Germantown Academy already looking to the future

WHITEMARSH — The reality for Germantown Academy’s wrestling program is that for the first time in 11 seasons, the campaign will not end with an Inter-Academic League championship.

The Patriots and the rest of the circuit will finish behind Malvern Prep this year.

Eric Corliss, along with the remainder of the Patriots seniors, will not go out with a title.

It’s tough to take, but as Corliss said after GA had defeated Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 49-23, Friday afternoon, it’s not the end of the world.

“We’re young,’ said Corliss, “and it hasn’t been that way around here for a long time. This year we have three seniors, last year we had seven.

“But that’s not a bad thing.’

It’s bad for those GA fans who were hoping for an 11th straight league crown, But for the future, head coach Steve Hill said it’s merely a case of the program having to stop briefly to inhale.

“We’re not going to discount the kids who are here, because they’re working just as hard as any of the teams we’ve had here for the past 10 years,’ Hill said. “But numbers have hurt us this year, we just don’t have the same number of kids in the room as we’ve had.

“And you’re seeing the numbers up at Malvern. You’re seeing Chestnut Hill with a full lineup, and there have been years they’ve had six and seven forfeits.’

The shift in power is obvious in the results.

This year, the Patriots lost to Malvern for the first time in 20 years, and lost to Haverford School for the first time in 11 seasons.

But Hill said this is not the beginning of a trend.

“You hear a lot about culture in sports today, and I believe the culture we’ve had around here has helped our kids be successful,’ the coach said. “For us, it’s about next year and our goal is to get back to where we were.’

Hill, who is an instructor at the Mavericks wrestling club, which has Germantown Academy as a base, said the middle school wrestlers who have already committed to GA, look strong, and the future seems bright.

He said the same of Corliss, who is a 4.0 student in the classroom and who has been a four-year stalwart on the mat.

“I had Eric in Mavericks when he was small, and he’s always been a joy to coach,’ Hill said. “He’s an extremely smart, well-rounded young man who you just know is going to go on and do great things.’

Corliss returned the compliment to Hill, who the Patriots senior said inspired him to be a wrestler back in those Mavericks days.

“I remember Coach Hill telling me that being a wrestler wasn’t always about being the biggest or smartest. It was about pride,’ Corliss said.

“You didn’t have to be the big guy, you just had to have pride and confidence in your ability and you always had a chance.’

Corliss will wrestle in college, and is in the process of choosing between five schools, including King’s, Rhode Island College and Case Western. Each of the five have offered scholarships.

“I just want to get away from what my brother is doing,’ Corliss joked, referring to older brother Keith, who is graduating a semester early from Johns Hopkins after a very successful career as a linebacker and the football program’s leading tackler. “But I want to get a good education and wrestle, like going here.’

Before leaving GA, however, Corliss has some unfinished business as a scholastic wrestler – he wants to place at the National Prep School Championships this year.

“I think it’s a realistic goal,’ he said. “I feel I can beat anyone I walk out onto the mat with.

“I think this is my year.’

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 49

SPRINGSIDE CHESTNUT HILL 23

145 – Brady Riley (GA) pinned Matt Greenberg, 1:18.

152 – Dan Smith (GA) pinned Grant Dalsemer, 4:33.

160 – Eric Corliss (GA) pinned Parker Popky, 0:56.

170 – Patrick Salmon (GA) pinned Sean Edling, 2:36.

182 – Matt Gorman (GA) dec. Matt Spirito, 17-6.

195 – Desmond Johnson (CHA) pinned Jack Davis, 1:32.

220 – Syaire Madden (CHA) dec. Kwasi Amporah, 8-0.

285 – Sean McCann (CHA) won by forfeit.

106 – Brandon Seidman (GA) dec. Luke Purcell, 3-2.

113 – Brian Jamison (GA) pinned Jordan Bell, 1:05.

120 – Trevor Shirakawa (GA) won by forfeit.

126 – Callahan Connor (GA) pinned Tom Leichner, 1:59.

132 – Kyle Willams (CHA) dec. Nick Habre, 5-1.

138 – Jackson Bistrong (CH) dec. George Schwartz, 10-1.