Reid, Tuohey shine at Vanguard Tourney

ASTON — West Chester Henderson’s Jake Reid had every reason to be shaken.

In years past, the junior probably would have been.

Saturday, in the 113-pound finals of the Vanguard Invitational at Sun Valley High, Reid got in a quick hole against Upper Darby’s Jacob Mejias. But, as a sign of his growth, he rallied to get the 8-7 win, and in doing so, Reid was given the Outstanding Wrestler award.

Matt Phayre (138 pounds) joined Reid as champion for Henderson, who finished third as a team, while Malvern Prep won the team title by claiming half of the weight classes. Shane Hanson-Ashworth (106), Nick Lattanze (126), PJ Crane (132), Ben Tuohey (145), Matt Lattanze (160), Mike Beard (195) and Seth Janney (220) climbed to the top of the podium for Malvern, but Reid’s day was deemed best of the tourney.

“It felt awesome,” Reid said. “We’ve been working a lot on my composure this year and in the past I wasn’t always the best at keeping it. I just had to work hard at slowly coming back from the deficit.”

Mejias jumped on Reid with a five-point move early in the first period. The Royals’ senior went to the second up 7-3 before Reid hit a lateral drop and got the back points for an 8-7 lead. When Mejias took down to start the third, Reid was confident the match was his.

“When he chose bottom I knew there was no way he was getting out,” Reid said. “The way I’ve been riding throughout the season, in the finals of the Manheim tourney I rode the kid out the whole two minutes, and this kid was as good as him so I knew I’d be able to hold him down.”

Malvern freshman Hanson-Ashworth (106) knocked off Souderton’s Tyler Williams in the semifinals before throttling Father Judge’s Tim McCall, 17-5, in the finals.

Malvern and Henderson matched up twice in the finals. In the first bout, Malvern’s Nick Lattanze (126) shut out Ray Martin, 6-0, and PJ Crane (132) followed with a 6-2 decision over Kyle Medrow.

Earlier in the day, Medrow become Henderson’s most prolific pinner with his 73rd of his career. Phayre won the 138-pound title when Penncrest’s Ryan Stocku was forced to injury default after leading, 8-3.

Tuohey got Malvern back on the board with a technical fall over Penncrest’s Zach Groses. Two years ago the bout would’ve been a league match when Tuohey was a regional qualifier for Garnet Valley. Now a senior and in his second year at Malvern, Tuohey has become a key piece in the star-studded lineup.

“Malvern is where I started, ever since (Malvern coach) Nate Lautar started the youth club,” Tuohey said. “This is family to me. I’ve grown up with these guys and it’s fun to finish my high school career with the guys I grew up with.”

Matt Lattanze moved up to 160 after starting the year at 138. The added weight didn’t hinder him much as he was a 6-1 winner over Father Judge’s Adam White.

“I’m still getting used to it,” Lattanze said. “I was trying to get a couple matches where I went the full length. I feel strong enough, it’s just getting used to the weight and getting used to the moves at this weight.”

Being a multiple-time prep All-American and a senior on the team, Matt Lattanze could’ve have pushed to go to 145 or 152, but chose not to out of respect for his teammates.

“I felt that since I couldn’t make 138 I didn’t want to punish anyone else,” Lattanze said. “I plan on going 149 or 157 in college, but I’ve been cutting weight all throughout high school and never felt I wrestled to the best of my ability that way. So, hopefully once I get back in shape I can show people how good I really am.”

Beard and Janney finished off the day for Malvern with second period pins. Beard’s came against Upper Darby’s Brian Kennerly.

Also placing in the top four for Henderson were Weston Frame (third at 160), Will Amarant (third at 195), Zac Sontag (fourth at 145), Jonathan Earley (fourth at 170) and Connor McGuinness (fourth at 182).

Team Standings

1. Malvern Prep, 174; 2. Upper Darby, 148.5; 3. West Chester Henderson, 120.5; 4. Archbishop Wood, 104; 5. Father Judge, 98.5; 6. Souderton, 78.5; 7. Penncrest, 75; 8. Sun Valley, 29.

Championship Finals

106- Hanson-Ashworth maj. dec. McCall (Father Judge), 17-5

113- Reid (Henderson) dec. Mejias (Upper Darby), 8-7

120- Bach (Souderton) dec. Z. Schaffer (Archbishop Wood), 6-2

126- N. Lattanze (Malvern Prep) dec. Martin (Henderson), 6-0

132- Crane (Malvern Prep) dec. Medrow (Henderson), 6-2

138- M. Phayre (Henderson) inj. def. Stocku (Penncrest)

145- Tuohey (Malvern Prep) tech. fall Groses (Penncrest), 4:44

152- Michaels (Souderton) dec. Livingston (Upper Darby), 2-1 TB

160- M. Lattanze (Malvern Prep) dec. White (Father Judge), 6-1

170- Frank (Penncrest) tech fall Kamanousa (Upper Darby), 15-0

182- Green (Archbishop Wood) pinned Mosley-Jones (Upper Darby), 1:24

195- Beard (Malvern Prep) pinned Kennerly (Upper Darby), 3:45

220- Janney (Malvern Prep) pinned Bishop (Archbishop Wood), 3:50

285- Augustin (Upper Darby) pinned Garvey (Sun Valley)