Kennett’s Pardo, Henderson’s Cortese find redemption at District 1 West
OXFORD >> A month ago, Kennett’s John Pardo and West Chester Henderson’s Carmen Cortese suffered losses at the Ches-Mont Championships, leaving them with bad tastes in their mouths.
In hindsight, those setbacks may have been blessings in disguise, as the pair found redemption, Saturday, at the District 1-3A West tournament, at Oxford High.
Pardo, who was pinned by Downingtown West’s Mason Hale in the league finals, corrected whatever ailed him in January, and rolled to a 12-6 win in the 215-pound title bout. Cortese flipped a decision to Sun Valley’s Shane Holefelder, using a 5-2 win to claim the 120-pound championship.
“It definitely lit a fire under me that I needed,” said Cortese of last month’s 7-6 loss to Holefelder. “I felt like I was being viewed as the underdog going into the finals, and that gave me a little more motivation and made me train harder knowing I’d face him again.”
Cortese was one of two champs for Henderson, along with Billy Wilson (132 pounds), and the Warriors qualified a tournament-high nine top-four finishers for the Southeast Regional, next Friday and Saturday, at Oxford.
Wilson came from behind to beat Sun Valley’s Danny Kearney, 5-3, and the head-to-head victory helped Henderson top the Vanguards for the team title.
“It’s the cherry on top,” Henderson coach Rob Beighley said. “It’s been a great season and was nice for the seniors to go out with a district championship.”
Max Jackman (126) used a chin whip to shock Garnet Valley’s Matt Ricci in the semifinals, but Oxford’s Cannon Hershey was too much for Jackman in the finals, 5-2. The win gave Hershey 99 victories for his career.
Kennett was the third-highest placer from the Ches-Mont, sending a school-record six on to regionals. Josh Barlow (160) erased a 1-0 third-period deficit by reversing Chichester’s Luke Trefz with a cradle and pinning him with it to earn his gold medal.
Pardo followed a few bouts later and was aggressive and effective to overcome Hale.
“I think I just wanted it more,” Pardo said. “I was definitely prepared for that match.”
Three other Whippets joined Hale in the finals. Chase Sigle (106) and Troy Mack (285) bookended the finals as champs and Dom Findora (138) won his third sectional title.
Mack, who had a height disadvantage in the finals against Garnet Valley’s Nicholas Mahoney, got in on a leg in the third period and secured a 4-1 win.
“I’m a smaller guy but I definitely have a lot more strength than people think and I have speed and quickness,” Mack said. “I’m quick with my shots and where and when to get them.”
Findora was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament with two pins and then an 11-4 win over Garnet’s Daniel Husain in the finals.
“I just feel really grateful,” Findora said. “All my teammates and coaches helped me and I’m just grateful for all of it.”
West Chester Rustin only got two through to next weekend, but still placed sixth in the team standings. Marek Seaman (172) was the lone finalist for the Golden Knights and he had just enough in the tank to hold off Kennett’s Darrale Barrett for a 5-4 win.
Coatesville’s Andrij Szczesniuk (113) continued his impressive freshman campaign with a 9-4 finals win over Sun Valley’s Timmy Kearney. Szczesniuk scored from all three positions, and despite being 31-5 on the season, is still flying under around District 1’s radar.
“It means a lot but it’s not my full goal,” Szczesniuk said of his first postseason title. “I want to prove myself even more.”
Sun Valley tied Henderson with five finalists, and sent eight to regionals, while Garnet finished third in the standings with six regional qualifiers. The top five finishers at regionals advance to the state tournament.
Team Standings
1. West Chester Henderson, 206; 2. Sun Valley, 187; 3. Garnet Valley, 179.5; 4. Kennett, 155; 5. Downingtown West, 136; 6. West Chester Rustin, 117.5; 7. Downingtown East, 102; 8. Oxford, 91; 9. Chichester, 86. 10. Coatesville, 83; 11. Unionville, 60; 12. West Chester East, 47; 13. Avon Grove, 44.5; 14. Marple Newtown, 33; 15. Penncrest, 20.
Championship Finals
106- Sigle (Downingtown West) dec. Haines (Unionville), 5-1
113- Szczesniuk (Coatesville) dec. T. Kearney (Sun Valley), 9-4
120- Cortese (Henderson) dec. Holefelder (Sun Valley), 5-2
126- Hershey (Oxford) dec. M. Jackman (Henderson), 5-2
132- Wilson (Henderson) dec. D. Kearney (Sun Valley), 5-3
138- Findora (Downingtown West) dec. Husain (Garnet Valley), 11-4
145- Wood (Garnet Valley) dec. P. Delaney (Henderson), 4-2
152- Gamble-Williams (Sun Valley) dec. Patton (Henderson), 8-7
160- Barlow (Kennett) pinned Trefz (Chichester), 4:57
172- M. Seaman (Rustin) dec. Barrett (Kennett), 5-4
189- DiTrolio (Garnet Valley) dec. Thompson (Sun Valley), 6-5
215- Pardo (Kennett) dec. Hale (Downingtown West), 12-6
285- Mack (Downingtown West) dec. Mahoney (Garnet Valley), 4-1
Consolation Finals
106- Schalleur (Henderson) dec. Deorio (Sun Valley), 4-2
113- Forcine (Henderson) dec. Ford (Avon Grove), 5-0
120- Lengel (Kennett) pinned Bernhard (Downingtown West), 5:00
126- Ricci (Garnet Valley) dec. Lavalais (Coatesville), 11-10
132- McMillan (Oxford) pinned Hillestad (Downingtown East), 2:18
138- Parnis (WC East) pinned Voghel (Sun Valley), 1:41
145- Bryant (Chichester) dec. Pagaduan (Downingtown East), 10-6
152- Tryon (Unionville) dec. Kochersperger (Kennett), 1-0
160- Corp (Rustin) dec. Olinger (Garnet Valley), 8-2
172- Hally (Marple Newtown) dec. Huntoon (Downingtown East), 5-2
189- Harvey (Chichester) forfeit McCarthy (Henderson)
215- Laird (Sun Valley) pinned Raymond (Chichester), 4:35
285- Shindle (Kennett) forfeit Keevill (Henderson)
