UPPER DUBLIN >> After losing to Downingtown East in the quarterfinals of the District-1 AAA Duals Tournament, the Pennridge wrestling team was trying to take the hard road to make it to the PIAA tournament by advancing through the consolation bracket.
Friday, the Rams were able to advance by getting past Owen J Roberts with a 35-29 win. Pennridge put its season on the line again Saturday afternoon, but its season was cut short with a 35-30 loss to Upper Darby.
“On paper I thought we had a really good shot at beating that team,” Pennridge coach R.P. Norley said. “To be honest there’s really no reason why we shouldn’t have. I was not expecting a couple kids to come out flat today, but we should have won.”
The difference in the match was Upper Darby’s ability to get crucial bonus points from major decisions, tech falls and pins. Of Darby’s nine wins on the match, seven of which resulted in at least a major decision.
While five out of six Pennridge victories resulted in the same, it was not enough to make up the difference.
Stephen Blanchard controlled his 170-pound match but was only able to gain the Rams three points with 7-5 decision. Evan Widing at 132 pounds, which was the first match of the day, earned a 9-0 major decision, but had his opponent in pinning position for much of the bout. Matt Parker dominated at 113 pounds with a 25-10 tech fall, but that stood as another point left off the board.
“That was not what we needed there at 95,” Norley said. “At 70 we really needed to get that take down in the third period. (Upper Darby) had a guy that was standing on noodles for legs and we couldn’t take him down and that hurt.”
Many programs would consider a fifth place finish at district duals a successful season, but for a team that traditionally performs well at the district tournament — placing fourth and earning a PIAA bid last year — the Rams expect to qualify for the state tournament. Last year, the Rams sent six individual qualifiers to the state tournament.
“It’s tough it stings a little bit,” Norley said. “It’s definitely not where we wanted to be at this point in the year, we expected more of the guys. It’s tough to keep them consistent and rested at their best every day.”
With no state team berth for Pennridge, this season Norley is determined to let this be a learning lesson and leave a bad taste in the mouths of the younger Rams.
“I’m not satisfied at all,” Norley said. “We worked too hard to come up short. On a day like today I’m disappointed but I’m proud of the guys they went out and fought. A couple individuals (performed well). There are always positives to take away from ever loss but as a whole right now this one still hurts.”
