DEast takes third in district, Cummings picks up 100th pin

FORT WASHINGTON — If the individual postseason is the time for the stars to shine brightest, the duals tournament is an opportunity for the program kids and up-and-comers to make their mark.

Despite losing five starters, including two state qualifiers, to graduation, Downingtown East grew into a pretty balanced team this winter. This weekend the No. 3 Cougars put it all together and qualified for the PIAA Duals for the second time in four years.

East knocked off No. 12 West Chester Rustin, 37-31, in the consolation semifinals of the Class AAA District 1 Duals at Upper Dublin High, and then kept rolling to a 46-24 win over No. 4 Upper Darby, Saturday.

The Royals clinched their first trip to states and will head west to face District 3’s runner-up, Central Dauphin, Monday. East will travel to Exeter, Monday, as both teams will try to win to advance to Hershey for what becomes a double elimination tournament.

“We’re really excited about what we’ve done this season,” East coach Joe Horvath said. “Qualifying for the state tournament is a tremendous accomplishment and we’re looking forward to the state duals. We’d like to carry this momentum into the (individual) postseason.”

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.

“We lost some guys last year and we knew we needed to step up our senior year,” Czajkowski said. “We knew what we had to do and just went out with a bang and put it all out there.”

Brian Kennerly (195) and Peter Augustin (285) collected pins for Upper Darby, but that would be the last of the scoring for Royals.

“Being the first team means a lot to us,” said Upper Darby assistant coach Phil Carbonetta of the qualification. “The kids have been working hard. We had this as a goal and we achieved it, so it feels good.”

Upper Darby head coach Bob Martin was taken to the hospital during the consi semifinal against Pennridge after not feeling well, though it was thought to be a precaution. Martin’s team made him proud, bouncing the No. 6 Rams, 35-30, to get to East.

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.

“We graduated a lot of top-shelf wrestlers last year and the guys stepping in have done a tremendous job, despite lacking experience,” Horvath said. “They’ve really asserted themselves and are a nice top-shelf contingent and I couldn’t be more proud of those guys.”

Rustin made it interesting against the Cougars, but three swing matches decided the dual. With the Golden Knights up 11-10, Jude McDowell (160) jumped to an early lead and survived a comeback attempt from Collin Hurley to win, 10-9, giving East the lead for good. But it was far from easy.

Czajkowski eked past Andrew Lamberjack (182), 1-0, and Rustin’s chances took a major blow when Brendan McGinley earned the pin at 285 for the Cougars.

“We don’t concern ourselves with seeding,” Rustin coach Brad Harkins said. “We want to win matches and I’m proud of our effort. The kids battled their butts off all weekend. We asked them to fight and scrap, and that’s what they did. We just came up a little short.”

Lukas Richie (106), who tallied 11 bonus points in five duals bouts, pushed East’s lead to 14 with a pin, and Strommer clinched it against the Golden Knights with a decision.

With only four seniors in the lineup, Rustin could find itself in a similar position next winter, and Harkins hopes the experience pays off.

“It certainly can translate some,” Harkins said. “Our younger kids are getting better every match. This only helps us get better for the future and a lot of our guys are starting to build confidence.”

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.

Downingtown East 37, West Chester Rustin 31

132- Cummings (DE) tech. fall Reardon, 5:30 (5-0)

138- Zimmerman (DE) tech. fall Spaniak, 5:46 (10-0)

145- Labus (WCR) tech. fall Neubaum, 5:10 (10-5)

152- Harkins (WCR) pinned Clay, 2:33 (10-11)

160- McDowell (DE) dec. Hurley, 10-9 (13-11)

170- A. Horne (DE) pinned Kent, 2:24 (19-11)

182- Czajkowski (DE) dec. Lamberjack, 1-0 (22-11)

195- Hatzipavlides (WCR) pinned Wileczek, 1:59 (22-17)

220- Spriggs (WCR) dec. Morris, 3-2 UTB (22-20)

285- McGinley (DE) pinned Cummings, 3:18 (28-20)

106- Richie (DE) pinned Fichter, 5:21 (34-20)

113- Strommer (DE) dec. Cooper, 7-2 (37-20)

120- B. Kaliner (WCR) tech. fall B. Horne, 5:54 (37-25)

126- T. Kaliner (WCR) pinned Birzes, 5:08 (37-31)

Downingtown East 46, Upper Darby 24

138- Cronin (UD) won by forfeit (0-6)

145- Zimmerman (DE) pinned Singh, 3:37 (6-6)

152- Livingston (UD) pinned Clay, 3:35 (6-12)

160- McDowell (DE) dec. Kamanousa, 3-2 (9-12)

170- A. Horne (DE) pinned Tarawallie, 4:49 (15-12)

182- Czajkowski (DE) pinned Mosley-Jones, 2:53 (21-12)

195- Kennerly (UD) pinned Wileczek, 4:20 (21-18)

220- Morris (DE) maj. dec. Daniels, 9-1 (25-18)

285- Augustin (UD) pinned McGinley, 3:22 (25-24)

106- Richie (DE) pinned Brabant, 1:02 (31-24)

113- Strommer (DE) Mejias, 7-4 (34-24)

120- B. Horne (DE) dec. Reif, 4-1 (37-24)

126- Birzes (DE) dec. Venuti, 11-9 SV (40-24)

132- Cummings (DE) pinned Dweh, :06 (46-24)