HERSHEY — After nearly 200 high school matches, three trips to Hershey and countless hours of practice, the emotional finality of it all hit Downingtown East’s Wade Cummings like one of his trademark shots.
His dad, Darrin, sitting in the corner for the last time as an assistant coach, felt it too, culminating
Downingtown East’s Wade Cummings and his father, Darrin, share a hug after his final match. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
with an embrace most fathers both dream of and dread.
Cummings had just capped off a historic career, leaving the Giant Center in Hershey for the final time with a win, a 9-7 decision over Greensburg Salem’s Chris Eddins in the fifth-place bout, Saturday night.
The majority of wrestlers never get to climb the podium in Hershey. Cummings (126 pounds) did it twice, placing fourth as a junior, and became the 15th wrestler in Ches-Mont League history to win multiple 3A medals, and 22nd overall.
“It’s emotional,” Cummings said. “It’s just so surreal. To be able to finish my career with a win, I’m very happy. Words can’t explain it.”
Coatesville’s Chase Stephens ended his tournament with a win, as well, taking seventh at 152, while Avon Grove’s Kevin Edwards (sixth at 145) and Conestoga’s Dan Iredale (eighth at 160) also placed.
In the morning session, Cummings knocked off Pennridge’s Kordell Rush, 3-1, in the fourth round of consolations, but was upended by Altoona’s Cole Manley, 7-2, in the consi semis. In the fifth-place match, Cummings used a headlock to get a 4-0 lead against Greensburg Salem’s Chris Eddins, and rode it to a 9-7 decision.
For his career, Cummings is tied with Norristown’s Zach Fuentes for fourth in District 1 career wins with 181, while only suffering 14 losses. His win total, as well as his 104 pins, are league records, cementing his standing as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Ches-Mont history.
“It went fast,” Cummings said of his career. “My dad is the best coach and the best supporter, and I couldn’t have done this without him and and wouldn’t have been here without him. He pushes the right amount and he’s strict when he needs to be but he’s also my friend and a great supporter.”
Coatesville’s Chase Stephens blanked South Western’s Gage Thomas, 6-0, in the seventh-place match at 152 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
Stephens couldn’t get by Northern York’s Jonathan Ross in the fourth round consi, but regrouped in time to shut out South Western’s Gage Thomas, 6-0.
Stephens, a junior, will shoot to join Cummings as a two-time medalist next season and enters with a record of 113-18.
“Even though I wasn’t going for a higher place, like I wanted to, I’m glad I could get a medal,” Stephen said. “On my mind was just getting a medal and winning a medal for the Stephens family name.”
Edwards, also a junior, took fifth at the Southeast Regional last week and was an alternate before finishing just one spot lower at states.
In his first match Saturday, Edwards snuck by Susquehanna Township’s Ed Ruth, 6-4, before getting pinned by Council Rock South’s Lucas Martoccio. He then was on the wrong end of an 11-3 major decision against Pottsville’s Luke Gardner.
“It’s great,” Edwards said. “Coming into (Saturday), some of the shock and excitement of being able to place went away and I wanted to see where I ranked with all these other great wrestlers. I always want to do the best I can, but I’m glad with what I got and I’ll work harder to get higher next year.”
Iredale dropped his fourth-round consi to Penn Manor’s Jonah Barley, 12-5. In the seventh-place bout against Jersey Shore’s Haydn Swartwood, Iredale tied the bout up with a takedown with 17 seconds left, but Swartwood escaped to claim a 6-5 decision.
The Pioneer senior finished his career with a record of 105-22.
“It was my last match, and I’ve been wrestling forever,” Iredale said. “It’s kind of weird. I liked knowing this would be my last match, and it was cool to end it here.”
District 1 earned 20 medals and had no champions for the first time since 2013. Franklin Regional junior Spencer Lee was named Outstanding Wrestler after winning his third state title with three pins and a technical fall in the tournament.
NOTES — Former West Chester University wrestler and Downingtown head coach Alray Johnson was named Person of the Year before the PIAA finals for his contributions to the sport, most recently with his online streaming sports site, 3ctvlive.com.
“It’s fantastic,” Johnson said. “I put a number of years in with the sport and am still going on the administrative end. … Sports are a big part of my life, and after college I coached at Downingtown. They’re still performing today, with two schools, so I hope I had a little to do with that, building some momentum. It’s nice to see the kids doing real well these days.”
