Wrestling

Kakos’ return sparks Perk Valley against shorthanded Kennett in D1-3A Duals

by
Nate Heckenberger
January 26, 2023

KENNETT SQUARE >> This time of year, rare is a team unaffected by injuries.

Perkiomen Valley can attest to that, though the Vikings got a huge boost when two-time state medalist, Kelly Kakos, returned to the lineup, Wednesday. Kennett, on the other hand, was without two starters, lost to injury and illness in the last week.

Thursday, Kennett’s losses were Perk Valley’s gain as the No. 10 Vikings went on the road and knocked off the No. 7 Blue Demons, 42-21, in the first round of the District 1-3A Duals.

Perk Valley advances to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2000, and will take on the winner of No. 2 Sun Valley and No. 15 Central Bucks South, who wrestle Friday.

Perkiomen Valley’s Max Tancini cradles Kennett’s Owen Coats on his way to a technical fall at 114 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It feels good,” Perk Valley coach Dave Thomas said. “Kelly isn’t 100 percent but we’re 100 percent better with him. I wish we had Cole (Euker), but our kids came ready and we’re looking forward the second round.”

The dual started at 215, and Kennett (7-4) took advantage, with John Pardo accepting a forfeit and Bailey Shindle (285 pounds) defeating Grant Euker, who bumped up.

The Vikings (10-4) won the next two, but Kennett’s Owen Coats (114) showed some grit, fighting off his back the majority of his bout to save a point in a technical fall loss to PV stud, Max Tancini.

Kennett’s Zack Jaffe nears a fall against Perkiomen Valley’s Vince Taylor at 121 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Kennett won the next two with pins by Zack Jaffe (121) and Blake Boyer (127), but that turned out to be the end of the scoring for the short-handed Blue Demons, who lost in the first round as the No. 7 seed for the second straight season.

“We always look at ourselves, as coaches, and is what we’re doing right?” Kennett coach Kevin Reigel said. “In the end, I think it’s just dumb luck right now. I hope karma comes around and blesses us at some point.”

Kennett’s starter at 133, Kane Lengel, a returning regional qualifier, was injured last Saturday at the CoalCracker tournament. Haylie Jaffe stepped in admirably, but Perk Valley’s Patrick Lamirande earned the win, 7-2.

Perkiomen Valley’s Aidan Stratton works against Antonio Emmanuelli in an 11-1 win at 145 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

The Vikings got a major decision from Aidan Stratton (139), and Anthony Rossi (145) moved to 3-7 on the season with a pin at 145 against Ryan Schurr, who was filling in for an ill Michael Pepe.

“This is big for us,” Kakos said. “The whole team has put all the work in and that showed with us doubling them up. It’s big for the program.”

In his second match of the season, Kakos got a great test and a big win for the Vikings when he survived a back-and-forth bout with Tyler Maiers, 11-8.

Perkiomen Valley’s Kelly Kakos. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It definitely wasn’t ideal in the moment, but I know it’ll only help me in the future,” said Kakos, who now has 92 career wins. “It helps me progress and helps build up my gas tank so I’ll be better in future matches.”

Maiers returned from a 12-day hiatus, but getting close as a team, and individually, won’t cut it much longer for he and the other four Kennett seniors.

“We have to be more into it as a team,” Maiers said. “I feel we did well as a team, but we could’ve done better.”

Kennett’s Tyler Maiers scores a reversal against Perkiomen Valley’s Kelly Kakos in an 11-8 loss at 152 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Gavin Pascoe (160) earned some revenge for his brother, Carson Pascoe, with a 4-3 win over Josh Barlow in the final bout wrestled. Barlow defeated Carson in sudden victory at regionals as juniors, but Gavin was able to steal a quick two-count in the second period and held on.

Kennett forfeited the final two bouts with no one left to wrestle.

Perkiomen Valley’s Gavin Pascoe stays in control in a 4-3 win over Kennett’s Josh Barlow at 160 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“We try to have our schedule have tough matches for all the kids, not just for the most-experienced,” Thomas said. “Even our least-experienced kids get hard matches and when we get something like this, whether it’s team championships or individual champions, we’re kind of prepared for it.”

It was the theme of the night, where the more battle-tested teams of the Pioneer Athletic Conference went 3-0 against the Ches-Mont League, with No. 5 Boyertown beating No. 12 Downingtown West, 33-27, and No. 8 Owen J. Roberts taking down No. 9 West Chester Henderson, 41-25.