Wrestling

Sun Valley shows Kennett the ropes, takes control in Ches-Mont American

by
Nate Heckenberger
January 26, 2022

ASTON >> The prevailing thought swirling around the Sun Valley gym, Wednesday night, was one of “what could’ve been,” but those able to step back from the disappointment of a lost potential thriller were able to see “what is” and “what soon may be.”

While injuries decimated Kennett’s lineup, in what was supposed to be a clash between the top two teams in the Ches-Mont American Division, what was evident was Sun Valley’s rise to become marquee squad on that side of the league. It’s been a climb that didn’t seem probable a decade ago, and it’s one that Kennett hopes to one day soon replicate as a team taking a very similar route as the Vanguards.

“I talked about it earlier in the week with the guys and we went over the records of our teams the previous nine years,” said Sun Valley coach Tom Ellis, who took the helm in 2012. “I told them how we were 3-15 our first year and 5-13 the second, and then we pulled up the senior class’ freshman year, when they lost 13 matches. This class has lost four matches, since. They took the step from learning how to win to knowing how to win.”

Sun Valley’s Brecken Strickland gets in on a shot against Kennett’s Haylie Jaffe during a 12-5 win at 132 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

That education is not strictly tied to the mat, but also developing depth, figuring out how to take care of one’s body and making sure you’re ready to go prior to the dual meet.

It wasn’t the dramatic type of win for Sun Valley, but after a 39-25 victory over Kennett, it was clear the Vanguards (4-0 division, 8-2 overall) are still a step or two ahead of the Blue Demons (2-1, 10-2) in those areas.

“My freshman year, it was definitely a different team,” Sun Valley senior Dan Kearney said. “To see where we’re at now makes me really happy. I feel like we’re building a good team and a good bond and we’re working as hard as we can. This is like a family. Everything we do, we do together and everything we accomplish, we accomplish together.”

Sun Valley’s Dan Kearney gets tangled up with Kennett’s Michael Pepe in a 4-0 win at 138 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Ellis could probably see a lot of his team in Kennett. The Blue Demons certainly have a strong core that has their program trending up. But three starters missed Wednesday’s bout due to injury, one missed weight, and the depth that Sun Valley has built up through the years is just not there yet for Kennett.

“I said to coach Ellis, ‘dude, I love your numbers,’” Kennett coach Kevin Reigel said. “He talked about having 40 kids in the room at one point, and we started with 26 and we’re under that now. We have 18 in the room and as you could see, we don’t really have depth.”

Kennett’s John Pardo returns Sun Valley’s Ronald Weaver to the mat during a major decision at 215 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Of the eight matches wrestled, Kennett won five, and outscored the Vanguards 25-10 (Sun Valley was penalized a team point during the 106-pound bout) in those bouts.

Kennett’s star power shone with pins from Bailey Shindle (285 pounds), Josh Barlow (160) and Darrale Barrett (172), and John Pardo (215) added a major decision. In one of the rare highly-contested matches of the night, Josh Kochersperger (152) took Alexander Gamble-Williams down and to his back in the waning seconds to steal a 7-3 victory.

Kennett’s Josh Kochersperger lets out a deep breath after a last-second win over Sun Valley’s Alex Gamble-Williams at 152 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It almost seems redundant because I said the same thing about (Josh’s older brother) Trent, but it’s maturity. ” Reigel said. “He’s piecing together the things he’s learning.”

Along with the five forfeits the Vanguards accepted, John Deorio (106), Brecken Strickland (132) and Kearney picked up wins. Sun Valley has used 23 wrestlers this season, which is fourth-most in all of District 1, this season, compared to Kennett’s 15.

Ellis’ hard work and foresight is finally paying off.

Kennett’s Josh Barlow pins Sun Valley’s William Cadden at 160 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“When I took this job, we had no youth program and our middle school was in shambles,” Ellis said. “I started the club with Aston Athletics Association in my second year and I still coach it. When I’m not with my guys on a Saturday, I’m with Aston AA, and I’m trying to recruit my own kids to stay in the school district. It gives them a personal connection to me, to keep our top athletes.”

Kennett will try to heal up fast, with a matchup against Pennsbury in the first round of the District 1-3A Duals, Thursday. Sun Valley will join Kennett at Oxford High, and faces Garnet Valley, who will likely not be giving out forfeits as generously.

“We knew Kennett is a tough team and we were preparing to battle them for the league title,” Ellis said. “We didn’t know what their lineup would look like before the dual, but it shook out the way it shook out.”