EAST LAMPETER — Avon Grove’s Kevin Edwards has that look … the look of a wrestler a week or so removed from the season.
Fed, filled in and happy, Edwards has followed the unorthodox family formula of putting on, rather than cutting, weight in the wrestling realm.
It’s hard to argue with the results, and Friday, on the second day of the Buckskin Holiday Classic at Conestoga Valley High, Edwards added another pelt to his wall.
Up from 145 pounds as a junior, Edwards needed just 70 seconds to deck Central Mountain’s Caleb Turner in the 182-pound final.
“It’s kind of a different trying to keep my speed after gaining the weight,” Edwards said. “As I’m getting in better shape I’m getting some of the speed back and it definitely helped out.”
Avon Grove’s Kevin Edwards finishes off a first-period pin in the 182-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
Edwards was an undersized 113-pounder behind Edgar Garcia as a freshman, and last year converted a fifth-place regional finish into a sixth-place medal at states at 145.
Like his older brother, Caleb Edwards, who ended his career at 182 after starting it at 125, Kevin is betting that his lightweight style will translate against the bigger kids.
“The heavier weights, the kids aren’t as quick, so if I’m able to bring my quickness, it’ll be beneficial,” said Kevin Edwards, who had two pins and a technical fall in the tournament. “I have to pace myself more because some of these guys are really strong. I still have to use my speed, but it’s harder at this size. My cardio isn’t great yet but it’s getting better.”
Edwards was the lone champ from the Ches-Mont League, helping Avon Grove finish 16th out of 26 teams, while West Chester Rustin was eighth and Coatesville was 23rd.
Chester County got another to the top of the medal stand when Owen J. Roberts’ Ryan Resnick (160 pounds) used a five-point move against Huntingdon’s Seth Baney in the third period to seal a 10-4 win.
Resnick, who also made a big jump from 132 as a junior, was dominant on his feet both days, outscoring opponents 62-23 in his four bouts. Up 5-3 at the start of the third against Baney, Resnick decided to let him right up and win it where he is strongest.
“I worked all offseason and practiced almost every day and lifted weights every day to take a big step and get ahead of where I was,” said Resnick, who was sixth in the region last winter. “Last year I didn’t get where I wanted to be. This year I’m just attacking every wrestler and pushing the pace and trying to break them. I’m not looking at names, I’m wrestling every kid the same.”
Owen J. Roberts’ Ryan Resnick scoring against Huntingdon’s Seth Baney in the 160-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
Resnick’s future teammate at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chase Stephens of Coatesville, did not have the same fortune in the finals. Up 3-1 early in the third, Stephens was taken to his back by Father Judge’s Trevor Elfvin and settled for second with a 6-5 loss.
Sean McBride (fifth at 182) was the only other top-eight placer for the Red Raiders.
Rustin had the most local medalists, getting six to the podium.
Brett Kaliner (132) was the only Golden Knight to reach the finals, though, and he had the tall task of Exeter’s returning state runner-up, Austin DeSanto. Kaliner was the only foe to go six minutes against DeSanto in the tournament, but could not find an answer for the relentless senior, and lost 19-9.
“I think (DeSanto) was so much more offensive than I expected, as crazy as that seems since he’s so offensive,” Kaliner said. “I made an adjustment in the middle of the match that, if I could’ve done it earlier, I think I could’ve finished some shots. Hopefully I see him again and I’m looking to close the gap each time.”
Tyler Kaliner (138) went 3-0 Friday, capping it with a dominating technical fall over Juniata’s Tyler Feltman in the consolation final.
Andrew Lamberjack (182) took fourth, Dan Labus (152) placed fifth, Jon Reardon (126) made his season debut and finished sixth and Brian Kent (170) was seventh for Rustin.
Also placing for Avon Grove were Josh Walls (third at 285), Nick Barnhart (sixth at 145), Brayden Peck (seventh at 195) and Jordan Howard (eighth at 106).
Owen J. had a pair of third-place winners in Luke Resnick (120) and Dan Mancini (145) and a pair of seventh-place finishers in Antonio Petrucelli (132) and Alex Acosta (285).
Penncrest’s Dayton DelViscio (106) joined Ryan Resnick and Edwards as a champ from District 1.
Penncrest’s Dayton DelViscio struggles against New Oxford’s Timothy Uhler during his 6-1 win in the 106-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media).
Team Standings
1. Exeter, 200.5; 2. Central Mountain, 195; 3. Father Judge, 150; 4. Huntingdon, 137; 5. Bellefonte, 136.5; 6. Northern York, 124.5; 7. Owen J. Roberts, 121; 8. West Chester Rustin, 120; 9. New Oxford, 112.5; 10. Penncrest, 107.5; 16. Avon Grove, 79.5; 23. Coatesville 59.
Championship Finals
106- DelViscio (Penncrest) dec. Uhler (New Oxford), 6-1
113- Watts (Exeter) tech. fall Lisenby (Westfield), 5:31
120- Barzona (Central Mountain) dec. Storm (New Oxford), 3-2
126- Andrus (Central Mountain) dec. Rouzer (Waynesboro), 12-6
132- DeSanto (Exeter) maj. dec. B. Kaliner (Rustin), 19-9
138- Fountain (Father Judge) dec. P. Feite (Northern York), 5-2
145- Port (Bellefonte) maj. dec. M. Hoffman (Northern York), 12-0
152- Elfvin (Father Judge) dec. Stephens (Coatesville), 6-5
160- R. Resnick (Owen J. Roberts) dec. Baney (Huntingdon), 10-4
170- J. Oliver (Huntingdon) dec. Bagoly (Exeter), 7-2
182- Edwards (Avon Grove) pinned Turner (Central Mountain), 1:10
195- Koser (Northern York) dec. Karas (Exeter), 5-2
220- Mason (Jersey Shore) pinned Houtz (Central Mountain), :28
285- Wolfgram (Central York) maj. dec. Daniels (Exeter), 14-1
Consolation Finals
106- L. Logue (Father Judge) pinned Chapman (Philipsburg-Oseola), 1:51
113- E. Logue (Father Judge) dec. Myers (Central York), 10-4
120- L. Resnick (Owen J. Roberts) tech. fall Paluch (Central York), 5:00
126- Wagner (Northern York) pinned Galasso (Lake Lehman), 2:35
132- B. Stocku (Penncrest) maj. dec. Benson (Huntingdon), 11-2
138- T. Kaliner (Rustin) tech. fall Feltman (Juniata), 3:21
145- Mancini (Owen J. Roberts) maj. dec. Weaver (Central Mountain), 11-3
152- Sampson (Dallas) pinned Gardner (Bellefonte), 2:04
160- Wills (Mechanicsburg) dec. Newell (Dallas), 1-0
170- Weaver (Central Mountain) dec. Barber (Dallas), 5-3
182- Swartz (Northern York) dec. Lamberjack (Rustin), 3-1
195- Shaffer (Red Lion) dec. Egolf (Waynesboro), 8-1
220- Rodriguez (New Oxford) dec. Greenleaf (Exeter), 1-0
285- Walls (Avon Grove) dec. Thompson (Central Mountain), 3-1 SV
