Even in quick exit, Garnet Valley sets new standard at PIAA duals
HERSHEY — Following a 3-1 win, Garnet Valley’s Kevin Puliti sent a text to his older brother, Nick.
It was a playful jab from the younger brother, letting Nick know he had done something that Nick, a two-time state qualifier and two-time All-Delco, had never done: Earn a win at the Giant Center in Hershey.
“My brother never got a win here, so it’s a good feeling, getting the win for the family,” Kevin said.
It was a fruitless trip to the PIAA Class 3A Duals for the Jaguars as a team, with the Jags eliminated by District 6 champ State College, 38-18, in the first round consolation round Friday morning. They knew that may be a possibility as District 1’s fourth-place representative. But much like the new bragging rights in the Puliti household, this trip was about doing something no other Garnet Valley team had done, and setting the standards for those to come.
“For the seniors that have been with us for four years, this was a chance no other senior class has had,” Garnet Valley coach Rocco Fantazzi said. “We tried to enjoy the moment, and hopefully guys will be back, individually. The bar has been set, and hopefully it becomes the expectation. Hopefully we can come back and set the bar a little higher.”
Six Jaguars won bouts, but couldn’t add any bonus points or get to their magic number.
“We were hoping to get seven and hoping one goes our way,” Fantazzi said. “That’s been the plan all the way through our run. We try to get the number we’re looking for and try to get an upset along the way. It didn’t turn out that way, but it’s been a long grind and I think we’re feeling the effects of it.”
Wins by Chris Wood (145 pounds) and Desmon Perry (160) made the score, 6-6, after three, but the Little Lions won three in a row to take a 12-point lead.
Sam DiTrolio (220) stopped the bleeding for a moment, but State College extended its lead to 18 with five to go.
“We had nothing to lose, everything to gain,” Perry said. “We came in, fighting for wins and fighting to get points. Not everything in life goes your way, and sometimes it takes a couple losses to learn how to win.”
Garnet made a charge where its lineup is strongest, with wins by Matt Ricci (113), Puliti (120) and Griffin Hollingsworth (126) to cut the deficit to nine. But that would be the last of the hand raises for the Jags.
“It felt really good, honestly,” Puliti said. “To be here for the first time means a lot to us, going out on a high note, even though we lost twice.”
Puliti is one of just four seniors in the starting lineup. After starting this run as the No. 13 seed in the District 1 Duals, Garnet likely won’t sneak up on anyone next year, with that many guys back.
“It really showed us, no matter what our seeding is, anything is possible,” Perry said. “We were the 13th seed and we made it to the big stage. For us younger guys, it gives us something to look up to. We want to be back and win a couple more matches and turn a couple more heads.”
Garnet has the Central League Championships (Sunday) and dual meets against Lower Merion and Harriton (Wednesday) left on the regular-season schedule. The Jags would need to win both duals, as well as the tournament, to be outright league champs.
Fantazzi hopes the time spent in Hershey pays dividends when the individual postseason begins Feb. 21.
“They got some experience and maybe some of the jitters out, now, and maybe it’s the difference between one of our guys getting knocked out at regionals and getting to states,” Fantazzi said. “I hope where we’re at now, we’ve been (to Hershey), now we want to get a medal.”
