Methacton’s Reddington stays calm, wins
ROYERSFORD — Bryce Reddington was not in a desperate situation heading into last weekend’s Pioneer Athletic Conference Championships.
While the Methacton High sophomore 132-pounder was seeded third, he had the confidence in knowing he had beaten the two wrestlers seeded in front of him — Pottstown’s Logan Pennypacker and Boyertown’s J.T. Cooley — during the regular season.
Still, this was the postseason, where upsets are the norm and nerves, and the ability to control them, are as much a part of the matches as red and green anklets.
Reddington kept his nerves under control, mixed in a healthy dose of guarded confidence and prevailed, blanking both Pennypacker and Cooley to earn his first postseason gold medal.
“I just went out and wrestled my match, I wrestled how I’d been wrestling the last couple weeks,’ the Warriors middleweight said. “I knew I’d beaten both of them before, so I was confident, but not too confident.
“I know anybody can be beaten by anybody on any given day.’
Reddington’s reward was gaining the top seed in Saturday’s PIAA District One West Championships at Spring-Ford High School (9 a.m. start).
And once again, the plan is to go into the tournament confidently, but with a couple of ounces of reserve.
“I just want to take it one match at a time,’ Reddington said. “Whatever happens, as long as I wrestle my best, that’s all I can ask.
“I can’t look past anyone. Each guy is a match is another match I have to be at my best for.’
While most observers are pointing to a possible matchup of sophomores, Reddington and Upper Darby’s once-beaten Colin Cronin, in the finals, Reddington is all too aware of the possible postseason pitfalls.
“This is great competition and it’s fun,’ he said, “and you know you’re going to get somebody good in every match.’
The Warriors soph is also hoping to get some rewards after a season which saw a very young, injury-ravaged Methacton team struggle through a sub-par year.
“The team is young,’ he said, “and we had so much experience last year, so it was difficult for us.
“All you can do in that situation is give it your best, and hope you can help the team.’
And while Bryce’s proud pop Neil Reddington was able to keep his son’s head in check after the league championship win — “He kept saying, ‘ Remember, I have three of those.’ Bryce said, referring to his dad’s three sectional crowns at Methacton, the son now has the opportunity to one-up the old man.
“He didn’t win districts,’ Bryce said. “He said he kept seeing (former Quakertown standout and long-time Upper Perkiomen head coach) Tom Hontz in front of him.’
