Anticipated PIAA matchup between Archbishop Wood, Gwynedd Mercy delivers

PHILADELPHIA >> Archbishop Wood has had several wins over the last month or so that proves it is more than a threat if not the hands-on favorite to win the PIAA Class AAA championship.

After a victory in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship against Neumann-Goretti and a convincing win over Mastery North Charter in the District 12 championship game, Saturday afternoon’s quarterfinals matchup with Gwynedd Mercy Academy was just the latest example of the Vikings’ quality as they defeated the Monarchs 42-33.

“I think it reassures them their ready to play,” Wood coach Mike McDonald said. “They’re ready to get to that next point which is winning a state championship.”

Pennsylvania is 283 miles long and 160 miles wide but only 10 miles separates Wood and GMA, two of the best teams in AAA if not the whole state. So when the two squared off Saturday afternoon at Archbishop Ryan High School, it was certainly an anticipated matchup.

“It’s nice to have two pretty good programs to have the opportunity to go against each other,” said GMA coach Tom Lonergan said of having a chance to play Wood in the state playoffs. “It would have been nice if it was maybe in the next round instead of the third round but it’s a nice opportunity for the area to have those opportunities show up.”

The routes the two teams took start with the leagues they play in. Wood hailing from the strong Catholic League and earning the top spot out of three teams out of District 12. GMA came out of another highly-touted conference, playing in the AACA, and earning the No. 1 of three spots awarded to District One.

“I was a little concerned with all the friendships,” McDonald said. “We have some girls that are friends with a lot of their girls. It just adds another dynamic.”

“We kind of thought we would play them in this round of states before the season even started. We kind of had a predictable season in way, not the way the season started but we were looking down the road we thought we’ll play O’Hara in the semifinals of our league, we’ll play Neumann-Goretti in the championship of the league and then we’ll play Gwynedd in the quarterfinal of states. They were three huge games that we were looking at.”

Both GMA and Wood played very tough non-league schedules so as the two faced off Saturday no was no surprise as to the caliber of team it was facing.

“There’s no question the top teams in those conferences are always at the topin the (state) tournamentplay,” Lonergan said. “You add to that, we really played a competitive non-league schedule this year which I thought prepared us for situations like this.”

Only one team could survive and advance to see another day. Saturday, it just so happened to be Wood. It wouldn’t be that blasphemous of a statement to say whatever team won the quarterfinal marquee matchup would win the state championship.

The Vikings still have two games to win to be crowned the state champs, but they are definitely in the drivers seat to recapture another crown.