Upper Darby stays perfect in Central by surging to win

Upper Darby kept its hopes for a Central League title intact with a 37-29 come-from-behind victory over Penncrest Friday night.

The Royals (16-4 overall, 9-0 league) won the final five bouts to keep pace with Garnet Valley atop the league standings. Pete Augustin started with a 6-4 decision at 285 pounds followed by a 28-second pin from Jake Mejias. After a Penncrest forfeit at 113 pounds, Austin Petril (120) fought to a 11-3 major decision before Colin Cronin (126) closed with a pin in 3:01. Josh Yeboah (195) also won by fall in 1:01.

Penncrest’s Ryan Dougherty (152), James Morris (160) and Liam Frank (182) all won by falls while Ronnie Frank (138) won with a 14-0 major decision.

In other Central League action:

Marple Newtown 54, Lower Merion 24: The Tigers rattled off four straight falls and won the final seven matches of the night to drop the Aces.

Marple Newtown (8-10, 3-6) saw pins from Tommy Long (152), Niko Akranis (160), Kevin Goff (170) and Bradley Busch (182) to turn a 24-12 deficit into a 36-24 lead. The final three matches were forfeited by Lower Merion. Pat Callaghan (126) also won by fall, pinning his opponent in 43 seconds.

Robbie Hazard (113), Brandon Jordan (132) and Brody Brush (145) had Lower Merion’s three pins on the night.

In the Del Val League:

Glen Mills 39, Academy Park 35: The Knights (12-10, 1-3) started and finished strong, but a push of five consecutive wins from 170 pounds to 285 pounds gave the Battlin Bulls (8-14, 2-2) the win.

Trailing 17-6, Glen Mills got falls out of Ezequiel Rosa (170 pounds), Israel Crane (182 pounds), Elijah Tacley (220 pounds) and Jonathan Jordan (285 pounds) with Crane, Tacley and Jordan all pinning their opponents in the first period. Trailing 33-17, the Knights won four of the final five bouts, but a forfeit at 113 sealed the win for Glen Mills.

Erin Orange had Academy Park’s only pin at 145 pounds.

In Inter-Ac League action:

Malvern Prep 46, Haverford 24: The Friars never trailed, using five falls to top the Fords.

Rob Gueriera got things started at 160 pounds with a pin in 2:40, followed by another pin by Patrick Devine at 170 pounds. Jake Anderson (220), Nick Lattanze (113) and Matt Lattanze (138) all added falls that came in the first period. Mike Beard (152) finished the night with a 12-4 major decision.

Jack Gola (126) and Chris Kober (145) added falls for Haverford School. Kober’s was the fastest of the night, ending the bout in 34 seconds.