Late push carries PV past Phantoms; UP pins down Trojans

by Pottstown Mercury Staff Report

Posted on January 14, 2010

GRATERFORD — Perkiomen Valley's wrestling team has some of its most vital strengths in the upper portion of the Vikings' lineup.

That helps explain why Perkiomen Valley was able to spot Phoenixville a 21-0 lead after four bouts Wednesday night and still rebound convincingly enough to garner a 42-23 Pioneer Athletic Conference victory over the visiting Phantoms.

The Vikings (2-0, 3-4) capped the night by winning the final eight matches in a row to erase a 24-6 deficit.

Vaughn Gehman played an integral role in the comeback with a 5-0 decision over Matt Cermanski at 145 pounds.

Gehman (12-5) and Cermanski (12-7), both juniors, are each among the top grapplers on their respective squads so the match figured to be close.

"I just keep fighting," said Gehman. "I don't want to give anything up for the team. I am fighting for the team. We are all in this together. We have each other's back. We keep each other up. We have to keep working hard at practice and keep helping these young guys."

The Vikings offered forfeits at 103 and 119 to help the Phantoms (0-3, 3-7) open their early lead. Brandon O'Hara returned to the Phoenixville lineup at 285 pounds and scored a 9-4 decision against David Robinson to start the action. Eddie McCarthy took the forfeit at 103, and Jake Moore followed with a fall in 1:43 against Gerard Krug. Brian Madden was awarded the forfeit at 119. That made it 21-0 in favor of the Phantoms, but most of the rest of the night belonged to Perkiomen Valley.

Upper Perkiomen 44, Pottstown 24: The Indians rode the point production from four pins and a technical fall to victory over the Trojans in their PAC-10 match.

Dalton Fleming (152), Nick Hale (189) and Dan Wolfrom (215) scored falls in the first half of the lineup to help build a 24-6 lead, with Dylan Steffenino (103) adding another drop and Wolfgang McStravick (112) a technical good for a 35-12 advantage. For Pottstown, David DeBoer (145) and Ricardo Gonzalez (171) scored early decisions prior to Will Carter posting a fall in the first minute of the 285-pound bout.

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