UPPER MERION >> The days of big matches with district and regional championship implications may still be a memory for Norristown High’s wrestling team.
But there are still times, as in Wednesday night’s 48-21 win over Upper Merion, when the Eagles can still impress.
No, the Vikings were never in position to turn the match around – four forfeits can put a mighty crimp in any wrestling upset plans – but host Upper Merion made it interesting.
And still, the Eagles, while not in desperation mode at any point, did what was necessary to make sure they’ll still be in position to contend with favorite Upper Dublin and a very good and very young Plymouth Whitemarsh contingent before season’s end.
“They still have that ‘N’ on the fronts of their singlets, and they can still intimidate some young kids,” said Vikings head coach Marcus Johnson. “I just didn’t want to see us back down tonight, and I thought our guys did a good job putting up a fight.”
But that fight was not yet good enough for the home team to seriously challenge.
“I can’t wait to field a full lineup,” said Eagles head coach Mark Harner. “I don’t think we’ve had one in over four years.”
But full lineup or no, the Eagles did just enough to overcome a pair of Vikings falls in the match’s first two bouts, and pull away for what was an easy victory.
Those falls, by Vikings Mark Picariello (195) and Noah Stribny (220), had a spirited crowd riled up. But the Eagles would not lose again until Viking Anthony Yacovetti won by fall at 145.
By that time, the Eagles were comfortably in front. Although they would be the first to offer they were far from postseason form.
“We had our ups and downs,” said Eric Fuentes, who bumped up to 138 pounds and delivered a major-decision win as part of the triumph. “We did well, but not as well as we could have done.
“You could say we did OK.”
OK was good enough on a night when the Vikings, their numbers shrinking from the 20-odd bodies that began the season in the practice room to the nine that wrestled Wednesday, didn’t have the man power to be competitive.
“We’re wrestling better, but we still need to improve,” Johnson said. “I won’t pressure kids to wrestle. If you want to wrestle, come to the room and wrestle.
“But I’m not going to chase them around the hallways.”
After the early 12-0 Upper Merion lead, Norristown quickly tied it with back-to-back, sub-1:00 falls from heavyweight Jala Onyesiaka and Justin Altrogge.
Grant Rubin won by forfeit at 113, and the Eagles would not trail again.
Nick Semon won at 120 to up the lead. Another forfeit and a no match at 132 pounds maintained the bulge through 132.
Fuentes’ major decision at 138 pushed the visitors’ lead to 31-12, and the only thing Harner had to complain about the rest of the way was when an Eagles wrestler was penalized a team point for throwing headgear after losing by fall.
Tim Cheng’s overtime win at 152 brought the Vikings tantalizingly close at 30-21. But a stick by Michael Johnson at 160 and two forfeits ended the match.
“We’re young,” Harner said. “We only have one senior in the lineup and the kids are getting better every day in the (practice) room.”
“The young kids are getting better and everyone is improving, really,” Fuentes said.
Enough for another run at a league title?
“Absolutely,” was Fuentes’ smiling reply.
