WESTTOWN >> On the back of the West Chester Rustin team shirts it reads quite simply: “Operation 2025.”
That doesn’t mean the Golden Knights are in a hurry to blow through this season’s postseason, but rather, focused on the big picture.
It’s been since 2019 since Rustin was atop the Ches-Mont League American Division standings, and with only James Pizzi being honored on Wednesday’s Senior Night, the Knights have high hopes for the future.
In the present tense, Rustin took care of West Chester East, 42-19, in an inter-league dual meet to cap the regular season.
“Our goal is to get back to winning the Ches-Mont like we did (six) years in a row,” Rustin coach Aston White said. “We have a very good, young core of kids who want to be good. They work really hard and at the end of the day, it’s not about wins and losses. We can’t define ourselves by that. Things happen but it’s important to have goals and work towards them.”
The Knights finished fourth in the American this winter, going 2-3 in the division and 6-8 overall. In the past few years, keeping talent on the team was the biggest challenge. This winter, injuries have hit Rustin hard.
Most recently, AJ Corp’s promising freshman season was cut short with a leg injury at the end of January. He is 26-7 on the season and was the second highest ranked Class 3A wrestler in District 1 on pa-wrestling.com.
For Pizzi, being the lone senior on the squad has meant a little more with some of the big names missing.
“I had a couple friends who left the last two years, but that means I really have a place here,” Pizzi said. “I’m one of the leaders. I don’t want to leave my teammates high and dry. They need leaders and experience so I’m trying to put my best foot forward.”
Pizzi (145), Jimmy Boland (139), Colin Baldesari (152), Roman Seaman (160), Alex Samane (172), Elijah Thomas (189) and Will O’Hora (215) won the first seven bouts for Rustin, who led 30-0 at that point.
“Our focus is on opportunities to compete and if we continue that mindset, good things will happen,” White said. “We’ve been battling a lot of injuries but it gives opportunities to other kids to get varsity experience.”
East (5-9) is dealing with its own set of growing pains. With only two seniors and three juniors getting any action this season, the Vikings have plenty of room to grow.
“We’re a super young team with a lot of first year guys,” East’s first year coach Marc Chafetz said. “We’re mostly ninth and tenth graders so our ceiling is super high. We’re getting better every week so that’s exciting we’re moving in the right direction.”
After Rustin’s barrage to start the competition, East got on the board with a 17-second pin by Justin Williams (285). After a forfeit at 107, Zach McFarlane (114) scored a major decision and Luke Federici (121) won East its lone decision.
“(Rustin) was more mentally strong in the 50-50 situations,” Chafetz said. “They had more mental fortitude and we seemed a little sluggish. They won pretty much all of the close ones.”
The Knights won five bouts in which they trailed in at one point, including Thomas’ pin.
Charlie Emmonds (127) and Brody Woodbridge (133) closed out the meet with pins for Rustin, who will wrestle next at the District 1-3A West Sectional.
East caps its regular season at Marple Newtown, Friday, before joining the Knights at sectionals.
West Chester Rustin 42, West Chester East, 19
139- Boland (WCR) dec. Dr. Buddenhagen, 7-4 (3-0)
145- Pizzi (WCR) dec. Timm, 8-4 (6-0)
152- Baldesari (WCR) pinned Smith, :52 (12-0)
160- Seaman (WCR) pinned Dy. Buddenhagen, 3:56 (18-0)
172- Samane (WCR) dec. Chok, 13-11 SV (21-0)
189- Thomas (WCR) pinned Iozzi, 4:27 (27-0)
215- O’Hora (WCR) dec. Rivas, 8-6 (30-0)
285- Williams (WCE) pinned Boehncke, :17 (30-6)
106- Blanck (WCE) won by forfeit (30-12)
114- Z. McFarlane (WCE) maj. dec. Flores, 12-2 (30-16)
121- Federici (WCE) dec. Kim, 10-5 SV (30-19)
127- C. Emmonds (WCR) pinned Polis, 3:35 (36-19)
133- Woodbridge (WCR) pinned Mu. Hussein, 1:15 (42-19)
