EAST WHITELAND >> While the outside focuses on who’s not there for West Chester Rustin, the young and striving Golden Knights focus on those putting their toes to the line.
Most notably absent from Rustin this year is Marek Seaman, a two-time state qualifier who was ranked No. 5 in the state by PA Power Wrestling coming into the season, but chose not to wrestle. Andrew Brown (215 pounds) is no longer on the team after wrestling three matches in December and heavyweight, Aaron Meadows, is now at The Hill School.
With a devastated bottom of the lineup, Rustin is learning to patch wins together with a lineup that has just two seniors in it.
Wednesday, the Knights won eight bouts and picked up their first league win, topping host Great Valley, 45-27, in the Ches-Mont American Division dual meet.
Great Valley’s Bennett Scribner fights to stay off his back before being pinned by West Chester Rustin’s Stephen Bucci at 114 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
“The biggest thing is to coach the kids that are here,” Rustin coach Aston White said. “Wrestling is a difficult sport and it’s not for everyone. Our coaches are working hard to make the kids enjoy it and have fun. We’re trying to have as good an attitude as possible and give as much effort as we can. If we do that, good things will happen. Maybe not right away, but they will down the road.”
With the dual starting at 172, Rustin (1-2 division, 3-6 overall) got a decision from Charlie Covington (189), but trailed, 12-9, as the lineup turned over.
West Chester Rustin’s Charlie Covington tries to turn Great Valley’s Jose Rivera during a 4-2 win at 215 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
After accepting a second forfeit from Great Valley, the Knights started piling up points. Stephen Bucci (114), Charlie Emmonds (127) and James Pizzi (133) worked falls to give Rustin a 15-point lead with four bouts to go.
“I think this is a great opportunity to make a name for myself, and I’ve been working hard all season,” Pizzi said. “Guys are stepping up, like Gavin and Roman Seaman and they’re working hard to make names for themselves, too.”
West Chester Rustin’s Charlie Emmonds rolls Great Valley’s Mark Soderland to his back before pinning him at 127 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
At 139, Rustin had a chance to put the match all but out of reach, but Great Valley’s Thomas Nelson, who was filling in for starter, Brandon Son, scored two takedowns in the final minute to steal a 10-9 win.
“Nelson came up huge at 139,” Great Valley coach Scott Gee said. “He got in the lineup and showed what he is. He’s a grinder and he does the simple stuff really well.”
Great Valley’s Thomas Nelson takes down West Chester Rustin’s Patrick Maycheck in a 10-9 win at 139 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Tim Matthews (145) followed with a pin for the Patriots (0-3, 2-4), cutting Rustin’s lead to six. In the next match, Gabe Ertle (152) led Jesse Viarengo, 4-0, at the end of the first period, but had to injury default due to a leg injury.
The six points sealed the win for the Knights, who had Roman Seaman as their closer, anyway. Roman Seaman added to his team-high in wins (17) with a pin.
West Chester Rustin’s Roman Seaman. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
“We want to win, but ultimately we’re rebuilding,” White said. “We’re very, very, very young and we’re missing some guys. It isn’t about wins and losses, it’s about making sure our young guys are improving and working on what they’re doing in the room. Hopefully we’ll peak at the right time. We’ve had a difficult schedule and we’re not worried about the losses, we’re worried about being ready for when it really matters. We have a great group who’s continuously improving.”
The 18-point deficit was the closest the Pats have come against Rustin since their last win in the series in 2008, and could have been closer had Ertle not gotten injured.
Great Valley’s Michael Cruz gets the leg of West Chester Rustin’s Brody Woodbridge before winning by fall at 121 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
But moral victories only go so far for Gee, as he looks to revamp the program.
“Great Valley hasn’t had many tight matches recently, and we have to learn how to respond to high-stakes matches,” Gee said. “It’s good to learn from these losses, but we want to learn how to come out on the right side.”
Great Valley’s Tim Matthews takes down West Chester Rustin’s Colin Baldesari en route to a fall at 145 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
West Chester Rustin 45, Great Valley 27
172- Samane (WCR) won by forfeit (6-0)
189- Covington (WCR) dec. Ramirez, 4-2 (9-0)
215- Moore (GV) pinned Harris, 1:55 (9-6)
285- Cedillo (GV) won by forfeit (9-12)
107- Flores (WCR) won by forfeit (15-12)
114- Bucci (WCR) pinned Scribner, 2:43 (21-12)
121- Cruz (GV) pinned Woodbridge, :27 (21-18)
127- Emmonds (WCR) pinned Soderland, 1:09 (27-18)
133- Pizzi (WCR) pinned Harvey, :49 (33-18)
139- Nelson (GV) dec. Maychek, 10-9 (33-21)
145- Matthews (GV) pinned Baldersari, 1:04 (33-27)
152- Viarengo (WCR) inj. def. Ertle, 2:00 (39-27)
160- R. Seaman (WCR) pinned Pierson, 1:40 (45-27)
