WEST CHESTER — Downingtown East coach Joe Horvath wouldn’t focus much on it, but what his Cougars clinched Wednesday night was rather historic.
In beating West Chester Henderson, 51-18, East clinched its fourth-straight Ches-Mont National Division title. It’s the first time that feat has been accomplished by a Downingtown team since West did it from 2005-2008.
The bright spot for the Warriors on their senior night was Joey Wilson’s 100th career victory, but Henderson won just two other matches.
Because Henderson and 3-1 Coatesville wrestle Monday, the Cougars (4-0 division, 21-4 overall) would own the tiebreaker, no matter the result in their season-finale against Avon Grove, Friday.
“We haven’t talked about it in those terms,’ Horvath said. “We want to win our last league match Friday, and if we do, we’ll celebrate then.’
East has won 47 of the 56 bouts in National Division competition this season and the senior class hasn’t lost a division dual in its four years, with one more to go.
“It’s a very important legacy for our four years,’ East senior Billy McGinley said. “The senior class wants to keep it together and show our utter dominance has had in the league.’
The Cougars were dominant from the neutral position, scoring 21 takedowns, while only surrendering three on the night. East held Henderson (3-1, 19-4) without a takedown the first 18 minutes, 53 seconds of actual wrestling time.
Brett Horne (103 pounds) started things off for East with a technical fall, followed by a hard-fought 8-4 decision by James Strommer (113) over Jacob Reid, and another decision by Nik Zimmerman (120). East’s fourth win to start the contest came via Wade Cummings (126), who used his go-to cement mixer to pin Kyle Medrow in 33 seconds.
“Henderson is always one of the toughest opponents in the Ches-Mont,’ McGinley said. “It’s good to get a win and show Downingtown East is the heart of the Ches-Mont and one of the better teams around.’
Wilson stopped the bleeding, momentarily, for Henderson, winning his 100th with an 80-second pin.
“I’m proud of him,’ Henderson coach Rob Beighley said. “He’s been here four years and put in the time and done the work. It’s good for him and it’s earned.’
Wilson has been a consistent producer for the Warriors, winning 74 percent of his career bouts and reaching regionals the past two seasons.
“It feels good,’ Wilson said. “It’s one of the accomplishments I looked forward to in high school besides getting to states and placing. One hundred wins feels good and hopefully I can ride it out and push it on to the postseason and hopefully get my first and second goals accomplished.’
East wraps its season with Avon Grove tomorrow, while Henderson travels to Rustin, Friday, and Coatesville, Monday.
The individual postseason begins on Valentine’s Day with the league championships. The Ches-Mont seeding will take place a week from today.
