DISTRICT ONE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Council Rock North Upset at District One Team Championships, Quakertown, CR South & Neshaminy Advance
By Glenn Kaiser
Holland, PA-For the first time in D1 Duals history a #13 seed took out at a #4 seed. #13 Garnet Valley upset #4 Council Rock North 33-32 Thursday night at CR South High School in the first round of the 2020 D1 Team Championships. The Jags jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two bouts starting at 195-pounds. Max Harar secured a 9-1 major decision at 285-pounds for the Indians to post points on the board for North.
With CR North’s fab five looming, it looked like another typical dual for the Indians. But Garnet Valley had other plans. The Jags secured three falls and a tech fall as the teams split the 14 matches wrestled. North’s Kyle Hauserman majored decisioned Garnet’s Kevin Puliti at 120-pounds after Rock North lost four out of the first five contested bouts, making the score 16-8 in favor of the Jags.
Luke Lucerne then took out another of the Jags top wrestlers in Griffin Hollingsworth at 132lbs by tech fall 16-1, but with the Jags Daniel Husain winning by tech fall just prior at 126, North still trailed 21-13. After the 138-pound match, Garnet was leading 27-13 before the Indians would start what they hoped to be a comeback victory. Sammy Hayes secured a major decision at 145, and both Cam Robinson (152) and Dillon Sheehy (160) recorded falls to push North in front 29-27.
However, Garnet’s Desmon Perry decked Brendon Hardy (CRN) in the first period at 170lbs to put the Jags back in front 33-29 with only one bout left. The Indians’ Alex Roe needed a tech fall or a pin in the final match of the evening at 182lbs for North to complete the comeback. He battled valiantly securing a 6-0 victory over David Dorf, but it was not enough. The loss eliminated North from the championships.
In other action at CR South, #7 Central Bucks East was no match for #10 Interboro, as the Bucs throttled the Patriots 57-21, ending their hopes at a run in these duals.
However, #8 Neshaminy looked as good as any team in D1 with their solid win over #9 Downingtown East in first round action. Neshaminy used the strength of the upper weights to secure the victory. Jason Pascucci closed out the match with a fall at 182-pounds for the ‘Skins 40-32 win. Jack Toy started the match with a 9-1 major decision over Jackson Swearhart at 195.
Zack Magdelinskas, at heavyweight, may have been the one that propelled Neshaminy to victory with a solid win over the Cougars Zach Aceto. Magdelinskas scored the only points of the match with an escape, riding out Aceto in the third period for the 1-0 win at 285-pounds. Take nothing away from the ‘Skins light middle-weights though. Cavin Lederer used a tight cradle at 120 for a fall to start a run of five straight victories for Neshaminy.
Mike Bolli (126) won by injury default, Dan Hansbury (132) and Zac Martin posted falls, and Liam Moss a decision at 145 to extend the ‘Skins lead to 34-17 heading into the teeth of the Cougars line-up. But the Neshaminy wrestlers thwarted the fierce attack, especially in a battle royale between Gunnar Spain and Matt Romanelli (DTE) at 170-pounds. Romanelli decisioned Spain 12-5, but the ‘Skins still held a 34-32 lead with Pascucci on deck to seal the deal.
#2 CR South wrestled #15 Boyertown in the fourth match contested at South, which in the ole days used to be a semifinal or final in these championships. The Golden Hawks held steady in their quest for a fourth straight D1 crown, dealing the Bears a 52-15 defeat. South posted five falls, and with Cole Flanagan seemingly back in the Golden Hawks line-up for good strengthened the middle of their line-up. Flanagan (145), Kyle Waterman (126), Matt Colajezzi, Giani Gilch (195) and Brandon Berghaier (220) scored the falls for the Golden Hawks.
Boyertown, with a new coach and young team, never challenged South, only winning three bouts on the evening. South will battle Interboro Friday 1/31/20, and Neshaminy will face-off with #1 seed Quakertown, who dismissed West Chester Rustin easily 62-9 in first round action at Rustin. Quarterfinal action is slated for 6:00pm at Upper Dublin H.S., followed with the semis at 7:30pm. Wrestle-backs resume Saturday 2/1/20 at 1:00pm, followed by the championship finals and consolation finals at 3:00pm.
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