ROYERSFORD >> No. 4 Spring-Ford’s wrestling team has enough depth to allow flexible play in its lineup. But the Rams often draw consistency from their hammers in lower weights.
And in the opening round of the District 1 Class 3A Duals against No. 13 Conestoga, Spring-Ford once again drew from its deep talent in a 35-23 win over the Pioneers in the opening round of the District 1 Class 3A Duals tournament.
“We have a pretty good lineup and we can choose where we want our guys to be. If they have a good guy and we want to wrestle up and bump one of our guys, we’re able to do that,” Rams senior Cole Smith said. “We have the amount of people and the guys we need at the certain weights we need to be able to bump around to win the matches we need to win.”
With Thursday’s win, Spring-Ford (13-3) advances to the District 1 Duals quarterfinals and will face No. 5 Boyertown on Feb. 4 at Upper Dublin High School at 8:30 a.m.
FINAL — No. 4 Spring-Ford 35, No. 13 Conestoga 23
The Rams take their opening round of the District 1 Duals and will take the winner between No. 5 Boyertown and No. 12 Downingtown West. pic.twitter.com/eKpbPUNW99
— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) January 27, 2023
Having started at 145, the scale was tipped in the Rams’ favor at heavyweight. Down 16-10, Connor Hudak tied the match for Spring-Ford by pinning Hayden Leon in 2:47.
At the bottom of the lineup, Gus Smith followed up with a pin of his own against Ryan Kramer in 1:57 to go up 22-16. The Rams never looked back after that 12-point swing.
“I knew it was going to be close and I had heavyweight as a swing-match, could go either way,” Spring-Ford coach Tim Seislove said. “I was hoping if we could keep it close at the turn there, we’d be in good shape.”
Spring-Ford’s James McGill, right, grapples with Conestoga’s John Hauser, left, at 152 during the District 1 Duals at Spring-Ford High School on Thursday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Gus Smith (No. 5), Cole Smith (No. 2) and Quinn Smith (No. 6) are all ranked within the Top 10 of District 1 3A at their respective weights. All three had bonus-point wins to springboard ahead of the Pioneers (17-2) after Hudak’s heavyweight fall.
The match marked Conestoga’s first appearance in the District 1 Duals in school history, having claimed the Central League title along with 17 wins on the season.
Anchored by a one-two punch in Hayden McLellan (172) and Jake Allred (189) — both ranked No. 2 in District 1-3A — the Pioneers have thrived in their heavier weights this winter. It was much the same in Royersford as Conestoga went toe-to-toe with Spring-Ford from 145 to heavyweight.
“We did our best. We fought and as I tell the kids, it’s not about winning matches, it’s about winning positions,” Pioneers coach Gary Baker said. “If you win every position you’re in, the match will take care of itself and the team score will take care of itself.”
Conestoga’s Hayden McLellan, right, wrestles Spring-Ford’s Mason Richards, left, at 172 during the District 1 Duals at Spring-Ford High School on Thursday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
While Conestoga looks like the new kid on the block after making it further than it ever has as a team, Spring-Ford continues as the old guard. The Rams have made it to the last five PIAA Duals tournaments and have a chance to keep that streak alive.
Four District 1 teams qualify for the PIAA Duals tournament. Both finalists earn automatic berths to the Giant Center in Hershey while third and fourth-place finishers wrestle a preliminary match Monday, Feb. 6 at the higher seed to reach the state bracket.
Spring-Ford’s Connor Hudak is declared the heavyweaight winner after pinning Conestoga’s Hayden Leon during the District 1 Duals at Spring-Ford High School on Thursday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
December was a rocky first month for Spring-Ford with a 20th-place finish at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff, 18th-place finish at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic and two dual meet losses.
Since then, the Rams have pounded the drum and finished with a Pioneer Athletic Conference team title ahead of districts, which they’ve now taken the initial round in.
“We just keep working harder and harder every day. We knew at the beginning of the season, we weren’t starting off too strong,” Cole Smith said. “We had a couple of our guys missing out and once we started getting our guys back in, we started getting back into the routine of winning.”
Spring-Ford 35, Conestoga 23
145 – Matt Offner (SF) pinned Alec Calvitti, 1:05 (6-0)
152 – James McGill (SF) maj. dec. John Hauser, 17-6 (10-0)
160 – Matthew Boye (C) maj. dec. Drew Dotterer, 19-7 (10-4)
172 – Hayden McLellan (C) dec. Mason Richards, 4-1 (10-7)
189 – Jake Allred (C) pinned John Kelly, 1:20 (10-13)
215 – Bryce Beltrante (C) dec. Daniel Borzillo, 6-3 (10-16)
285 – Connor Hudak (SF) pinned Hayden Leon, 2:47 (16-16)
107 – Gus Smith (SF) pinned Ryan Kramer, 1:57 (22-16)
114 – Cole Smith (SF) maj. dec. Parker Warkentine, 12-1 (26-16)
121 – Steven Wiechecki (C) maj. dec. Dominick Ferrizzi, 12-4 (26-20)
127 – Quinn Smith (SF) pinned Charlie Mucklow, 1:37 (32-20)
133 – Miles Warkentine (C) dec. Brennan McGrann, 3-1 (32-23)
139 – Jamie Silva (SF) dec. Teddy McKenzie, 7-3 (35-23)
