EAST GOSHEN — Just when it looked like West Chester Henderson was finally ready to take control of the dual meet, West Chester East threw a wrench into the narrative.
A last second takedown by freshman Jamison Eadie against Luke Phayre, thwarted a potential Warriors run, and three matches later, the contest was on the line.
This time, older brother Matt Phayre (145 pounds) stepped onto the mat for the winner-take-all bout.
“I was ready for that,” Matt Phayre said.
The junior blew off a scoreless first period and with 18 ticks left in the second, Matt Phayre pinned Tyler Blum to salvage Henderson’s Ches-Mont National Division win, 33-25, at East.
The last three duals, including Wednesday’s, between Henderson and East have been decided by an average of 8.7 points, but Henderson (3-0 division, 20-1 overall) survived to stay alive in the National race.
“We knew it was going to be a good one,” Matt Phayre said. “We came out slow but we were able to finish.”
West Chester Henderson’s works towards a takedown against West Chester East’s Corey Celenza. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
Killian Delaney had just pushed Henderson’s lead to six with a major decision over Corey Celenza at 113, before Eadie pulled the minor upset. Luke Phayre was penalized a team point for throwing his head gear, making the final bout as big as it was.
Jason Tran (126) avenged his younger brother, Justin’s, loss to Jeffrey Greiner (106), by defeating Jeffrey’s older brother, Jacob Greiner. Jake Reid (132) then shutout Tommy Luke, 5-0, to give Henderson a 27-19 lead.
East’s Campbell Wolov struck right back with a second-period fall to make it 27-25.
“I thought West Chester East came out slugging,” Henderson coach Rob Beighley said. “You have to give them credit. Their kids were prepared. They came out and won in the spots where they had to.”
Things started out as planned for the Warriors as Ray Martin (152) and Weston Frame (160) earned a fall and technical fall, respectively.
But East (1-2, 2-2) hung around, using a pin by Andrew DiBernardo (170) and a major decision by Mike Manieri (182), the lone senior Viking.
West Chester East’s Andrew DiBernardo closes in on a pin at 170 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
“It was senior night and we only have one senior,” East coach John Gallo said. “Henderson has six seniors, but this was still a match we should have been able to win, even with a young team.”
Henderson will travel to Coatesville next week and then host Downingtown West the following week. The date with the Whippets could be for the National Division title, but if Coatesville can get healthy in time, it will give the Warriors all they can handle.
The 21 dual meets wrestled by the Warriors this season has prepared them for these tight spots, said Beighley.
“There’s ebbs and flows in duals, being up and down, so we have experience with that,” Beighley said.
The District 1 Duals seeds will be picked Sunday, with the tournament starting next Thursday, January 26.
West Chester Henderson 33, West Chester East 25
152- Martin (WCH) pinned Clifford, 1:06 (6-0)
160- Frame (WCH) tech. fall Montgomery, 4:58 (11-0)
170- DiBernardo (WCE) pinned Early, :56 (11-6)
182- Manieri (WCE) maj. dec. McGuinness, 16-6 (11-10)
195- Wisnowski (WCH) dec. Cooper, 11-4 (14-10)
220- Robuck (WCH) maj. dec. Lemmon-Kishi, 14-0 (18-10)
285- Timm (WCE) dec. Foster, 2-1 TB (18-13)
106- Je. Greiner (WCE) dec. Ju. Tran, 4-0 (18-16)
113- Delaney (WCH) maj. dec. Celenza, 14-4 (22-16)
120- Eadie (WCE) dec. L. Phayre, 5-4 (21-19)*
126- Ja. Tran (WCH) dec. Ja. Greiner, 2-0 (24-19)
132- Reid (WCH) dec. Luke, 5-0 (27-19)
138- Wolov (WCE) pinned Baldwin, 3:38 (27-25)
145- M. Phayre (WCH) pinned Blum, 3:42 (33-25)
*West Chester Henderson was penalized a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
