Wrestling

Warrington’s pin propels Sun Valley to first win over WC Rustin

by
Nate Heckenberger
January 22, 2020

ASTON >> The plan was not to send Vince Warrington out at 182 pounds.

A pin by West Chester Rustin’s Kevin Kent at 170 not only increased the rate of Sun Valley coach Tom Ellis’ pacing behind the Vanguard bench, but instigated a change of heart.

With Warrington’s track record, Ellis knew a pin was coming, one way or the other. He just hoped it was his guy who ended up on top.

Warrington did. A pin 27 ticks into the second period sent Sun Valley’s side into a frenzy and swung the dual, giving Sun Valley its first-ever win over Rustin, 41-29, in Ches-Mont American Division action, Wednesday.

“When we got pinned (at 170), I really thought we were going to lose,” Ellis said. “(Matt) Griffith is tough at 82, and we knew how good he was. I was going to bump Warrington up to 95 and let the Catka brothers close out the match, but that pin forced my hand. When (Warrington) went out, I told him, ‘don’t get pinned,’ and he wrestled unbelievably and pulled it out for us.”

Sun Valley’s Vince Warrington hits a headlock against West Chester Rustin’s Matt Griffith. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Warrington, a senior, has a career record of 24-22. Twenty-two of those wins have been by fall. Eighteen of those losses have been by fall.

After nearly getting cradled by Griffith in the first period, Warrington hit a headlock in the second and did not let go.

“I tried to keep my head straight and not let emotions take over,” Warrington said. “I caught him getting high and saw his head and had to grab it.”

Sun Valley’s Xain Cabalo nears a pin against West Chester Rustin’s Colin Wright at 106 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Rustin (2-1 division, 6-4 overall) weathered an early storm, giving up three pins in the first four bouts. With Jesse Viarengo (106 pounds), Charlie Baldesari (132) and Josh Viarengo (138) out of the lineup, the Golden Knights got some energy when freshman Eli Wright erased a 4-0 deficit and won by fall in his first varsity action.

“Eli is a hard worker and we knew he would perform out there,” Rustin coach Tony Finding said. “We knew he’d give 100 percent. We didn’t expect the outcome, but he went out there and got six points and that’s a huge confidence booster for him.”

Despite being a bit shorthanded, Rustin took its one and only lead, 26-24, on Kent’s pin with four bouts to go.

“We were missing three starters and it literally came down to one or two swing matches,” Finding said.

Kevin Kent of West Chester Rustin lets out a yell after pinning Sun Valley’s Nick Siekierski at 170 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Sun Valley (4-0, 14-0) found ways to get what it needed all night. At 126, Shane Holefelder finally pinned a pesky Nick Burdumy with 10 seconds remaining, adding an extra two bonus points.

Later, Alex Gamble-Williams shook off a headlock attempt and landed on top for the winning takedown in the final seconds for a 3-1 decision over Chris Yanko at 152.

Warrington’s big win set up Ryan (195) and Hunter Catka (285) to put the punctuation on a memorable win for Ellis.

Sun Valley’s Hunter Catka tilts West Chester Rustin’s Gabe Walsh en route to a technical fall at 285 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“This means a lot to everyone whoever wrestled for me,” Ellis said. “When I started eight years ago we had 13 kids on the roster and we couldn’t compete with other teams. We were just trying to get a full lineup. To beat Rustin, a team who’s owned our side of the Ches-Mont year after year after year, it shows we’re doing things the right way and the kids have bought in.”

West Chester Rustin’s Nick Burdumy tries to stay off his back against Sun Valley’s Shane Holefelder in a loss by fall at 126 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

With a win at Oxford, next Wednesday, Sun Valley would claim its first outright American Division crown, after sharing one in 2009. First, though, the No. 11 Vanguards take on No. 6 West Chester Henderson in the first round of the District 1-3A Duals, Thursday, and then host their own tournament, Saturday.

Rustin, as the No. 16 seed, will host No.1 Quakertown, Thursday, in district duals action, and hope Oxford can pull off the win next week, with the Hornets on the schedule the following week.