations.
From a fans’ point of view as wells as a wrestler’s, and isn’t that the bottom line, wouldn’t it be nice to see the medal rounds of both classes?
Around the league
Hatboro-Horsham 34, Pennsbury 32
You didn’t misread that score.
The Hatters opened the Jack Callender Jr. Memorial Rock yard Duals last weekend with an historic win.
“It was my first win ever against a Pennsbury team in 12 years,” noted Hatter coach Glenn Kaiser, who said he wasn’t sure HH had ever beaten Pennsbury in wrestling.
The Hatters won five of the first seven bouts.
Scott Humski’s pin at 170 and Phil Torresani’s 5-2 decision at 106 were key bouts in the victory.
Kevin Mowry stayed off his back and only gave up a tech fall against Jason Bing, saving another team point, although at that point Hatboro had the match won.
Unfortunately, the bubble burst after the first match as the Hatters dropped their next four.
“We wrestled our best match of the year, only to be set back by wrestling poorly the rest of the day,” said Kaiser.
Octorara Duals
Wissahickon went 2-1 defeating Springfield (39-34) and Octorara (45-25) and losing to Methacton (47-25). For the Trojans, Aaron Rodriguez (126), Pat Fennell (145) and Brennan Weiss (152) were all a perfect 3-0.
Northampton 39, Council Rock South 31
The Golden Hawks ran the table from 182 through 285, but couldn’t win enough matches through the middle of the lineup. Stephen Kaschak (182) pinned, PJ Steinmetz(195) decisioned, Tim Riley (back in the lineup at 220) pinned and heavyweight Connor Brunetti took a forfeit. But Billy Rappo’s major at 120 and Mackie Moore’s fall at 126 were the only other wins South could muster.
Hamburg Hawk Mountain Duals
Abington took third place at the Hamburg Hawk Mountain Duals with a 46 – 26 win over Cocalico HS. Abington went 4 – 1 on the day with wins over West Perry 55 – 18, Fleetwood 78 – 3, and Catasauqua 39 – 36. The lone set back was a 59 – 15 loss to perennial power Governor Mifflin.
The top performer for the Ghosts was Angel Carlo who went 5 – 0 on the day with three pins at 285. Adrian Deangelo 138, Mike Molz 126, and Brandon Scheitrum all went 4 – 1. Kyle Pederzani went 3 – 0 at 145 with three pins.
“Two wrestlers who really stand out for their performance in the Catasauqua match were Alden Shea who came back from an early deficit to pin his opponent at 152 and Ross Burns at 220 who outlasted and frustrated the Catasauqua wrestler to earn a close decision, which turned into a six-point disqualification when his opponent refused to shake hands and stormed off the mat,” noted Abington coach John Gillespie.
Blue Mountain Team Gauntlet
Norristown finished second in the tournament. Seven wrestlers finished undefeated. Zach Fuentes (113) had three pins and a tech fall; Mike Springer (138) finished with four falls and a decision; Brett Harner(160) pinned all five opponents he met; Shane Springer (170) recorded four pins; Tyler Letrinko (182) had two falls, one major and one decision; Larry Gordon (195) had five falls; and Jesse Prante (220) earned four pins and a major.
SOL Top 5
1. Norristown
2. Council Rock North
3. Council Rock South
4. Central Bucks South
5. Pennsbury
Top Guns
106—Scott Parker, Pennridge
113—Billy Rappo, Council Rock South
120—Kolton Veit, Souderton
126—Josh DiSanto, Pennsbury
132—John Dutrow, Council Rock North
138—Mike Springer, Norristown
145—Justin Staudenmayer, Plymouth Whitemarsh
152—Seth Ehlo, Central Bucks West
160—Brett Harner, Norristown
170—Shane Springer, Norristown
182—Larry Gordon, Norristown
195—PJ Steinmetz, Council Rock South
220—Tim Riley, Council Rock South
285—Andrew Van Buskirk, William Tennent
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