Connect with us

Wrestling

Pottstown claims forfeit-filled win over Pope John Paul II

POTTSTOWN >> The final results notwithstanding, Tom Hontz feels the Pope John Paul II mat program is heading in the right direction.

Matches like Wednesday’s pairing with Pottstown? Just part of the process.

This forfeit-filled duel between teams from the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s Frontier Division pointed out personnel issues both teams are facing this season. In the end, Pottstown claimed a 47-27 win over the visiting Golden Panthers.

Only five weights were contested, but PJP had a 15-12 point advantage from winning three of them.

Pope John Paul II’s Jack Files, back, works to get a pin against Pottstown’s Aubrey King during Wednesday’s match. (Thomas Nash – Digital First Media)

The big difference for Pottstown was being awarded six forfeits to a pair for the Panthers, with both teams forfeiting at 195.

“It’s a numbers game,” Hontz said following a match that took little more than a half-hour to complete. “If we had more bodies, we could do more. The kids are working hard, but we didn’t get the matchups we wanted.”

As a result of the thinned card, Pottstown (3-8 overall) effectively clinched the team victory by 160. Its 41-15 lead, following Zachary Griffin’s second-period pin at 160, was dented only by PJP’s Jake Stead getting a forfeit at 182 and Jack Files scoring a 69-second fall in the 220-pound finale.

“We have holes in our lineup,” Pottstown head coach Nick Wade noted, “but we got as many (pairings) as we could.”

The first contested bout came after the Trojans got three of four initial forfeits. PJP’s Nick Boyce dueled Pottstown’s Kentz Gustave to a 1-1 draw in regulation, then scored a takedown in overtime to come away with a 3-1 victory.

Pope John Paul II’s Ryan Vulakh, top, works to turn Pottstown’s Xavier Cushman during their bout at 145. (Thomas Nash – Digital First Media)

The 18-9 deficit was as close as the Panthers (0-3) would get to their hosts the rest of the way. A forfeit to Demond Thompson at 132 and Nate Parson’s second-period drop at 138 upped the Trojans’ lead to 30-9 before they bolstered their scoring edge with a 17-12 run over the final six weights.

Ryan Vulakh added a second-period pin at 145 to the Panthers’ point total.

“After the (holiday) break, our weekends got thrown off,” Wade said. “After Octorara (Duals Jan. 6), we were able to get in the room and get more aggressive.”

In his assessment of his program’s fortunes in his second year at the helm, Hontz sees hope for reversing its fortunes … a similar challenge he faced taking over at Upper Perkiomen in the 1990s.

“We’re hoping to draw a few more to the program, and get a full lineup,” he said. “At this point, we’re looking to the postseason.”

The Panthers’ fortunes have been bolstered by transfers like brothers Matt and Ryan Vulakh — both 12-4 at 106 and 145, respectively — from North Penn; and Files, 12-5 in his first year after being at Spring-Ford the previous two.

“We’ve got a youth club going,” Hontz said. “It’s drawing kids. “The numbers are strong, but it’s up to the parents whether the kids come here.

“We’re coaching up the team, but it’s going to take a while to filter down.”

Pottstown now has it sights set on the “Border Battle” Saturday against Pottsgrove. The bout will be staged at the Sunnybrook Ballroom, part of an event that will include activities by various student groups from the schools.

“We’re stressing this hasn’t been done before,” Wade said. “It could get the buzz back in the sport. They’re trying to make it a fun event.”

NOTES >> While the Panthers brought out wrestlers for bout introductions, they forfeited 113 and 120 to Pottstown’s Zoe Earle and Juliana Figueroa, respectively. Hontz explained the move as part of a requirement by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to not have males compete against females. “The girls are happy to represent Pottstown,” Wade said. “Any time they get to put on the singlet, they’re happy to be part of the team.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More in Wrestling

