Upper Merion forfeits nine matches in loss to Pottsgrove

UPPER MERION >> With Upper Merion forfeiting nine matches, the result of Wednesday night’s Pottstgrove-Upper Merion wrestling match was hardly a mystery.

And it wasn’t, as the Falcons emerged with a 51-18 victory.

But no one on the Vikings sideline was cursing the gods or making excuses.

“I’ve been here seven years, and this is the first time we’ve really been bit by the injury bug,” said Upper Merion head coach Marcus Johnson. “So I’m not going to complain. It started at Thanksgiving, and hasn’t stopped. We have seven starters out right now.

“I’m happy with the way the guys who wrestled, wrestled. I’m upset because of the injuries.”

On the other side of the mat, the Falcons had nothing to whine about either.

Chase Banyai topped Upper Merion’s tough Zach DeSanto at 132 pounds with a late takedown, while Josh Cerrito notched a second-period fall at 126.

“I thought everybody wrestled well,” said Falcons head coach Jeff Madden. “Chase did a nice job, that was a real good battle.

“And I thought Upper Merion looked real good at 138 and 152.”

With the winner not really in doubt, the Falcons went out confident and got the job done.

Cerrito was not scored upon at 126, and led 7-0 by the time he decked Miguel Amor.

Banyai (16-4) found himself in a 1-all tie with DeSanto, but authored a takedown in the bout’s final 17 seconds to pull out the victory.

“This gives us a good start in the league,” Madden said. “I didn’t know how the league was going to be this year, with the two divisions.

“But I like it. Everyone has a chance in the last five weeks to make a name for themselves.”

As for Upper Merion, Johnson said the focus over the season’s final weeks is putting an eye on the postseason.

“At this point, we just want to get our guys ready for the league championships, and get a few guys to districts,” the coach said.

Pottsgrove 51, Upper Merion 18
120 — Kyle Fehnel (P) won by forfeit.
126 — Josh Cerrito (P) pinned Miguel Amor, 2:50.
132 — Chase Banyai (P) dec. Zach DeSanto, 3-2.
138 — Matt Koresko (UM) pinned Jacquin Allen, 0:42.
145 — Stephen Hennelly (P) won by forfeit.
152 — Tim Cheng (UM) pinned Noah Miller, 2:47.
160 — Marcus Keen (P) won by forfeit.
170 — Josh Adama (UM) won by forfeit.
182 — Ryan Finn (P) won by forfeit.
195 — Zachary VanHorn (P) won by forfeit.
220 — Skylar McLeod (P) won by forfeit.
285 — Double Forfeit.
106 — Taghir Frazier (P) won by forfeit.
113 — Robert Strawley (P) won by forfeit.

Top Photo: Pottsgrove’s Josh Cerrito works to pin Upper Merion’s Miguel Amor  during their teams’ dual meet on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)