SHARON HILL — As COVID raged and in-person learning switched to virtual education, James Wallace decided not to play sports during his freshman year at Academy Park to concentrate on school work.
Once he was back in the building in the fall of 2021, Wallace felt it was time to resume his athletic career. There was only one problem: He wasn’t sure which sport he wanted to play.
He had played football and run track at Sharon Hill Middle but was up for a new challenge.
“A lot of people said I should try wrestling,” Wallace said. “I wasn’t sure at first. Maybe it’s not for me.”
Eventually, Wallace decided to look into the sport and one step into the wrestling room quickly changed his mind.
“I felt like that was where I needed to be,” Wallace said. “I feel like wrestling is my sport. It’s where I was destined to be.”
He was right. Wallace went 13-16 in his first season with the Knights and reached the quarterfinal round of the District 1 Class 3A tournament at 120 pounds before being eliminated by Upper Dublin’s Caden Cerminaro. Both of his district wins came by fall.
“I wasn’t the best kid last year but I also wasn’t the worst,” Wallace said. “I still have a lot to improve on, but ultimately, I feel I can go to regionals this year.”
He’s off to a good start in that quest. Wallace picked up two more wins at the Delco Duals Wednesday to raise his season record to 7-1 at 121 pounds. He pinned Upper Merion’s Dylan Kontra, then scored a 10-4 decision over Roland Oris of Pope John Paul II.
“He’s just a naturally gifted, strong, wiry kid,” Academy Park coach Dan Walters said. “He’s a student of the sport. He’s progressed every day since he walked into the room. I see him getting at least to regionals this season. Last year he missed regionals by one match. He’s very smart. He’s really starting to put it together. I see him advancing each match. It’s pretty impressive.”
Wallace says the conditioning he received in football and track prepared him for wrestling. The technical aspects came from working with the AP coaching staff and taking part in the Beat the Streets wrestling program over the summer in Philadelphia.
“I feel I’ve made the most improvement in my footwork, my level changes, my shots,” Wallace said. “If you saw some of my matches from last year and compare them to this year, I’m way calmer. I know when to strike. I know when to shoot. Last year, I was all over the place. Someone would shoot in and I would immediately kick my leg out and try to get away from them as fast as possible. I expended so much energy that I didn’t need to expend.
“Over the summer, I really learned to control my movements. Last year I was like a rapid drum. This year I’m a slow drum that can work up to going rapidly. I know when to shoot. I know when to level change. I feel I’m getting better but I also know I have a lot to work on.”
He’s proven that he’s willing to put in the work to get better. After all, it’s the sport he loves.
“I don’t know where I would be without wrestling right now. It’s really taken a hold of my life,” Wallace said. “I love wrestling with all of my heart. There’s no place I would rather be than on the mat.
“This year, I have a lot of chances to get better and I will get better. This year, I’m going to make it to regionals and I’m going to place and hopefully make it to states.”
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NOTES >> Archbishop Carroll went 1-2 in the tournament, beating Devon Prep (54-12) and dropping close matches to Upper Merion (36-32) and Pope John Paul II (39-33). Gabe Vallejo (127) and Kyle Conlen (133) both went 3-0 for the Patriots. … Upper Merion and Pope John Paul II both went 3-0. The Vikings defeated Academy Park (39-36) and Devon Prep in addition to Carroll. The Golden Panthers knocked off Academy Park (39-33) and Devon Prep in addition to beating Carroll.
