Upper Darby reaches states for first time
UPPER DUBLIN >> Saturday was an historic night for Upper Darby, even if it was a slightly scary one for head coach Bob Martin.
Martin, who was taken to the hospital during the consolation semifinal after not feeling well, was not there to watch his team qualify for the PIAA Duals for the first time in school history.
The No. 4 Royals first beat No. 6 Pennridge, 35-30, in the consolation semifinal, before dropping a 46-24 decision to No. 3 Downingtown East in the consolation final.
The result was enough to reach Monday’s next round, where Upper Darby will travel to face District 3 runner-up Central Dauphin. The winner will advance to the double-elimination tournament in Hershey.
“Being the first team means a lot to us,” Upper Darby assistant coach Phil Carbonetta of the qualification said. “The kids have been working hard. We had this as a goal and we achieved it, so it feels good.”
Carbonetta was in charge after Martin was taken from the gym in what was believed to be a precautionary move.
Downingtown East’s Wade Cummings (132 pounds) also made some history, becoming the first Ches-Mont League wrestler to pick up his 100th career pin. He did so with the fastest fall of his career, a six-second decking to close out the dual against Upper Darby.
“One hundred pins is an incredible feat,” Horvath said. “What I like most about the accomplishment is that he goes for the pins for his team and it has nothing to do with records or self-fulfillment. He’s doing what the team asks him and that’s what Wade is. He’s selfless.”
By the time Cummings made history the contest had already been decided. The coin toss went the right way for East, as the Cougars were able to bump away from regional champ Colin Cronin (138) and get a pin by Nik Zimmerman (145).
Max Livingston (152) gave the Royals another six-point lead with a fall, but East got a big boost from some of its upper weights. Alec Horne (170) worked a third-period pin, Brent Czajkowski (182) erased an early deficit and pinned Coltrane Mosley-Jones and Owen Morris (195) scored a takedown as time ran out to push it to a major decision.
Brian Kennerly (195) and Peter Augustin (285) collected pins for Upper Darby, but that would be the last of the scoring for Royals.
James Strommer (113) picked up a 7-4 win over Upper Darby’s Jacob Mejias, Brett Horne (120) won a 4-1 decision against Thomas Reif and Connor Birzes (126) came from behind to top Nickolas Venuti, 11-9, in sudden victory for the Cougars, who won the last five matches.
Boyertown defeated Council Rock South, 40-21, in the championship finals to win its third consecutive District 1 Duals title. The preliminary duals on Monday are single elimination, while the tournament in Hershey starts Thursday.
