POTTSTOWN >> He described the feeling as “bittersweet.”
Senior Night ceremonies are known to convey that emotion, and Wednesday’s observance by Pottstown was no exception. But it is especially more so for Brad Bechtel, who goes back a long way with four members of the Trojans’ Class of 2016 who were recognized prior to the Pioneer Athletic Conference match with Pope John Paul II.
“I’ve been coaching these guys since they were five,” Bechtel said of Logan and Mason Pennypacker, Bryant Wise and William “Bubba” Gephart. “I’ve coached them their whole lives.”
The foursome was joined by classmates Conor Benfield, Saddiq Ibn-Mustafah and Jimmie Zazzi and the wrestlers’ parents in the pre-match ceremony. The seniors then went out and spearheaded the 70-12 victory over the undermanned Golden Panthers, one marked by a slew of forfeits — five total, four by PJP — and seven Pottstown pins.
Pottstown wrestlers warm up for match with Pope John Paul II. #BuxMontWrestling https://t.co/0tTkkArzF1
— Jeff Stover (@MercuryXstover) January 13, 2016
“It’s crazy how time goes by,” Logan Pennypacker, who capped the Trojan roll with a first-period fall in the 145-pound finale, said afterward. “We’ve been together since we were four and five years old.”
The match was also the first home-mat appearance by Logan and Wise since they passed the 100-win mark at the Octorara Duals this past weekend. Logan (13-1) got his 100th in Pottstown’s first match with Indian River, Del., and Wise (11-1) followed suit in the second round against Schuylkill Valley.
“It’s not really a competition,” Logan said of the near neck-in-neck run in which he and Wise engaged in pursuit of the milestone win. “We knew it was going to happen some day. It was good we both got it.”
“It was good competition getting there,” Wise added. “We practiced hard in the room.”
Like Pennypacker, Wise enjoyed having Bechtel be part of his development in wrestling from age four.
“We got lucky, having our PAL (Police Athletic League) coach also be our high-school coach,” he said.
For his part, Bechtel enjoyed seeing his seniors and underclassmen continue their current roll — Pottstown has won six of seven duals in the wake of a second-place finish at the Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament — against a PJP squad whose points came off a forfeit to Ryan O’Donnell at 106 and Nick Yerger’s second-period pin at 132.
In between forfeits to Anthony Wiggins (152) and Ibn-Mustafah (170), the Trojans (2-1 league, 6-3 overall) got a first-period drop by Mason Pennypacker (12-2) at 160. Isaiah Mayes (13-2) then got the slap 23 seconds into the 182-pound bout, with McCalvin (10-4) and Nyles Rome following suit at 195 and 220, respectively.
Zazzie (285) and Tyler Clifford (113) accepted forfeits for Pottstown before Gephart (9-4) added to Pottstown’s 54-6 lead with a 45-second pin at 120. Nate Parson then posted a 10-2 major decision at 126, the night’s lone bout to got he distance.
Benfield added a second-period pin at 138 in prelude to Logan Pennypacker’s night-capper, which runs his career win total to 105.
“It was a good night,” Bechtel said. “We executed everything well.”
With the emphasis on “night” … which is how the Pottstown grapplers wanted to do their senior recognition.
We will miss Bubba @PottstownTrojan @Trojan__Nation pic.twitter.com/sIb7lTSpuA
— PHS Wrestling (@PHSWrestlingPA) January 14, 2016
“When we first looked at the schedule, this was going to be our last night home match,” Bechtel said, noting Thursday’s match with Boyertown was rescheduled from its original date at the time of the district duals. “The seniors wanted to have a senior ‘night’.”
The Trojans will have little time to savor the win. They will continue a busy (five matches in four days) week against the Bears, then go to Kennett Saturday for another duals competition.
“They’re solid through their lineup … the whole team,” Wise said of the unbeaten (3-0, 9-0) Bears, who’ve handled opponents by an average score of 65-3 this winter.
“They’re going to be a tough test,” Logan Pennypacker added. “We want to give them their money’s worth, which not too many teams have been able to do. If we wrestle the way we did tonight, we might be able to push them.”
Of all his seniors’ performances, Bechtel felt particular joy about Benfield’s showing at 138. “Conor (2-1) has filled in for us before, and he’s done well,” he said. “I was proud to see him get the win.” … With his pin, Yerger ran his season record to 7-1 to lead PJP (0-3, 3-11). … The Golden Panthers will be back in action this weekend, participating in the Spartan Clash at Springfield-Montco.
