Wrestling

WC Henderson’s senior class closes perfect four-year run against Ches-Mont

by
Nate Heckenberger
February 16, 2022

WEST CHESTER >> From a trademark cradle from Billy Wilson to an electric come-from-behind fall by Brett Patton, West Chester Henderson’s senior class closed out a historic run on its terms.

The Warriors sent out a full lineup and won 10 of 13 against West Chester Rustin to capture a 52-18 victory, in a non-league dual meet.

Nine of Henderson’s 10 seniors competed on Senior Night, six picking up wins, to cap its most successful four-year span, as a team. The Warriors’ seniors went 29-0 against Ches-Mont League foes in dual meets.

West Chester Henderson’s Billy Wilson cradles West Chester Rustin’s Colin Wright for a pin at 138 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It means a lot, to never lose a Ches-Mont match,” Wilson said. “To go through it with the guys has been great. We push each other to get better and our work ethic has got us here.”

The 10 seniors for Henderson (15-3) have combined for 434 career wins, heading into the individual postseason. While that total doesn’t blow anyone away with a group that big, it tells the story of a class that collectively became a local power.

Of the 10 seniors, only Wilson (138 pounds) advanced past the first tournament of the postseason as a freshman, and he, Max Jackman (132), Palmer Delaney (152) and Patton (160) are the only ones to reach regionals, so far.

West Chester Henderson’s Palmer Delaney works a bar against West Chester Rustin’s Dayshawn Jacobs at 152 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Despite the lack of star power in the group, Henderson qualified for the PIAA Duals for the first time, ever, earlier this month and claimed its fourth-straight Ches-Mont National Division title.

“We just grind every day in the room,” Delaney said. “We made it fun to come to practice and it was a good environment in the room. It made people want to practice and work hard.”

West Chester Henderson’s Billy Forcine gets around West Chester Rustin’s Charlie Emmonds for a takedown at 113 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Starting at 106 against Rustin (4-3), the Warriors won the first six bouts, getting pins from Ryan Schalleur (106), Billy Forcine (113), Hunter Delaney (126), Jackman and Wilson.

Gavin Seaman (145) got the Golden Knights on the board with a pin, but Palmer Delaney clinched the contest with five to go with a second-period pin. Patton followed, but found himself down 11-2 against Ryan Corp after the first period.

“I just kept wrestling and knew anything can happen,” Patton said. “(Corp) took me to my back a couple times and I looked up at the scoreboard and it was 11-2. Coach Rob (Beighley) told me to keep wrestling and that it was all in my head, and he tells me to be a gunslinger. I felt it and just ripped it.”

West Chester Henderson’s Brett Patton squeezes West Chester Rustin’s Ryan Corp for a pin at 160 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Patton threw Corp to his back 30 ticks into the second period and finished him to erupt the home crowd one last time.

“(Patton) moved up a weight class for the good of the lineup and had a tall task against a tough kid, Corp,” Beighley said. “He’s a gunslinger. He takes his lumps but keeps coming at you. He doesn’t have any quit in him.”

West Chester Rustin’s Chris Yanko drops West Chester Henderson’s Brandon Mallon at 172 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

After a pair of pins by Rustin’s Chris Yanko (172) and Marek Seaman (189), Henderson scored the only decisions of the night from Wyatt Hampton (215) and Liam Keevill (285).

Beighley, who took over Henderson in 2013, has a special place in his heart for this group, who was there from the beginning.

West Chester Henderson’s Max Jackman. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“A lot of these kids were at our summer camp when they were little,” Beighley said. “I remember little Patton and little Delaney and little Wilson, and they were fifth or sixth grade. It’s just been a pleasure to watch them develop and grow up in front of me. They came a long way, from starting as little kids and turning into men.”

West Chester Henderson’s Wyatt Hampton. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Henderson is done its regular season and will prepare for the postseason, which begins February 26, with the District 1-3A West tournament at Oxford High.

Henderson also recognized Laura Wilson, older sister of Billy Wilson, for her eight years as

team manager.

West Chester Henderson’s manager, Laura Wilson, watches her brother, Billy Wilson, win by fall at 138 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Rustin rounds out its regular season at the Panther Invitation at William Tennent High, Saturday, before joining the Warriors at the West tournament.

“The senior leaders are definitely showing the younger guys what the appropriate attitude is and how much work you have to put in to have success,” Rustin coach Aston White said. “We have a lot of youth, but that means we have a lot of guys coming back, and we’re making progress.”

West Chester Henderson 52, West Chester Rustin 18