Indian Wrestlers Grab Pair of Non-League Matches

by Jake Hallman, Staff Writer

Posted on December 24, 2009

Heading into Upper Perkiomen's first match, head coach Tom Hontz knew his team had a lot of maturing to do. Besides a small dose of upperclass leadership, the 2009-10 squad is expected to be one marked by youth.

Though no doubt talented, that youth had yet to prove itself in varsity competition. But after the looks of a pair of non-league wins for the Tribe this past week, that youth movement, as well as the rest of the team, is off to a good start.

The Indians claimed their first win last Tuesday at home with a 42-26 victory over Governor Mifflin. Two days later, Upper Perk held on to edge District 1 rival North Penn, 41-30, on the road.

Against the Knights, Upper Perk found itself in a 9-0 hole after the opening two bouts. But then the upperweights turned the tide. Though Hontz and company said he expects big point swings from the lower weights, the head man no doubt had to be pleased with the effort from the big men.

The rally started with a first-period pin from senior Nick Hale at 189, continued with Chris Cornwell's 27-second drop at 215 and kept going with Dan Wolfrom's 1:35 pin at 285.

When the lineup turned over to the lightweights, the Tribe turned the early nine-point deficit into a comfortable 35-9 lead with six bouts left. The freshmen trifecta of Kyle Fellman (103), who notched a pin; Dylan Steffenino, who worked for a tech fall at 112 and Wolfgang McStravick, who earned the slap in the second period, all shared a big hand in the swing.

Chris Rementer (140) sealed the victory with his second-period fall against Nick Gallagher to account for the Tribe's final points of the night.

Against the Mustangs, the Tribe claimed just six of the 13 bouts, but picked up four falls and a pair of forfeits for critical bonus points that proved the difference. McStravick, senior David Cannon (130), Cody Ambrose (160), Hale (215) and Wolfrom (285) headlined the pin parade. Dan Rodenberger, back from an early season hand injury, picked up a forfeit at 125, as did Devyn Kerr (145).

Upper Perk will get a chance to learn some more about the team at the King of the Mat Tournament at North Davidson High School in North Carolina. In round one action, six wrestlers won their respective bouts or moved on via forfeit.

Wolfgang McStravick, Nate Pompei, Wolfrom, Hale and Steffenino moved on to the second round on Monday, leaving the Tribe in fifth place out of the 20-team field after the first day. Results and matchups of the tourney can be found at http://myndsports.com.

After King of the Mat, Upper Perk will return home Jan. 6 to host Methacton to open the Pioneer Athletic Conference portion of the schedule before a trip to Virginia to take part in the prestigious Battlefield Duals.

http://www.upvnews.com/sports/indian-wrestlers-grab-pair-of-non-league-matches.html

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