SHILLINGTON >> Pottstown didn’t have much to show for the first three weeks of the 2015-16 wrestling season.
But that changed in a big way for the Trojans during their annual visit to the Reading area for the Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament. They closed out the two-day affair at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School with seven individual medalists and a second-place team finish in the 24-school field … a decided contrast to the 0-2 record they held heading into the holiday break.
“I like coming up here,” head coach Brad Bechtel said following confirmation of the Trojans’ runner-up team status. “This is a tough tournament.”
Pottstown’s Bryant Wise placed second at the Gov. Mifflin Tournament Wednesday. (Jeff Stover – The Mercury)
With a lineup still not a finished product — it’s been vacant at 106 and 113 thus far — Pottstown got quality from the contestants it put out on the mats this week.
Leading the medal charge were seniors Bryant Wise, a runner-up at 145; and Logan Pennypacker, who placed third at 138. The Trojans’ Saddiq Ibn-Mustafah (160), Isaiah Mayes (170) and Ernest McCalvin (182) all scored fourths, Mason Pennypacker was fifth at 152 and Bubba Gephart sixth at 120.
“We’re pretty solid this year,” Logan Pennypacker said after completing a 4-1 run at Mifflin. “Though we’re 0-and-2, we’ve shown a lot of promise. The guys on the team are pushing each other, working to win every second on the mats.”
“I’m happy with our performances,” Bechtel said, noting each of his wrestlers scored at least one win this week. “But we’ve still a lot to work on, with just two matches in.”
Logan Pennypacker ended up Pottstown’s lone winner from Wednesday’s evening medal session. Facing GM’s Allen Arentz in their third-place bout, Pennypacker broke up a 1-1 tie in the third period by scoring a takedown and three-point near-fall on Arentz, who nullified his second-period escape by receiving a penalty point early in the third.
“I was working to get a drop all match,” Logan recalled. “When I did it, I knew I had it won.”
Logan got dropped out of gold-medal contention with a 1-0 overtime loss to Lake Norman’s Logan Pavia. He had scored a first-period pin and decision in earlier matches, joining Wise and twin brother Mason as the Trojans’ championship contenders through Tuesday’s opening rounds.
“It’s always good to end up the day on a win,” he said.
Mason had the same distinction, winning his fifth-place bout with LN’s Nathan Dugan on a second-period pin. Like Logan, he was toppled in the semifinal round — on a 3-1 loss to Upper Darby’s Max Livingston — then was pinned by Moshannon Valley’s Larry Brown.
“Getting a medal is good,” Mason said, “but my goal was to win it, like last year. I’m looking to get to (states at) Hershey, so this will help in the end.
Pottstown’s Logan Pennypacker
“The big thing is mental. Going into matches knowing I can win … when I have that confidence, I’m solid.”
Wise, the 138-pound champion at last year’s tournament, had a particularly gut-wrenching end in his bid to repeat at Mifflin. He took a 3-0 lead on GM’s Zach Scheetz in the second period, but Scheetz was awarded two points on penalties before escaping from the bottom to force a 3-3 tie in regulation. After three overtime periods posted 0-0 scores, Scheetz won on the 30-second rideout in the seventh OT.
At 160, Ibn-Mustafah (4-2) ended up on the short side of a 3-1 decision to Garden Spot’s Dan Swarrr. The Trojan senior had the early lead after escaping from a bottom start to the second period, but Swarr subsequently took him down in the frame before adding a point on a third-period penalty assessment.
In his 170-pound finale, Mayes lost to Plymouth-Whitemarsh’s Tommy DiSisto 6-2. A second-period takedown was all Mayes could muster against DiSisto’s first- and third-period takedowns and two second-period escapes.
At 182, McCalvin (4-2) was pinned in the second period by Neshaminy’s Noah Kisselbach. Dropping into wrestlebacks off a first-round loss, the Pottstown junior pinned three of his next four opponents — all in the first minute — to secure his medal qualification.
At 120, Gephart (3-3) dropped a 10-3 decision to Middletown’s Logan Stoltzfuss in their medal duel. Gephart had two pins to show for his two days at Shillington.
“Ernest really stepped up,” Bechtel said in his post-tournament assessment. “Isaiah and Saddiq were tough, too. We expected the performances we saw from the Pennypackers and Wise.”
Pottstown was able to maintain its second-place hold in the team standings over the host Mustangs, who remained third and in a tie with Lake Norman (N.C.) at 138.5 points and with just six medalists. But it couldn’t pick up ground on Upper Darby, whose seven medalists included champions at 138 (Colin Cronin) and Pete Augustin (285).
“We’re really excited, and working hard,” Mason Pennypacker said. “Coming in mornings, doing two-a-days … it’s paying off.”
NOTES >> Hempfield’s 133-pound Jarod Loose was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. … Pottstown returns to dual-match action next Wednesday (Jan. 6) by hosting Pottsgrove. The Trojans will then visit Octorara Saturday, Jan. 9, for duals competition.
