LOWER GWYNEDD >> Colin Devlin knows something about wrestling and pressure.
And as a returning state qualifier, the Upper Dublin High senior knows about must-wins.
So Wednesday night, with nothing less than the match against arch-rival and host Wissahickon on the line, Devlin delivered.
His first-period fall vaulted Upper Dublin past Wissahickon, 39-34, in a match for the Fireside Cup, a glorious trophy awarded to the winner of this annual match between the rival schools.
Devlin took the mat with the Cardinal leading, 33-30, and two matches to go.
But when he pinned Trojan Nick Senderling, it secured the win for the visitors.
“Of course, I wanted to win this for the team,” Devlin said, “but I also had to win this for our coach (Dave Jones). He went to school here, so this match is always important to him.”
Wissahickon and head coach Anthony Stagliano had seemingly pulled all the right strings as the Trojans built and kept the lead through the later stages of the match.
Key falls by Brayden Duger and Peter Sweeney had vaulted the home team into a 9-point lead with four matches to go.
But when Cardinal Talib Davis won by fall at 126 and Kincade Thomas followed suit at 132, the Cardinals had a three-point edge with two matches to go.
Stagliano sent out Senderling, who’s been the team’s best wrestler through much of the season.
But Devlin was more than ready.
And when he stuck Senderling, victory was secure, and the Cardinals could go home with the Cup.
“It feels good to win this match,” Devlin said, “but the main goal is the podium at states, and I can’t lose sight of that.”
