POTTSTOWN >> It wasn’t going to allow another split of top billing.
Not after the Upper Perkiomen wrestling team saw the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s Frontier Division champion determined by tiebreakers the past two years. An outright, undisputed title was on the Indians’ short list of goals for the 2019-20 season.
The goal was achieved Wednesday at Pottstown High’s Strom Gymnasium. A 44-24 win over the Trojans, on the final night of PAC regular-season action, completed an unbeaten (5-0) Frontier campaign for the Tribe and enabled it to regain the division crown it was awarded two years ago.
“Any time you can go unbeaten, it’s a good feeling,” UP head coach Steve Adam said. “The kids worked hard, and they earned it.”
The Upper Perkiomen wrestling team poses for a photo after running the table in the PAC Frontier following Wednesday’s win over Pottstown. (Austin Hertzog- MediaNews Group)
Their last championship season, the Indians won out over Pottsgrove and Pottstown — the schools all 4-1 in the Frontier — on the basis of a 39-38 victory over the Falcons. Last year, it was Pottsgrove benefiting from the tiebreaker.
So this year, UP determined its own destiny. It had a 248-94 point spread over the Frontier’s other teams, winning by at least 20 points each time.
“We only graduated our heavyweight from last year,” Adam said. “I felt the team could contend for the division.
“We had two team goals: Win the division and qualify for the District 1 Duals. We hit the one tonight.”
Upper Perk (10-8 overall) was in control from beginning to end, though Pottstown trailed by only three points (15-12) through the first five weight classes. With three falls and a forfeit in the next five weights, the Indians distanced themselves from Pottstown (2-3, 5-9), clinching the match and division championship with Shane Freeh’s major decision at 120.
“We have a lot of young talent, and a year of experience,” Zach Rozanski, one of UP’s senior leaders, said afterward. “The whole team has confidence.”
Upper Perkiomen’s Austin DiDomenico, left, cranks the arm of Pottstown’s Zack Griffin during their 195-pound match Wednesday. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
With the night’s fastest pin, a 1:08 drop at 145, Rozanski staked the Indians to an initial 12-0 lead in followup to Gavin Marks’ 1:22 fall in the 138-pound opener. Austin DiDomenico (195) and Damon Faraco (220) scored pins after Soren Svanson completed a hard-fought 5-4 decision of Devin Green at 160 and Daniel Hawkins outlasted Patrick Green, 8-6, at 182.
“We had several guys come up big,” Adam noted. “182 was a close win, and 195 was in doubt until (DiDomenico) got the spread eagle. Svanson’s was a toss-up, but he got the one-point win, and we told Hawkins to be patient.
“We had heroes everywhere. It was a team effort … the kids stepped up and did what they had to do.”
Upper Perkiomen’s Daniel Hawkins picks up back points on Pottstown’s Patrick Green during a 8-6 win at 182 pounds Wednesday. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
The majority of Pottstown’s points came off pins. Jared Dewitt had a third-period drop at 152, Josiah Wiggins beat the buzzer for a four-minute fall at 171 and Demond Thompson capped the night with a 1:33 pin at 132.
“I don’t think we’re even at midseason form,” Pottstown head coach Nick Wade said. “Some of the guys are just getting their third and fourth matches after being out for various reasons. We had guys who hung well and competed.”
Upper Perkiomen’s Shane Freeh, top, works for back points on Pottstown’s Julianna Figueroa at 120 pounds Wednesday. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Freeh’s match clincher was followed by Joey Carpenter ringing up another major decision at 126.
“So far, so good,” Rozanski said. “There were a couple close matches we could have won.”
NOTES >> Pottstown’s dual-match season will continue with the Cougar Duals (Martin Luther King High) Saturday, a PAC crossover at Perkiomen Valley next Wednesday (Feb. 5) and a non-leaguer at Penn Wood Feb. 12. “We’re getting back to being loaded up,” Wade said. “Everyone wants to wrestle. I feel we’re getting into the swing of things.” … Rozanski moved to within five (96) of the 100-win mark for his scholastic career. He is looking to join the legion of UP grapplers on the chart … among them his uncle, Brad Rozanski (Class of 1990), in a four-way tie at 34th place. … Prior to the match, Pottstown High recognized John Armato for logging 50 years as an assistant coach in the Trojan mat program. … Pocking the lineup were forfeits at 285 (by Upper Perk), 106 (by Pottstown) and a double forfeit at 113. … In prelude to the District 1-AAA North at Pottstown the weekend of Feb. 21-22, Upper Perk will participate in the Falcon Invitational at Cedar Crest this weekend.
Pottstown’s Jared Hewitt, top, pins Upper Perkiomen’s Keaton Durning at 152 pounds Wednesday. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
