BOYERTOWN >> Scary to think how much tougher Boyertown’s lineup can be once all its front-line wrestlers are back and in their intended positions.
The Bears aren’t quite there, but they’re getting closer. They completed a dominating week of Pioneer Athletic Conference action Saturday by rolling over Owen J. Roberts, 51-6 … three days after putting together a 66-4 conquest of Upper Perkiomen.
Boyertown’s Michael Porreca, left, goes up against Owen J. Roberts’ David Glanski during their bout at 182 on Saturday. (Photo/Tom Kelly III)
Facing a Wildcat squad with a number of quality grapplers in its lineup, Boyertown (3-0 league, 9-0 overall) set the tone by racking up 48 unanswered points through the first 11 bouts. It clinched the team victory over Roberts (1-1, 4-3) with five weights left, scored bonus points in seven of those early matchups, and posted four falls in that span.
“When we perform to our capabilities,” Boyertown head coach Pete Ventresca said afterward, “we’ll be in the right mix for the state duals.”
The Bears also won four bouts by margins of two points or less. Two of those close outcomes were scored by wrestlers outside the team’s regular power fraternity: Freshman Jake Miller, a 1-0 winner over Jason Zollers at 152, and Elijah Jones, who edged Micky Kohn by a similar score in their 170-pound tussle. And Michael Porreca (1-4) also distinguished himself at 182, racking up a 14-5 major decision on David Glanski.
“We have really good balance, which helps as a coach,” Ventresca said. “There are no holes here or there.”
With regular 285-pounder Tommy Killoran sidelined healing a non-sports injury, the Boyertown coaching staff shifted its upper weights, moving normal 182-pounder Gregg Harvey to 195 and Brody O’Connell to the heavyweight spot. Both Bears were more than equal to the switch, Harvey (22-3) scoring a 19-7 major decision on Nick Duliakas and O’Connell scoring a 5-1 decision on Bill Scherfel.
Boyertown’s Jacob Miller, top, scored a 1-0 decision over Owen J. Roberts’ Jason Zollers during their bout at 152. (Photo/Tom Kelly III)
In between those bouts, Jordan Wood (18-1) laid a first-period pin on Connor Mitchell at 220. Matt Wilde (15-5) then secured the team victory with a 3-1 verdict over Luke Resnick at 106.
“We’re pretty good when we have our full lineup,” Wood (18-1) said after scoring his league-best 14th fall of the season. “We’re taking it step by step right now.”
Owen J. got its points with decisions in two of the last three bouts. In both instances, Dan Mancini (126) and Ryan Resnick (138) had to gut out one-point verdicts — Resnick’s in the fourth overtime of the match finale.
“They’re one of the best teams I’ve ever faced, from top to bottom,” OJR mat boss Steve DeRafelo said of Boyertown. “They do the right things at the right times … score points at the end of periods, working off tie-ups.”
Mancini added to his already-substantial legacy, the Wildcat freshman (12-4) ending the Bears’ shutout designs with a 2-1 decision of Lucas Miller. A third-period escape and penalty point enabled Mancini to erase the 1-0 lead Miller (13-4) had with his escape from a second-period bottom start.
“That’s a big-time win for him,” DeRafelo said. “He’s making changes already … adjustments to his stance. We’re happy for him.”
In the finale, Ryan Resnick (15-3) and Boyertown’s J.T. Cooley went 5-5 through regulation time, Resnick’s two escapes in the third period matching Cooley’s takedown. They went 0-0 in the one-minute first OT, then each got overtime escapes — Resnick in the second, Cooley in the third — before Resnick got the decisive escape in a 7-6 UTB verdict.
Owen J. Roberts Micky Kohn, right, takes down Boyertown’s Elijah Jones during their bout at 170. (Photo/Tom Kelly III)
“Those were hard-fought bouts,” DeRafelo said. “Their kids know how to wrestle six, seven, eight minutes. We’ve got work to do to be ready.”
Another close win for the Bears came between the Owen J. victories, Garrett Mauger scoring a third-period takedown against Stone Bissland at 132.
“We’re mentally tough through our whole lineup,” Wood said. “Our practices are high-paced and intense. That gives us the mental edge that keeps us going.”
Chris Berry got Boyertown’s roll going at 145, posting an 8-0 major decision at 145. At 160, Hunter Vogels (8-2) got his team’s first fall in a third-period cradling of Mitchell Dowd.
Jakob and David Campbell padded the home team’s lead with falls in their bouts. Jakob (16-1) got his at 113 over Tyler McCutchen, and David (16-5) followed at 120 against Zach Englehardt.
“We had a lot of kids who wrestled well,” Ventresca noted. “And they (OJR) have some good kids, too. I was pleased with our performances.”
NOTES >> Wilde’s win made his birthday even happier. … Both teams will face each other again next weekend, part of the field for the “Escape The Rock” Tournament Jan. 16 and 17 at Council Rock South. Prior to that, Boyertown will have back-to-back PAC matches at Perkiomen Valley (Jan. 13) and Pottstown (Jan. 14) while Roberts hosts Methacton Wednesday.