situs slot gacor provider terbaik agen toto slot terpercaya 2023 agen toto togel terpercaya 2023 situs toto togel pasaran resmi terbaik bandar toto macau pasaran resmi toto togel bandar toto slot gacor 4d 2023 bo togel online pasaran terlengkap sepanjang masa bo toto slot terlengkap sepanjang masa situs toto togel 2023 bet 100 perak daftar toto slot dan toto togel 2023 bermain toto togel dengan bet hanya 100 perak daftar toto slot bonus new member terpercaya bermain toto slot pelayanan 24 jam nonstop situs toto togel terpercaya situs toto togel online terbaik winsortoto winsortoto winsortoto winsortoto winsortoto winsortoto unsurtoto unsurtoto unsurtoto winsortoto winsortoto winsortoto rasa4d rasa4d rasa4d gampangtoto gampangtoto gampangtoto winsortoto unsurtoto gampangtoto rasa4d bungtoto bandar toto togel terbesar hadiah 4d 10 juta daftar winsortoto situs toto terbaik winsortoto situs toto slot gacor dengan toto togel terbaik winsortoto situs toto terpercaya bet 100 perak winsortoto agen toto togel dan situs toto slot 4d winsortoto situs toto togel online deposit 10rb winsortoto situs toto togel online resmi hadiah 4d 10 juta winsortoto agen toto togel online terpercaya winsortoto agen toto slot dan situs toto togel resmi winsortoto situs toto togel 4d terpercaya winsortoto bandar toto togel dan toto slot winsortoto situs toto togel online resmi terbesar winsortoto situs toto togel dan agen toto slot terpercaya winsortoto situs toto terpercaya beragam bonus winsortoto situs toto terpercaya toto togel dan toto slot gacor winsortoto situs togel online dan slot online terpercaya winsortoto situs togel online hadiah terbesar winsortoto agen toto togel bonus harian terbesar winsortoto agen togel online terlengkap bet 100 perak winsortoto situs toto togel 4d dan toto slot 4d terbaik winsortoto situs toto togel dan toto slot terpercaya winsortoto bandar toto togel online terpercaya 2023 winsortoto agen toto togel 4d dan toto slot 4d winsortoto agen toto togel online banyak bonus terbesar winsortoto situs toto terpercaya bonus new member winsortoto situs togel online resmi terpercaya pasaran terlengkap winsortoto situs toto togel online 4d terpercaya situs toto togel deposit pulsa tanpa potongan winsortoto situs toto slot pasti slot gacor winsortoto situs toto slot dan toto togel hadiah terbaik winsortoto situs toto terpercaya permainan resmi dan terpercaya winsortoto situs toto resmi bonus new member 100rb tanpa potongan winsortoto toto slot gacor dan togel online resmi terpercaya winsortoto situs toto toge online terpercaya di Indonesia winsortoto toto togel online bonus new member terbesar winsortoto agen toto togel resmi hadiah 4d 10 juta terpercaya winsortoto toto togel online hadiah 4d 10 juta bet 100 winsortoto situs togel online terlengkap dan terpercaya winsortoto situs togel online resmi dan toto slot gacor winsortoto situs toto togel dan agen toto slot gacor winsortoto situs toto togel permainan toto togel dan toto slot winsortoto situs toto terpercaya bonus menarik winsortoto situs toto togel online terpercaya winsortoto bandar toto togel dan toto slot terpercaya winsortoto situs toto togel online terlengkap dan terpercaya winsortoto situs toto togel online winsortoto situs toto terpercaya togel online dan slot online resmi winsortoto situs toto dengan permainan togel 4d dan slot 4d winsortoto situs toto terpercaya permainan togel online terlengkap winsortoto situs toto togel terpercaya permainan resmi winsortoto situs toto togel resmi bet 100 perak tanpa potongan winsortoto agen toto togel dan situs toto resmi winsortoto toto togel dan toto slot terpercaya dan terbaik winsortoto unsurtoto gampangtoto bungtoto rasa4d titi4d ltdtoto bobatoto bobatoto situs toto togel slot situs bandar toto togel slot terpercaya titi4d titi4d login titi4d daftar titi4d slot titi4d togel situs titi4d titi4d login titi4d daftar titi4d titi4d togel titi4d slot situs titi4d agen titi4d bandar titi4d