Downingtown East’s Mason caps wild stretch at District 1 3A West Sectionals

OXFORD >> Things were going relatively as expected in Saturday’s District 1-3A West Sectional finals until a flurry midway through the 152-pound bout sent things sideways.

A cradle by West Chester Rustin’s Roman Seaman to erase a comfortable lead by Coatesville’s Jacob Ruttman set off a streak of five straight pins, some anticipated, some not.

The run was culminated by a thunderous fall by Downingtown East’s Felix Mason (215 pounds) over Downingtown West’s Troy Mack, earning the senior Cougar Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

“It did surprise me a little bit,” Mason said. “I didn’t think I was going to go out and pin Troy Mack but God is great.”

The top four finishers from the tournament held at Oxford High School qualified for the Class 3A Southeast Regional tournament next weekend, also at Oxford.

Mason will be making his first trip to regionals, as a senior, and he will head there with some serious momentum.

“I’m holding my head high and wrestling with a lot of confidence right now,” Mason said. “Now that I see what I’m capable of, I’m definitely looking for a spot to place at regionals.”

Oxford freshman Jon Smith (160) pin of Garnet Valley’s Paxton Hunt and Sun Valley’s Brandon Carr (172) decking of Coatesville’s Jack Weldon were sandwiched between Seaman’s comeback cradle and a lateral drop by West Chester Henderson’s Hayden Baldwin.

The sophomore Warrior was the fifth seed coming in, but knocked off top-seeded Jagger Vitelli of Avon Grove in the semifinals before throwing Coatesville’s Matt Luton for a first-period pin.

“It was a crazy day,” Baldwin said. “Match by match I could feel my mood change and I felt like I could win something really big. Beating Jagger and Matt was helpful for my mindset and shows I can beat anyone if I’m mentally there.”

Seaman was the No. 1 seed at 152, but probably wouldn’t have been considered the favorite. He avenged a Ches-Mont Championships loss to Downingtown East’s Ricky Jewell in the semis and used his length to wrap up Ruttman, who was previously controlling the match on his feet.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised but I’d say it probably wasn’t expected,” Seaman said. “I’m proud of myself and proud of the way my teammates wrestled.”

Sun Valley won the team title with 188.5 points and a program-record nine regional qualifiers. Kennett was runner-up with 149.5 points and five champions. No other team had more than one.

Kennett’s Bryce Boyer (107) and Blake Boyer (139) won decisions to add to the family’s collection of first-place medals. Like Blake Boyer, Zack Jaffe (127) won his second sectional title in as many tries and John Pardo (285) claimed his third.

Kane Lengel fought off a handful of shots by Downingtown West’s Jordan Barry and finally scored his own in a 3-1 win in the 145-pound finals, for his first sectional gold.

“I’m still going to regionals like the past two years,” Lengel said “My goal wasn’t to win a district title, my goal is to medal at states.”

Bryce Boyer’s path to his first title was cleared by top-seeded Brayden Sigle of Downingtown West being unable to make weight. With Sigle’s season cut short, older brother, Chase Sigle (114), entered Saturday “wanting to win one for (Brayden).”

Chase did just that, pinning Sun Valley’s John Deorio in the finals for his third sectional title.

“I was doubting myself a little in the beginning of the year and seemed to be hitting a wall,” Chase Sigle said. “I’ve been focusing on doing the extra little things and I’m feeling really confident and ready to show how much better I am.”

Coatesville’s Andrij Szczesniuk (121) defeated Sun Valley’s Timmy Kearney in the finals for the second time in three seasons, and Avon Grove’s Christian Ford (133) used a 4-2 win over West’s Levi Richmond for his first trip to the top of a postseason podium.

Team Standings

1. Sun Valley, 188.5; 2. Kennett 149.5; 3. Garnet Valley, 141.5; 4. Downingtown East, 134; 5. Coatesville, 125.5; 6. West Chester Henderson, 124.5; 7. Oxford, 121.5; 8. Downingtown West, 106; 9. Avon Grove, 105; 10. West Chester Rustin, 98; 11. Unionville, 69; 12. Penncrest, 62.5; 13. West Chester East, 43; 14. Marple Newtown, 38.5; 15. Chichester, 26.

Championship Finals

107- Br. Boyer (Kennett) dec. Minicozi (Sun Valley), 3-0

114- C. Sigle (Downingtown West) pinned Deorio (Sun Valley), 1:25

121- Szczesniuk (Coatesville) maj. dec. Kearney (Sun Valley), 16-3

127- Jaffe (Kennett) dec. D. Pedrick (Sun Valley), 3-0

133- Ford (Avon Grove) dec. Richmond (Downingtown West), 4-2

139- Bl. Boyer (Kennett) dec. Delaney (Sun Valley), 6-3

145- Lengel (Kennett) dec. Barry (Downingtown West), 3-1

152- Seaman (WC Rustin) pinned Ruttman (Coatesville), 3;48

160- Smith (Oxford) pinned Hunt (Garnet Valley), 5:05

172- Carr (Sun Valley) pinned Weldon (Coatesville), 4:32

189- Baldwin (WC Henderson) pinned Luton (Coatesville), :53

215- Mason (Downingtown East) pinned Mack (Downingtown West), 2:39

285- Pardo (Kennett) maj. dec. Bledsoe (Garnet Valley), 11-3

Consolation Finals

107- Parsons (Avon Grove) dec. Duffy (Garnet Valley), 4-0

114- Howell (Oxford) dec. Z. McFarlane (WC East), 15-8

121- McMillan (Oxford) dec. Burns (Garnet Valley, 6-1

127- D. McDowell (Downingtown East) dec. C. Emmonds (WC Rustin), 4-3

133- Strickland (Sun Valley) dec. Whittaker (WC Henderson), 7-3

139- Ja. Schaible (Oxford) pinned Pizzi (WC Rustin), 2:47

145- Baldesari (WC Rustin) dec. G. Pedrick (Sun Valley), 9-3

152- Jewell (Downingtown East0 dec. Bliss (Garnet Valley), 7-2

160- Mi. Pepe (Kennett) maj. dec. Cadden (Sun Valley), 9-0

172- Bruette (Penncrest) dec. C. McDowell (Downingtown East), 3-1

189- Vitelli (Avon Grove) pinned Reed (Penncrest), :50

215- Kelly (Unionville) pinned Ayoub (Coatesville), 2:56

285- Abouraya (Downingtown East) dec. F. Ahmad (WC Henderson), 3-1 SV